First Night CPAP- Suffocating- Help!

Hello All-
Im a newbie, and last night was my first night with my new APAP machine. My pressure settings are 4-9. It was horrible, and Im much more tired than without using it. I woke up multiple times feeling like I was suffocating, and even had a dream that I was suffocating and couldnt remove the mask! I only lasted 3 hours on CPAAP last night due to this. Im miserable today and feel like quitting, but my insurance is monitoring me so I need to persevere or else they will take it back. I cannot post a screen shot of any data since I hadnt registered the device until today. The sleep data on the monitor showed no air leak. What could be causing the feelings of suffocating?
Also, air kept blowing out of my mouth despite me holding my tongue to the roof of my mouth. One side of my nose gets blocked at night, despite saline rinses, steroid sprays, etc... Just saw an ENT and he said those are the only remedies for my nose. I cannot wear a full face mask since its impossible to sleep comfortably on side with them, and they feel so overwhelming (I tried one during a home CPAP trial recently). BTW- my AHI was 9.4 by PSG. Im petite- 108 lbs.
Thanks for any help- I really appreciate it!

Sorry about your difficulties. One of the keys to successful CPAP treatment is perseverance. You are going to need to tough it out for several weeks or longer. This forum is an excellent place to obtain more expert advice than I am able to offer. Downloading and using Sleepyhead or Oscar software is important. I am a successful side sleeper using a Resmed Airtouch F20 and a CPAP pillow. I wish you well.

Peony wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 1:09 pm

Hello All-
Im a newbie, and last night was my first night with my new APAP machine. My pressure settings are 4-9.

one of the first things i'd recommend is raising your lower pressure. it may not make sense at this point in your cpap journey, but you feel like your suffocating mostly because of the minimum pressure being at four. there aren't a lot of us that would feel comfortable at that setting. i recommend you raise that minimum pressure to 7.

good luck!

bombayone wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 1:29 pm

Sorry about your difficulties. One of the keys to successful CPAP treatment is perseverance. You are going to need to tough it out for several weeks or longer. This forum is an excellent place to obtain more expert advice than I am able to offer. Downloading and using Sleepyhead or Oscar software is important. I am a successful side sleeper using a Resmed Airtouch F20 and a CPAP pillow. I wish you well.

Thank you!

zonker wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 1:37 pm

Peony wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 1:09 pm

Hello All-
Im a newbie, and last night was my first night with my new APAP machine. My pressure settings are 4-9.

one of the first things i'd recommend is raising your lower pressure. it may not make sense at this point in your cpap journey, but you feel like your suffocating mostly because of the minimum pressure being at four. there aren't a lot of us that would feel comfortable at that setting. i recommend you raise that minimum pressure to 7.

good luck!

Thanks for your reply. I dont think Im able to adjust any settings since this is a rent to own machine- right? Or can I- how do you adjust pressure settings? I dont see any option on the machine for that. Thanks!

Peony wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 1:42 pm

zonker wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 1:37 pm

Peony wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 1:09 pm

Hello All-
Im a newbie, and last night was my first night with my new APAP machine. My pressure settings are 4-9.

one of the first things i'd recommend is raising your lower pressure. it may not make sense at this point in your cpap journey, but you feel like your suffocating mostly because of the minimum pressure being at four. there aren't a lot of us that would feel comfortable at that setting. i recommend you raise that minimum pressure to 7.

good luck!

Thanks for your reply. I dont think Im able to adjust any settings since this is a rent to own machine- right? Or can I- how do you adjust pressure settings? I dont see any option on the machine for that. Thanks!

you can change the settings. your doctor may not like it. but most of us here change our own settings.

by a happy coincidence, i own the very same machine, so i can take you through it. others will be by to tell you where to get a copy of the clinician's manual, which will unlock other mysteries.

so, like this-
push the big, round knob.
you'll see the screen with your details on it.
the highlighted section should be <Home. press the big knob again
turn the knob so My Options is highlighted
push the little picture of a house beneath the screen at the same time as you push the big knob.
YOU ARE IN!
push the knob .
roll the knob to proceed down to Min. Pressure
push the knob button once there
once that is highlighted, use the knob to scroll to your desired pressure.
push the button at your desired pressure
scroll up to <Home and push the knob
do same again to <Exit Clinical Menu

looks like a lot when i type it out, but it's pretty straightforward to do.

if you have any questions, don't hesiatae to ask.

zonker wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 1:55 pm

Peony wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 1:42 pm

zonker wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 1:37 pm

Peony wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 1:09 pm

Hello All-
Im a newbie, and last night was my first night with my new APAP machine. My pressure settings are 4-9.

one of the first things i'd recommend is raising your lower pressure. it may not make sense at this point in your cpap journey, but you feel like your suffocating mostly because of the minimum pressure being at four. there aren't a lot of us that would feel comfortable at that setting. i recommend you raise that minimum pressure to 7.

good luck!

Thanks for your reply. I dont think Im able to adjust any settings since this is a rent to own machine- right? Or can I- how do you adjust pressure settings? I dont see any option on the machine for that. Thanks!

you can change the settings. your doctor may not like it. but most of us here change our own settings.

by a happy coincidence, i own the very same machine, so i can take you through it. others will be by to tell you where to get a copy of the clinician's manual, which will unlock other mysteries.

so, like this-
push the big, round knob.
you'll see the screen with your details on it.
the highlighted section should be <Home. press the big knob again
turn the knob so My Options is highlighted
push the little picture of a house beneath the screen at the same time as you push the big knob.
YOU ARE IN!
push the knob .
roll the knob to proceed down to Min. Pressure
push the knob button once there
once that is highlighted, use the knob to scroll to your desired pressure.
push the button at your desired pressure
scroll up to <Home and push the knob
do same again to <Exit Clinical Menu

looks like a lot when i type it out, but it's pretty straightforward to do.

if you have any questions, don't hesiatae to ask.

