I am trying so hard to make it work!!!!!!!!!

I am a 54 year old woman, obese and trying to lose it. (Can't figure out where to create my profile.) I'm new here and don't have anyone to talk to because I have no insurance, hence no sleep doctor, just the county health dept doctor who knows nothing about OSA. I managed to get a sleep study and was diagnosed with severe OSA, then was allowed to slip thru the cracks with no follow up afterward. I had to borrow a machine and beg a tech from a medical supply store to set it up for me. It's set for 12 per my prescription.

I have been fighting to make it work for 3 weeks now. Why do I feel dizzy as soon as I turn on the machine (ResMed w/ heated humidifier)? Sinus headache immediately follows; it actually feels like I'm not getting air, but I must be. My masks leak onto my eyes and then my eyes tear up and get crusty during the day. I've tried both pillows and nose masks and I've gone back and forth several times trying desperately to make it work. I can't make the mask stay in place and it leaks. I'm hell bent on making it work because the apnea has crippled me during the day, I cannot stay awake. But I wake up having pulled the mask off without realizing it. I just started a part-time job Monday and I MUST get this under control! I have more questions but this is most urgent. HELP! Would an eye mask help keep the air out, like the kind Mary Tyler Moore or Lucy wore?

Please take a minute to go up to the User Control Panel (under search, top left) and then to your Profile and then Edit Equipment. Choose your gear from the pull down menus and the choose to show those in TEXT, not pictures. This will put your equipment at the bottom of every post your write automatically, like mine below. Those with the same equipment can help you better than having to constantly ask you what you use!

Once you do that we can help you better. You are not alone trying to do this on your own. Hang in there.... help is on the way.

Welcome CurlyMae. You've come to the right place to get help, so hang in there. You've already shown yourself to be extremely resourceful, having 'dropped through the cracks' and yet found a way to get a machine and get it set at your prescribed pressure.

I haven't had experience with either the dizziness nor the sinus issues but others will be along to give you suggestions. I know folks who feel discomfort with air blowing in the eyes have reported relief with the mask over the eyes. Try it. Basically, that's the name of the game with OSA...trial and error. Just when you think you've solved a problem, another may pop up. Your perseverance will serve you well. You just have to keep trying.

Go to the upper left corner (user control panel) to create your profile. Choose your equipment in text which will help others who have similar mask and machine offer advice.

Hi - Couple of questions - were you shown the ramp feature and helped to set it up? I ask because so often it's done beginning at the lowest machine 'default' number (4) and no one can possibly breathe at that number, so most of us either raise, lower the ramp up time from e.g. 35 mins. to 5, or actually don't bother with it at all as it's not a needed part of therapy, just a comfort thing.

Second, how well do you feel your mask fits in terms of size... does it dig in anywhere? Do you have it so tight it's uncomfortable? If so, it shouldn't be... needs to be just tight enough to stay in place, but still allow the thin silicone 'cushion' to inflate properly, but if you then have large leaks, you need to try different masks in different sizes til you find the right one (and preferably try them lying down).

If you're using a nasal mask, but suspect your mouth may open while sleeping, you need to investigate masks (called 'full face') that cover your mouth along with your nose so you won't lose the cpap air and can also breathe more easily if you get congested at times. If you don't have a cold but feel congested with the mask on, try turning the humidifier down (or even off) because it can cause stuffiness... but if not, and you need the humidity, you could try turning it up... everyone's different.

Don't sleep on your back if you can help it at all as it usually causes more apneas...

Hi - Couple of questions - were you shown the ramp feature and helped to set it up? I ask because so often it's done beginning at the lowest machine 'default' number (4)
it is set at 5 but i don't use it-I am afraid to change any of the settings; I've never touched it !

Second, how well do you feel your mask fits in terms of size... does it dig in anywhere? Do you have it so tight it's uncomfortable? If so, it shouldn't be... needs to be just tight enough to stay in place, but still allow the thin silicone 'cushion' to inflate properly, but if you then have large leaks, you need to try different masks in different sizes til you find the right one (and preferably try them lying down).
it fits just right for a while but as soon as I move around forget it and then it blows in my eyes
If you're using a nasal mask, but suspect your mouth may open while sleeping, you need to investigate masks (called 'full face')
this is something I don't understand-how is it possible for anyone to open their mouth? If mine even cracks open a little, it's like a balloon losing air!

If you don't have a cold but feel congested with the mask on, try turning the humidifier down (or even off) because it can cause stuffiness... but if not, and you need the humidity, you could try turning it up... everyone's different.
no, no congestion
Don't sleep on your back if you can help it at all as it usually causes more apneas...
Impossible for me to sleep n my back!

it is set at 5 but i don't use it-I am afraid to change any of the settings; I've never touched it !

If you didn't change the settings it usually comes on automatically (at least it does on my machine) which means you are trying to breathe at 5 which many people find difficult.

Get over the fear of touching it. Write down the settings as they are now and go to town on it. You can't break anything. It is no more difficult then using a cell phone. You really can't hurt your self with it unless you drop it on your head.

Isn't it unusual to have a bipap with a setting of 12? Perhaps the wrong machine is shown on the profile?

Please, Please, DON'T give up, everyone here is so nice, engaging and helpful. I know because they have all helped me, and for a looooong time! I am so greatful to all the members. God Bless and keep on trying, YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL!

BlackSpinner wrote:

it is set at 5 but i don't use it-I am afraid to change any of the settings; I've never touched it !

If you didn't change the settings it usually comes on automatically (at least it does on my machine) which means you are trying to breathe at 5 which many people find difficult.

The OP has a PR System One Bipap. On my System One you have to press the RAMP button to activate the ramp. If you don't hit the ramp button right after you turn the machine on, the machine is blowing at full pressure. This is different from the Resmed S9 APAP I started out with.

LSAT wrote:Isn't it unusual to have a bipap with a setting of 12? Perhaps the wrong machine is shown on the profile?

Folks are prescribed BiPAPs for a variety of reasons and not all of us using a BiPAP have high pressures. Take me for example: I am using a System One Auto BiPAP with the following settings:

• Minimum EPAP = 4 cm
  Maximum IPAP = 8 cm
  Maximum PS = 4cm

A bit unusual? Sure. Wrong machine? No way. My first sleep doc and his PA suggested the change from APAP to bi-level after I spent two very long months fighting severe aerophagia, a significant crash and burn in terms of daytime functioning, the emergence of severe and excessive daytime sleepiness all with no leak problems (as documented by the leak line in ResScan) and extremely low AHIs (usually less that 1.5).

The switch to BiPAP made a huge difference in how bad the aerophagia felt. And taking the edge off the aerophagia allowed me to start working on conquering the severe insomnia that had been triggered by the combination of aerophagia and other sensory overload issues that started when I first started straight CPAP at 9cm and did not resolve with a switch to APAP with pressure range of 4-8 cm.

For me, the switch to BiPAP was a significant factor in my deciding to not give up.