Just got CPAP machine

I just got a cpap machine and I am having trouble using it. I was told I stopped breathing 152 times in a 2 hour period. My titration level is set at 12. I don't know if that's high or not. I just know that wearing the mask is making me feel claustrophobic. I have yet to wear it all night long. Seems I will wake up and start to panic that I cannot breathe and then i can't get if off fast enough. I have not been able to put it back on after that and this has been happeneing every night since I got the machine last Thursday. Is there anything I can do to get used to it? Just having all that air blowing in my face makes me feel like I can't catch my breath. I don't want this to make me unable to have surgery. Any help would be appreciated.

Hi, I am a seasoned veteran when it comes to Cpap machines.  My first month was the worst. It is very difficult to get use to it. Keep putting it on every night. Over time you will be able to  keep it on longer and longer. I would wake up in the middle of the night w/ it off and have no memory of removing it. Now I don't sleep w/out it. You will get use to the air blowing on your face. Both my machines had 2 start buttons: 1 for the full 7 setting at start up and 1 for starting at a lower setting that works up to the high setting over time so you don't notice as much. Check out your machine for this feature. My first setting was 7. As I gained weight I had to go up on my setting. I'm on what's called a bi-pap w/ 2 settings the first setting is 13, so about the same as yours. My cardiologist and pulmonary doctor both say it is greatly aiding my vital organs to stay as healthy as possible and prevent new problems. So, please stick w/ it.  I'm told that as I lose more weight I will probably have settings lowered or get rid of it all together. But for now hang in there. Keep using it. Keep me posted on your progress   Mag    

Hi Mag, thanks for responding and congrats on having your surgery! You are doing great! I thought I would be able to have my surgery in march, but now I have to wear this cpap for 2 months before the pulmonologist will sign off for me to have surgery. I am so disappointed. Yes my machine has that button and when I pu**** it drops the air level down to a 4 and I can tolerate that setting. I do this every night when I lay down to go to sleep. Problem is I am waking up with the machine on the 12 setting and this is when I feel panicked and have to take the mask off. I will keep trying because I want to have the surgery and I am actually hoping this machine will help me get a good nights sleep so I am not always so tired. I will keep trying. I accepted your friend request, please keep in touch and again congrats on your surgery and losing weight!

I too had problems adjusting to using a CPAP. I used both nasal pillows and a full mask. As I lost weight my titration numbers actually increased and I still need to use my CPAP. I used Vaseline in my nostrils and also used moleskin on the silicone pillows so I didn't sweat as much on the upper lip.
The most important thing I did was to lie down in the afternoon with the CPAP on and keep on lenghting the time that I kept it on. Eventually, usually after about 1 month, you should be doing better acclimatizing to it. And once you realize how much better you feel, you'll find it easier.

Hope this helps.

Diana

Thank you so much for the advice. I have to use the full mask because I sometimes breathe through my mouth. I cannot sleep on my back, I always sleep on my side so my issue is that once I lay down I end up with air leaking but in order to prevent this (I guess because my face is so full) I have to really tighten it up and then it is uncomfortable. I have woke up with mask marks on my face and forehead. I have also woke up the last 2 mornings and the mask was off and machine was off and I don't remember taking it off! Ugh...I will keep trying. It is very hard to find a comfortable sleeping position with the mask on.

I'm a side sleeper and sleeping on my back doesn't last for long. I always end up on my side. I would also suggest using a shower curtain ring to hold your hose off your shoulder so you can roll easily. You can hook the ring or use a rubber band to hold the ring on the headboard.

Diana

It is completely normal to keep taking it off at night in the beginning. It will get better, just keep using it and putting it back on. You may try to spend a little bit of time with it on while you are awake to accustom yourself to how it feels. My setting is an 11 and I have been using mine since 1999. It will get better I promise.

I definitely feel for you. I have very mild sleep apnea, my settings are only at 6(lowest it goes is 4) and I feel suffocated by that so I can only imagine how 12 feels. I don't sleep with my mouth open but they gave me the small nose mask. Forget it, first night I wore it I had the worst panic attack of my life and cried myself to sleep without it on. I couldn't do it. I work at the doctors office that my pulmonologist is in and I went to her that morning upset about it. She gave me a nasal mask which helps a lot for me. Since you sleep with your mouth open that mask wouldn't be an option but what worked for me is wearing it for an hour or so while watching tv to get used to it. I wore mine on and off for 4 hours during the day before I put it on at night. Also, if the pressure seems to hard for you I would call your pulmonologist after a couple days and ask her to read the card to check if maybe the pressure is too hard for you. My mask comes off EVERY night at some point and I do not have any memory of taking it off. I panic about it and put it back on because I worry I am not meeting my 5 hour mark at night(most pulms only require 4 hours) .  You eventually get used to it but it IS hard. My pulmonologist even though I work at her office won't clear me for surgery if I don't use it. She told me it was my surgeon *****quired 30 days compliance but I called him and they said now it's onl 2 weeks. I would call your surgeon and see what his requirement is. If it's less than 2 months find out and then bring that up to your pulmonologist. I don't know if that will work for you since your episodes are not mild at all I don't know if maybe that's why she's requiring it longer to see if the machine is helping. Good luck with it and it does get easier. Just keep wearing it each day for an hour or so watching tv to get used to it

Thank you all so much for your replies. It is actually getting easier. I have actually worn it a few nights without taking off. There are still some nights I end up taking it off but like you all said it is getting easier. I need to either get longer tubing or figure out some way to keep the machine from falling off my nightstand. This has happened a few times and I don't want to damage the machine. My insurance is only allowing me to rent the machine for now. They said if I wear it at least 4 hrs each night for a month then they will purchase it for me. Still having some trouble with the mask leaking air probably because i sleep on my side. So far I am not noticing any benefit to wearing the mask, I still feel tired all the time. How soon does it make you not feel tired? Is it because the air leaks out?

if you wake up and panic take it off readjust it and push the lower setting button and try again soon you wont need to wake up doing this. my sleep docsays if it leaks take it off reposition it but dont tightenn it because will make leaks worse. good luck. i have been using mine for 2yrs