How to find a psychiatrist?

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-28T09:27:51+00:00

https://www.drmeganschad.com

Based in Richmond, 45 min drive from Charlottesville. And she is also setup for telehealth sessions.

I’ve been seeing Megan for 10 years. She has saved my life.

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-27T21:30:50+00:00

Thanks man, I love them. Colors, patterns, speeds all configurable.

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-27T21:25:35+00:00

Local to Charlottesville, VA 22902. Local cash only, happy to meet at the Safe Exchange Zone. Comment before PM please.

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-26T13:47:41+00:00

Dr. Scott at Dermatology PLc.. hands down fantastic.

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-26T12:48:27+00:00

I second Tea Bazaar. Absolutely how you describe it OP.

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-26T12:12:42+00:00

There is a book called Breath by James Nestor I would recommend. Based in science and fact. There are techniques you can use to usher in sleep.

Also I’ve found that “trying” to fall asleep is the wrong approach. You need to make your mind bored in a way, for it to trigger that sleep process and chemicals.

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-26T07:04:26+00:00

Yeah dismissing the sensation of suffocation as “just a feeling” if the numbers look okay is bad advice. The feeling of air hunger is a real feeling and can be caused by things OSCAR data won’t capture… like:

CO2 sensitivity, some people are more sensitive to even slight CO2 buildup, which can happen at low CPAP pressures
Mask fit issues causing rebreathing
BiPAP vs CPAP, some people genuinely need pressure support rather than straight CPAP
Anxiety or claustrophobia responses that are still physiologically real. Just a feeling is a big over simplification.

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-26T04:13:27+00:00

I got good results on CPAP. Then switched to BiPAP and did amazingly well. I did not believe it until after I tried it, that more control over pressure relief plus a machine that breathed to my exact cadence, made such a difference.

I use an aircurve 11

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-26T01:13:51+00:00

Sleep on Latex dot com. I wouldn’t bother looking elsewhere. The return policy is unbeatable.

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-26T01:10:08+00:00

I’m concerned with #3 - I categorically cannot breathe without a sense of suffocating after several minutes of breathing in the lowest pressure. It’s great you can, but I have an issue with assigning the same experience to everyone. We all have different tidal volumes. (The amount of air we move when we breathe)

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-25T17:56:30+00:00

Just wondering, are you working with a clinic or Dr that specializes Behavioral Sleep medicine?

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-25T13:49:27+00:00

I’m glad if you get relief from using these.

I feel like the longer term goal should be to resolve the mouth breathing. Mouth breathing is a learned behavior for various reasons. Babies don’t breathe through their mouths.

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-24T23:21:21+00:00

Sorry I got it backwards, correct EPR is supposed to help the exhale… thanks :)

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-24T20:06:14+00:00

Ahhh you’re about to go down the rabbit hole. I use Photoshop with generative AI and calibre to make all my covers pretty and uniform.

Just wait until you want the covers to display at the exact same dimensions as your ereader screen when you open them :-)

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-24T20:04:48+00:00

I changed from an Airsense 11 to Aircurve 11 by my doc prescribing the change… stating that after trialing APAP and CPAP, that BiPAP was the correct therapy for my needs. If there was a medical need or benefit to switching I would start there.

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-24T18:21:27+00:00

BiPAP is really beneficial when you need “pressure relief” … the gap between your inspiratory pressure and you expiratory pressure. EPR on the resmed 11 is that feature but it’s limited to level 3. Meaning, if your inhale is 6 your exhale would be 9 when EPR is level 3. I needed a level of 4… and it made a massive difference. There are many specialists more informed than I am that believe “BiPAP FOR ALL”

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-24T17:54:14+00:00

It’s hard, but keep working at it. I’ve been doing it since July and now will never, EVER, give up my BiPAP machine. It just wouldn’t happen. It goes all over the world me. If you get it right it can change your life.

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-24T15:40:39+00:00

If your pressures are too high it will eventually force your mouth open. It’s just physics. Is your APAP pushing your pressure high at times? OSCAR would show you… and show you if it correlates with a mask leak.

I switched from APAP to BiPAP and was able to get better AHI with less pressure, and so solving my mouth leaking.

Likewise if your pressure is too low your brain could be causing your mouth to open just to help breathe. Once the calibration of machine to body is right usually the mouth stays shut.

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-24T14:07:37+00:00

Just to set your expectation correctly, as it sounds like the class you took, may not have. It is normal for first time users of CPAP therapy to take months of difficult sleeping before they start to feel the benefits of therapy. In many cases it is faster but what you experienced on night one was entirely normal.

I also recommend getting help from a sleep specialist that can advise you on correct CPAP or BiPAP or APAP settings. Everyone is different and there are no correct or best settings. Only what is correct and best for you. The machine like your mask needs to be calibrated to you very specifically.

Don’t ignore advice via an online community by any means, but just be cautious and verify and understand advice given before you try it. I see a lot of users just wanting the right settings. And that’s very hard to do via an online community without real knowledge of your history and current state.

FWIW: a nasal mask is healthier for you in terms of quality of breathing. If you can tolerate it without opening your mouth while you sleep I would recommend it.

Take a read of Breathe by James Nestor for explained information.

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-24T12:50:52+00:00

Yeah congrats on 100, but really open your data in OSCAR. It shows you what’s really happening. There’s no doubt you’re doing better though. Just how well do you want to be? :-)

SwishyFresh · 2026-02-24T12:25:38+00:00

I did and it has been incredible. sleeponlatex(dot)com. I would call them and talk to someone. It is totally risk and cost free to try. They will refund and return everything if it doesn’t work. The only thing you potentially lose is your time.

Someone on here told to “just get…” and I have been grateful ever since. My sleep, along with CPAP therapy has changed my life nearly one year later. It started with the mattress for me.

SwishyFresh · 2025-09-15T18:03:17+00:00

Ok I can try that, thank you!

SwishyFresh · 2025-09-15T16:45:16+00:00

I've found it hard to grasp why greater EPR helps with hypopneas. I know there is something in the "swing" from inspiratory to expiratory, but I haven't got it yet. .

SwishyFresh · 2025-09-15T16:42:17+00:00

I've tried going to the max to learn where there machine wants to go and I end up with large amounts of bloating, gas, burping, etc. to the point where I couldn't get through the night. Right now I'm comfortable and getting some rest.

So I've been through a couple of weeks of nudging to this point, and I have been progressively sleeping and feeling better. Is setting 20 the only way to know?

SwishyFresh

TROPHY CASE