Sleep Apnea and CPAP

 Hi Friends,

I just got back from my second visit to the sleep clinic.  This time I used the CPAP mask and it about drove me nuts.  The tech said I did great with the mask but I felt like all I did was gasp for air.  I was just wondering how many of you used the CPAP mask and if you felt like it was worth all the discomfort at first.

I go for my first consultation today with the nutritionist and psych.  So I'll post later with lots of questions I'm sure.  I've got that excitement/fear/anxious feeling already.

I won't be able to make it to the Suburban meeting tonight but hope to next week.  I'd like to go to Norton's so post again when that is next month.

Thanks for all the positive energy you folks send.

Dana 

Hi Dana.

Can't help with any CPAP advice.
Hope everything works out for you!  Good Luck.

Leslie

Dear Dana,
The trick to the cpap machine is in the mask you use. Tell them that you want to try the "compfort Gel mask" It doesn't bind or prevent you from rolling over . It is mashable so it is very cmpfortable.Good luck to you. I hopr that I get to meet you at the Norten support group meeting.
Good luck
Sharon

Dana the mask I had was small, just fit into the holes in my nose.  It took a little bit to get use to it but it worked well for me.  My setting was 8 and I used it for 7 months until I  no longer needed it.  I wore it every night and took it with me when I traveled.  On a few occassions I felt anxious but I calmed myself down and took a deep breath and relaxed.  Then it was ok.  Sometimes I even had to take it off and start over. 
When it was no longer necessary, I missed it.  With my weight loss the Dr and I agreed that I would be fine without it. 
It is always worth a little discomfort to get yourself in a position where you don't stop breathing. 
Take care,
Z

Hi Dana,  
        I have the CPAP machine, haven't been a night without it in three years and I'm happy to have it.  Although I'm extreamly obese the reason that they did the sleep study on me was I was having migrain headaches that would put me in the ER for a shot sometimes 3 times a week.  What they found was that I have sever apnea, my setting is 12 on my machine. I stopped breathing 25 to 42 times in a minute depending on how I was laying which caused the oxygen level in my blood to go very low.  I still get the migrains but maybe only once every couple months.   I'm hopeing that once I have my surgery that I won't need the machine but I'm sure that it will be a big ajustment getting use to being without it.

I happen to know a thing or two about CPAP.  I use it daily in my practice.  Just to let you know....It is completely normal to feel the way you do.  The most important thing is to remember that it takes time to get used to and you will reap incredible rewards.  You will have so much more energy, mind power and avoid  very serious cardiac problems associated with Sleep Apnea. 

I have had patients in the past that absolutely swear they will "never" get use to it.  Eventually they can't live without it.  I have been called out in the middle of the night for a new mask  or prongs when one has broken. 

The reason you feel as if you "gasp for air"  is the fact that you have a set pressure (CPAP setting)  being delivered to your airway.  All of your soft tissue in your throat relaxes and the pressure of the CPAP holds it open and it has a tendancy to cause what we call turbulence which can awaken you.  However you must understand that the machine is doing it's job and you will still get much better restorative sleep than you were before.  Work with your home health company to make sure you have a mask or nasal prongs that work for you.

Just give it some time. You won't even notice.  You will find it will make a huge difference in your quality of life.