A panicky newbie

Daniel, welcome aboard! Great info and folks here!

BlackSpinner wrote:Hybrid does not sit ON your nose but pushes little pillows into the nose from below and covers the mouth.
https://www.cpap.com/viewImage.php?PNum ... -front.jpg
The other thing you might want to investigate is an hypnotherapist to help you deal with your phobias...

I love my Hybrid and I have pretty horrid claustrophobia -- no way is something covering my nose, covering my face, or limiting what I can see! Hypnotism works wonders and it might just work for you. I started with a very minimal mask, the OptiLife, but it sounds like you need too much pressure for that to work for you. Some forum members who wear the Hybrid use fairly high pressures.

Ozig's right about the different breathing patterns amongst the manufacturers, you might need to try several. I love my ResMed AutoSet II as its EasyBreath patten dovetails mine and it offers exhalation relief...maybe enough to work well for you instread of a biPAP machine.

I was not diagnosed with any other sleep disorders. As for the nasal pillows, they didn't even try them do to my issue with things touching my nose. The mask they used goes over my nose and mouth, but doesn't touch them. It didn't set off my nose sensitivity, so I'd like to stay with that. I don't know the brand of CPAP they had (looked at the brand name but have forgotten it), but I think it might have been a ResMed. It was a short name such as that. (I know that's not too helpfull, but I just can't remember.)

Thanks for the responses! It's very good to know I'm not alone in the panic attacks. I felt like such a pain in the butt to the poor girl who had to keep coming in my room.

I'm including a link to the scan of the sleep data he gave me after my first study.

http://www.dragonflights.net/images/study.jpg

Not sure if this was mentioned already, but did they talk about auto CPAP for a while? When we have somone in the lab that can not tolerate CPAP, we send them home with an auto CPAP for about 2 weeks. This gives them the chance to get used to the mask, and machine. Then after a couple weeks, they come back and we do the titration study. We have had good luck with this procedure!

No one has said anything about auto cpap yet. But, my follow up is on monday, so we'll see what he says.

After reading posts on this board, I firmly requested being prescribed an apap machine as opposed to a cpap machine. (If you have the time, plz read my prior posts, especially my first several posts.) I'm glad I did. I have a ResMed auto-pap. It really helps me that the incoming air pressure is reduced a bit so I can exhale, and perhaps that will help you as well.

IMHO, every new cpap patient should be rx'd one week's worth of anti-anxiety med to take prior to going to bed. I found that I would be a bit stressed out at bed-time while gearing up with my cpap--adjusting straps, the nose-piece, readjusting the mask, laying in a comfortable position, etc., that when I was finally comfortable--I was WIDE AWAKE!

I find the ramp mode extremely helpful, and still use that feature.

I hope your dr. rx's you an apap machine. I had to "fight" to get an apap (vs. a cpap) and I'm glad I did!

hth,
All in Knots

I'll ask about the apap. Hopefully it's covered by my insurance. I have my followup appointment today at 2:00. Wish me luck!

Good luck Daniel/Mnementh!!!

Ok, back from the doctor. He noted the difficulties that I had with cpap, and recommended an auto cpap for me. (I didn't even have to ask him for it.) Noting my difficulties with anxiety, he recommended a one month trial on it. He gave me a full face mask for me to keep, ($250 I don't have to charge to my insurance,) and I went to the home medical supply place. I was pleasantly surprised that they could give it to me today!

So, I now have a one month trial on a ResMed Autoset Vantage S8 auto cpap. I'll be trying it out tonight, and hopefully will do well. When they fitted the mask for me, and showed me how to use it, I was quite pleased that the 'valve issue' I described in my first post wasn't there at all. This looks like the same model they used in my sleep study, but I could take a full breath in without it cutting off early.

Here's hoping!

Sounds promising! Good luck!

