Severe sleep apnea

Hi, Well I have just been informed that I have SEVERE Sleep Apnea-they counted 57-60 times every minute at certain intervals where I was being obstructed. I am so scared and upset I can't tell you. I thought I may have had mild to moderate sleep apnea but not this much!!! The doctor really scared me as he talked about everything that could happen including dementia, heart problems, brain damage, and of course death! I spent several days feeling sorry for myself and having a good cry and I have been trying to keep the mask on while I sleep. It was very hard and I spent several hours tossing and turning as I tried to sleep. At least I stopped snoring but now I am afraid to go to sleep and I tend to panic and gasp for air now that I know I has sleep apnea.......which is ridiculous but it's amazing how your mind plays games. I know it will get easier every day but I hate things on my face. Anywhere else on my body would have been fine but eventually around 2 am I finally just passed out and slept until 6 am. I had a few episodes of falling asleep at work again and at the wheel driving home. I hope that will be a thing of the past soon and I will have more energy to start an exercise regime and have a life after work without feeling so exhausted. I have a hard time breathing just through my nose so they gave me a full mask to try. Last night was the worst night since I started. Since my apnea is severe, even though there is a ramp the full force of the air pressure kicked in within 10 minutes of going to bed so I went from a 6 to a 16 and I started to gasp and panic. I had to take the mask off and this went on all night. I would turn off the machine and it would go back to 6 so I would then try to fall asleep before the pressure started climbing. This went on until 4 am until I finally just passed out for a few hours. I had to call in sick a few times at work as I was so tired I was falling in the bathtub when I tried to shower and get ready for work. I was afraid I would get into a car accident so I stay home sometimes. I called the technician and asked him why the pressure would go up so high even though I was awake. He said you get obstructed as soon as you lie down and for the next 2 weeks we have to do this so the smart card can read my levels so the result can be sent to the sleep clinic. He told me to try putting the mask on when I am sitting watching TV to get used to it. I don't mean to complain but it is so hard. I am scared to go to sleep now and the pressure on my face causes me to panic and then I start to gasp for air and breathe so fast, my heart is just racing. I can't imagine getting used to this but I guess I will, it will just take time. I feel like I lost one of my best friends.......sleep. I realize I need this machine and will continue to persist at it. I heard that 1/3 of patients give up as they can not take it, but I don't want to do that. I asked if I can take a sleeping pill to relax and they told me it was not a good idea. I am going to try and drink some hot milk tonight before bed. Sim from Vancouver, BC Canada

You poor thing. That sounds horrible. I have sleep apnea also and am having a hard time getting used to the cpap also. I go to sleep ok with it, I just take it off at some point during the night. They can't figure out what to do for me. They lowered it from 15 to 12, and I have tried 3 different masks. I guess I will keep trying to get used to it. Good luck to you, Chrissy

Hi. I too panicked when I woke up and my pressure was at its highest point (off of the ramp). What helped me was to request a machine with CFlex option, which lowers the pressure when you are exhaling so that you are not breathing against the pressure. I am still new at this too but that helped me more than anything else. If your machine doesn't have that, check into it. FYI I had to argue with my DME company to get this machine so be prepared to say & stick by what you think you need. I also have found a lot of info on cpaptalk.com You can post questions there or read old questions. Good luck. Jenifer

Bless your heart Sim. I was diagnosed with severe apnea in November 06. I also had a horrible time getting used to the mask and the machine. I know how hard it is to get used to one. My second machine has C FLEX on it and it is much better than the one that I had before. Be patient and don't give up. I promise it will get better. I hated my machine at first. I had a fight with it every nite, but now, I don't see how I could get along without it. The white noise is kinda soothing and it will help you get to sleep. Not that you need any help getting to sleep after you get used to it. Hang in there, it does get better. Prayers for you! lisa

Hi everyone, Thanks for your all kind words, suggestions and ideas. It's nice to know I am not alone in this. Last night, I decided to try something different. I do have a C Flex machine so it starts at 6 and within 45 minutes it goes up to 14. Well since the air pressure starts to come out thru the sides of the mask and above the eye sockets when it hits 14, it wakes me up as it makes this horrible loud whistling sound. So last night, I automatically put it to 14 instead of 6 and sat up in the bed and adjusted the straps on the mask to be more snug as within a minute it started to sing again. Then after 5 minutes, I lay down with the mask on snuggly. Right now, I use 2-3 pillows and sleep propped up but due to my weight as I lie on my sides, my rib cage, stomach, etc start to hurt and feel crushed so I have to change sides frequently. I try to take one pillow away but as soon as I lay flat, I feel like I am suffocating. I did sleep a little bit better last night but for the past few weeks, I am only getting about 4 hours of sleep a night. By the end of the week, I am totally exhausted. The good news is that I do much better on the weekends as I am off work and therefore am more relaxed and can take a nap if needed. I see the respirologist on Monday finally after waiting 6 weeks. Here in Canada we have free universal health care but the catch is that there is wait to see specialists. Our goverment does not believe in private health care so we don't have other options. Thanks again everyone. Sim from Vancouver, BC Canada

Hi I have been on Bi leval that means the it has hi and lower presure when you exehale I have been on it for bi leval scence june 2002 it took me a week to get used to it I dont go to bed with out it at all love it the best sleep I ever gotten for years. keep tring good luck