3 nights on cpap...made rookie mistake

[BlueFrog]

So I picked up my machine on Thursday morning and couldn't wait until that night to get home from work and hose up! I crawled into bed early, full of excitement for my new lease on life, I was expecting miracles! So, I strap on my headgear and push start...the next 30 minutes were pure hell! I couldn't breath in, breathing out was ok, but inhaling was a struggle. I felt like I was suffocating! I decided that maybe I was a little to anxious, so I tried to close my eyes and meditate...ommmm....ommmm. ommmm....It didn't work.

My wife walked in the room and stopped, looked at me, and said " that's loud, your gonna have to sleep in another room, you sound like Darth Vader" She proceeded to take her bath, and I took my mask off. Dejected to say the least. I studied the mask and the straps for a minute, and the eureka! it hit me! I had the darn thing on upside down! Now, I had already downloaded all the software I needed (sleepyhead and resmed), I had already figured out how to get into the clinical setting for my machine (if need be) and I had everything figured out, EXCEPT the basics!

I put the mask on the right way (Swift FX pillows) and could tell it was way more comfortable, I then turned the machine back on and wow, what a difference, I could breath! My wife came back into the room as I was drifting off into lala land and asked if I had that "thing" turned on, because she couldn't hear it, or me....

I have been using the machine (I'm gonna name her soon, because I love her!) for 3 nights. I have had my share of leaks and of waking up to adjust things, but have managed to keep the mask on all night. I can honestly say now, on the 3rd day that I can tell a huge difference in how I feel. I have gotten a lot accomplished the last two days. I am happy. I can think. I want to do things.

I plan on writing more on my ordeal with lifelong fatigue later as time permits.

Thanks to all on this forum who give of their time to help me and others!

[oak]

Welcome to the forum. Glad you are taking everything in stride. Baby steps....

[Iowamv]

Awesome! Good for you, sounds like you've got the right approach.

You aren't the first to mention spouses' reactions. It is a huge adjustment, but it is critical. A few things that I've learned so far: 1) few medical interventions are as successful as CPAP use; 2) a low proportion of CPAP users stick with it "for the long haul;" and 3) you can use all the support you can get right about now. Even kidding isn't a good idea. I'm a month in, and I still prefer to be alone when I'm wearing it for fear of comments.

Found the site below this morning. Here's a nice summary of reasons everyone who loves you should be supportive. Notice the last item is "premature death." Can't think of a better set of reasons for her to support your cpap use 100%.
http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/sle ... nsequences

[SleepWellCPAP]

Not a rookie mistake at all. These devices are not easy to use. I had a client who forgot to turn his machine on.

Be sure to post what name you choose for your machine.

[Bobshouse]

My big problem is I've been on CPAP for 10 years at a set pressure of 11. They prescribe me a autoset with a pressure of 4 to 20... Being behind that mask at a pressure of 4 was a nightmare. I quickly found out that if I held my breath or breathed through my mouth it would automatically raise the pressure. My doctor saw that and raised my pressure to 10...a much better starting place....now life is much better.

[Babette]

Bob, most machines come preset at 10. It's a RARE HUMAN who can breathe with it below 10. Just about everyone I've talked to on this board needs it at 10 or above.

That said, I have chatted with people who run below 10. But that's like one person I can remember, since starting in 2007.

Out of sheer laziness I've left my APAP set at 10-20 for the past 3 years and have had consistent AHI's of 2.1. Actually, my AHI has remained consistently at 2.1 since 2007, despite fiddling with various settings. My doc says that's what a normal person who doesn't have OSA generally comes in at.

Cheers,
B.

[Sheriff Buford]

Good news!! We all make rookie mistakes. Someone here once poured vodka in their humidifier... by mistake.... I wonder if it really was a mistake If you really fall in love with your machine, look at the resmed website. They sell skins for the machine. Can be a waste of money, but I bought a Houston Texan skin. They sell every skin imaginable.

Sheriff

[Babette]

Oh that's hilarious! Of course, if Respironics made them, I'd probably have to buy one...

http://us-resmed.skinit.com/

[ems]

Dejected to say the least. I studied the mask and the straps for a minute, and the eureka! it hit me! I had the darn thing on upside down!
I put the mask on the right way (Swift FX pillows) and could tell it was way more comfortable, I then turned the machine back on and wow, what a difference, I could breath!

Most of us have been there one way or another. It seems to me that you are a "duck" - which means the way a duck takes to water you seem to have taken to this therapy... so happy for you!

[chunkyfrog]

You can probably find sport stickers at most stores that have fan shops.
--or some other style of stickers; just don't cover any openings.
Maybe a "this side up" somewhere.
Hey, I've done it too; for about a half hour--sure glad it doesn't have to feel that bad all the time!

[robysue]

Bob, most machines come preset at 10. It's a RARE HUMAN who can breathe with it below 10. Just about everyone I've talked to on this board needs it at 10 or above.

This just plain not true.

While it's true that many people do find breathing at lower pressures more difficult, there are also plenty of us who simply do not need and cannot tolerate pressures as high as 10cm. For me, anything over 8cm will trigger severe aeophagia and at 8cm my OSA is well controlled. I'm most comfortable at what many people think of as uncomfortably low pressures: I start the night off quite comfortably at 6/4 and I feel best when my EPAP never gets above 5 and my IPAP spends at least 40% of the time at pressures below 8cm (my max IPAP = 8cm).

I'll grant this: Those who cannot tolerate pressures as high as 10 AND who don't need pressures as high as 10 are a minority around here, but I would not say that we're RARE.

[Babette]

My apologies RobySue.

[FEF]

HAH!!!

I've been using the CPAP for about 5 weeks. My wife was tickled to death because any noise the machine and I make now is A LOT less then my snoring. Before the machine, I'm told I could be heard in the driveway and they can't watch TV if I fall asleep on the couch. Now... only the occasional noise, but mostly nothing, so I'm told. Stunning, incredible, amazing... ..Just some of the words she has used. Oh! And now, she doesn't use earplugs.

However, truth be told, I'm still waking up in the middle of the night as much as before. In fact, it was worse my first 2 weeks. I couldn't understand how this thing was supposed to be working if I was more tired then before I started. It was because the mask would move around, leak, and wake me up. Now, I'm sure I'm breathing better, but even if it's the same, I'll keep trying. My poor wife has warn earplugs for 10 years, now. I figure, it's the least I can do.

It's going to take some experimentation on your part, based on my experience. I've tried 3 different 'masks' in 2 different sizes in 5 weeks. The important thing is not to give up. I'm told many do within the first month. These people are great here. Open, honest, and willing to help... What more can you ask for?

[chunkyfrog]

@FEF: You can use a tiny smear of Lansinoh (nipple cream) around your nostril openings where the nasal pillows touch.
It's a little sticky, and helps make a better seal. See if you like it.
If not, the stuff is great for rough skin anywhere.
http://www.target.com/p/lansinoh-hpa-lanolin/-/A-92544

[Apneanderthal]

Nice!

I'm in a similar boat. So far I'm 4 nights in, but on ASV instead of CPAP. I'm pretty comfortable using it, but do get woken up by it several times a night due to the very high pressures. I think if I was on CPAP I'd be in heaven. But even after just four nights I feel like I have so much more energy, even though I think I had a really rough night.

Keep it up!