Day 4. Is this some kind of joke?

[CharlesVer]

Day 4, worst day so far.

Lying in bed, mask on. Swallow air. Burp. Gas. Swallow air. Burp. Gas.
Need to sleep. Must sleep. Leak, hiss. Leak, hiss. Swallow air. Burp. Trying to keep mouth closed, trying to stop myself from swallowing air. Air pushing. Gulp. Burp. Leak, hiss.

2 hours later, more awake then I was all day long.
Shut off machine, take off mask, throw it angrily to floor.
Still not feeling good.
Spend time on the computer.

Is there some God out there, playing some massive practical joke on me?

It is 2:45 a.m. and I'm supposed to go to work in the morning.

I thought this machine was supposed to be some sort of magical cure.
That's what everyone told me.
It's WONDERFUL. I couldn't sleep, I got the machine, and everything was WONDERFUL.

Life is hell.

Charlie

PS. I'd tell you what kind of machine I have, but now my wife is asleep and I don't want to wake her, all the paperwork and the machine is in the room. May be tomorrow I'll call in sick and put it in. I usually post from work.

[CharlesVer]

Why, oh Why, oh Why?

It seems I can sleep any time, ANY TIME, except, at night.

[kteague]

I don't envy those going thru the adjustment phase while maintaining a regular work schedule. I remember how that was. Either getting your mask to work for you or finding a mask that will is going to make a world of difference. Finding the right humidity level that is comfortable but low enough to prevent rainout will help too. It would be nice if your machine is data capable so you could see if the leak rate is high enough to compromise your treatment (as if waking you and disrupting your sleep isn't compromising your treatment!).

I'm not a big proponent of sleep meds, but maybe a little something OTC can take the edge off tomorrow night. In spite of how you feel now, it's unlikely you'll consider this a cruel trick after you get a taste of good sleep. I hope that happens soon for you as it was that experience that motivated me to keep seeking after it again and again.

Kathy

[TerryB]

Charlie,
It is tough to adjust to this therapy. Aerophagia (sp?) is on of the more uncomfortable side effects.
Happily I've not had much problem with that. As soon as you can give us all your equipment and setting information.
Hopefully, we'll be able to give you some info. which will allow you to be more comfortable and get the benefits of your CPAP.

Good Luck,
TerryB

[mindy]

I was on Ambien before starting cpap and stayed on Ambien for more than a year. I'm now off Ambien and find that my cpap actually helps me to sleep. In the beginning I wouldn't have said that

Mindy

[webgrunt]

Since I got used to mine, I have never wanted to sleep without it--not even a quick nap. I have a full mask and it took me a couple weeks. You may need to try a different mask if you can't get used to the one you have.

[CharlieVer]

ResMed S8 Series II.
ResMed Mirage Quattro Full Face Mask.

My setting is 16.

[mindy]

ResMed S8 Series II.
ResMed Mirage Quattro Full Face Mask.

My setting is 16.

I'm hesitant to suggest his and hope others with more knowledge will chime in here. 16 is a fairly high pressure. Would it make any sense to start a little lower and gradually build up (realizing that it wouldn't be ideal therapy ... but then not using it isn't ideal either!).

Mindy

[CharlieVer]

I start at 4, ramp 20 minutes.

It takes me longer than 20 minutes to fall asleep, however.
Sometimes considerably longer, when wife is moving around doing things.
(I COULD reset the ramp at that time. I find at the very low setting I'm gasping a bit.)

[mdbarthe]

Hi, Charlie.

Ramping from 4 up to 16 is a long jump. I would suggest (I'm no doctor and have no expertise - only my own experience over two years) bumping that up to at least 10 to begin with.

Starting therapy is tough. We're not supposed to have something strapped to our faces and wind blowing down our throats when we are trying to relax and sleep. BUT.......the good news is that patience and persistence brings a terrific pay-off. Not just in a rested and good feeling in the morning but better overall physical health.

Hang in there!

[CharlieVer]

Last night, I was up longer than 20 minutes, didn't reset the ramp. May be I should have reset when I realized I wasn't sleeping and at full force.

Then again, if I'm swallowing air and burping all the time, I'll bet even my "sleep" isn't sleep.
If apnea can keep waking you up to an ultra-light quasi-sleep, so can air getting pushed down your throat and being burped up (or in the other direction) a few times a minute.

Even though I slept on Day 3 (with help of an old prescription cough syrup I had) the next day, I was dog-tired ALL DAY LONG. I was blaming the cough syrup. Now I'm betting it's the burping.

Last night, I think it's that I was trying to keep my passages closed, to stop myself from swallowing. Hard to concentrate on keeping my mouth closed (because I hate the feeling of chimpmunk-cheek), keeping my passages closed (whatever the flap is in back of your throat, to stop from swallowing -- and God forbid I get any saliva and really want to swallow, which happened a couple times), to concentrate on those and actually fall asleep.

I will probably call the doctor later and ask if it's possible to change my setting to something lower than 16. As far as I know, the thing is programmed to 16 and can't be reprogrammed without doctor's intervention. (Is that what the little data card is for?)

I also want to call the Resmed people and get a nasal mask instead of the face mask.

Charlie

[Guest]

Can I play with the ramp levels?

I haven't really played with my buttons. The only thing I know I can do is change the number of minutes (no ramp, 5 min, 10 min...)

The only thing I've used that for is to force a "no ramp" to try to adjust my straps (then reset to 20 minute ramp when I think the straps are right.)

[mdbarthe]

Do you have the same machine that I do; the Resmed S8 Autoset II? If so, is there some reason it is set at a constant pressure of 16 rather than being set to the auto mode? If it is an auto machine, why not ask the doctor if you can set a range of say, 13-20cm H20 in the auto mode and try that.

[ozij]

Hi Charlie,
Many of us "play with our buttons" - some of us change our pressure as well as the ramp.

16 is a lot - there are machine, that will give you separate pressure for inhale (higher) and exhale (lower) and that may help making the therapy easier on you. Some insurance companies, however, need proof that simple fixed pressure was tried, and failed, before they will pay for the more expensive bi-level machines. Comlaining to the doc may convince him to try a bi-level machine for you.

And I know that for some people the aerophagia (gas swallowing) gets better on a bi-level machine too.

I'm on this forum because getting used to the therapy was so comlicated that I looed for help on the internet. I think most of us are here for similar reasons. Which means we've been through versions of what you're going through; you're not alone in your frustration, disappointment, and mask throwing!

Hang in there!
O.

[momadams]

For many (including me), aerophagia goes away as the body adjusts.
I had leaks with the original full face mask, very few with the Swift, none with the Headrest.
Be sure to take a look at the Newbie info and Our Wisdom info at the top of this page.

This contraption WILL work. Those first weeks aren't fun (except for my annoying sons who simply strapped on their equipment, went to sleep, and wondered what all the fuss was about...)

In a little while you'll be emailing to say "The damnedest thing happened - I woke up and didn't even feel the mask or the air pressure!"

And keep posting here - we're pretty helpful folk.

Shari