Hello
I haven't even been on machine 3 weeks and I can't do it. during that time I've had it on maybe 4 hours total. I panic and freak and rip it off. I broke one mask already. Is it just me?
I GAVE UP
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texan27028
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 7:05 am
- Location: North Carolina
- Contact:
Before giving up, I would go back and talk to your doctor about it. It sounds like the mask that you have might not be right for you.
This past week has been difficult for me as well, I've woken up to or three times with the mask off and the machine turned off. I don't remember doing either one. Alot of folks on this board have said the same thing, and that is to keep trying and don't give up. I hung in there and the past two nights were probably better than any of the nights I've been on the machine (I've been on for just over a month).
Hang in there and don't give up ..... and talk to your doctor about the problems that you have been having.
Richard
This past week has been difficult for me as well, I've woken up to or three times with the mask off and the machine turned off. I don't remember doing either one. Alot of folks on this board have said the same thing, and that is to keep trying and don't give up. I hung in there and the past two nights were probably better than any of the nights I've been on the machine (I've been on for just over a month).
Hang in there and don't give up ..... and talk to your doctor about the problems that you have been having.
Richard
AHI - 25
11 cm/H2O
'Never Squat With Your Spurs On'
11 cm/H2O
'Never Squat With Your Spurs On'
Hi ZOMBIEGIRL,
First, why do you call yourself ZOMBIEGIRl? Is it because you are wonked out during the day - can't concentrate, asleep at the switch - that sort of thing? Why were you prescribed xPAP in the first place and how did you feel at your titration study?
If you do indeed have Apnea then you really need to assess the impact of giving up the treatment - nasty things can happen to your health and well being that will make you feel wearing the mask was a breeze (was that an ad?).
Using words such as "panic" and "freak" makes me think you are a little high strung and need to settle down, relax and take it one step at a time. Did you ever see the movie What About Bob where the patient was told to just take baby steps? You are certainly not the only one who has initial difficulty and there have been many who have been just as frustrated as you. Some ideas previously posted ( check the threads) are to start very slowly by sitting up with the unit on and watch TV or read a book. Do this just to get used to the feel of it then take it to bed but on a gradual basis working up from whatever time you can tolerate until it's a full night. You may also have to experiment with different masks to find one you hate the least.
If after giving it a fair shot and it's still not compatible you may have other issues to address such as are you claustrophobic or whatever. texan27028 also gave good advice to discuss this with your MD.
Check out the thread "Discouraged" by Liam1965 om May 9/05. Sorry, I don't know how to insert the link - pretty dumb I am with these new fangled devices.
Best wishes
Bob F[/url]
First, why do you call yourself ZOMBIEGIRl? Is it because you are wonked out during the day - can't concentrate, asleep at the switch - that sort of thing? Why were you prescribed xPAP in the first place and how did you feel at your titration study?
If you do indeed have Apnea then you really need to assess the impact of giving up the treatment - nasty things can happen to your health and well being that will make you feel wearing the mask was a breeze (was that an ad?).
Using words such as "panic" and "freak" makes me think you are a little high strung and need to settle down, relax and take it one step at a time. Did you ever see the movie What About Bob where the patient was told to just take baby steps? You are certainly not the only one who has initial difficulty and there have been many who have been just as frustrated as you. Some ideas previously posted ( check the threads) are to start very slowly by sitting up with the unit on and watch TV or read a book. Do this just to get used to the feel of it then take it to bed but on a gradual basis working up from whatever time you can tolerate until it's a full night. You may also have to experiment with different masks to find one you hate the least.
If after giving it a fair shot and it's still not compatible you may have other issues to address such as are you claustrophobic or whatever. texan27028 also gave good advice to discuss this with your MD.
Check out the thread "Discouraged" by Liam1965 om May 9/05. Sorry, I don't know how to insert the link - pretty dumb I am with these new fangled devices.
Best wishes
Bob F[/url]
unclebob
I gave up
Along with a mask change, perhaps you need to adjust the start setting on your machine. I was not comfortable with any settling setting. I have to have my machine to immediately start with treatment pressure. Do you have a cpap or apap machine? Have you tried just wearing the mask alone while you watch tv? Then you could try the mask and machine while you watch tv to ease into the feel of the equipment. For me, using my equipment is a much bettter alternative than having a stroke. Everyone is different, but I hope that you will find something to motivate you to follow your treatment. Good Luck!
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twistedcherokee
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Sun May 01, 2005 9:38 pm
- Location: Falcon co
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ahujudybear
- Posts: 354
- Joined: Mon May 23, 2005 10:12 am
- Location: Franklin, WI
I GAVE UP
I gave up the night of the first sleep study. They tried two different masks on me, but I felt like I was suffocating and ripped each one off and told them "No Way!"
