MikeO.  Thank you for the suggestion of the sound machine. I have read that other people use it too.  It's worth a try.  And thanks for the caution about Ambien.  So far I do not have
the amnesia problem.  I remember when I wake up during the night to go to the bathroom and I remember putting my mask back on and falling asleep.  I feel for you with your struggles.  Hang in there and thank you for shraring.  Have a ncie vacation.

Well,vacation is officially over, so no more "I have all night to get used to the Comfort2 Full Face mask, I can sleep in if it doesn't work out!"
Last night was it for me and I'm in no way bashing the Comfort2 Full Face mask, it's probably wonderful for alot of users out there, just not me and I truely believe I gave it a good try, but always the same results. Last night, I went to bed at 11pm. Woke up at 12:15am with my usual Can't Breath attack. It may be my CPAP with the C-Flex? I'm not exactly understanding this
 C-Flex function of the machine? Seems I've gotten use to not having to ramp the thing down to 4 to go to sleep. Again, my max is a setting of 8. I put it on and it seems to be giving me enough air to fall asleep. But, like last night, in no time (it took an hour last night) I think I stop breathing? I become alert out of my sleep telling myself to take a breathe? Then, when I exhale, the mask fills with Hot Air, I'm guessing from my lungs? But if I break the seal, there's all kinds of air coming out of the mask? I don't know if the C-Flex feature is slowing down the air it is supplying or it's learning how I'm breathing and then duplicating the pattern I'm breathing or ?????????
SOoooo, I went to today and got a new ResMed Mirage Swift II that Mrs. Rip Van Winkle suggested I try. Got it home and hooked it up. First impression is that it looks as though it will be far smaller with it just using the nose pillows instead of the whole thing covering my nose and mouth. I can see much better using it if I choose to watch tv and hopefully, it will reduce the pattern of panic attacks that I was having trying the Comfort2 mask. When hooked up to the CPAP machine, Tried it and of course, breathing in was a no brainer, however...the exhaling seemed VERY difficult. I know this is a totally different fish, so I will just have to give it a try and pray for the best. I also went to a Medical Supply store today and ordered a 45 Degree Wedge Pillow, so that I will not be lying completely flat. Hopefully be here by tomorrow, so maybe this will be the a MAGIC COMBINATION that I have been searching for.
I will keep everyone informed on my journey for a good nights rest...Thanks Again to ALL who have and continue to give their advice comments and such...you HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE BY HELPING ME !!!  
Take Care
MikeO.
Indiana

Like I mentioned before the CPAP pressure may be too low to stop your anpneas from occurring, since your initial sleep study was 4 years ago.  You may be waking up because of apneas not allowing you to breathe.  I use a nasal pillow too.  I hope it works out for you.  If you still wake up with the sensation of not being able to breathe, you really should consider another titration study.


_________________
REMStar Pro M w/ c-flex and heated humidifier
ResMed Swift LT nasal pillow
Encore View Software
12 cm H20, 13 cm H20
CPAP start date: June 4, 2008

Thank You...it is quite possible that is the culprit. I have a appointment with a new sleep doctor towards the end of the month and I'm guessing that he will probably set one up for me.
MikeO

Ok...since you took my suggestion...I PRAY it WORKS!...  As for the waking up...O'Mike (verses MikeO)...I do think from having untreated apnea these past years has caused a need for the pressure to be changed...The low pressure of 8 is probably only stopping some of your apneas.  Do not let your troubles today stop you from making it work once you get properly titrated.  For your own aggrevation reduction, see if you can get in earlier to the Dr...or see if you can get an APAP loaner to use until then.  With that the pressure will fluctuate and increase as needed.

The higher pressure, if it is determined to be needed, will probably be easy for you to get accustomed to since you are claustaphobic...you will feel the air more....and you are falling asleep with the 8 pressure.  That number of 4 on the ramp...that is barely what anyone could handle.  Since you ARE falling asleep with it then waking up...it is something other than the equipment or your mind waking you...and again, that is most likely your pressure is too low. (I would go as far to say IMHO that I am about 90% sure that is it...remembering now that I am no way a medical person)


_________________

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO~ http://tinyurl.com/69q52a

BiPAP Auto M 13/8 Mirage Nasal Swift. 20 years+ undx'd. RLS/PLMD, Hypersomnia & more.

