Heeeeeeelllp!!!!!!

snoremonger · Post by **snoremonger** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 10:30 am

OK. Got started Wednesday night with Res Med S7 lightweight and Ultra Mirage mask. Struggled with it from about 10:30 to 1:30 or so, pulled it off, thru it on the floor and felt like crap the next day. The mask kept leaking around the seal so I would tighten it a bit and that put enough pressure on my nasal area that my nose stopped up. By midnight I felt like an elephant was standing on my chest. I am having a hard time exhaling completely (pressure is set at 4 ramping to 9).

The next day I took the mask back to my DME (not real helpful people and have a limited selection) and traded the Ultra Mirage for a Lyra CPAP Nasal Interface with 4 different sizes of nose thingys. Spent most of the next night messing with changing sizes, tightening, loosening, etc. Finally got to sleep around 2 am and slept OK thru the night. Yesterday my nose hurt like and last night only could wear it about 2 hours.

Since I have started I have had a headache every day and I didn't have that before. Now it is the weekend and I can't try anything different. Does the exhalation get any easier or do I need to be on a different type of machine?

My DME is not too helpful and my doctor is clueless (may need to change Dr's). Any help I get is going to have to come from right here so I am very open to any input.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): mirage, CPAP, DME, seal

Barnaby · Post by **Barnaby** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 10:37 am

There isnt anyone it seems that is happy from the first attempt.
I started 6 mths ago and went to several masks until I sttled on the swift nasal system. All I found was that until last nite I always had a dry mouth and throat in the wake up times in the am. For 3 nitesd npw I have been using a bi level machine made by resmed which inhales and allows me to exhale. it is set for 15/9....now I am fine in the morning but i am awake most of the nite by the sound of the air coming out of the mask vents.
So stick with it..you might have a few things to work out as you go along.
You will get a lot pf suggesions here.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 1:08 pm

Welcome to the club, snoremonger. I felt very much like you in the beginning (back in March and April).

A pressure of 9 seemed impossible to breathe against. I promise you, exhalation gets much easier, eventually you won't feel it.

Fussing and fiddling with the mask instead of sleeping on the first night, taking it off, throwing in on the wall, cursing - the works - are all familiar to many of us.

Take it as it comes - you have to train yourself to this new way of sleeping, and training takes time: You've got to learn to breath differently, sleep with a mask on you face and hose hopefully not around your neck - easier for some, more difficult for others.

Between the pressure the unaccsomed noise, and uncomfortable masks I thought I would never sleep.

But I knew I needed the therapy, found these forums, and now I can't imagine sleeping without my machine and mask. I used to wake up at night with my heart banging, sleep was a time of stress and tension - now I go to bed happily and usually fall asleep quickly. I have my bad nights, but so does everyone. I never wake up in panic any more - life is simply better.

Read read read, ask questions - someone has usually been there already and will help you gladly - and don't get upset at not having a miracle. It is miraculous therapy for some - but takes time for many others.

Hang in there - we're here to help.

O.

Twinsanity · Post by **Twinsanity** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 1:12 pm

Snore, I just started with the machine on Tues night and seem to be a lucky one where everything's gone fairly right from the get go. Your masks--with the nose pain--sound like crap. Do what you can to get through the weekend and then maybe ask for a Mirage Swift nasal pillow? That's what I started with and it's really working for me. Of course, everyone is different but that one is pretty popular here as far as I've seen.

As far as a different machine, 9 is not a terribly high pressure. Mine is set at 7.5 so you're not a whole lot higher. Any pressure does take some getting used to but I think lower ones are probably easier. That said, too low was harder for me. I think ramping is a better idea for those with much higher pressures. At 4, I felt like I was fighting the Swift for breath. Maybe try not using the ramp?

Another thing, try just wearing your gear (running) while watching TV or reading (whatever you can do that's relaxing while sitting up) during the day. Giving yourself a chance to get used to everything without the pressure of "I've GOT TO SLEEP!"

I've got the daytime headaches too. I think it's sinus, unused to the air pressure difference. I'm trusting that will go away as my body adjusts. If not, it's back to the doc/DME/drawing board.

Good luck, Snore...you CAN do this!

Twinsanity · Post by **Twinsanity** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 1:20 pm

Something else...do you have a heated humidifier? Mine is integrated but I googled your machine and it's not. If you don't have one, GET ONE. I can't even imagine doing this without it. The humidity seems to "soften" the air pressure and is really helping my chronically stuffy/sniffly nose.

Severeena · Post by **Severeena** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 3:28 pm

I started out with a mask that loved to make obscene noises and kept then boyfriend, now hubby up at night and he has a noisey CPAP and leaky mask, but this was the worst.

I finally went out of pocket and purchased my very first Hans Rudolph Full Face mask.

I love my HR and my hubby is thinking seriously of checking into a Hans Rudolph.

Good Luck.