Then I learned that I needed completely different settings than those they were accustomed to using. (I now use a BiPAP with almost no resistance to Expiration breaths.)
And I learned about a very "mini-mask" called Nasal Pillows (I use the Swift, but only for naps) that helped to ease me into the idea of having something on my face when I sleep.
It takes time. I'm beginning to feel like an old pro and I've only been at this for about a month & a half
Having another sleep study on Monday afternoon to test for blood gasses while I sleep (looking for Carbon dioxide build-up as a partial cause for frequent arousals, in addition to hypopneas and Restless Everything Syndrome )
This stuff takes time to get used to, time for the specialists to figure out what is best for you, time for your therapist and you to figure out what works and what doesn't work.
Being a wake when you want is a very enjoyable experience!
- JB
Then I learned that I needed completely different settings than those they were accustomed to using. (I now use a BiPAP with almost no resistance to Expiration breaths.)
And I learned about a very "mini-mask" called Nasal Pillows (I use the Swift, but only for naps) that helped to ease me into the idea of having something on my face when I sleep.
It takes time. I'm beginning to feel like an old pro and I've only been at this for about a month & a half
Having another sleep study on Monday afternoon to test for blood gasses while I sleep (looking for Carbon dioxide build-up as a partial cause for frequent arousals, in addition to hypopneas and Restless Everything Syndrome )
This stuff takes time to get used to, time for the specialists to figure out what is best for you, time for your therapist and you to figure out what works and what doesn't work.
Being a wake when you want is a very enjoyable experience!
- JB
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Guest
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Severeena
- Posts: 821
- Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2005 3:54 pm
- Location: 907 Main Street, Union Grove, WI 53182
- Contact:
I have found one thing that has really helped me and that is, I am sleeping in a colder room. The AC is on and I have a fan on.
I find this helps me with the feeling of suffocation.
I find this helps me with the feeling of suffocation.
_________________
| Mask | |
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Sharon
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not until thine own understanding ..... Proverbs 3:5-
Not all Masks work for everyone. Each Person is Different.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not until thine own understanding ..... Proverbs 3:5-
Not all Masks work for everyone. Each Person is Different.
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IWannaSleep
- Posts: 245
- Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2005 1:34 am
- Location: Florida
- Contact:
I resisted at first too. I couldn't understand how this could possibly be the answer. During my first trial it made me feel worse and I was sure it would never help me. I felt it not only made me feel worse but that it would ruin my life.
So, I made additional visits back to the sleep doc, talked to more than 1, was convinced to try a second trial with a different mask, and eventually decided I needed to try harder to make it work. Being perpetually exhausted had a lot to do with pushing me to find an answer.
My insurance didn't cover the equipment, so I bit the bullet and bought the best setup I could find. And now, after finally adjusting and sleeping better, I wish I hadn't resisted so much at first. I have been fully complient for 2 months now and I'm beginning to feel better. It can be a long process of adjusting and recovery. It seems like we were dealt a horrible hand, but it is what it is, and we have to play it out as best we can.
Go through the process, but please accept it as soon as you can adjust. Once you find the combination that works for you, you'll look back and wonder why you had such a hard time, and be glad you're starting to feel better. Just one newbies recent experience, hoping it can help you.
Good luck, and stay on this board with us, we'll help as much as we can.
Ron
So, I made additional visits back to the sleep doc, talked to more than 1, was convinced to try a second trial with a different mask, and eventually decided I needed to try harder to make it work. Being perpetually exhausted had a lot to do with pushing me to find an answer.
My insurance didn't cover the equipment, so I bit the bullet and bought the best setup I could find. And now, after finally adjusting and sleeping better, I wish I hadn't resisted so much at first. I have been fully complient for 2 months now and I'm beginning to feel better. It can be a long process of adjusting and recovery. It seems like we were dealt a horrible hand, but it is what it is, and we have to play it out as best we can.
Go through the process, but please accept it as soon as you can adjust. Once you find the combination that works for you, you'll look back and wonder why you had such a hard time, and be glad you're starting to feel better. Just one newbies recent experience, hoping it can help you.
Good luck, and stay on this board with us, we'll help as much as we can.
Ron
9 cm h2o
ZombieGirl, I know what you are talking about because I am claustrophobic too. At first I couldn't help the idea this thing was going to suffocate me. The mask my DME gave me was awful.
Read the forum for mask suggestions.
Try breathing for an hour with the mask while awake even if you can't sleep with it. At first, I felt like the pressure was suffocating me. By breathing with the mask for a week or so even when I didn't sleep, my lungs got stronger and I no longer felt this. In fact, I now have to put my hand in front of the vent sometimes to make sure the machine is on.
