New VPAP user with a hitch

A bit of my story first: I've apparently been suffering from severe sleep apnea for a couple of years. At the prompting of my wife (who has to sleep next to my gasping and snoring), I went to see a doctor, who recommended a sleep study.

I ended up needing a total of three studies completed over six months to finally narrow down my specific issues. I have severe, complex apnea, which requires a Bilevel VPAP machine. (It took this long, and this many studies, partly because my insurance balked at paying up, so the doctor's office needed documentation out the wazoo to confirm that I actually needed what they say that I need. Without the required insurance negotiations, I probably would have received my machine sooner.)

But I finally got the thing, and I've been sleeping with it for two nights. The effects were immediate, I'm writing this post as the most "wakeful" I've been for several years. But there's a hitch.

Last night my wife was working late, so she dropped into bed after I was already asleep. Her comments this morning: 1. The variable noise of the machine is distracting, but she knows she'll be able to get used to it. But more concerning is 2. I twitch when I sleep. I know that's a normal symptom of apnea when I'm *not* wearing the mask, but this is different. It's like when you're half-asleep sitting up and trying not to fall fully asleep, and you twitch yourself back fully awake (so it's different than the normal limb-jerking that happens off the machine.) And she timed it -- it happens regularly, about 2 or 3 times a minute, and it seems to happen when the machine is at the higher level "pressure-forcing" mode. It's like my body is still being reminded to breathe -- only now it has a machine to force it, instead of a lack of oxygen to remind it.

Has anybody else experienced this? Is it normal, maybe just my body getting used to finally being oxygenated for a change? Will it go away?

leonis wrote:I twitch when I sleep.

Was this not picked up on one of your "many sleep studies"? Ask your doctor?

leonis wrote:The variable noise of the machine is distracting

Some things that help with this small noise -

- Place your machine beside and slightly below the level of the top of the mattress.
- Buy or make a hose cover and use it - https://www.cpap.com/productpage/snuggl ... cover.html
- Have your machine sitting on a mouse pad. Sitting directly on a wooden surface is louder,

BTW, are you taking note of your machine's data - particularly AHI and leak level?

leonis wrote:A bit of my story first: I've apparently been suffering from severe sleep apnea for a couple of years. At the prompting of my wife (who has to sleep next to my gasping and snoring), I went to see a doctor, who recommended a sleep study.

I ended up needing a total of three studies completed over six months to finally narrow down my specific issues. I have severe, complex apnea, which requires a Bilevel VPAP machine. (It took this long, and this many studies, partly because my insurance balked at paying up, so the doctor's office needed documentation out the wazoo to confirm that I actually needed what they say that I need. Without the required insurance negotiations, I probably would have received my machine sooner.)

But I finally got the thing, and I've been sleeping with it for two nights. The effects were immediate, I'm writing this post as the most "wakeful" I've been for several years. But there's a hitch.

Last night my wife was working late, so she dropped into bed after I was already asleep. Her comments this morning: 1. The variable noise of the machine is distracting, but she knows she'll be able to get used to it. But more concerning is 2. I twitch when I sleep. I know that's a normal symptom of apnea when I'm *not* wearing the mask, but this is different. It's like when you're half-asleep sitting up and trying not to fall fully asleep, and you twitch yourself back fully awake (so it's different than the normal limb-jerking that happens off the machine.) And she timed it -- it happens regularly, about 2 or 3 times a minute, and it seems to happen when the machine is at the higher level "pressure-forcing" mode. It's like my body is still being reminded to breathe -- only now it has a machine to force it, instead of a lack of oxygen to remind it.

Has anybody else experienced this? Is it normal, maybe just my body getting used to finally being oxygenated for a change? Will it go away?

It would help if you would fill out your profile with the exact equipment and settings you're using.
And, if you're not already using software like "Sleepyhead", I'd strongly urge you to get it and see what it shows.


Den

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