I quit EDIT, Trying again

[murph1031]

Thanks for the replys. I understand I haven't posted much if any here. I thought I did last week when this mess started. But anyhow, I have read this forum and used it as the great resource it is. April 2010 I went to the ER because I couldn't breath. I was told I had Arrhythmia. I was shocked back into rythem while in the hospital, they kept me in for four days. I was back outa rythem less than a week out of hosptial. I was sent for a sleep study, which was suppose to last from 7pm until 7am. Around midnight during the study I was awaken to be told that I had servere sleep apnea, not sure off hand how many times I stopped breathing, but they spent the rest of the study having me test the machines.
When I got the machine first, the mask was to big, so they gave me a smaller mask. The strap on the one I'm using now is way to big for my head and I have it streched to its limit. I have told my doctor about this but he seems to think its not a problem. We have tried 3 different kinds of prescribed sleep aids with no luck, I am currently taking an over the counter PM pill.
I do have high blood pressure, taking 50mg a day, also on blood thinners and inhibiters. I was shocked back into rythrem again this past April, it took the doctor two attempts to get me back, I was back out 3 days later.
Heres what happens when I try to use the mask. When (and I mean when) I fall asleep, which is usally around 11pm, I have to be up for work at 4.45am, I'm usaully awake around 2am, and eventually give up trying to get back to sleep and remove the mask. Usually when I see my sleep doctor, mu usage rate is bewteen 75 and 90%, so the problem is not that I'm not using the mask.
I am using a full face mask, would the smaller type be worth a try, and if so can you recommend a good site to purchase. I also have to sleep using 3 pillows, with my head rasied, otherwise I wake up with sereve pain in my chest. I've been told by my heart doctor that this is not heart related, and my sleep doctpr tells me its not machine related.
The machine is a Resmed, and when I take it to my sleep doctor they take it somewhere and hook it up to somthing to read the data, not sure if I can check it here at home.

Thanks for any help
Murph

[ems]

Ditto to everything said above. I hope you reconsider. Your life may depend upon it.

[BlackSpinner]

I also have to sleep using 3 pillows, with my head rasied, otherwise I wake up with sereve pain in my chest. I've been told by my heart doctor that this is not heart related, and my sleep doctpr tells me its not machine related.

Probably GERD - silent acid reflux. Mine disappeared with cpap therapy. Invest in a wedge or prop the head of the bed on 4X4 blocks and use Losec or its equivalent.

[archangle]

It would help if you fill out the equipment in your profile. There's a link at the bottom of my post. We might have a suggestion if we know the particular mask and machine.

Do you know what pressure you're getting from the machine? It may say something on the display when it's running.

Is there anything in particular that makes you wake up? Leaks, can't breathe, too much air, etc.

Shame on them for not working with you on the mask. Most manufacturers will allow the DME to return a mask for free in the first 30 days.

You can buy masks online at cpap.com who sponsors this site or at other online sellers. You may need a copy of your prescription. You can pay extra up front and get an option to swap masks, but if you swap, you usually lose the money for "insurance" and shipping.

Most insurance will pay for a new mask every 3 or 6 months. Some DMEs will scam you by not including the headgear.

You can often find cheap headgear on ebay.

[murph1031]

I also have to sleep using 3 pillows, with my head rasied, otherwise I wake up with sereve pain in my chest. I've been told by my heart doctor that this is not heart related, and my sleep doctpr tells me its not machine related.

Probably GERD - silent acid reflux. Mine disappeared with cpap therapy. Invest in a wedge or prop the head of the bed on 4X4 blocks and use Losec or its equivalent.

I only get the pain when using the mask, sleep without and I wake up painlesss.

I will fill out the info on my machine inmy profile Monday.
Thanks

[moresleep]

Sounds like your immediate challenge is finding a mask that works for you. I know from personal experience that can be difficult. I went through two full-face masks, at least five different nasal masks, an oral mask and three types of pillow masks, before I found what works for me: a Swift II pillow mask (unfortunately, this model has been superceded by ones that I do not like as much, but I still find replacement pillows on Ebay). I also had to clear up a chronic sinus problem; and, because during sleep I would allow the pressure to escape through my mouth, thwarting the therapy, I had to use 2" 3M Micropore tape to stop that "leak." But, by and large, I now have a system that works.

You really should not give up. Effective CPAP therapy will help a lot with high blood pressure and other health issues. You will be able to get a good night's sleep again, and will feel and function a lot better. The Resmed APAP ADAPT SV machine you have can be used in both straight CPAP as well as ASV modes, so should be capable of providing the therapy you need.

If I were you, as the next step, I would go to cpap.com and buy several different types of masks to try. You can also check out ebay.com and cpapauction.com for deals on masks. You should also consider buying a cheap recording oximeter on ebay (one that comes with software), so that you can see how your Ox2 and pulse rate are doing during the night--tells a lot about how well the CPAP therapy is working.

Good luck!

[JohnBFisher]

... If I were you, as the next step, I would go to CPAP.com and buy several different types of masks to try. You can also check out eBay.com and CPAPauction.com for deals on masks. ...

