I can't do it!

[all_4_my_son]

I have had my CPAP machine approximately 1 week and have used it a total of 10 hours. I make it about an hour each night and the pressure is too much and I feel like I am drowning trying to breathe against the pressure. I even turned my pressure down from 12 to 10 and it still doesn't work. I have used the RAMP feature - can't fall asleep in the short time span that the RAMP is on.

What is wrong with me????? Now, I have a sinus infection and oh boy....does that pressure feel just fantastic on my already swollen sinuses and middle ear!!!

How do I make this situation better? The machine is already bought and paid for (thank you United Healthcare), so returning it or exchanging it is a "no go" from what the DME nurse told me on the phone just a bit ago.

I'm just so tired and I just want to sleep, but I catch myself starting to snore and wake myself up. It's not that I don't want to use the machine as I know I have to, but it's not working out....

[Wulfman...]

I'm not familiar with your machine "F&P ICON Novo CPAP", but from everything I can find, it's the basic, bottom-of-the-line machine. At CPAP(dot)COM, it's no longer available. I don't know if that means it's been discontinued or something else.

Maybe you need a better machine. One that has exhale relief (EPR or C-Flex or A-Flex)......and that has data capabilities so you can monitor your therapy.

If you've only had it a week, I'd be taking it back in and demanding a Philips/Respironics System One Pro or Auto.....or.....a ResMed S9 Elite or Autoset. No machines with the words "Plus" or "Escape" in the model name.

The company who sold you the Icon Novo put their own profits ahead of your therapy.


Den

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[Julie]

Hi - Because of the sinus problem it's likely you're sleeping (or trying to) with your mouth open, which means all the Cpap air is going out that way instead of down your airway and into your lungs. You need to try a full face mask (it just extends a bit lower than a nasal one to cover your mouth) which would allow your mouth to open but not lose the useful Cpap air. Or possibly you need to wait til your sinusitis is overwith and then try again.

You could also try turning off the ramp feature (it's not therapy itself, just a way to get used to Cpap), because if it's programmed to start at a low # like 4 (the default low machine setting) instead of e.g. 6 or 7, you will feel starved for air... most of us don't use it after a short time, or else program it to start at a higher # for a short time til your prescribed setting is reached.

This is not the time to quit - you haven't had a fair start and the rest of your life depends on it. Deal with your sinuses and then come back here for help to try again... it's not terrible at all and some of us even like it once we get used to it!

[Babette]

I'm shocked that your insurance bought and paid for a machine that you've only had for a week. Most insurance insists that you rent for about 3 months before they'll pay for it.

Try calling your insurance and asking them for help with your DME and an exchange/return.

Also, call your GP or sleep doctor and ask them to help you. My sleep doctor was GREAT in going to bat with me with my DME and getting me an exchange to an Auto from a straight CPAP.

Does your machine have any kind of "flex" setting? Sounds like breathing out is a struggle for you, and if you can flex that exhaust, that might help.

One of the things I did to get used to the whole thing in the beginning was to read in bed with my machine and mask in place. No ramp. Just set it full speed, and read until I felt sleepy.

You might try that, with the ramp, and then keep reading when you get to full pressure, and try to focus on your breath, and feeling calm with that before settling in to sleep.

Good luck!
Barbara

[nanwilson]

I have had my CPAP machine approximately 1 week and have used it a total of 10 hours. I make it about an hour each night and the pressure is too much and I feel like I am drowning trying to breathe against the pressure. I even turned my pressure down from 12 to 10 and it still doesn't work. I have used the RAMP feature - can't fall asleep in the short time span that the RAMP is on.

What is wrong with me????? Now, I have a sinus infection and oh boy....does that pressure feel just fantastic on my already swollen sinuses and middle ear!!!

How do I make this situation better? The machine is already bought and paid for (thank you United Healthcare), so returning it or exchanging it is a "no go" from what the DME nurse told me on the phone just a bit ago.

I'm just so tired and I just want to sleep, but I catch myself starting to snore and wake myself up. It's not that I don't want to use the machine as I know I have to, but it's not working out....

Yes you can............. Deal with the sinus infection first, then tell us exactly what the problem is with the therapy, you will get a lot of help from members here. We have all been where you are today and you are saying that you want to use the machine as you know that you need it.... well, you are half way there with that statement, the rest is not a battle. Just take baby steps, help is on the way. Take one day and one thing at a time, relax, its just air going into your lungs and you know you need that to live. For starters you can change the ramp time if that is what you need to help you out. Try wearing it during the afternoon or evening while reading or watching tv... and relax is only air Keep trying and good luck, keep us posted daily on how you are doing, it helps to get your frustrations off your chest to someone that will help.

[robysue]

I think Wulfman has hit one of the major problems on the head:

The Icon Novo does not have any form of exhalation relief. And the OP is complaining of having serious problems exhaling against the pressure. So a machine with some kind of exhalation relief system seems like a reasonable place to start.

To all_4_my_son, I'd recommend calling the doc's office and telling them that the machine the DME sold you has no exhalation relief system and that you simply cannot exhale against the pressure without feeling like you are "drowning" in the air. Ask them if the doc can rewrite the script specifying that the machine must have a form of exhalation relief (which is different than a ramp). Ask them to give you a copy of the new script as well as fax it to the DME. And since the insurance has already bought this machine outright, you may, unfortunately, also have to call the insurance company if the DME balks when they get the new script.

By the way, trouble exhaling against the full therapeutic pressure is a common problem that is best fixed by using a machine with an exhalation relief system. So in my opinion, you need to find a way to make the DME take the current machine back and exchange it for a Resmed S9 AutoSet or Elite or a PR System One Auto or Pro. And it may help to have the doc on your side.

[SleepWellCPAP]

Does your machine have a heated humidifier?

If it does I would recommend turning it up. A week or so ago, a contributor posted a wonderful link about how important humidity is in a cpap circuit. Dry air is almost sure to cause a reaction in your upper airway. Your machine is helping push the air in, but flow limitation maybe part of the reason you have difficulty exhaling. You might also try an ever so small amount of Ponaris nasal emolient.

Good luck. Be sure to post your progress.

[johnthomasmacdonald]

i had the same problem when i started, i needed to go to a bilevel machine ( eventually an ASV to get the ahi down) for it to be tolerable. WIth a bilevel, the inhalation and exhalation pressures can be set to totally different levels.

[Kiralynx]

I ended up starting with a Bipap. I had an ASV, but they set my exhalation pressure to the same as my lowest inhalation pressure.

I fought it for four days, and called the respiratory therapist, and told her I was having more events fighting the exhale than I did in the original study. So we lowered my exhalation pressure and I've been fine for five years.

It's tough getting used to this, but you CAN do it!

[333sps]

Yes you can! Now is not the time to quit! If you have a ramp feature try using that. I use mine every night. It helps me calm down, I read for a few minutes while it ramps up and I get used to the pressure. It sounds like a crutch, but I couldn't tolerate the full on pressure. Talk to your insurance or doctors office. I use VNA for help with stuff like this. They are super helpful and really want to see people succeed at this.

I hope you try to continue with therapy. I know. I took a couple of steps back but I realized that I had my headgear on wrong and I am still doing stuff wrong. Together, this you and us, we can help each other.

[HoseCrusher]

More words of encouragement here...

Get your sinus issue under control and we may be able to guide you through the rest of the mess.

[Sir NoddinOff]

Consider yourself lucky... you just got a bunch of really great analysis, solid encouragement and things to try. Hey, and it's all at no cost! Now, your job is to get to work and make your CPAP experience a success I'm certain you can do it since most of us have been in the same situation. I certainly was.