I just had my first sleep study the beginning of this month and picked up my CPAP this morning.  It's an automatic pressure type with heated humidified and I got the air pillows.  Any advice on how to get used to it would be helpful.  I'm extremely claustrophobic.

Hi Guest!!

Welcome to the hosehead club!!  You were wise to initially get nasal pillows as they are less intrusive.  It always is best to not thing of your APAP and nasal pillows as something to resent and resist, but to remember that properly treated OSA will change your life for the better.  Therefore, the best way to get use to it is to treat it as a friend, put on your nasal pillows and make an effort to relax and fall asleep as you normally would.  Just breath normally, don't fight it and your APAP will do the rest.  Nothing horrible is going to happen.  Quite the contrary!!  You'll have more energy, feel better and decrease your risk of heart attack and stroke.  My routine is to get my mask on and CPAP going and watch TV or read for awhile until I feel sleep overtaking me.

Keep posting and let us know how it is going!!  You might want to register also, it is free and you get more benefits out of the forum that way.

Vicki


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That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

Thanks for your great answer Vicki.  It took a long time for me to relax enough to go to sleep, but once I did, I slept well.  And I'm actually awake this morning with no headache and yawning my face off!  It may take a while, but my machine and I just may become good friends.


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Ramona


Determination gives you the resolve to keep going in spite of the roadblocks that lay before you. - Denis Waitley