Question:
i cant tolerate that darn c-pap...HELP!!

I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea in 1998. Since then I have tried everything to wear a cpap including all kinds of masks and headgear to even having the doctor lower the settings thinking Id adjust to it. I just cant. as soon as I put it on I feel like I cant breath on my own. My doctor recently changed me to bi-pap to see if that would work. It doesnt. My wls surgeon says I must be on cpap and oxygen for at least a month prior to surgery. I dont know what Im gonna do. Ive tried everything anyone has suggested and nothing helps. I guess what I wanna know is has any of you had this problem and conquered it or had surgery anyway and did ok. Im really scared because the pilmonologist said Im moderate to high risk and I dont wanna stop breathing and die, but I dont think I'll ever be able to wear that cpap. Any advice would be sooo appreciated. Thanks Mary B    — justaboutkrazy (posted on October 15, 2005)

October 15, 2005
What i did was--practice all day just breathing out of my nose---with my month closed---did this everyday.... And got me some sleeping pills from my doctor. I did benefit from the cpap. My lungs became congested... You need to try and do it. If you dont you can become very ill after surgery or stop breathing in your sleep. Take Care Barb
   — barbie12

October 15, 2005
been on bi pap for about 10 years, at first it was tough, had a couple of surgeries with a ear nose throat doctor that helped, and used a in line humidifier, and a seditive helps too. and yes the getting a handle on the apnea is very important, that alone will cause you to loose weight. a full face mask may be in order too. also a longer more gradual rise in pressure after you fall asleep will help, your therapist can set that up on the machine.
   — walter A.

October 15, 2005
hi i know this is not the greatest answer but the same thing happen to me and i could not wear it so i dint wear it and had the surgery and woke up in icu because they were worry about my breatiing when i came home i did wear it untili drop about 40lbs than it just went away good luck
   — ROSEMARY A.

October 16, 2005
I too used the bi-pap for a couple of years before surgery. I agree with the other posters about the full face mask, and what helped me is not laying flat when I sleep. I moved to the living room and slept in the recliner for a while until I got very used to it and was sleeping good. Hope this helps, but you need to find a way to use it. I agree also with a sleeping pill or OTC such as Tylenol Pm or Simply sleep.
   — Debbie M.

October 17, 2005
Mary, I felt as though I was suffocating when I first used my cpap, too! In fact, I felt that way for several weeks. I just decided to do it anyway. I just kept it on even though I felt suffocated, and eventually I got used to it. Now I feel weird if I try to sleep without it. I am having a study done in another week to determine if I can stop using it, since I am 10 months post-op and have lost over a hundred pounds. Now, I am afraid to stop using it! You just have to decide to do it. You know it is only in your mind. The cpap will not let you not breathe!!
   — Novashannon

October 17, 2005
I couldn't become acclimated to wearing the CPAP and believe me I tried. I even had tissues cauterized out of my nose to help with congestion. I tried to psych myself up to it. I needed it desperately, but nothing I tried worked. I kept taking it off at night. About two weeks before surgery, I fell out of bed from trying to sit up and breathe and fell. I hit a dresser and needed stitches in my head. I had surgery without having been on CPAP at all. I tried just to use the oxygen at home. I had to be intubated while I was awake. (I don't remember it) and I woke up on a ventilator. They kept me ventilated because of my apnea. My sleep apnea was the thing that scared me most about surgery. You need to be watched in intensive care. I would just make sure to discuss this fully with my doctor. I went two years with horrible sleep apnea. I went over a year trying to get used to CPAP. It was a risk, but I believe if I would not have had this surgery, I would have died someway from my sleep apnea.
   — Lisa N M.

October 17, 2005
Have you tried the cannula masks. These are not full face masks. I have been on a cpap for over 3 years. I could not handle the full face mask nor the nose only. I use the Nasal Aire II nasal pillow. Ask your therapist or doctor about it. While in the hospital for the sleep test 3 years ago, I had a panic attack when they tried to force me to use the full face mask. It took about 2 weeks to get used to the nasal pillow after I got it. But I don't go a night without it. Lise
   — [Anonymous]

October 20, 2005
I got help through my psychiatrist. The medications to calm my nerves relaxed me enough that I didn't get that temperary clostrophobia from the mask being put on. I was pretty upset when I couldn't get the mask to stay on and would pull it off within ten minutes of turning on the machine. Another thing I do is do some relaxation exercise before you put on the mask. For me it is as simple as takeing a couple of deap cleansing breaths before securing the mask. Good luck
   — vickicarson