Well, here I am at 3 am....another horrible night. The new set-up was a added failure to my growing list. I had high hopes that with using the Wedge Pillow to keep me from lying flat and using the new Mirage Swift II Pillow system that things "might" improve. Went to bed, tried watching TV to keep my mind off of everything and seemed to fall asleep fairly fast. Woke up 1 hour 15 minutes later with the can't breathe feeling, so I'm to that point now where I quote..."Stick a fork in me...I'm done!" I know this has to be in my head, but something either mental or physical continues to wake me up, I'm certain I'm not pinching myself awake..LOL
I can no longer do this each night. I suppose at this point...it has to be the Me, the CPAP machine, settings, or all of the above? I know since I pulled this out of the closet and tried to use it again, my attempt at sleep has turned into a complete nightmare. I am far more exhausted than before I started this journey. So, with this being said, I am quiting this nightly ritual and waiting to see what this new doctor decides for me. I can not express enough in words how much I appreciate ALL of the support that each and everyone of you have given by taken the time to write in an attempt to make life easier for me.
I will continue to post once I see this new doctor. I have been up trying to get "Sleepy" again for 3 hours now and am going to try to do the un-imaginable...sleep. Thank God today is a holiday, or else my alarm clock would be going off in another hour.
Thanks Again to EVERYONE and I'm SOooooo Thankful that this is working for all of you...hope someday to join the "Club" !!  
MikeO
Indiana
Good Night...

Mrs Rip Van Winkle wrote:

You know Mike...You may think this is crazy due to your fear of the pressure of 8...BUT...usually when one feels like they are suffocating and the mask is hot is due to the ramp pressure being too low.

I totally agree.  My pressure needed is around 13, but my doctor wrote a script for pressure from 4-20.  That's what's programmed in, to start at 4 and ramp up, and frankly I feel a bit like I'm not getting enough air when it first starts!  Next time I have a checkup I'll ask him to start it at 8 or something.  Mind you it's still working very well, I'm asleep so quickly that I have no idea how long it actually takes to ramp up to 13... :)

Please do keep us posted...and PLEASE try to get in to the Dr at an ealier date.  They must have cancelations.


_________________

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO~ http://tinyurl.com/69q52a

BiPAP Auto M 13/8 Mirage Nasal Swift. 20 years+ undx'd. RLS/PLMD, Hypersomnia & more.

Mike,

  Same thing happened to me and I ended up doing some "desensitization" sessions to get over this supposed panic.  It turned out though that what it really was had more to do with the air pressure than anything else.  I found out the hard way that the bi-level air pressure thing was not for me...  the machine stopped giving me air half way through the inhale and started to push air into my lungs while I was still exhaling.  It was awful!  I eventually got on a continuous pressure any no more "panic" - I could actually breathe normally without a failed attempt of a machine trying to keep up with me. Anyway, I don't know if that is your situation, but it was for me.  Maybe this helped a bit.

- dozer

MikeO wrote:

Hello, I know this has probably been asked many times, but I was diagnoised with Sleep Apnea 4 years ago after under going a sleep study. I got the CPAP machine and TRIED using it numerous times with the same results. PANIC ATTACKS!  I feel like I'm suffocating and end up pulling it off in usually less than a minute. I was using tubing that went up my nose and hated it and told my wife I was done with it and refused to return to the doctor to discuss it. Ended up the CPAP machine sat in the closet until a week ago. My Apnea has gotten to the point where I can only sleep about 2 hours before waking up gasping for air.
Went to my regular doctor and he gave me a new prescription for a MASK this time. Ended up get a "ComfortFull 2 Full Face Mask" hoping it would be better.
Ended up with the same results. My CPAP maxs out at 8 and even when it's ramped down to 4, I feel like I'm suffocating! I can breath in fine, but cannot exhale easily? Is this normal? If I could breath in and out easily, then I think I might be able to tolerate it better. I start feeling like I'm trapped under a house or something and cannot breath and end up having a severe panic attack and pull it off. This again happens within a couple of minutes. I can't imagine using it when it ramps up to 8. The end result is a night of approx 2 hours sleep over a 7 hour period and feeling like I'm having a chest pains. I don't know what else to do or try? I'm a 50 year old male and am over weight at 250lbs ( 6'1 ). PLEASE....any and all suggestions would be appreciated. Is there hope for me?
Mike O.
Indiana

Quote:

I found out the hard way that the bi-level air pressure thing was not for me...  the machine stopped giving me air half way through the inhale and started to push air into my lungs while I was still exhaling.

That is a bottom shelf BiLevel.  The Auto BiLevels feel like natural breathing and pick-up your breathing rhythm instead of you trying to keep in tune with it's rhythm.  I suggest to any one who may read this...learn your BiLevels prior to accepting what ever the DME hands you.  They are not doing you a favor...you are purchasing something from them...and hiring them in the process too.


_________________

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO~ http://tinyurl.com/69q52a

BiPAP Auto M 13/8 Mirage Nasal Swift. 20 years+ undx'd. RLS/PLMD, Hypersomnia & more.

