Trouble Getting Used to Therapy

Hi All,
In September I diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea (AHI 28.. After a few months of scary heart issues (resting heart rate averaging 135) and beta blockers they finally did a sleep study. I am 25 and 128 lbs so this was all a bit of a shock.
I was prescribed an auto machine but my insurance wont cover it so for now I am using a Res Med 9 set at 6.8 (not ideal but my sleep specialist is okay with it for now).
I had a Res Med 10 on loan for a while from the doctors and I had little success and couldn't log many hours on the machine. I've been "using" a cpap for almost 2 months and cannot seem to get adjusted. I go back and forth between pillows and a nasal mask (depending on my sinuses) and I am getting really discouraged. I’ve worked through my exhalation issues and no my main issue is that I just can't fall asleep. I feel like the increased oxygen makes me more alert. So then I get fed up after about 2 hours of lying there awake that I end up taking off the mask and am worse off. If I do fall asleep I end up waking up with a crazy high pressure that feels horrible (while on the auto machine that I no longer have) or I take it off in my sleep OR I wake up feeling claustrophobic and take it off. I've done all sorts of reading on this forum and others and worked hard to try and combat these issues and have listed them here.
-pillow mask
-nasal mask
-Benadryl and/or zquil before bed
-going to sleep really tired
-saline nasal wash
-antihistamines and nasal sprays
-higher pressure, lower pressure
-Ramo and Epr setting adjustments
-waiting it out

I’m sure there is more but I can’t think of any more now.

Happy to try anything to get a better handle on treatment. Looking for any advice! Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the forum.

Which model S9 machine are you using? The complete model name is on the front of the machine.

It's not the increased oxygen causing you to be more alert and not be able to go to sleep. The oxygen content of the air doesn't change with the use of the machine.
What is happening is your brain is going into hyper alert status because of all this new stuff and won't let you go to sleep.

Have you tried just wearing the mask with machine on for several hours each evening (watching TV or reading) so that the brain gets more used to the alien on your face?

Finally...you may need some help in the form of something stronger than OTC sleep aids....talk to your doctor about it.
Either maybe a sleep aid or anti anxiety med short term...to get you over the hump.

Thanks for your reply!
I am using the Res Med S9 Elite. Fingers crossed my new insurance will cover a auto machine soon!

I have already been prescribed an anti anxiety medication and I upped the dosage a few nights ago (and took the pills earlier) and have had 1 okay night and 2 fantastically successful nights. What a fabulous suggestion! I was being so practical about all this I didnt think that it might be my anxiety. It gave me just enough to relax and have a good nights rest. I woke up stuffy but that I can live with.

I'm still not loving my mask. It leaves me with marks on my face and no matter how loose or tight it goes it always leaks a little (the gentle breeze gets annoying pretty quickly). I think it might be just a hair too large.

I'm still trying to understand Sleepyhead but I attached graphs from my 2 good nights.

If you’re actually sleeping during all that time in the graphs then it is technically working well at that pressure for you.

While you may feel that’s a high pressure, it’s not all that high, and you’ll grow accustomed to it to the point you’ll welcome it over time. It will be far less noticeable once you get your mask solution figured out with minimal leaks because no leaks means you feel things the least, and things are quietest.

I’d suggest you try a few self-affirmations to help calm yourself with reason:

“The data from SleepyHead shows this is great for me, I look forward to it and embrace it with closed eyes, open lungs and airway!” Or whatever floats your boat.

Raise your min. pressure by 2 cms for a couple of nights - I think you'll have an easier time, but only change that one thing before trying anything else at the same time so you can find out what changes cause what results. And get rid of the calendar on SH. Wish I believed that self affirmations had any bearing on things, though i suppose they can't hurt.

Julie wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 05, 2018 5:03 am

Raise your min. pressure by 2 cms for a couple of nights - I think you'll have an easier time, but only change that one thing before trying anything else at the same time so you can find out what changes cause what results. And get rid of the calendar on SH. Wish I believed that self affirmations had any bearing on things, though i suppose they can't hurt.

He's already using 6.8 cm fixed pressure ...he is using the ResMed Elite...there is no minimum pressure setting.
The 4 cm that you see is because he is using the ramp.

Julie wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 05, 2018 5:03 am

Raise your min. pressure by 2 cms for a couple of nights - I think you'll have an easier time, but only change that one thing before trying anything else at the same time so you can find out what changes cause what results. And get rid of the calendar on SH. Wish I believed that self affirmations had any bearing on things, though i suppose they can't hurt.

I'm pretty sure I did remove the calendar on Sleepyhead as it isn't visible in these images. Is there something else I should be doing?

I am FAR from a knowledgeable CPAP user, but there is one bit of advice I can offer you. If the marks on your face from the masks are driving your bonkers, you might consider using liners. I have very sensitive skin that looked like I had taken a butter knife to it after using the mask for a few nights in June when I began my treatment - red, angry marks. Then, it was suggested that I use mask liners. I use theses: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/remzzz ... ask-liners They're not cheap, but they've saved my skin. If you buy them, please follow the directions closely - especially about tightening the liners after you've put on the mask. I also use two strips of medical tape to tape down the top part of the liner (right on the nasal mask) b/c it bugs my eyes. Best.

Sammipt wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 05, 2018 11:37 am

Julie wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 05, 2018 5:03 am

Raise your min. pressure by 2 cms for a couple of nights - I think you'll have an easier time, but only change that one thing before trying anything else at the same time so you can find out what changes cause what results. And get rid of the calendar on SH. Wish I believed that self affirmations had any bearing on things, though i suppose they can't hurt.

I'm pretty sure I did remove the calendar on Sleepyhead as it isn't visible in these images. Is there something else I should be doing?

Julie often posts without actually figuring out what's going on... She means well, but...