Anxiety to the Max

[truckee147]

Newly diagnosed and on day three of Bipap. 4 hours night one , 4 last night. simply dreading going to bed to don the mask. I am striving for 5 hours tonight. Have had minor palps today and wonder if that is a common occurrence. Just need to be patient and I guess it will come but very hard to imagine me snuggling with the PAP. ANy help would be appreciated. Tks

[SleepyToo2]

Firstly, it would be helpful if you can give us some information about your machine, the settings that your machine has been given, the mask you are using - and that's just for starters. Try wearing the mask for a while not connected to the machine - you will be able to breathe perfectly well, and it will help you get used to having that thing hanging off your face. Next, before going to bed, put the mask on and adjust the straps (not too tight!), connect the hose (turn the machine on immediately) and see what pressure it is giving you. Relax. Relax, read a book or watch TV, then relax again. Now get into bed and do the same thing. Remember that you are in command of this danged machine - not the other way around. I believe palpitations are quite common, although I never had them. They are cause by sleep apnea, and by stress. So, relax, and gradually get used to the machine and mask. Actually 4 hours the first couple of nights is pretty good. If it continues beyond that time, you may need to call your doc or your equipment provider (DME) for help. If you can get more specific about the details I asked for, I am sure other people will chime in. Good luck!

[gertrude]

The user control panel on the upper left of the screen is where you can post your equipment information.

Welcome!

[chunkyfrog]

Welcome truckee. Anxiety is not unusual for beginning CPAP.
The key is to keep plugging away at it. Soon it will be 'old hat'.
Read as much as you can. Knowledge is power,
and you will soon be able to deal with nearly anything that comes up-
or consult the combined wisdom of all the hosers here for the rest.

[Jolard]

Hang in there. I am on day 8, and the first 5 or 6 I hated. Didn't sleep well, and was literally dreading going to bed. I was having anxiety about it.

But the last two nights have been much better, actually fell asleep reasonably fast and managed to stay asleep. There is hope!!!

So no real advice other than to say you are not alone.

[Mary Z]

Hang in there. Four hours a night will prove compliance- move up from there as you can without being all stressed out. Drink some calming tea before bed.
You can do it. Follow the other advice.

[DagoRed]

Truckee,
Hang in there mate. When I first got my machine, 12 days ago now, I couldnt sleep. I was upset and wouldnt let me wife see me with it on. After two nites in the guest room I came to the conclusion that I was punishing myself, my wife and my family by my actions. I was mostly beating myself up. So I changed the way I look at it, I went from looking at it as a form of punishment to looking at it for what it is, a good thing designed to make me healthy!! I made it into a nurturing event and look forward to it now. I know it will make me a better person/husband/father. For me thats all I needed and almost over nite I was sleeping long hours and such. I also wear it during the day when reading or watching the TV. I also have read a bazillion posts and articles on my condition and am quite active in my own care. For me 99% of the battle was learning that I NEED this device to live a normal life. I hope that helps.
Good luck and keep at it!
Bob

[jweeks]

simply dreading going to bed to don the mask. I am striving for 5 hours tonight. Have had minor palps today and wonder if that is a common occurrence.

Hi,

Any idea what you are anxious about? Are you afraid of the machine hurting you? Is it hard to breathe? Or do you feel closed in? Or feel embarrassed, damaged, or defective? Is something painful? If you can nail this down a little more, then perhaps we can talk you through it. A few examples:

- Some folks are embarrassed that they need CPAP. My reply is that if you broke your arm, would you get a cast? Most people would. CPAP is like a cast for people who have broken breathing. It is just a normal as someone having a broken arm and getting a cast.

- Some folks are afraid that the machine will break when they are sleeping, cutting off their air, and they will die. I can assure you that this is not possible. Each mask has a valve in it that opens automatically if the machine fails or the power goes out, and you can breathe normally. This valve is on a small spring, so there is no way that it can fail to work.

- Some folks feel suffocated by the machine. This is most often due the machine being set to start at too low of pressure, or the ramp is set wrong. Both of these can be fixed. Since you have BiPAP, you might be on a really high pressure. That can be hard to adapt to. In some cases, it is a matter of getting your breathing in rhythm with the machine, and then relaxing. I have been through this, and I know it is harder to do than what it sounds like.

Please put some thought into this, and see if you can home in just what it is that you are anxious about. No matter what it is, these feelings are perfectly normal. Also, no matter what it is, there is someone here somewhere who has been through it. So even if there isn't a solution, sometimes it help just knowing that you are not alone. For example, I got zero hours my first night because I was too chicken to use the machine. I just sat there and looked at it all night. That was 4 years ago. My life is totally different these days, in a very positive way. Things can and do get better.

-john-

[zoocrewphoto]

Welcome to the group!

I have only been here 3 weeks, but it has helped me so much already. I had an easier start. Just lucky, I guess. I have put it off for years because I didn't think I could sleep with a machine. The idea of the mask, a hose to get tangled in, and the noise of the machine (I hate white noise). I dreaded my sleep study, but I knew I had to do it once I learned that sleep apnea causes high blood pressure, and 8 months of medication had not helped my blood pressure.

