Help hubby is claustophobic

[mdcwjen]

My husband has had the BiPap machine for a little over a week. He has also the oxygen bled into it along with a humidifier we just got 2 days ago. He also has the full face mask as he is a mouth breather. He has CHF and legs are swollen and he has been short of breath since last July. He is so claustophobic that when he has the machine on and starts to fall asleep he gets so paranoid and wakes up. He now is afraid to sleep with the machine on and terrified to sleep with it off. He only has about 12 hours usage and we have had it over a week now. One night he slept for a couple hours and I could really tell the difference in him. For some reason he can't get back to the mind frame he had that night. I was just wondering if there are any ideas for him. I have been reading alot of posts and I think it is helping him to know he is not alone with the feelings he has. I just hate to see him going downhill and would like to know in short of knocking him out with drugs is there any way to get him to relax. Please help!!!!!! Darlene[/b]

[rxcpap]

You might try a nasal pillow mask, tape his mouth shut. The swift mask is very non confining. I was claustrophobic with my comfort gel mask, but I like the swift so much better. Taping his mouth shut would help the mouth breathing.

You could also try the HYBRID type masks, they cover the mouth, and use nasal pillows, so your face is not so covered up.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): nasal pillow, swift, Nasal Pillows

[Linda3032]

Just because he was a mouth breather prior to cpap doesn't necessarily mean he will mouth breathe with cpap (unless it has been proven otherwise).

As suggested above, try a light weight nasal pillow interface. Breeze, Swift, CL2 (which you would get both pillows and nasal mask).

Tape the mouth if necessary.

But, have him wear his mask while awake, like watching TV in the evenings. That will get him more used to it.

Also, please fill in the information on the equipment. You need to register to do that. Then we will know more and can offer more suggestions. It's possible that if he has an APAP, that his pressure is too "wide open" and the low end is too low.

[Wulfman]

What are his pressures set to?

Instead of waiting till he goes to bed, he needs to try to use it when he's awake.....like sitting in a chair watching TV. This will (hopefully) get him conditioned to having it on.

Den

[mdcwjen]

this is already his second mask in over a week. I don't care how much it would cost if it would work but I really think he needs to get used to it don't you? The first was the nasal mask so now we have 2 of them. Our insurance only paid for one and that was 80% and now we got the full face mask. He says it seems better but now is afraid of falling asleep. He catches himself falling asleep with the mask on and jerks awake in a panic mode. I certainly will post or register the machine. It is set at 7 1/2 now. I know it is a Respironic full facial machine and mask. Do I need to register the numbers too? I keep trying to encourage him and it seems like all of you here are so inspriing. Thanks and anytime input would be appreciated. God bless, Darlene

[Linda3032]

What are his pressures set to?

Instead of waiting till he goes to bed, he needs to try to use it when he's awake.....like sitting in a chair watching TV. This will (hopefully) get him conditioned to having it on.

Den

Jinx on you, Den. You owe me a coke. ........

[Wulfman]

What are his pressures set to?

Instead of waiting till he goes to bed, he needs to try to use it when he's awake.....like sitting in a chair watching TV. This will (hopefully) get him conditioned to having it on.

Den

Jinx on you, Den. You owe me a coke. ........

Haven't heard that phrase for a long time!

Hey!.....look at the time stamps on our posts......must have been almost simultaneously. Mine had farther to go.....

Den

[CollegeGirl]

There was an excellent thread on claustrophobia a while back. Here's the link:

viewtopic.php?t=13970&highlight=claustrophobia

Hope that helps!

[cpapqueen]

[quote="mdcwjen"] this is already his second mask in over a week. I don't care how much it would cost if it would work but I really think he needs to get used to it don't you? The first was the nasal mask so now we have 2 of them. Our insurance only paid for one and that was 80% and now we got the full face mask.

You shouldn't have had to pay for the second mask. Most manufacturers offer a 30 day mask guarantee program. All the DME provider has to do is fill out a form and fax it to the manufacturer. The manufacturer replaces the mask to the DME's stock.

[mdcwjen]

in our area. They said our insurance won't cover it until 6 months from now. It really seems a shame as the the nasal one is just a week old and used maybe 7 hours. Thanks also for the article for the claustophobia collegequeen. It is now on my favorites. Thanks again, Darlene

[Linda3032]

Darlene,

You might have missed my request to complete the profile equipment section. It would really help us to know which masks, etc. we are talking about.

Also, if you are sure the nasal mask won't work - after he tries it again and again, you could consider reselling it on this forum. There are lots of people who can clean it really well and try it for themselves.

And lastly, you could watch this forum for used masks (if you are not uncomfortable with that option). Usually you can get one for about half price.

[snorin747]

Instead of waiting till he goes to bed, he needs to try to use it when he's awake.....like sitting in a chair watching TV. This will (hopefully) get him conditioned to having it on.

I will add my vote as well.

When I first tried it I felt like my face was being attacked and having something trying to stuff air through my nose.... well weird. Then there is the act of getting into bed: trying to get under the covers, not get everything tangled, not pull the CPAP off the table, untangling the hose from the covers and no matter what(!) the pillows (none of them) were where they were suppose to be! 90% of it was I was overwhelmed by too much too soon. And after all that work, I had to go to the bathroom!

So what I do now, is lay the hose out where I can reach it. Put my mask on, get under the covers, say my prayers, rearrange the stinkin pillows and as I am starting to get relaxed I hook the host to the mask and start the machine. That has worked really well, except last night. The pillow was with the pillows and the hose was where I left it the night before. Oops. And I can tell I was not on the machine because I have been dragging all day!

So tonight is another try.

-747

[snorin747]

I got it together before I dozed off. Another good nights sleep.

Please tell you husband to keep trying.

-747

[mdcwjen]

First I want to thank you all for all the input and God bless you all for trying to help. How can I find the numbers etc for the masks and the machine to post them? Last night was the worst again as he had it on for an hour and didn't sleep at all. Now there is air by his face. I tell him why doesn't he adjust it while he is wearing it but I think he is just so claustophobic to even mess with it. He now wants to ask the doctor about surgery which I guess is no guarantee either. I just don't know what to do anymore as he tells me I am putting him under more stress with my complaining. I try to be supportive and encouraging but nothing seems to work. Thanks for the help and support but think it is hopeless. Darlene

[Wulfman]

Darlene,

Some thoughts/questions:

Was he "pushed, poked, prodded" into this therapy?.....or did he go willingly?
I'm wondering if he's trying to "prove" that it won't work.....

In one of your earlier posts, I believe you were saying that his pressure was 7 1/2......is that correct? I'm wondering if that's too low for him and he's starving for air. That pressure would be too low for me.

OR.....maybe he hasn't found the right mask (including size) that will work for him.

Best wishes,

Den