Thanks for the info "Dozer" & "Mrs.RVW"....I have the Respironics RemStar Plus with C-Flex

http://remstarplus.respironics.com/

From what I've seen on the internet, most places that sold it, now say "DISCONTINUED".
I believe they had 3 different models PLUS, AUTO & PRO.....I think my insurance company (HMO) gave me the cheaper of the three
(imagine that?) It's specs are (doesn't mean a lot to me).....

Specifications | REMstar® Plus

Pressure Range:  4 to 20 cm H2O
Ramp Time :  0 to 45 min. (5-min. increments)
Starting Ramp Pressure: 4 to CPAP; patient-adjustable
Dimensions: 9.45" (l) x 6.69" (w) x 4.72" (h)

24 cm (l) x 17 cm (w) x 12 cm (h)
 
Weight: < 4 lbs (1.8 kg)
Filters: Pollen and optional ultra-fine
Device Set-up: On-board keypad
Data Storage Capacity: Therapy meter
Data Storage Content:  Total hours; usages sessions >4 hours
Compliance Meter:  Therapy hours
Altitude Compensation:  Total hours; usages sessions >4 hours
Electrical Requirements:  100 – 240 AC, 12 VDC
DC Power: Direct-connect cord
Warranty:  2 years
Miscellaneous:  Integrated heated humidification control, lighted keys on pad, pressure calibration key

I know at this point it does make a GREAT PAPER WEIGHT !!! LOL

THANKS AGAIN !!!!!!!!!
MikeO         

Hmmm...I am sitting here at my desk...which happens to be in my guest room closet (yes, I am in the closet) and on the shelf overhead sits my RemStar Plus paperweight!  It is now my back up unit!  I received about 5 years ago when I knew nothing about xPAP's and a lot of things have changed since then.

Start schoolin' ya self on the available machines (search out CrohnieToo posts...she is the machine queen)...and be a strong self advocate to get the one that you want and need...since you are the one that is paying for it (yes, you may have insurance...but who pays for the insurance...YOU)  keep in mind...not all types are machines are universal for all.  Some need straight CPAP, some have to have the AUto and some need BiLevels.  Specific conditons will dictate that machine needed However, if a straight CPAP is needed, there are bottom shelf CPAP's and top shelf CPAP's...insurance codes are the same...just means the DME does not make as much profit.  The same goes with the APAP's and BiLevels.


_________________

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO~ http://tinyurl.com/69q52a

BiPAP Auto M 13/8 Mirage Nasal Swift. 20 years+ undx'd. RLS/PLMD, Hypersomnia & more.

Well, finally had my sleep study done last week. I have yet to speak with my sleep doctor to get the exact results of it, but he did prescribe me a BIPAP machine instead of the CPAP that I was having a horrible (see my earlier posts) time with.
I must say that I do like the Bipap MUCH better than the Cpap machine. I can breath (exhale) much better than before. I am now able to fall to sleep using it WITHOUT suffering a Panic attack !! What a Blessing in just getting over "that" hurdle.
I still am not able to sleep more than 2 hours without pulling the mask off though? Like clockwork, I just wake up with this feeling that I have stopped breathing (my breathing gets very shallow and I am telling myself to BREATH?) I've tried 3 different masks. Nasal and full face. With the nasal pillows, I can't move in bed without getting a leak. If I tighten the straps, then my Nose starts hurting so bad, theres no way I can sleep with it. With the full face mask, I wake up feeling like I'm breathing stale air? Seems no matter what I try, nothing works. People write that you eventually get used to it. Honest to God, I use the Machine every night and always end up waking up with it, (averaging only 2.5 hours of use during the last seven days) ( per the info on the Bipap's usage screen). Sadly, my wife is suffering from me trying to use it. She says all night long, I am trying to adjust it. I pull it off and she hears the sudden rush of the air from it. I roll around in the bed and get tangeled up in the tubing ( I even pulled the entire machine off the nightstand onto the floor the other night! Thankfully, it didn't break other than the water that came out of the humidifier). She is now exhaused simply because of me!
Is there hope? I go back to the sleep doctor in 2 weeks. Don't know if he can prescribe a sleep medicine that will keep me asleep or what he will say, but I hope he can help, I used Ambien previously with bad results!
I'll keep everyone informed on what the Doc says....ANY SUGGESTIONS ON ANYTHING I SHOULD ASK THE DOCTOR WHEN I GO BACK. I SEE SOME PEOPLE HAVE LISTED THEIR SLEEP STUDY RESULTS ON THEIR POSTS?
Take care
Mike O.
Indiana  

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