First night with Lowenstein Prisma Smart Max and ResMed Airfit F 20. Talk to me- please!

First night ever, using my APAP Prisma machine.

2 1/2 hours at bedtime. Then another hour or so early morning?

Both times with 30 mins soft start.

Occasionally my cheeks were blowing out and ears felt pressurised. Made my jaw ache.

Still had 4 ‘hard’exhalations- this is a fairly recent symptom for me, just the last two weeks. It’s like someone punched me hard in the stomach. My body reacts physically- my abdomen contracts and I involuntarily give a big grunt of outward breath. No idea why. Not a nice feeling.

Don’t remember having any apnea events- but then I don’t think I was asleep.

Sometimes felt like hard lump between bottom of ribs. Very uncomfortable.

Seemed like it was doing it’s own timing for breathing, not following mine? Shouldn’t be because it’s set to APAP I believe.

Very conscious of my breathing all the time, not sure I was breathing normally.

Fit was ok; leaked around right cheek twice so I retightened lower right strap.

At one time the screen showed the Test Screen, don’t know why. (When I pressed far right button to get screen to light up.) My husband said the test screen comes up if you press second to last button, so I made have done that by mistake.

Although generally I was uncomfortable, on occasions exhaling was VERY hard. Uncomfortable.

Settings: soft pap 2, humidifier 2, soft start 30 mins, auto start off.

Slightly dry mouth this morning, but not worse than normal.

Took it off after 2 half hours ish, as breathing rhythm and hard to exhale got to me. Don’t THINK I slept at all.

Put it back on early morning to try again. Might have dozed off?

Draped hose over bed head so above me- worked well. Was able to turn over ok.

Pressure was 16 at one point? Think that’s when I found it uncomfortable and took it off.

I’m not sure HOW I should feel, what I am likely to experience, whilst using the Prisma. Maybe everything I experienced is common? If so, I hope it goes away!!!

If I adjust any of the settings will it help me?

ps my app just showed I had mask on for over 6 hrs in total, with zero Deep Sleep and 12 AHI with 0/1 leakage.  I’ve just been diagnosed with sleep apnoea (I’m in the U.K., Wales) with a moderate AHI of 26. 

I’m hoping someone can reassure me that the above experiences are normal but will go away !!!! Feeling bit lonely about it at the moment, but dead keen to make it work. 

thank you, Linda