The sleep tech was awesome, and fitting me so well with a mask, that I slept great at the sleep study and felt wonderful the next day. I have not duplicated it quite that well yet at home, though a couple nights have been pretty darned good. But knowing what is possible since I experienced it has helped me. And even though I wake up more than normal, I can already tell that the quality of my sleep has vastly improved. I feel better. I am happier, and some days, I feel reasonably energetic, and that is without caffeine or energy drinks. I have decided to think of my machine as a personal battery charger. I need to plug into my battery charger every night.

I have also had some freaky dreams when NOT using my machine. The first night after the sleep study, I dreamt that the sleep doctor wouldn't schedule my followup and give me a machine until November. I was angry as I wanted it now. Somehow, in my sleep, my brain was aware that it was not getting what it got the night before, and it wanted it now.

This past week, I was fighting with my mask quite a bit. I like the mask, but sometimes I can't get the seal to work, right at the top of my nose. So, it would blow a little air in my eye, which bothered me. So, after 4-6 hours with the machine on, took off the mask and went back to bed. One night, I dreamt that I knew I was going to die in the next 3 days. Could be tonight or tomorrow. Not sure. I don't remember how I knew of what ailment I thought I had. Just that I was disappointed and needed to get my affairs in order and say goodbye to people. I think my brain was being a little over dramatic about turning off the machine. But it seemed to think I was killing myself.

The next night, after I took off the machine, I dreamt that I was trying to sleep in the back of the van. The machine was able to run with some fancy converter to the cigarette lighter. But my mom had a meeting to go to, so she was in a building, and I was in the car with my machine unable to run. So, I had to go inside and find a place I could hook up my machine and go back to bed. Even asleep, my brain was trying to get the machine turned on again.

Creepy, yet kinda cool too. I did get a different style mask that fits differently. I used it last night, and it was really nice. I woke up once after 3 hours to use the bathroom. Then back to sleep for 4 hours until the alarm clock went off. I felt really good today.

Anyway, keep at it. some nights will be harder than others. I like the first mask I got, but I found myself swearing at it some nights because I couldn't get it fitted right. So, it takes time to get to use to this.

Oh, the fears I had turned out to be nothing. The hose doesn't bother me at all, and I do not get tangled in it even though I roll over a lot. I don't hear the machine at all, just air from the vent on my mask, and after awhile, I don't hear that either. I did have trouble the first few nights as I listened to the machine and tried to keep up. I had to remind myself that I don't have to keep up with it. The machine is programmed to keep up with me. Just breathe naturally, and it will do it's job.

[Tino2You]

Hi Truckee,

I too, am new here. Day 8 with my machine and mask. I have good nights and bad nights but even the worse night on the machine was better than the best night I had without the machine. My snoring was/is spectacular! My wife would poke me when I stopped breathing. It got so I would wake up with a sore throat and ribs. On the machine, my snoring stopped and I no longer get poked.

My biggest hurdle now is my mask(s). I like the FX nasal pillow I have but my nostril began hurting after a few days. The full face mask is more comfortable but I can't seem to stop it from leaking. Question to the "experienced" members. How do you know which size pillow is the correct size? Currently I am using the medium. My DME (respiratory therapist) didn't get into which is the right size only that "This mask includes, small, medium and large pillows".

Thanks guys...hang in there Truckee.

[Drowsy Dancer]

There's a thread stickied at the top of the back in the "Announcements" section about "Dealing with Change" that has some very helpful advice (in addition to the thoughtful suggestions already posted here).

I would encourage you to supply equipment information (using text the text option, not photos) in your profile.

Hang in there. It gets better, although for some the change is very gradual.

[Maxie]

Lots of great suggestions and I just want to say, don't give up. There is a light at the end of the tunnel so please try the suggestions and let us know how you are doing.

[dtsm]

Many of us take weeks to get adjusted -- so hang in there. I remember the first month was a bear. Don't be surprised if you experiment with different masks before finding the right one. Right now, everything for you is a new adventure....but over time you will get used to it. Be patient.

For me, 2+ yrs later, I can't sleep without the mask!

[truckee147]

Tks for the comments. Bad night on 3rd night. Mask fits fine . Just having a tough time going to sleep. After 3hours gave up. Felt the difference this am. Going to try sleeping in lounge chair in more upright position as someone suggested.
I will look at th change article.

Trying to remember this is life saving stuff.

On a Phillips respironics system one.

Quarto FX resumed mask

Ramp 20 on 4.0

Pressure 17.5/15.0

I cannot believe how many people say they also have SA.

Going to try a Tylenol pm and see if I can get to sleep. Tks to all.

[SleepyToo2]

Ramp 20 on 4.0

Does this mean what I think it means - that you start off on a pressure of 4.0, and take 20 minutes to ramp up to your pressure of 17.5/15.0? No wonder you get anxious! That pressure of 4.0 to start is some ridiculous person thinking that we only need 4.0 cm to breathe normally. Absolute hogwash, BS, or whatever term they use in your neighborhood to describe utter and complete nonsense. There are MANY people, myself included, who cannot tolerate a pressure that low. I didn't get anxious, I got even with it. As soon as I realized (and it was before I found this site), my ramp starting pressure was raised to 6.0, then to 8.0 (which was my prescribed pressure at the time). Made it much easier to get to sleep.