Yawn wrote:

You might want to wear your mask and start the machine while you're watching tv.  Let it ramp up and just try to breath with the machine.  Try not to panic and just breath.  Do you have c-flex enabled?  If not, set it on 3.  That should relieve the exhalation pressure and make it more bearable.

Great advice. My first night I had a panic attack, the psychological barrier that I had to overcome was the realization that I had to wear what my wife referred to as a fighter-mask for the rest of my life. I took it off after about 30 minutes and struggled through yet another sleepless night, the same struggle that I had had for 17 years. The next day, exhausted as usual, I took a nap and decided to try my luck again. I started off watching a show on TV and drifted off to sleep. I woke up a half-hour later and my entire family (all fivbe kids and my wife) each came up to me and said how amazed they were that I didn't snore. That night I had a little more confidence. I tried it again and made it though the night. My littlest daughter made sure that I had my "nose medicine" on before I went to bed. I slept peacefully through the night for the first time in 17 years! The next morning everyone commented on how they were able to sleep through the night without interruption. From then on I have had no problem sleeping with my machine each night. In 2.5 years, I have not missed one night.
I know you really don't want to hear "you'll get used to it" or "just give it a try", but I really don't have any other advice to give. I wish you well and hope that you can, if you haven't already, figure this out and come up with a solution that works for you.
Take care.

BaseballNut

I am newly diagnosed and titrated but have not gotten my machine yet.  You said that you cannot get used to the pressure.  One thing to think about - during titration, I could NOT wear the pillows.  Way too much concentrated pressure.  Very uncomfortable for me, even when the tech turned the pressure way down.  I did very well with a small nasal mask (Fischer & Paykl FlexiFit 407).  Not sure yet of the mechanics here whether or not you have to pay for a new mask or you have 30 days like the machine, but you should try a nasal mask instead of the pillows.  Just a thought

UPDATE:

I was using the nasal pillows, and was completely comfortable with the pressure after probably two or three nights; however, my mouth would open when sleeping and the air would escape. It gave me the worst week of sleep, made me feel awful and I eventually had to leave work because I was beyond exhausted.

I switched to a full face mask, which doesn't seem to work, either. I'm not exactly sure why yet, but as a nose breather, I think I wake up when my mouth dangles open and the air gets forced in there -- even though that's not the airway I'm using.

I have an appointment next week with a new doctor, so hopefully I can figure out the problem.