Born Tired · Post by **Born Tired** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 7:21 pm

snoremonger wrote: The mask kept leaking around the seal so I would tighten it a bit and that put enough pressure on my nasal area that my nose stopped up. By midnight I felt like an elephant was standing on my chest. I am having a hard time exhaling completely (pressure is set at 4 ramping to 9).

Dear Snoremonger,
Welcome. You'll be able to learn a lot, and the folks here will encourage you to stick with it. This forum has been a big help for me.
My Remstar Pro has Cflex which decreases some of the pressure as you exhale so it is so much easier to breathe out. It can be a life saver when you are starting out. I'm not a big person and during my titration study I had a horrible time trying to exhale. No way could I sleep when I was having to push to exhale. I'm supposed to get an auto soon and will get the Cflex again. I think there are other machines with this same feature but called something different.
I have been on cpap for more than a year and have yet to find a great fit in a mask. In order for them not to leak, I have to tighten too much and end up with pressure areas especially over the bridge of my nose. Next week I'll be getting an Aura which is really getting great reviews from most at this site. It has become the new favorite even over the Swift for many.
I quite using my ramp feature early on. Seemed to do better without it.
Hope things quickly improve for you!
Esther

Oh 2 breathe · Post by **Oh 2 breathe** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 7:38 pm

I use the Remstar Auto C-Flex as well and it is very easy on the out breath.

I can relate to your tiredness and frustration in the middle of the night. Many of us have been there. It will get easier over time, I promise.

I had a terrible reaction to the masks that jammed up my nostrils. I have sensitive skin and was made very sore from these masks. You might want to try several kinds of masks before you settle. My supplier allowed me to try two masks at a time for up to 30 days before I finally settled on the right one for me. I personally like the Comfort Curve (which surprisingly many people on this forum do not like). It fits comfortably just under my nose and does not leave any red marks or soreness. There is no perfect mask but you need to find one that doesn't torture you and then try to grow into it.

Hang in there. Once you find the right combo for you you are going to feel a lot better.

~ OTB

loonlvr · Post by **loonlvr** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 7:50 pm

WHEN i STARTED 2 YEARS AGO, i COULD ONLY GO A FEW HRS. bUT i SLOWLY WORKED MY WAY UP UNTIL i COULD GO A FULL NITE. SO GO SLOW, WEAR IT AS MANY HOURS AS POSSABLE, THEN TAKE IT OFF. DON.T FORCE THE ISSUE. SLOWLY IT WILL BECOME SOMETHING YOU RARELY EVEN NOTICE YOU HAVE ON. ALSO ITS GOOD TO HAVE TWO MASKS YOU LIKE. tHEN ROTATE THEM EVERY SO OFTEN. EACH MASK HAS DIFF PRESSURE POINTS ON THE FACE. GOOD LUCK.

snoremonger · Post by **snoremonger** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 7:14 am

WooooooHoooooo!!!!!! Just wanted to say thanks for all the encouragement! I had pretty much decided to scrap the cpap until next week. Went to bed last night after reading all the words of encouragement and decided to try it for a couple of hours. Woke up at 7:15 this morning and I feel awesome!!!!

Thanks guys.

Oh 2 breathe · Post by **Oh 2 breathe** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 7:45 am

I'm so glad for you and that the encouragement you got made a difference. All the obstacles seem so much more insurmountable when you are severely sleep deprived and feel all alone in your struggles. This forum has been an invaluable resource for learning and support for me too.

~ OTB

Babbie · Post by **Babbie** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 8:07 am

snoremonger---we've all been where you are. I'm fairly new at this too - started about 2 months ago. A good mask or nasal pillows can make all the difference. I started with the Comfort Gel (I laugh at the name because it's NOT, comfortable). I know there are lots of folks out there that love it but it was like strapping a brick to my face--what you're going through sounds a lot like what I did with that one. Tried 2 others (one with pillows) and both leaked awful. I just started with the Activa and so far it's the best I've found. Still get a leak every now and then but am able to get rid of it quickly ---don't have to fiddle around with it. This just takes time---it just doesn't feel natural to have something on your face and straps on your head!! This is the VERY best place to come. The folks on here are just great--helpful, friendly, sometimes funny, and they never, ever tell you a question is dumb. I also go to another site but this one is much better. Hang in there - try different masks until you get one that you're comfortable with. Keep posting so we know how you're doing - good luck!

duffkins1101 · Post by **duffkins1101** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 9:17 am

Like you, I use the same machine and mask. I just completed 13 months of therapy and just let me say that it has made a hugh difference in my life.
Yes, in the beginning I was waking up with the mask lying right alongside of me. But as time went on, and I was noticing how much better I felt, I stopped doing it.
As for the stuffy nose, I found that by using Breathe Right Nasal Strips it helped me breathe through my nose. Now I no longer use therm except when I have a head cold which isn't too often. Hope this helps

Heeeeeeelllp!!!!!!

Heeeeeeelllp!!!!!!

Re: Heeeeeeelllp!!!!!!

don't give up!

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