Help! 5 Months on CPAP, Still Can't Get Used To It....

[Mr.FridayNite]

Diagnosed with OSA in May, and have the EPR Elite II.
Long story short - I've been trying and trying for 5 months to get used to CPAP and it just ain't working. I've changed masks and toyed around with the ramp and have gotten to the point where I feel comfortable enough with it on and at full pressure awake and can actually fall asleep with it on. So as best as I can tell it is not really an equipment issue. I'm a mouth breather and have a full face mask (Philips). The problem is that after anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours asleep with it on, I inevitably wind up taking it off and sleeping the rest of the night without it. I get that very strong confining sensation/feeling of suffocating with it on and just have to get it off. I'm barely waking up to do it and shut the CPAP and don't even realize that I'm doing it a lot of nights. I just go right back to sleep without it for the rest of the night and am usually too tired to make any further attempts the rest of the night. I just have not figured out how to cure this issue and would have thought that I would just be "used to it" by now and sleeping through the night with the CPAP and reaping the benefits. The most amount of time I have ever worn it for is 4 hours and that was maybe once - otherwise it is anywhere between 45 mins and 2 hours or so. I'm clearly not getting the full benefit of CPAP since I'm still tired during the day.

I'm committed to making this work but at what point do you just say enough?

Do I keep wearing it for 2 hours a night and hope that I still just get used to it at this point even after 5 months?

Are there any benefits to 2 hours or less a night (as opposed to not at all)? I suspect so but don't know.

Are there any viable non-CPAP options? Dental implements?

I enjoy reading all of the posts on the forum and welcome any and all suggestions, thoughts and comments. Best, David

[cflame1]

What's it set to... and what are your results (AI, AHI, Leaks, etc.)?

We need to know what the problem truly is... other than you wanting to give up.

[robysue]

I just go right back to sleep without it for the rest of the night and am usually too tired to make any further attempts the rest of the night. I just have not figured out how to cure this issue and would have thought that I would just be "used to it" by now and sleeping through the night with the CPAP and reaping the benefits. The most amount of time I have ever worn it for is 4 hours and that was maybe once - otherwise it is anywhere between 45 mins and 2 hours or so. I'm clearly not getting the full benefit of CPAP since I'm still tired during the day.

Some suggestions that may or may not be useful:

1) Are you still struggling with leak issues and other issues concerning the fit of your mask? Can you quickly and automatically put the mask on and adjust it sufficiently well to go to sleep with the mask on? If not, you may need to practice putting the mask on during the daytime. Keep practicing putting the mask on and adjusting it until you no longer have to consciously think about the process of putting it on and getting a good seal. That way ...

2) When you wake up with the mask off, you can try a bit harder to force yourself to put it back on during the night or early morning since it won't require so much effort on the part of your brain.

3) Finally, if you take naps during the daytime, make sure you use the CPAP during the nap.

[Tired Linda]

Welcome to the forum, there are a lot of knowledgeable people here. First, please go up to the User Control Panel at the top left, and fill out your equipment, in words, not pictures, so everyone can see what you are using. It makes it easier to provide suggestions.

I get that very strong confining sensation/feeling of suffocating with it on and just have to get it off

What pressure are you currently using?

Does anything block your mask vent (like sheets or pillows) so that the carbon dioxide doesn't escape properly?

I'm at about 2 1/2 months and things are just finally settling down for me. Sometimes it's been rough, but quitting is not an option.

Linda

[DoriC]

Diagnosed with OSA in May, and have the EPR Elite II.
I get that very strong confining sensation/feeling of suffocating with it on and just have to get it off. Do I keep wearing it for 2 hours a night and hope that I still just get used to it at this point even after 5 months?

David, from that description it might be that your pressure is set too low and you're having apneas. Do you have software? Are you getting any data from your LCD screen, AHI, Leaks? Keep us posted.

[Flatlander]

Diagnosed with OSA in May, and have the EPR Elite II.
Do I keep wearing it for 2 hours a night and hope that I still just get used to it at this point even after 5 months?
I enjoy reading all of the posts on the forum and welcome any and all suggestions, thoughts and comments. Best, David

I was under the impression that one should have it on for four hours at least. I may be mistaken so someone correct me if I'm wrong. Also, this might be cumulative during a 24 hour period. However, if it were suggested to you to keep it on for at least two hours in order for you to get used to it, then that is probably the best thing to do for now.

I've been on CPAP since 2000 and I do remember it almost seemed suffocating at first. I also remember that it was suggested to set the pressure lower until I got used to it. Well, I think this ended up being a combination of it being to low and a mind over matter kind of thing. I asked the doctor to inform the health care facility to increase my pressure which they did. It took awhile but I did force myself to get used to it and convinced myself that I was not going to suffocate. After all, there was a lot of air being force into my nose.

I now just purchased a new autoset CPAP. If you have an autoset, I'm wondering if the pressure on the low end is too low. Since my pressure is at 15, I certainly didn't want it too low to begin with. The autoset is between 10 and 20 and it's actually quite comfortable starting out at 10.

@ DoriC

I like the advice of Yoda, in your sig.