Hi
That doesnt work for me. Not sure if its because I dont own it, and the insurance company monitors it?? But I did see the tech change the pressures yesterday when I picked it up (unfortunately wasnt paying close attention to what she was doing).
Pushing the house and the big knob at the same time does nothing. ugh!

Peony wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 3:11 pm

zonker wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 1:55 pm

Peony wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 1:42 pm

zonker wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 1:37 pm

Peony wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 1:09 pm

Hello All-
Im a newbie, and last night was my first night with my new APAP machine. My pressure settings are 4-9.

one of the first things i'd recommend is raising your lower pressure. it may not make sense at this point in your cpap journey, but you feel like your suffocating mostly because of the minimum pressure being at four. there aren't a lot of us that would feel comfortable at that setting. i recommend you raise that minimum pressure to 7.

good luck!

Thanks for your reply. I dont think Im able to adjust any settings since this is a rent to own machine- right? Or can I- how do you adjust pressure settings? I dont see any option on the machine for that. Thanks!

you can change the settings. your doctor may not like it. but most of us here change our own settings.

by a happy coincidence, i own the very same machine, so i can take you through it. others will be by to tell you where to get a copy of the clinician's manual, which will unlock other mysteries.

so, like this-
push the big, round knob.
you'll see the screen with your details on it.
the highlighted section should be <Home. press the big knob again
turn the knob so My Options is highlighted
push the little picture of a house beneath the screen at the same time as you push the big knob.
YOU ARE IN!
push the knob .
roll the knob to proceed down to Min. Pressure
push the knob button once there
once that is highlighted, use the knob to scroll to your desired pressure.
push the button at your desired pressure
scroll up to <Home and push the knob
do same again to <Exit Clinical Menu

looks like a lot when i type it out, but it's pretty straightforward to do.

if you have any questions, don't hesiatae to ask.

Hi
That doesnt work for me. Not sure if its because I dont own it, and the insurance company monitors it?? But I did see the tech change the pressures yesterday when I picked it up (unfortunately wasnt paying close attention to what she was doing).
Pushing the house and the big knob at the same time does nothing. ugh!

If you have an airsense 10 machine, it *will* work, there is no way to lock the machine so that you can't get into the hidden menu. Please try again.

Make sure you press the large circular button and the house together for about 10 seconds then the menus will change

Try wearing your mask while awake reading or watching tv. Getting used to the strange thing on your face is easier while awake. If air is leaking out your mouth you can tape it shut, sometimes people have good luck wearing foam cervical collars or putting a pillow under their neck to keep their mouth shut.

Hang in there. It gets easier.

Peony wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 3:11 pm

Hi
That doesnt work for me. Not sure if its because I dont own it, and the insurance company monitors it?? But I did see the tech change the pressures yesterday when I picked it up (unfortunately wasnt paying close attention to what she was doing).
Pushing the house and the big knob at the same time does nothing. ugh!

oh, dear. i am SO sorry. i've left out an important bit, which jas_williams has been good enough to point out. you must press the house button and the big knob together and hold them both down for at least ten seconds before the change happens.

this is NOT your fault, it's MY fault. and again i'm sorry for neglecting to put a step in.

please try again and let us know what the results are. between all of us here, i'm sure we can get you into the menu to change your minimum pressure.

Jas_williams wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 3:27 pm

Make sure you press the large circular button and the house together for about 10 seconds then the menus will change

Ahhhhh! Thanks!

zonker wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 4:41 pm

Peony wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 3:11 pm

Hi
That doesnt work for me. Not sure if its because I dont own it, and the insurance company monitors it?? But I did see the tech change the pressures yesterday when I picked it up (unfortunately wasnt paying close attention to what she was doing).
Pushing the house and the big knob at the same time does nothing. ugh!

oh, dear. i am SO sorry. i've left out an important bit, which jas_williams has been good enough to point out. you must press the house button and the big knob together and hold them both down for at least ten seconds before the change happens.

this is NOT your fault, it's MY fault. and again i'm sorry for neglecting to put a step in.

please try again and let us know what the results are. between all of us here, i'm sure we can get you into the menu to change your minimum pressure.

Yeah! Got it! It worked- you guys are so smart! Just hope insurance co (Carecentrix) or my doctor dont scold me!

babydinosnoreless wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 3:39 pm

Try wearing your mask while awake reading or watching tv. Getting used to the strange thing on your face is easier while awake. If air is leaking out your mouth you can tape it shut, sometimes people have good luck wearing foam cervical collars or putting a pillow under their neck to keep their mouth shut.

Hang in there. It gets easier.

Thanks!

Peony wrote: ↑

Tue May 21, 2019 5:32 pm

Just hope insurance co (Carecentrix) or my doctor dont scold me!

Insurance companies don't care about anything other than whether you're using the machine or not... so, if you adjust the pressures to make it more tolerable and have it work better... that should mean you'll use it more, and they'll be happy.

Doctors with god complexes may get their panties in a wad and scold you... at which point they need to be reminded that they work for YOU!

Good doctors will be tickled pink that you're taking a strong interest in optimizing your treatment.