[Treatment] Help with falling asleep new to CPAP

[Cosmo27]

Hi

I bought a new Airsense 10 Autoset a few weeks ago and I'm struggling to fall asleep using the machine. Almost all of my events were CSA and my AHI was 6.2. I am treating this myself. 

The pressure on exhale is very uncomfortable to push against and I am not sure if its my masks or my settings.

At first I was using the machine in Auto mode with EPR on its highest and pressure on its lowest with ramp off and comfort on but this didn't help. I then decided to flash my machine to the Aircurve ASV using the Airbreak method which was successful.

I am currently trying the machine with asv on auto and max epap at 4, min ps 1, and max ps 6.

With these settings I still feel uncomfortable and I am now thinking it may be my masks.

I am a side sleeper and I am currently using the phillips dreamwhisp nasal cradle and the resmed airfit f30i.

Should I try a different mask like a front entry nasal mask? 

Any help is appreciated!

[ejbpesca]

CSA events can occur as you adapt to using PAP therapy.

It is not unusual to feel you are not breathing well as you adapt to therapy.  It can be a difficult struggle to adapt to therapy.

I am not familiar with adapting an AS 10 to an ASV by changing its software but I can say it took me a few months to become adapted to accept any mask and PAP therapy.  

It may take changing the mask several times to find which works best for you.  I use the F40 and find it more comfortable than the five previous FF masks.

Posting an OSCAR report here can get advice on your therapy.  Instructions are in the Wiki section at the top of the Forum page.  I think experts here may find it interesting that you have converted an Autoset 10 to an ASV machine.

An in lab sleep study can determine if an ASV machine is the proper one for you.  It is best to be diagnosed for the need for such therapy as opposed to experimenting.  There is a need to establish which type of machine matches your type/level of sleep apnea.  How did you determine you have sleep apnea?  How did you determine what pressure settings are correct?  By using the APAP machine you could be causing CSA events.  If you did a home sleep apnea test/study post the results with your personal information redacted along with an OSCAR report.  An expert will get back with advice.

Jumping around from one PAP mode to another takes time for adaptation.  First adjustments are made by the results of a sleep study report.  Any mask can take days/weeks/months to finally adapt to it.  Be wary of harming yourself by self-diagnosis and treatment.