I did not generally have an issue with my mask, but on occasion I get a feeling where I can't seem to get a rhythm going with the machine and feel I need to take the mask off and catch my breath. I try harder to focus on getting a rhythm going and can overcome it so far, To date have not had to take the mask off. My Cflex is set to 3 with a pressure of 11-14 using no ramp. I also had to finally just torque the mask down as the large leak was killing my stats. Now under 2% ll and ahi 1.5 or less. Hang in there you will soon learn what you can do to make it all work to your benefit.

Mnementh wrote:...have a one month trial on a ResMed Autoset Vantage S8 auto cpap...

Good machine but discontinued; the replacement is the Autoset II with EasyBreathe technology and 3 settings (plus off) for exhalation relief. Both are good; I prefer the AutoSet as those new features are really comfortable...at least for me!

Mnementh wrote:...could take a full breath in without it cutting off early

There is an adjustment that can be made to the AutoSet if the exhalation relief cuts in too early.

Good sleep tonight! Remember to come her and ask for help if you need it, likely someone with be logged in!

Mnementh wrote: So, I now have a one month trial on a ResMed Autoset Vantage S8 auto cpap. I'll be trying it out tonight, and hopefully will do well. When they fitted the mask for me, and showed me how to use it, I was quite pleased that the 'valve issue' I described in my first post wasn't there at all. This looks like the same model they used in my sleep study, but I could take a full breath in without it cutting off early.

Here's hoping!

If this is the older model, perhaps you should research on this forum the features of the different APAP machines that are out there, and decide on the one you'd like before committing to a machine. I know they said you can have a one month trial on a machine--just be sure that you get the model that *you* want if/when it's time to make a purchase, or a rent-to-own.

Is the machine set so you can ramp up to your needed pressure? (I like that feature.)

Here's hoping to a good night's sleep for you!

All in Knots

Ok, so after a couple of nights. The first night I wore it for about an hour. I had the warmup set to 20 minutes (where it keeps it on the lowest pressure before it starts to ramp up to where I need it,) and I took most of that time to fall asleep. (I can usually fall asleep in 5 to 10.) I put it on at 11:00, and at 12 had woken up with the intense urge to take the mask off. I could feel the starting of a panic attack, but it was mild. Intending to take this slow and get used to it in degrees, I took the mask off then and slept the rest of the night without it.

Last night (the second night) was better. I put it on at 11:00 again, and had adjusted the warmup time to 30 minutes, hoping to give myself additinal time to get to sleep. However, my wife and I were excited by the election and had the TV on for a while, and I was awake when it ramped up. It didn't bother me, though, and I was still able to fall asleep. I woke up at 2:30 when my wife rolled over and I saw that I had taken the mask off in my sleep. I managed to unhook both sides of the mask and lift it off my head without waking up enough to remember it.

Tonight, I'll leave the warmup at 30 minutes, and will take a Tylenol PM to help me get to and stay asleep. I wish I knew what time I took the mask off last night, and I'm sure the data logging would show that, but I don't have access to the data.
So, I'm still hopefull that this 'taking it slow' approach will still work.

EDIT: As to the newer model: I'll definately inquire about the newer model. I got the feeling that this is the model of Auto CPAP that that particular medical supply store uses as their rental for trial periods. I'll make sure to try to get the newer model when and if I end up getting my own. Thanks!

You're off to a good start. It took me awhile to adapt, too. IMHO, I think the sleep neuros should prescribe one week's worth of sleeping pills or tranquilizers or something for the first week of adapting to xpap. I found that after I got everything all geared up, I was too "revved up" to go to sleep--as though I had just finished some massive project and had an adrenaline rush.

I actually have the exact machine you are using (I think), and I really like mine. I wasn't trying to talk you out of that particular model, but just want to encourage you to do your research so you'll be pleased with the outcome.

hth,
AiK

So, after 5 nights with it I'm averaging about 2 hours a night with the mask on. I'm comfortable with it on, and can breathe fine, but I'm taking it off in my sleep. I'll wake up and it will be on on the bed next to me or on the floor, still blowing away, and I have no recollection of taking it off. I tried last night with a full dosage of Tylenol PM, and I slept fine, but still took it off. Any suggestions as to how I can keep myself from removing it in my sleep?