Since funds sound as if they are tight, doing the research on CPAP.com and then going to CPAPauction.com to purchase the mask might be a better option. I would not trust masks from eBay.

[freshair]

I also have to sleep using 3 pillows, with my head rasied, otherwise I wake up with sereve pain in my chest. I've been told by my heart doctor that this is not heart related, and my sleep doctpr tells me its not machine related.

Probably GERD - silent acid reflux. Mine disappeared with cpap therapy. Invest in a wedge or prop the head of the bed on 4X4 blocks and use Losec or its equivalent.

I only get the pain when using the mask, sleep without and I wake up painlesss.

I will fill out the info on my machine inmy profile Monday.
Thanks

The first time that I experienced chest pains on cpap was when I had my pressure increased from 10cm to 12cm...within an hr after being awake the ache/discomfort was gone...this went on for about 10 daze and then it went away...I had asked for the pressure increase because I had gained weight and I was taking my mask off almost everynite...most folks lose weight under therapy but I gained...bummer...my average therapy time is between 8-9 hrs...Also i made a switch on mask and went to the quattro FX because of this forum...my dme didn't know anything about the mask until i made a request'...I was using a quattro mirage ff and hated it but i stayed the course using it because i was feeling lots better...I had been to the er twice with a rapid heart condition and I made a request to go to a sleep clinic with my dr...he said i needed a shrink..I told him that i'm going to a sleep clinic....best decision i ever made...if i had to go one nite without my cpap buddy i'd be miserable...so murph stay the course...work with these people...be honest with your information...life will be better for ya'===FA

[Bodhi]

Well, Murph, you've heard some pretty hard truths over the past 4 hours from most of the big guns on the forum--people I respect for the truth they speak. If you quit, you're hosed. Better to be on the end of a hose thats pumping air and keeping you alive. Good luck.

[archangle]

I only get the pain when using the mask, sleep without and I wake up painlesss.

I will fill out the info on my machine inmy profile Monday.
Thanks

Unfortunately, sometimes CPAP makes GERD worse.

[moresleep]

If I were you, as the next step, I would go to cpap.com and buy several different types of masks to try. You can also check out ebay.com and cpapauction.com for deals on masks.

One caveat I should have added about masks is that your Adapt SV is notoriously finicky. You should probably start with masks recommeded by Resmed before going on to others that may or may not pass its "learn circuit."

[Paper_Nanny]

Most manufacturers will allow the DME to return a mask for free in the first 30 days.

I didn't want that information from archangle getting lost in the other suggestions about masks, because utlizing that return policy is the easiest, least expensive way to find a mask that will work for you. As long as you return the mask within 30 days, there should be no charge to you. And you can try as many masks as you need until you find what works for you. If your DME provider doesn't have a particular mask in stock and you want to try it, ask for it to be ordered for you.

Deborah

[murph1031]

OK folks I have up-dated my equipment in my profile. Went back to trying the mask again last night and heres what happened. This is a typical night for me.
Went to bed around 10.30pm, put tv on timer (1/2 and hour), and placed mask on face. Woke up at 1.30am, usual noise coming from mask, I decribse the noise as a farting sound for lack of a better description. Laid there until 2.40, unable to return to sleep. I then removed mask, and woke at my usual day of day time of 6.30am.
Did a history display on the machine and heres the info.
Mask fitting - excellent
Average pressure - 13.0
Usage - 3.25

I am going to edit the title of this tread from "I quit" to "trying again", hopefully with some help I can get this thing down. I do feel like one of my issues if the mask. The night of my sleep study, when they tried the masks on me, the first one they tried was the half face, just covered the nose. I couldn't breath with it on, I think looking back now it was because I was shocked by the amount of pressure been blown into me, I felt the same with the full face, but my reaction was less because I expected it. So I really don't think the couple of seconds I was given to try the first face was enough. Just a thought.

Thanks again for your support
Murph

[SleepyT]

not sure i can add much to the excellent advice you have been given....except.....try to move your mind to embrace the concept of CPAP. i mean....really look forward to putting that mask on...knowing that it will save your life each and every night.

in other words...thinking how awful it is...resisting it....quitting....tells your subconscious to keep fighting it...

[BlackSpinner]

Congratulations on trying again. Making it work for you is important for both you and your family.

Keep saying to yourself that "This machine and mask IS keeping me alive and breathing" Just blow the negative thoughts out of the water. Every time at night when You want to rip your mask off instead visualize your self on a nice vacation with your wife, focus on the nice sea breeze, feeling the warm sand between your toes, the cool drink on your tongue and breathing in the fresh air (cover ALL senses). Make a plan to reward your self at some time in the future with something special for getting to a full night. A little vacation, or a night out.

As you sleep and especially as you dream the muscles on your face relax and the mask fits less well. Sometimes all you have to do as move your jaw to get it to fit again, maybe roll to the side or jiggle it.

As far as the pain is concerned, you maybe one of the few people where it triggers GERD instead, you are probably swallowing air. Taking a prilosec before bed time and watching what you eat may help.

Good luck