Check out those masks which have a minimum of stuff touching your face. The ideal would be a nasal pillow. With this type of mask, two small prongs go into your nostrils. Check out the Breeze system.
Then there are nasal masks that cover your nose. Check out the Mirage Vista. I liked this one because it didn't have anything touching my forehead and otherwise had a minimum of stuff touching my face. It has a clip that is easy to undo. It helps when you know you can take the mask off quickly if you have to.
The Mirage Activa is the nasal mask that gets the best reviews from people here because it leaks less, but it might not be for you since there is more stuff touching your face.
With both the nasal masks and nasal pillows, it's reassuring to know you can always breathe through your mouth if you have to.
I could not use these because my nose would become congested in the middle of the night. I am now using an Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask. When I started, I could not imagine using a full face mask due to my claustrophobia, but now it is not a problem. In part I had gotten used to using a mask already.
The Ultra Mirage FF mask has some nice features. It has an anti-asphyxiation valve which opens when the pressure is off and helps alleviate the fear of not being able to breathe. The clips are very easy to disconnect. I know I can remove it in two seconds if I have to. That helps with the claustrophobia.
I hope this helps.
Read the forum for mask suggestions.
Try breathing for an hour with the mask while awake even if you can't sleep with it. At first, I felt like the pressure was suffocating me. By breathing with the mask for a week or so even when I didn't sleep, my lungs got stronger and I no longer felt this. In fact, I now have to put my hand in front of the vent sometimes to make sure the machine is on.
Check out those masks which have a minimum of stuff touching your face. The ideal would be a nasal pillow. With this type of mask, two small prongs go into your nostrils. Check out the Breeze system.
Then there are nasal masks that cover your nose. Check out the Mirage Vista. I liked this one because it didn't have anything touching my forehead and otherwise had a minimum of stuff touching my face. It has a clip that is easy to undo. It helps when you know you can take the mask off quickly if you have to.
The Mirage Activa is the nasal mask that gets the best reviews from people here because it leaks less, but it might not be for you since there is more stuff touching your face.
With both the nasal masks and nasal pillows, it's reassuring to know you can always breathe through your mouth if you have to.
I could not use these because my nose would become congested in the middle of the night. I am now using an Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask. When I started, I could not imagine using a full face mask due to my claustrophobia, but now it is not a problem. In part I had gotten used to using a mask already.
The Ultra Mirage FF mask has some nice features. It has an anti-asphyxiation valve which opens when the pressure is off and helps alleviate the fear of not being able to breathe. The clips are very easy to disconnect. I know I can remove it in two seconds if I have to. That helps with the claustrophobia.
I hope this helps.
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littlebaddow
- Posts: 416
- Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2004 12:21 pm
- Location: Essex, England
ZG, plenty of good advice already given by other posters, please do persevere.
Many of us struggle with the equipment at first. It is, after all, most unatural to sleep with a mask on your face. It's worth remembering the alternative though. Untreated OSA can have very serious and possibly fatal consequences.
If you persevere you will get used to it with time. In my early days, I tried snoozing in an armchair for a short while during the day with the machine/mask, which helped me to get used to wearing it at night.
Good luck.
Many of us struggle with the equipment at first. It is, after all, most unatural to sleep with a mask on your face. It's worth remembering the alternative though. Untreated OSA can have very serious and possibly fatal consequences.
If you persevere you will get used to it with time. In my early days, I tried snoozing in an armchair for a short while during the day with the machine/mask, which helped me to get used to wearing it at night.
Good luck.
_________________
| Machine | Mask | |
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Airsense 10 & Airfit N20
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Janelle
The claustrophobia factor is a big reason most people give up. If the RTs would learn this and be a bit more flexible with mask choices, even to the point of giving several different types of masks to the patient for the first week, so if one was just freaking them out they could try another, there would be a lot more people complying from the get go. There are so many choices in just masks and most RTs give you little to none.
But, as much as you are not going to like hearing it, the mental factor is also a big part. You have to WANT this to work, you have to make up your mind you ARE going to do this. This therapy is not an OPTION, it is a NECESSITY just as much as insulin is for severe diabetics.
Sleep Apnea can affect your heart, can cause diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attacks, loss of libido, daytime drowsiness while driving, and death. Death from heart attacks or strokes, death from having a wreck while you are driving drowsy and can't stay awake. Many states will take your license away if you are caught driving with untreated sleep apnea and have a wreck.