[Bons]

Dori,
Four hours is the minimum that insurance companies consider to be compliant for coverage purposes - less than that on average, and many will refuse to pay for the machine and supplies. You really should use the xpap every minute that you are sleeping because it can only prevent apneas while it is in use.

[Twentysix]

Hi, this maybe a dumm newbie idea, but if you switch the machine off without really waking up, maybe you could prevent yourself from doing that by putting it out of reach. Maybe put a pile of books in front or something. The would either require you to actually wake up, at which point you could decide to keep it on, or you won't be able to switch it off and will get back to sleep?

[jweeks]

I get that very strong confining sensation/feeling of suffocating with it on and just have to get it off. I'm barely waking up to do it and shut the CPAP and don't even realize that I'm doing it a lot of nights.

Hi,

I am going to agree with Dori. Without having any data or graphs to go on, my best guess is that your pressure is set too low. If your pressure was set closer to what you need, and you used a little surgical tape on the headgear, you would likely be using it all night long within a few days. Is there any way you can read your AHI and pressure numbers off of the screen? Or take your chip into your clinic to have them print out the data?

Many clinics set their auto machines to a range of 4 to 20. Most people, especially men, have a hard time breathing on anything under 8. You very likely are running at less than 8, and simply cannot get enough air. But without any data, I am only guessing here, but this is a very common issue with new CPAP users.

Do I keep wearing it for 2 hours a night and hope that I still just get used to it at this point even after 5 months?

You need to use the machine every moment that you are sleeping. If not, you are still at risk of an apnea induced heart attack or stroke, and would still be accumulating heart and brain damage.

Are there any viable non-CPAP options?

There is a very simple surgery called a "tracheotomy" that is nearly 100% effective for OSA. While the surgery is simple and relatively painless, living with a trache has its own challenges. I find the machine easy enough to deal with, but it would be so nice not to have to bother with any of it.

-john-

[elena88]

Dear David,

Welcome to the forum, its great that you have come here!

You have spent a long time trying to make this work.. however, much of this time may have been wasted if you do not
know what is going on with your therapy.. There is obviously a reason you are feeling suffocated after a few hours, and
you take the mask off probably for a very good reason.. Im sure its a very unpleasant feeling that you get before you just have to
take that mask off..

But what can that be? Is your pressure too low? are you leaking? you need to check your data from the machine, or you are flying
blind and can crash big time..

When is the last time the doctor or dme checked your stats? Did you tell your doctor you felt like you were suffocating?

Do you know if your apnea is mild, moderate, or severe? is it positional? what is your ahi?

Do you have a copy of your sleep study? YOU NEED THAT.... I know you are committed to making this work, but you need the tools to do that.. and those tools are within your grasp.... its all the information you can gather about your therapy...
I see you listed your machine, but everyone can help you a lot easier if you put the information in your profile..

so.. please go up to the top left of the page, click on user control panel, then click on profile, then click on edit equipment, and put all your info
in there.. so everyone can see it on all your posts.. then go up and read new users, and the cpap wiki.. even though you have been at this for
five months, you really have to be an expert in your own therapy to make it work if youre not one of those duck to water folks, and obviously
you arent.. but you CAN make this work! It might be something really simple, like a pressure change, machine change to an auto, or getting your
sleep study information... maybe even a little leak.. so hang out here, and you will find your answers!

Now to address your comments at the end..
At what point do you say enough? Well, certainly you arent there yet, as you dont know why you take your mask off..
so just hang on till you figure that out..

Wearing your cpap two hours a night probably seems better than not wearing it all, but you should be able to wear it all night when you figure
out what the problem is of why you take it off..

There are dental devices, did your doctor discuss this with you? Each case is different who referred you to your sleep study?
do you have a sleep specialist physician?

I know you will get some help here, so be ready to have things change quickly!

elena

Diagnosed with OSA in May, and have the EPR Elite II.
Long story short - I've been trying and trying for 5 months to get used to CPAP and it just ain't working. I've changed masks and toyed around with the ramp and have gotten to the point where I feel comfortable enough with it on and at full pressure awake and can actually fall asleep with it on. So as best as I can tell it is not really an equipment issue. I'm a mouth breather and have a full face mask (Philips). The problem is that after anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours asleep with it on, I inevitably wind up taking it off and sleeping the rest of the night without it. I get that very strong confining sensation/feeling of suffocating with it on and just have to get it off. I'm barely waking up to do it and shut the CPAP and don't even realize that I'm doing it a lot of nights. I just go right back to sleep without it for the rest of the night and am usually too tired to make any further attempts the rest of the night. I just have not figured out how to cure this issue and would have thought that I would just be "used to it" by now and sleeping through the night with the CPAP and reaping the benefits. The most amount of time I have ever worn it for is 4 hours and that was maybe once - otherwise it is anywhere between 45 mins and 2 hours or so. I'm clearly not getting the full benefit of CPAP since I'm still tired during the day.

I'm committed to making this work but at what point do you just say enough?

Do I keep wearing it for 2 hours a night and hope that I still just get used to it at this point even after 5 months?

Are there any benefits to 2 hours or less a night (as opposed to not at all)? I suspect so but don't know.

Are there any viable non-CPAP options? Dental implements?

I enjoy reading all of the posts on the forum and welcome any and all suggestions, thoughts and comments. Best, David