Another newbie question

[ZeroDigger]

I really appreciate this site and the tremendous amount of information available and the wonderful people who have such patience.

I’ve had a sleep study and two attempts at titration studies. The sleep study reports an average of five apneas per hour, although a lot of them came in advanced stages of sleep. My oxygen saturation also dropped to about 78 at one point, till the technician added supplemental oxygen.

During the first titration study, I had some problems with the mask fitting (leaks into my eyes, for one), and it appeared my mouth pops open as I start to go to sleep, since the technician brought in a chin strap. Results of the study were poor enough that a second one was suggested, and I attempted to cooperate.

During the second study, I used a Swift FX Nasal Pillow (with a chin strap) that was really comfortable, but early in the night I got tangled in the wires, hose and bedding and swallowed enough air to cause a stomach ache. This pretty much kept me from sleeping much the rest of the night. The doctor than prescribed an APAP for me, set to work between 5 and 15.

I just received my equipment yesterday, so last night was my first night to try it in my own bed. Unfortunately, even though I practiced with the equipment while sitting up a few times, for a half hour to an hour, once in bed I was able to tolerate everything for only two hours or so, and I don’t think I slept a wink the whole time.

My supplier has now loaned me a Comfort Full 2 full face mask, and I just tried that for a little while.

My problem seems to be that, when I put a mask on and start the machine, I start breathing as though I’ve just finished some strenuous exercise, but it never seems to slow down to a normal level. This keeps me wide awake.

Any advice?

…and, thanks in advance!

[jbn3boys]

It sounds like you might need a higher pressure to begin with. Does it feel like you just can't catch your breath? Then I'd put a call in to the doc to see if you could adjust your lower pressure up a bit.

Do you have the ramp function turned on? If so, you could consider turning that off.

Do you have the A-Flex turned on? to what setting?

What about the humidity? Maybe turn it up some, unless you are getting condensation in your mask.

Just know that you CAN adjust to this! Many people have a very difficult time to begin with, but with the help of this forum, many have learned how to do it. There are many others here who will be willing to help.

It might also be helpful to be a little more specific in your subject line on future posts. Maybe something like "Newbie ? about adjusting to cpap" or "Newbie ? How to Adjust to Mask" or whatever. Just an idea.

[HoseCrusher]

Try hyperventilating a little just before you put the mask on. 3 - 4 deep breaths should be enough to settle you down. If that doesn't help you may have to increase your low pressure a little.

[ZeroDigger]

Thanks for the helpful responses!

I think the suggestion to up the lower pressure is a really good one.

In answer to jbn3boys, the ramp is turned off, A-Flex is turned on, to 3, I think, as per the doctor’s instructions. I’ve gradually been turning up the humidity. So far, there hasn’t been any condensation. Is that the major clue that the humidity’s too high? Or will I notice that the air temperature gets too warm?

And in answer to HoseCrusher: I’ll try the hyperventilating. Thanks for the suggestion.

[bap40]

I agree the setting is too low.

[jbn3boys]

Ramp, A-Flex, Humidity, these are all just comfort measures. They should be able to be adjusted without a doctor's approval. And the ideal setting for one person will be different than the ideal settings for another person. The clue is to find what works for you.

As for the humidity, yes, if you get condensation, you will want to back off on the humidity. With that being said, there are some people who tolerate xpap therapy better with less humidity, or no humidity at all. Sometimes, it is even counter-intuitive--if you think you would like more humidity, you actually do better with no humidity. It's just a trial and error kind of thing.

As for HoseCrusher's suggestion, I think it sounds like a great one, but I'm not sure hyperventilating is the right term. Taking 3-4 DEEP breaths is a great idea. I often have to do that. I take the deepest breaths I can, often leading to yawning. Once I feel no need to yawn, and have FILLED my body with oxygen, and thereby calmed my body down, I am able to put my mask on with much more ease.

I think any increase in your lower pressure should be approved by your doctor, especially this early in your treatment. I think I was done a great dis-service when I started in that my pressure was changed without the approval of an actual sleep doctor, but by a pcp who doesn't know much about cpap.

[DocWeezy]

In addition to all the good suggestions....just hang in there! I think adjusting to xpap is really desensitization process, and that can take TIME for many of us. Face it, it isn't real natural to have this thing clinging to your face all night blowing air at you. Our subconscious minds rebel and either won't let us sleep or make us rip the mask off in the middle of the night with no memory of doing so.

I don't think I slept hardly at all for the first month or so--at least it felt that way. I had panic attacks and everything else. BUT I stuck with it, kept reading stuff here, kept tweaking my pressures and modifying my mask. Slowly but surely I started sleeping longer and longer. Now I'm sleeping longer and better than I have for decades, and I'm about 2.5 months into the process.

