1st night last night...

paradigmer · Post by **paradigmer** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:40 am

Hi all, I'm a complete newbie to CPAP and OSA. I was just recently diagnosed with "moderate" sleep apnea after doing an overnight sleep study. I stopped breathing a total of 108 times ranging from 10 seconds to the longest one being 1:45 seconds.

Anyway, I got my CPAP Machine yesterday. It's a respironics with the built-in humidifier. THey sent a nasal mask and I was understanding that they would send a full mask.

My question is about the nasal mask, I think I was rebreathing--it didn't seem very easy to exhale. I actually (apparently) woke up at some point in the night and ripped the mask off my head. I don't remember much--only that I wasn't breathing and I think I may have been re-breathing my own CO2.

The mask supposedly has a vent to let out the Co2, but I could never feel any air coming out. Also, the pressure in the mask is so high that it feels very hard to exhale. Is that normal for a Nasal Mask?

Thanks for your input.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:53 am

Welcome and fill in your profile.

Its difficult to help you out without knowing what equipment you have.

bap40 · Post by **bap40** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:01 am

It is harder to exhale with a straight CPAP. I didn't really have a problem with that part, got used to it quickly. My new machine has A/Flex and I don't feel any pressure on exhale. So to answer your question, yes, there is pressure and yes, you should feel air coming from the part of the mask that has the openings for the co2 release.

paradigmer · Post by **paradigmer** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:05 am

I will get my info and fill out my profile.

I called the company that sent me my machine and mask (Apria) and set up an appt. this afternoon at their local office to go over set up with them and to pick up a full face mask.

I apparently breath through both my mouth and nose so the nasal only mask won't work I'm guessing.

I had a horrible night last night...I ended up ripping the mask off of my face at some point (I don't remember). I think I stopped breathing or perhaps i breathed through my mouth and felt something weird.

I plan on spending alot of time on this forum to learn everything i can.

I have turned into a walking zombie due to the sleep apnea. I'm "only" 39, and have always been very healthy and active previously up until the last couple of years.

Now, I have no energy or desire to do anything. I'm really hoping the CPAP therapy helps cure all of this.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:08 am

C-flex (not A-flex) is the feature of the machine that helps exhalation, but you can turn it on or off on the machines providing they have the feature to begin with, so check and see if yours says so (right on top). It would also be most helpful to know your prescribed pressure(s) and if you were using the ramp feature or not and, if so, at what timing.

BigMoose · Post by **BigMoose** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:44 am

Hi paradigmer, and congrats on finding the forum. I too am a new CPAPer... Don't worry much about the first night, in mine I dreamed for the first time in months, that I remember, and the dream was my machine coming after me with it's hose! Sort of anime like! It has consistently gotten better. In fact, last night was my best. No bathroom trips, and an AHI under 1.0 that's down from the 30 in my sleep study.

Stay positive and read this forum is the best advice I can give... you will get there.

On specifics, I have used a full face mask, Quattro and used C-FLEX on 1, the lightest, when I switched to the OPUS 360 nasal pillows, I preferred C-FLEX on 3, the greatest relief. Also the Quattro bled the most purge air, about 39 L/min @10 CM H20, and the Opus a little over 24 L/min. That is the built in bleed that flushes the CO2 out of the air path. I am a bearded guy, so I had substantial leakage with the Quattro, best about 68 L/min; last night was my best with the OPUS, right at 24-25L/min, so I had nil unintended leakage.

Let folks know your masks and equipment and we can tell you specifically where to look for the bleed air exhaust to make sure yours is working.

Hope this helps, and take your time getting used to breathing against the pressure. I would say it took me about 7 nights to get fully acclimated to 10 CM H2O, and I also spent a good 8 waking hours deliberately breathing thru my masks to set my subconscious at ease. Got to admit it took a bit for this ol' guy to get used to his equipment... but I wouldn't be without it now!

paradigmer · Post by **paradigmer** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:09 pm

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I will post all my "stats" tonight when I get home.

I just got back from the home medical supplier people and they gave me a full mask.

I hope and pray that this works tonight. I cannot remember the last time I slept well!

paradigmer · Post by **paradigmer** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:01 am

Ok, I've filled out my profile with my equipment info.

Last night was my 2nd night and I switched to the full face mask.

I had terrible, horrible gas and burping which kept me awake. I went to bed around 10pm and woke up at 12:30 and couldn't go back to sleep until about 3am.

Does the gas / bloating / burping go away eventuallY?