new and filled with questions!!

i have just gotten my machine(on fri) and have lots of questions!! the first night i used it all night (fri) went well,but when i got up sat i felt very swimmy headed and slept on and off all day....normal?
i also have a very dry mouth,and slight cough when waking from using machine. i have humidifier and therapist set it on 2...again..normal?
my machine will gradually go from 4-15 when on. i'm handling everything ok except when it gets to 15, at that time, my mask vibrates, and my mouth fills with the air and i "poof" it out. feel like im smothering so i take off mask. do i need to just get used to this setting or is it set to high? i usually take off mask and dont put back on for rest of the night. i realize its been only 2 nights but whew... feels very odd!!
also sometimes feel sick to stomach.. normal?
thanks !!

I believe it's OK to just poof out the air; if I'm wrong someone will chime in and say so, so keep watching for answers.

I'm a relative newbie, been on cpap only 5 months, and taking the mask off during the night is common when we begin this journey. Adjusting to the mask, as well as finding the right mask, is probably the biggest adjustment... we all have different shaped faces and bone structures, etc. and there are a great many masks out there. Your DME may not have had a large selection for you look at, but if you go the website of this forum's sponsor, https://www.cpap.com, you will be able to see many styles of pillows, nasal masks, and full face masks.

A different mask might fit you better and maybe it won't vibrate like yours does. Or perhaps, unless you are a mouth breather, a different mask style would be more comfortable. I started cpap on the Quattro Air, which fit my face well, and was comfortable, but I had a miserable first week, because it leaked like crazy and at its worst it vibrated all over the place, but more often the vibration was more of a blip, and it leaked into my eyes. When I learned about mask liners, it solved the problem and it was a game changer for me. You might try thoseand see if it makes a difference for you, I found them by googling "cpap mask liners".

I had dry mouth too, so much so that I called it cottonmouth. I solved the problem by getting a large double-walled mug with a cover and a straw (found it at Target, but they're everywhere these days). Filled it half-full of water and set it on a low stool about 3 feet from the bed (don't want to risk spilling onto the machine). Whenever I woke up with dry mouth I turned the machine off, pulled the hose connector off the mask and got up to take a couple sips, then reconnected the hose, turned the machine back on and went back to sleep. It's important not to take in lots of water each time because that will contribute to your need to get up to the loo. Take in just a little bit, you can even swish it around in your mouth if you want.

Your questions about settings are best answered by those more knowledgeable than I. Good luck, you are not alone.

Can you share with us what the machine settings are?
You can download Sleepyhead software for free. It will allow you to see all the data collected by your machine, so you can monitor your therapy. Among other things it will show your AHI and leaks and when they are occurring. With help from the folks here you can learn what it all means and what adjustments are needed, to your mask or machine. If the straps on your mask are too TIGHT it can cause leaks and vibration (not good vibrations).

Good luck.

thanks for the info!! my machine is set to go up to 15. apparently thats high? thats when i get the poof of air and the vibrations of the mask. hopefully i'll get used to it. i turned the humidifier on my machine from the 2 they had it set on to 3. assuming that''s ok to do without talking to dr or sleep therapist?! because it sure helped! do i need to wear if i'm going to try to take a nap or just at bedtime? thanks for all the info!!

Yes, you need to wear the mask anytime you sleep and that includes naps. Sleep apnea doesn't take a vacation during naps...
Anytime you sleep you should wear the mask.

Yes, it's okay for you to change the humidifier setting. It's considered a comfort feature and thus within the patient's control.
Same thing with the exhale relief feature called AFlex or CFlex on the Respironics machines.

Check out the links in my signature line about the software available for your machine