We use cookies and other tools to enhance your experience on our
website and to analyze our web traffic.
For more information about these cookies and the data collected,
please refer to our
Privacy Policy.
itsdrew93
+0 points
·
over 5 years
ago
Original Poster
Hi im new to this and was just wondering if anyone knows why i keep waking up gasping for air while using my cpap machine i got my machine about a month or two ago and only have used it afew times due to this problem but i need to use it as i dont sleep without the machine until about 5 or 6 am anyone with any advice i would appreciate it thank you
When you turn you machine on you should see a display that looks something like this.
The number beside the Pressure should be your set pressure. The number in the middle of the circle is your starting pressure. In the bottom left is an indication on how the ramp is set. Let us know what you see.
Biguglygremlin
+0 points
·
over 5 years
ago
Sleep
Enthusiast
Well that 93 makes you quite a bit younger than most of this crowd.
You didn't elucidate what it is that keeps you awake till 5 or 6am nor the degree of Apnea that you have.
I only ask because, if I understand you correctly, the CPAP helps you get to sleep, but from impressions I have gathered, that is not commonly the case, especially just a few months into treatment, unless the Apnea is very severe, so how does your CPAP help you and why?
I don't mean to interrogate you itsdrew93 but even wild speculation can benefit from a few points of reference. :)
itsdrew93
+0 points
·
over 5 years
ago
Original Poster
Yh my pressure is 8 and i dont know the degree of my apnea i cant sleep until 5 or 6 am thats because i keep thinking thati will choke and if i use my cpap i cant sleep
If your treatment pressure is 8 cm, then I would consider the following for some potential improvement in comfort.
Set your Ramp to Auto
Set your EPR to 3 cm
Set your EPR type to Ramp Only
Set your Ramp Start Pressure to 8 cm
This will start you out with an inhale pressure of 8 cm, which most find comfortable. On exhale pressure will be reduced to 5 cm to make it easier to breath out. Then when you fall asleep it will keep the pressure at a fixed 8 cm for inhale and exhale. It would be unusual for that combination to not feel like enough air.
itsdrew93
+0 points
·
over 5 years
ago
Original Poster
Thank you sierra but i dont have a clue how to change my pressure all the doctor show me how to change ramp which is on auto and thats about it and the mask setting
bonjour
+0 points
·
over 5 years
ago
Sleep
Commentator
It is easy enough, the question is would you like too? The changes Sierra suggested are totally safe and are considered "Comfort" settings by both ResMed and the Medical community.
Biguglygremlin
+0 points
·
over 5 years
ago
Sleep
Enthusiast
How about giving me some advice on mask fit and comfort and adjusting to the joys of CPAP? It might be a bit late in the piece but I still haven't really got it figured out and I'm sure itsdrew93 could use some help too.
A start pressure of 4 with the Auto Ramp would likely be very uncomfortable. It will hold the pressure at 4 until you go to sleep.
I would suggest you change that to the settings I gave you. Here is a video on how to do it. Since your model is an Elite it will not have all the options in the video, but it should have all the ones I have suggested.
itsdrew93
+0 points
·
over 5 years
ago
Original Poster
Smoking is a big problem for me although i dont smoke many about 10 if that a day. Thank you everyone for your advice i appreciate and so basically if i get more healthy and keep fit my apnea will go my wife has ordered me a Fitbit aswell so i can keep track
Biguglygremlin
+0 points
·
over 5 years
ago
Sleep
Enthusiast
You are doing well to keep it down to 10 or less a day itsdrew93. Quitting can be really difficult.
Most people have to try many times but each time they get a little closer to figuring it out and eventually they get there.
You can do it too itsdrew93. You're doing ok.
I might have suggested that you try vaping but I suspect that it's just another vice and probably has no real connection to normal smoking.
Bonjour's smoking could also be considered another vice but a roll your own with some of his fish mixed in could be the universal cure for both kinds of smoking! :O
It will take time to get the fitness sorted too although that should be a whole lot more fun.
In the meantime, if the wife has run our of earplugs, it wouldn't hurt to haul that machine down to the nearest CPAP store and ask them to wind it up a degree or two and, in my opinion, turn the ramp off altogether.
There's not much point in talking about masks and stuff while the pressure is so low but, while you are there, see if they have a nasal pillows type mask that you could try on and maybe a chin strap so you have a few options. (It might be cheaper to buy them online)
Then get yourself a real comfy pair of sports shoes and start planning your next adventure. :)
With a few smart steps that machine could be safely gone by next winter.
Unfortunately, the smell of bonjour's smoked fish will be with you forever!
itsdrew93
+0 points
·
over 5 years
ago
Original Poster
Lol fair enough and thanks for the help appreciate it. There aint any cpap stores well not that ive heard of first ive ever heard of there being a cpap stores lol
Did you watch the menu that shows you how to do it? You have to press the Home button at the bottom and the round set button at the same time for 5 seconds to bring up the Clinical Menu to change the settings. See the link below for a full explanation.
itsdrew93
+0 points
·
over 5 years
ago
Original Poster
Thank you sierra i will try that and thank you biguglygremlin for telling me about the turn off ramp did it last night so then my pressure started at 8 and stayed at 8
itsdrew93
+0 points
·
over 5 years
ago
Original Poster
Anyone have any advice about why i keep taking my mask off whilst asleep then cant seem to get comfortable with it on after that so i just leave it off most of the time cant even remember taking it off any tips or advice
itsdrew93
+0 points
·
over 5 years
ago
Original Poster
Wont my doctor check if ive being messing with the pressure because he didnt tell me how to do that im thinking maybe he didnt tell me because it will mess up my machine or he just dont wont want me messing with it or isit just that simple and i can change it back
The settings I suggested you change are comfort settings. The main therapy pressure of 8 cm is your treatment pressure. You should consult your doctor before changing the therapy pressure. The unfortunate part is that the doctors and technicians focus on the treatment pressure and often do not set up the comfort settings properly. You really should turn your ramp back on to Auto, the EPR on to 3, and Ramp only. And most important the ramp start pressure to 8 cm. Having a ramp start of 4 cm would be very uncomfortable. That is an example of how machines are given to users without the proper comfort setup.
Do you own the machine, or does it belong to your doctor? I guess if it belongs to the doctor, I would be a little more careful with it...
Please be advised that these posts may contain sensitive material or
unsolicited medical advice. MyApnea does not endorse the content of these
posts. The information provided on this site is not intended nor recommended
as a substitute for advice from a health care professional who has evaluated
you.