I was lucky. I fell asleep while driving and for once was not even drowsy. If I had awakened even a second later I would have been in a head on collison and killed not only myself, but the car I hit and possibly caused severe injury to cars behind that one and myself. As it was I only sideswipped the other vehicle and no one even had a scratch, but I keep thinking of what could have happened. And all the near wrecks I had had over the last several years while driving drowsy.
You HAVE to find the mask and the machine that will give you the best treatment, but you also HAVE to use it, because if you don't the consequences are just too frightening.
But, as much as you are not going to like hearing it, the mental factor is also a big part. You have to WANT this to work, you have to make up your mind you ARE going to do this. This therapy is not an OPTION, it is a NECESSITY just as much as insulin is for severe diabetics.
Sleep Apnea can affect your heart, can cause diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attacks, loss of libido, daytime drowsiness while driving, and death. Death from heart attacks or strokes, death from having a wreck while you are driving drowsy and can't stay awake. Many states will take your license away if you are caught driving with untreated sleep apnea and have a wreck.
I was lucky. I fell asleep while driving and for once was not even drowsy. If I had awakened even a second later I would have been in a head on collison and killed not only myself, but the car I hit and possibly caused severe injury to cars behind that one and myself. As it was I only sideswipped the other vehicle and no one even had a scratch, but I keep thinking of what could have happened. And all the near wrecks I had had over the last several years while driving drowsy.
You HAVE to find the mask and the machine that will give you the best treatment, but you also HAVE to use it, because if you don't the consequences are just too frightening.
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ahujudybear
- Posts: 354
- Joined: Mon May 23, 2005 10:12 am
- Location: Franklin, WI
I GAVE UP
Yeah...
I'm sure the claustrophobia factor was a huge part of my initial resistance. It seems that those of us who have spent any time at all in an iron lung (near fatal polio in 1952) have that baggage along with the weak breathing muscles to contend with.
Also (if you can swing it) try starting with minimal levels - maybe a setting of 5? or 10?, or start with a sensitive machine like the Puritan-Bennett GoodKnight 420 (or the 425 BiPAP that I use.) It has a tiny sensory tube that causes the machine to respond more quickly when you try to breathe in, so that you can breathe more naturally. Then gradually increase the numbers until you get to where you are supposed to be? (But this will only work if you can get a Rx like that from your Dr. or get a machine where you have access to the settings. )
But just keep trying different equipment and different settings until both you and your Dr. are happy.
I wish you well.
- JB
I'm sure the claustrophobia factor was a huge part of my initial resistance. It seems that those of us who have spent any time at all in an iron lung (near fatal polio in 1952) have that baggage along with the weak breathing muscles to contend with.
Also (if you can swing it) try starting with minimal levels - maybe a setting of 5? or 10?, or start with a sensitive machine like the Puritan-Bennett GoodKnight 420 (or the 425 BiPAP that I use.) It has a tiny sensory tube that causes the machine to respond more quickly when you try to breathe in, so that you can breathe more naturally. Then gradually increase the numbers until you get to where you are supposed to be? (But this will only work if you can get a Rx like that from your Dr. or get a machine where you have access to the settings. )
But just keep trying different equipment and different settings until both you and your Dr. are happy.
I wish you well.
- JB
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Guest
Me Too!!!
ZOMBIEGIRL,
I TOO HAVE GIVEN UP. I've tried for almost three weeks and can't get more than 3 hours a night. In fact I got 4+ hours the first night and every night less and less. 1 1/2 hours the last night I attempted. I move around too much in bed. It's Leak, Leak, Leak. No Money For Different Masks or Pillows.
I get a new mask every six months. I'll get a different mask and try again in 5 months.
I know how you feel.
Waltmon
I TOO HAVE GIVEN UP. I've tried for almost three weeks and can't get more than 3 hours a night. In fact I got 4+ hours the first night and every night less and less. 1 1/2 hours the last night I attempted. I move around too much in bed. It's Leak, Leak, Leak. No Money For Different Masks or Pillows.
I get a new mask every six months. I'll get a different mask and try again in 5 months.
I know how you feel.
Waltmon
Guest,
I also could not sleep more than three hours per night. At that point my sinuses would become congested. I didn't even realize that at first since they usually did not completely close off. Less air was getting in. It was really noticeable if I put a finger over one nostril and tried to breathe through the other. If that's the case, then a full face mask may be the answer.
Solving this could save you money in the long run. It could save you from very costly health problems.
I also could not sleep more than three hours per night. At that point my sinuses would become congested. I didn't even realize that at first since they usually did not completely close off. Less air was getting in. It was really noticeable if I put a finger over one nostril and tried to breathe through the other. If that's the case, then a full face mask may be the answer.
Solving this could save you money in the long run. It could save you from very costly health problems.