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I had a lot of those panic attacks at first, so I can relate. I made a set of rules for myself:

1. If possible, when ready to rip the mask off, I will take 10 deep, slow breaths BEFORE taking the mask off. Then I will take the mask off if I still feel I need to.
2. I will give myself a few minutes to calm down and then PUT THE MASK BACK ON. Even if I have to do the whole darn thing again (10 deep breaths, take it off) and again and again, I will wear the mask.

It took me a while to be able to wear the mask without interruption, but I stuck with the rule that I was not going to go without the mask, and eventually overcame the panic.

Here's my theory on this: When you struggle to breathe because of apnea, your stress hormones go bananas. If you have serious apnea, you are essentially bathed in stress hormones all night long. It takes a while to work those through your system, and your body is almost addicted to them, so they will sometimes release even without the stimulus of apnea. Once you become successful at wearing your CPAP all night, you'll find that your panic attacks are much fewer. I had other panic triggers like driving over bridges and narrow lanes of traffic, those improved a lot, too. So eventually this will ease up. If anything, it's an indicator that you really, really need CPAP.

QUIT USING THE RAMP!!!!!! (Let it go straight to your therapy pressure.)

I don't use the ramp feature. It is set at 5.5. I can set it to anything I want between 4 to 9, but I don't use it at all.

And, maybe you need to bump up your therapy pressure one or more centimeters.

During my sleep study 9 was the best pressure. Besides, I can't unlock the machine to up the pressure. Password protected by my DME.

Don't know if this would work for you, but have you tried nasal pillow masks, like Swift FX, AirFit P10, Nuance, tap pap, and so on? There are several of these available that don't cover your mouth, only minimal facial contact.

I have two masks. One is the full face mask, the other one just covers my nose. I get the same results with either. I have tried nasal pillows in the past and I'm not a big fan. The chin strap seems to help. I'll keep at it. I've been using the machine during the day while watching TV. And I dose off while doing so and I'm fine. So why is it I can't do this while in bed?

kona0197 wrote:During my sleep study 9 was the best pressure. Besides, I can't unlock the machine to up the pressure. Password protected by my DME.

I have two masks. One is the full face mask, the other one just covers my nose. I get the same results with either. I have tried nasal pillows in the past and I'm not a big fan. The chin strap seems to help. I'll keep at it. I've been using the machine during the day while watching TV. And I dose off while doing so and I'm fine. So why is it I can't do this while in bed?

Bullshit! There is no "password protected lock" on these machines. They all work the same and use the same procedures to get into the clinical setup.
The procedures have been posted many times on the forum and are available to be downloaded from many places.


Den

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I would rather not screw with it. I have a hard enough time with it on 9, I can't imagine 10.

kona0197 wrote:Looks like I need to clarify a few things. I can't put anything under the bed to make to head of the bed elevated. I sleep on the floor. I do not use the ramp feature. I do not have an old chinstrap. Oh and I have to get in 4 hours on the machine a day within the next 20 days or my insurance will have my DME take away the machine. Oh, and at my sleep study I used a sleep aid so I was knocked out when they put the mask on me. I did freak out a bit in the morning when they took the mask off.

You may want to remove "Ramp 5.5" from your profile, as it is misleading.

Done. Thanks. Oh for those that say I need to up the pressure I forgot to tell you all that the machine already does that when needed. Anything between 9 to 11.

kona0197 wrote:
I have two masks. One is the full face mask, the other one just covers my nose. I get the same results with either. I have tried nasal pillows in the past and I'm not a big fan. The chin strap seems to help. I'll keep at it. I've been using the machine during the day while watching TV. And I dose off while doing so and I'm fine. So why is it I can't do this while in bed?

Why not sleep for awhile in front of the TV while you two get acquainted? Also, I know this will horrify some here, but do you drink at all? Sometimes I drink a little Tequila before bed, albiet more for my diabetes then my OSA, and it helps me relax. You should establish a nonalcoholic AHI baseline to make sure it isn't adversely effecting your cond.

OT, noticing your avatar. .. do you ride?

kona0197 wrote:Done. Thanks. Oh for those that say I need to up the pressure I forgot to tell you all that the machine already does that when needed. Anything between 9 to 11.

kona0197 wrote:I would rather not screw with it. I have a hard enough time with it on 9, I can't imagine 10.

HUH???

Den (walks away, scratching head)

.

