Help! Flunked CPAP 101

OK, another one of my problems.  I'll try and keep it short today, though, for those of you sick of my lengthy posts. If you read my past posts, I had to get a sleep study for surgical clearance, and it said I had apnea.  Despite not wanting to, I sucked it up and went back for the CPAP titration test, because everyone on this board seemed to have more sense that me when I said I didn't want to go back. Well, I flunked!  I woke up in a panic during the night being unable to breath because of the "wind" blowing through the mask onto my face.  It was like trying to breath against a 100 mph wind, or with your head hanging out the car window going down the freeway at 80 mph!  The sleep technician didn't get to finish the test, because I couldn't breath if the airflow was much over the base level.  Now, I might not even qualify for CPAP treatment. So, I'm going to be stuck in a catch 22 -- no surgery without the CPAP, and a sleep doctor which says I don't qualify for the CPAP.  Now what? For the record, I have NOT spoken with the sleep doctor, just the technician who did the testing.  But I didn't like the tone of the conversation.

I had the same problem. It's just something you have to get used to. I got my CPAP 12 years ago, and finally got addicted to it. I had WLS last year, and i just got weaned of my CPAP last month. It took me just as long to get off it as it did to get used to it.You might try again with a differant specialist. I know i got a stupid technition once. Good luck.

Sorry for the bad first go. The air pressure does need to be regulated to your needs. The hardest thing to get used to is the pressure. In my sleep study, they started with a low pressure then worked it up while I was sleeping until the pressure was too high then when they backed it down, all was right with the world. It sounds like you might of had a bad tec. Most CPAP machines have a ramp up feature to ease you into the full prescribed pressure. After the first day I didn't need to use the feature and it was more of a pain than it was worth for me. A big thing is you need to keep your mouth closed. If your mouth opens, the air will just blow through your nose and out your mouth without doing any good between. Learning how to sleep with the mouth closed took me a few tries to get right. Don't give up, You might need to use a BIPAP machine instead of the CPAP. A BIPAP machine backs down the pressure between your breaths so you are not under full pressure all the time. Some people who can't use the CPAP do well with the BIPAP.

YDM, I'm sorry about your freaking problems, it is nuts.  I went through the same thing.  Six years ago they gave me (I paid for it) a cpap with the 100mph wind and after trying to use it and failing, I threw it in my closet for 6 years.  But then I began researching WLS and had to go back, well, I told them no way no how can I do the cpap, in the sleep study, three times I woke up and ripped my mask off and said you are a expletive idiot, I can't sleep with this thing on (not withstanding the 100 wires either).  So, they switched me to a Bipap during my sleep study which breathes with you.  That was 2 months ago, I have several hundred hours and several kudos with that machine, I have to use a full face mask and once settled I can sleep 5 - 7 hours with it.  Now....here's the kicker... Yesterday I go and see the surgeon the last time and he talks about me being on the machine, he says, we don't like these machines because when it's blowing air it can RIP THE STAPLES, I went ballistic, WHAT, he said they especially don't like the Bipap because it blows and sucks.  Man...I don't understand, I had to prove I had and was using the damn thing, I have to bring it to my surgery, and they may or may not use it on me but they hope in 3 months I won't need it anymore!!!  Geez.....Good luck and I'll be praying for you! BobM.

I could not tolerate a CPAP either (claustrophobia) and being a mouth breather didn't help matters either. I convinced the techs to try me on a BiPAP and started out using an older style Oracle aparatus. To get used to it I would sit in the recliner with the machine on while I was awake just to get used ot it. Within two days I was sleeping through the night with no problems, no panicking, etc. Did have to make a slight adjustment to the humidity level because the mouth will dry out more than the nasal passages will. Later on I was able to find a full face mask that worked just fine. Stay with it but keep trying it till you find something that works. Regarding the other posting about ripping out the staples, my surgeon would not let anyone have the surgery if they didn't bring there CPAP/BiPAP to the hospital. You know what they say about opinions and obviously all surgeons have their own also. Good luck with your struggles. Hawkeye Mike

I couldn't do the nose cover, changing to the full face mask helped me adapt.  I used mine for 5 years and gave it up the day of surgery, never used it since. It does take a bit of getting use to. It did vastly improve my quality of rest and it dropped my Blood pressure 20 points systolic. Is your willingness to try and attitude with the technician an issue?? They can be quite frustrating as they dealt with us resistant types with regularly and and can become a bit callous to our inflexibility. 

Well, I'm definitely not the type to have "attitude."  I think my problem with medical people, and people in general, is that I'm way to much of a doormat and just  give in too easily.  However, on this particular matter, I did my very best to calm  down and get the thing over with, I told the technician to finish the test, but I couldn't fall back to sleep.  For the record, I don't think the technician was unprofessional or had an "attitude" either or anything like that, but I think more effort could have been put forth to help me to get through this.  After doing some internet research and posting some questions in various boards, I don't think my reaction was all that atypical, and it's not like they had to bring in the men in white coats to shoot me with tranquilizer guns, I just woke up from a dead sleep in a panic because I couldn't breath.  Yes, it took me a couple of tries to get the mask back on, and some time to calm down.  By the time I fell asleep again, I was actually doing pretty well with the mask blowing in my face. Then the technician woke me up and sent me home.  What's up with that?   Actually, I have to confess, after my relectuance 3 weeks ago in wanting to go through with this, I was actually kind of looking forward to trying this stupid machine and seeing if it could help me  get some stamina back.   Anyway, I guess I'll just have to turn it around on them and pretty much ask the doctor how they intend to fix this for me.  Frankly, if they were willing to spend a  little more time letting me get used to the thing, and perhaps had let me try the various masks on a functioning machine, rather than showing them to me for 3 seconds and saying "pick one," that would have helped too!

Ydm, Yeah, not a Catch 22, more like "Annoyance 12." Have the doc make the adjustments Until it actually Improves your quality life, Rather than causing it to be worse. That’s what they do for a living, between those rounds of golf. Your fairly typical sounding to me. I’ve read a lot of folks who hated their C-pap at first try. (even first several attempts) Until the pressure was regulated to reach that "Goldilocks-Just-Right" setting. Then most seem to be delighted with them. As for the docs not approving of, or insisting on- "these machines because when it's blowing air it can RIP THE STAPLES?" That’s a new one to me. Having read the Boards for coming up on 5 years I’ve not seen or heard tale of anyone "ripping staples" Due to a C-Pap or Bi-Pap. I may have missed it, But I’d think it would have been front-page-news material. It hasn’t been. Don’t allow any un-necessary angst on your process. It’s trail enough as it is, obviously. You've got the best idea there, in putting the responsibility For "making this work" on the doc responsible for doing so. If you need more time to adjust, Just ask for it.  Always be completely up front with your doc, Your concerns, frustrations, questions, etc...  Insist the Doc do his job, You do your part, and you’ll be fine. Best Wishes- Dx

try different masks. some are full face, some cover just the nose and some are nasal pillows. all feel a little different. You'll need to find which is best for you. I could use the full face but the nose mask is great for me. They do take a few days to get used to, but for me it was a lifesaver.