Give your body and mind time to adjust to this new thing. You'll get there! And after a while you'll look back and wonder why you ever had a problem with it....it just becomes such a normal part of your life.

Weezy

[Janknitz]

You might try wearing the CPAP for an hour or two during the day, when you are doing a quiet activity like reading, watching T.V., or listening to music. This will help desensitize you to the CPAP.

Eventually you will get comfortable, in the beginning, distraction helps. Part of the reason you may feel like you are breathing so hard is that the sound of your breathing is magnified. Covering that noise with some white noise like a fan, sound machine, or very soft music will help.

[ZeroDigger]

I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate your responses. Together, you make enormous sense, and your support means so much. It’s good for a beginner to hear the advice about adjusting the humidity, too.

I do have to mention that I can breathe quite a bit easier with the Swift nasal pillows. Does it make a difference that the air is delivered more directly with pillows than with a full face mask?

Your second paragraph, DocWeezy, “I don't think I slept hardly at all for the first month or so--at least it felt that way. I had panic attacks and everything else. BUT I stuck with it, kept reading stuff here, kept tweaking my pressures and modifying my mask. Slowly but surely I started sleeping longer and longer. Now I'm sleeping longer and better than I have for decades, and I'm about 2.5 months into the process” is especially helpful, since I’m feeling a little panicky about not being able to “get with it.”

[DocWeezy]

We're all there with you, ZeroDigger! This is a tough thing to do, but the end results are well worth it.

If you're a competitive/obsessive person who likes to be in control like I am, the idea of something being out of my control was really hard to take...my subconscious was reacting poorly and my body was rebelling and I felt like I was just along for the bumpy and frustrating ride. I thought I was doing something wrong because I wasn't adjusting fast enough, and I had nights where I didn't think I'd ever sleep again. The reality was that my expectations were out of line with reality, and I was one of those who was going to struggle with this, darn it!

But desensitizing helped....I took the machine and my mask to my office and wore it while I was working (I work from home and no one sees me!). I did that for several days and it helped my mind accept the fact that I COULD breathe with the mask.

Time is your friend in this situation, as long as you stick with it and use your machine every night--even if you don't make it all night.

I wouldn't have been this successful without all the knowledgeable and experience folks here who are so willing to share and help others, and learning that I wasn't the only one fighting the stupid machine was the first step towards conquering it.

Weezy

[jweeks]

I just received my equipment yesterday, so last night was my first night to try it in my own bed. Unfortunately, even though I practiced with the equipment while sitting up a few times, for a half hour to an hour, once in bed I was able to tolerate everything for only two hours or so, and I don’t think I slept a wink the whole time.

Hi,

This is OK. I was too chicken to use my machine the first night, and I lasted less than 2 hours the 2nd night. By the end of that week, I was ready to put the machine through the window. It is only normal to have start-up issues like this. This is a lot of new stuff, it doesn't feel natural, and you probably got sent for a little bit of a loop when you found out what was wrong and what you need to do for treatment. Trust me, this will quickly become second nature. I cannot imagine attempting to sleep without my machine. It is my "new normal".

All I can suggest is to keep trying. If you have issues, problems, concerns, need to vent, or just want to talk, feel free to post here. The folks in this group talked me down off of the ledge more than once during those first few weeks.

-john-

[cflame1]

ZeroDigger,
You may find that you have to change or shut off the FLEX. Your machine has multiple varieties of FLEX, so you should be able to try any or all of them before making a decision as to what to do about the FLEX.
CFLEX for an example, when I had a CPAP used to make me hyperventilate... my machine didn't have AFLEX... so I just turned it off.

[cflame1]

ZeroDigger,
You may find that you have to change or shut off the FLEX. Your machine has multiple varieties of FLEX, so you should be able to try any or all of them before making a decision as to what to do about the FLEX.
CFLEX for an example, when I had a CPAP used to make me hyperventilate... my machine didn't have AFLEX... so I just turned it off.

[wildekat]

Another newbie here. I've now had my first 2 nights of CPAP treatment. I've managed to keep the mask on all night, but I use imaging techniques, putting myself in a situation where I am under control. I visualize that I am scuba diving (which I have never done in my life), and imagine all kinds of interesting things I'm seeing. I will run a sound CD with water sounds to enhance the experience. It just takes a little imagination to take myself outside reality. Anytime I woke up, I used this technique and fell back to sleep fairly easily. The only problem I am experiencing is irritation on the bridge of my nose, so I am working on getting the right fit on the mask.

[pickuptruck]

Try different masks. each face is different. each mask is different.