LOL, let me clarify. When I start therapy the machine stays on 9. Throughout the night it will self adjust the pressure anywhere between 9 to 11. What I meant is when I first put the machine on I am dealing with a pressure of 9. I could not imagine starting with 10. Hope that clears it up.

Janknitz wrote:I had a lot of those panic attacks at first, so I can relate. I made a set of rules for myself:

1. If possible, when ready to rip the mask off, I will take 10 deep, slow breaths BEFORE taking the mask off. Then I will take the mask off if I still feel I need to.
2. I will give myself a few minutes to calm down and then PUT THE MASK BACK ON. Even if I have to do the whole darn thing again (10 deep breaths, take it off) and again and again, I will wear the mask.

It took me a while to be able to wear the mask without interruption, but I stuck with the rule that I was not going to go without the mask, and eventually overcame the panic.

Here's my theory on this: When you struggle to breathe because of apnea, your stress hormones go bananas. If you have serious apnea, you are essentially bathed in stress hormones all night long. It takes a while to work those through your system, and your body is almost addicted to them, so they will sometimes release even without the stimulus of apnea. Once you become successful at wearing your CPAP all night, you'll find that your panic attacks are much fewer. I had other panic triggers like driving over bridges and narrow lanes of traffic, those improved a lot, too. So eventually this will ease up. If anything, it's an indicator that you really, really need CPAP.

In addition to this suggested routine, I would add perhaps adding aromatherapy. You can order several different scents, you could choose those you think might help. I would suggest Calm, I use it and think it could be helpful in your situation.

Also, if you meditate, doing so just before and after you mask up. Anything that can soothe you to enable you to tolerate therapy. Just keep trying & hang in there.

Jen

Turn off your ramp and bump up your pressure. No Bi pap is going to fix your issue. You should be used to a mask by now? Seven years?

So how does aromatherapy work? Add something to the humidifier? Candles? Not while I am trying to sleep, fire hazard.

Also, if you meditate, doing so just before and after you mask up. Anything that can soothe you to enable you to tolerate therapy. Just keep trying & hang in there.

I try to watch a bit of TV with my mask and machine on, and I do some reading to calm down before calling it a day.

Turn off your ramp and bump up your pressure. No Bi pap is going to fix your issue. You should be used to a mask by now? Seven years?

I'm not using using any ramp. Machine turns up the pressure automatically. This is the FIRST time I had an actual sleep study and was diagnosed with sleep apnea and was prescribed a machine. All of the years before this I was self medicating with a machine my Mom gave me. And in all that time I only used the system maybe twice a year. I am NOT used to a mask at all.

kona0197 wrote:So how does aromatherapy work? Add something to the humidifier? Candles? Not while I am trying to sleep, fire hazard.

Turn off your ramp and bump up your pressure. No Bi pap is going to fix your issue. You should be used to a mask by now? Seven years?

I'm not using using any ramp. Machine turns up the pressure automatically. This is the FIRST time I had an actual sleep study and was diagnosed with sleep apnea and was prescribed a machine. The years before this I was self medicating with a machine my Mom gave me. And in all that time I tried using the CPAP system she gave me maybe twice a year. I am NOT used to a mask at all.

Aromatherapy kits from cpap suppliers don't use candles. Some of them use humidifiers or other methods. No fire needed.

I have been on and off CPAP therapy for 12 years. New masks, new machines, different pressures, all throw me for a loop. I am a creature of habit and when something is different I don't feel right and I panic. I won't say it's normal because normal doesn't exist but its not unheard of. I understand why it's harder or worse when you go to bed. We are at our most vulnerable when we sleep. Ativan helps me to not lose it when I have it bad. If you have the opportunity to talk to your sleep guy about it, it is worth mentioning that this is a very difficult transition for you.

I h an appointment to talk to my sleep Doctor in a week or so. However I did talk to the sleep center nurse and my DME today. We are working on a few plans to help the situation.

RandyJ wrote:

kona0197 wrote:Looks like I need to clarify a few things. I can't put anything under the bed to make to head of the bed elevated. I sleep on the floor. I do not use the ramp feature. I do not have an old chinstrap. Oh and I have to get in 4 hours on the machine a day within the next 20 days or my insurance will have my DME take away the machine. Oh, and at my sleep study I used a sleep aid so I was knocked out when they put the mask on me. I did freak out a bit in the morning when they took the mask off.

You may want to remove "Ramp 5.5" from your profile, as it is misleading.

Wonder if my post was even read...gonna stop wasting my time replying to requests for help.