a few more ideas

Jenny~

I read your post and could feel your frustration. I am not a newbie, nor am I a veteran yet. I got diagnosed last fall and have been at this almost 7 months. If its only been 9 days, it is still very very early in the "getting acclimated" stage to give up. I have been a stomach sleeper since, I am guessing a toddler, at least my mom thinks so. For as long as I can remember I have slept completely face down clutching my pillow. When I first got diagnosed I almost cried. Not so much because I had to wear all this Darth Vader stuff ( although I thought my next boyfriend might think it was a total turn off) but more because I knew my "stomach" sleeeping days were over. For a good two weeks I tossed and turned, I developed cramps in my shoulders and neck from side sleeping which I was not used to. I also felt suffocated trying to breathe in the air. I realize you have not been titrated yet. I also realize some people's titrated levels are as low as 4 or 5, but I was starved for air when I set my Auto that low. I am hoping for your sake when you get titrated perhaps your levels might be high enough so that you are not trying to take in huge breaths and trying just as hard to expel the CO2 from your lungs. With my software data (which I think is key to treatment) I found my sweet spot pressure at 9. I was only titrated at 7cm. I wouldn't have been able to know this data without using the software. So no matter what model machine, hopefully you can get an auto,so that it can be used in either CPAP or Auto mode, and also so you can find exactly "what pressure" you spend most of your time at. All I know is now that I am at the right pressure for me, I don't even realize there is air going down my throat. Sometimes I wake up in the night and have to pull the mask away from my face just to check if the machine shut off by accident. I truly believe that when a person has the right mask, and the right pressure you acclimate to it and stop even feeling the force of the air. Now obviously some people have such high pressures that they need BiPap machines etc.

Hopefully at your titration they can figure out if you need a higher "low" pressure. It seems like that is a very low pressure. Also, even though the Swift works for Many many people, it might not necessarily be the mask for you. I started with it and had to stop. It always, no matter what pressure felt like "too much" air was rushing up my nose. Now I use a regular nasal mask.

Otherwise, it looks like you have read up on old posts and tried to do everything you can to get used to it. One other suggestion as far as comfort of your body when sleeping ( although you seemed to stress breathing issues more than body position issues ) I bought one of those long body pillows, since I am a newly reformed side sleeper and it really helps because I can still clutch the pillow the way I used to, there is a cushion near one of my knees (old sports injury) and my neck doesn't get kinks.

Please keep us posted. We are all rooting for you.

Suzy

I meant to reply to JRGood27, and somehow started a new message thread. Hope she gets this. I guess this is what happens after a dinner out with friends a few glasses of wine.



Suzy

Really nicely done Suzy!

Chuck

Thanks Chuck!

I guess that's what I really like about this forum as opposed to other forums.... people really wanting to help each other. It seems it doesn't really matter whether someone has been at this 10+ years or one week, EVERYONE has something to learn and something to teach. Although the people that have been at this for quite some time are better apt to supply more useful information regarding software info and pressures etc, it seems even the new people can throw out advice on some new trick they may have tried that someone else never thought of doing before.

Have a good night!

Suzy