Newb looking for support

[Emolpi123]

Hi there...newb here hoping for feedback. Whisked through diagnosis and put on machine before I could say good morning. First night with mask and ears HURT!!! That and I'm having a terrible time feeling as though I'm not getting any air in my lungs. No matter how deeply I try to breathe I'm not getting air. Big honking oxygen concentrator attached too. Dizzy. I can't believe that this's my life now???? Help???

[justMongo]

Have to know more to help. Let's start with make and model machine.

[Emolpi123]

Hi. Thanks forr responding. Resmed Air sense10

[Beej]

You may have the base model, which does not collect much data.

Nevertheless, download SleepyHead from the link at the top of the page. Install it, then remove the SD card from the CPAP machine, lock the slide on the side, and upload your data to your computer.

If the CPAP is capable of collecting detail data, you will get some very interesting data to display.

Also look up top for the setup manuals link. You'll be able to request a setup manual and find the instructions which tell you how to see more details each morning - definitely hours of use and Apnea/Hypopnea Index (AHI).

[Emolpi123]

Thank you. Will do.

[justMongo]

Look here for your specific model:

[should say "AutoSet, AutoSet for Her, Elite or CPAP"]

Please edit your profile (see user control panel at top left of page).

[Ockrocket]

Emolpi123

The "shock" of starting CPAP is not unusual.

It will get easier.
You will have more questions.
You will need to change and refine things as you go.

For the first three nights I ended up having to discard my mask due to not coping with it at all, but it does all come together in the end.

Presumably you are under the care of a respiratory/sleep specialist, make sure you communicate well with him/her... doctors can't help us if they don't get our feedback, they are not mind readers [no matter how many degrees are hanging in their office, or how big their ego is ]

You will find a wealth of information within this forum, so ask away with whatever you need to know, or can't find within existing threads here.

If a member asks for more information before giving feedback to your query, try to answer as accurately as you can.

They are a very knowledgeable bunch here.

Ock.

[Sleeprider]

Putting together some clues from your posts and profiles, it looks like you have a Resmed Airsense 10 autoset, and that the therapy pressure is set to a range of minimum 12 cm and maximum 15 cm. Normally this would not leave you feeling starved for air, so we need to look at other settings as being a possible problem, or solution.

Many CPAP machines are setup with ramp. The ramp pressure may start as low as 4.0 cm and it can last for up to 45 minutes or sleep onset. This low pressure can leave you feeling starved for air. It is easy to either turn off ramp, or increase the minimum ramp pressure, and decrease the amount of time that ramp is used. Lots of options, but we need to know what you're currently using.

Your machine has a feature called exhale pressure relief (EPR). It can be set from 0 (off) to 3. EPR decreases the CPAP pressure during exhale, and this can be very comfortable and increase your respiratory volume. It would help to know if you are using EPR and at what setting.

Download the #Sleepyhead software. It's free, and will help you to better understand what is going on, and the effectiveness of your therapy. If you can do this and share the charts and statistics, then we are going to be able to guide you a lot better.

[Emolpi123]

Thank you all very much for your feedback and insight. I was trying to figure things out in the dark and on my phone last night and well....I wasn't able to go into much detail. I was also quite panicky as I couldn't breathe. It was not a good day yesterday as I was 100% overwhelmed. So thank you for putting up with me....

Better today, although not great - didn't sleep well, HA!

This may be too much information, but I think that they need to ask people if they are victims of sexual assault prior to prescribing CPAP. Part of my issue was that I felt so incredibly vulnerable and the mask felt like my attacker's hands over my face. All KINDS of triggers that I didn't see coming...anyway...I will bring that up with my therapist, I guess. LOL!

The machine is an Autofit 10 with Autosense and humidair. Warm tubing and oxygen set at 2l through a gargantuan machine that takes up my bedroom floor.

In response to the ramp, it was set to 20 minutes, but I decreased it last night to 10. Better.

I increased temp and humidity as I was getting icicles in my nose as it slowly crusted in congestive snot...sorry - TMI? LOL I hope not...Both actions helped.

As for the EPR - I don't believe that I have that...I will have to investigate further.

My ears are still blocked and I haven't breathed through my nose since yesterday at 8:30pm. Am I destined to be a mouth breather for life now?

I have had a headache all day, but it might be because I only really slept for about 4 hours, despite being masked for 8.5. Hoping tonight is better...

Thank you all for your responses. I will update my profile with the proper information when I get to my destination - I'm traveling today as well...nothing like learning everything all at once...

[chill]

If you can get your nose unblocked, you might find that nasal pillows are less provoking. CPAP won't cause a blocked nose, but too much or too little humidity might. Many of use use nasal sprays to combat chronic Rhinitis so that we can use nasal masks or pillows. Otherwise, or if you are a night time mouth breather, then you have no choice but a full face mask. You are certainly not alone in finding that the full face mask causes unpleasant feelings and connotations.