1st day with cpap questions

thenapper · Post by **thenapper** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:11 pm

First let me say that you all are great. I have learned so much reading past posts.
I got my Remstar C-flex auto yesterday with ResMed Swift nasal pillows.
I was titrated in the lab at 13, my supplier set me up with a minimum setting of 11 and a max of 14 with a ramp setting of 3. She gave me the small size pillows and a chin strap. They will not sell me a card reader, they want to read it themselves.

It took me hours to fall asleep, I woke up once in the night with the mask leaking. woke up several times with my mouth closed but air was puffing up inbetween my lips and teeth. Woke up feeling like I swallowed an elephant and was hyperventilating most of the day. And my chest hurts.

I found out today how to reset the machine. I changed the setting to a minimum of 5 and a max of 10.5. ramp still at 3, changed the pillows to a medium and took a 4 hour nap , I fell asleep easily . My nose is sore because I probably tightened the mask down way too much to stop the leaking.

My problem is I still feel like I am hyperventilating and its been 3 hours since I woke up even though I have been trying to exhale slowly. Also woke up feeling like I ate lunch during my nap.

I read about the metamucil thing, and the DIY retainer. I will try the larger pillows tonight. Is the chest pain normal? and is there anything else you can think of that would help me?
I was thinking of ordering a card reader tonight.
Does it sound like I need a bi-Pap?

thanks

DME_Guy · Post by **DME_Guy** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:53 pm

My advice is to contact your doctor ASAP.

rasputin · Post by **rasputin** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 8:03 pm

DME_Guy wrote:My advice is to contact your doctor ASAP.

I second that. If I were you, I would talk to the doctor before trying it again.

jcobb607 · Post by **jcobb607** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 8:29 pm

Contact your doctor but dont get overly worried about the chest pain. I too suffered chest pain my first few days on the machine. The cpap forces you to breathe deeper than you normally did before when sleeping. Your body is not use to you breathing that deep. The deep breathing is what is causing the discomfort. After a few days you wont notice it. When I contacted my doctor he told me what I am telling you.

thenapper · Post by **thenapper** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 9:06 pm

A little while ago, I popped open a soft drink and breathed in some of the gas (CO2) as it came out of the bottle. It relieved the hyperventilation thing.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 11:16 pm

Are you sure you mean "ramp" on 3 and not c-flex on 3? Respironics Automatic machines do not have a ramp option - if you use ramp while on automatic, you're actually setting the machine up to do a "split night" - it will remain on a pressure of 4 for - I think - as many hours as the "ramp" number.

I agree with jcobb about the pain: Contact your doctor but dont get overly worried about the chest pain.

Moogy · Post by **Moogy** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 12:04 am

[quote="ozij"]Are you sure you mean "ramp" on 3 and not c-flex on 3? [quote]

I wonder why... My auto bipap has a functioning ramp when used in auto mode...so the technology seems to be available.

Moogy

Darth Vader Look · Post by **Darth Vader Look** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 12:34 am

Actually Moogy, Ozij is right, the APAP's ramp only functions in either of the CPAP modes and not the APAP mode. You have the Mercedes of xPAP machines.

Thenapper, you may want to adjust your c-flex setting down some or turn it right off. That could be exactly why you are hyperventilating.

maxime · Post by **maxime** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 7:12 am

hi
don' bipap
pepmin:4 and pepmax 13.5

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 7:46 am

Moogy, you're right, the technology is available, even if some manufacturers have chosen not to put "ramp" into their autopaps. Puritan Bennett did, though. Their 420E autopap offers a true "ramp" feature even in auto mode.

The machine you have (Respironics BiPAP Auto with BiFlex) is actually first and foremost a "bipap." You have a bi-level machine with auto-titrating capability added to it. Your machine can't be run just as an autopap. Since the regular BiPAPs by Respironics have a ramp feature, that's why yours does.

The Respironics REMstar Auto (with or without C-Flex) doesn't have a traditional "ramp" feature. With that machine, "ramp" has to be kept turned off when operating it in auto (APAP) or auto with C-Flex (AFLE) mode.

Someone who talked to Respironics recently asked why they don't include a ramp feature with the REMstar Auto. The person at Respironics said it wasn't needed as the Auto is supposed to be set 4 - 20. LOL!!!!

Respironics doesn't seem to consider their own autopap to be a permanent treatment machine. They seem to view it as being set "wide open" and used only for a temporary auto-titration period, after which the user will be placed on a straight cpap machine or a bipap.

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 7:53 am

thenapper wrote:Woke up feeling like I swallowed an elephant and was hyperventilating most of the day.

Turn C-flex OFF to see if that doesn't fix the hyperventilating. It did for me. C-flex seems to help lots of folks, but it actually makes things worse for some of us.

thenapper wrote:And my chest hurts.

My chest hurt with much lower pressure than you've got.

thenapper wrote:I was thinking of ordering a card reader tonight.

Good plan

thenapper wrote:Does it sound like I need a bi-Pap?

Not if turning C-flex OFF solves the hyperventilation. I made the mistake of getting a BiPAP first, and couldn't use it because of the hyperventilation thing.

Regards,
Bill

Moogy · Post by **Moogy** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 12:46 pm

Darth Vader Look wrote:

Wow, I love that little guy!

Moogy

thenapper · Post by **thenapper** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 6:03 pm

yes my mistake, it is c-flex set to 3, I will try it turned off tonight.

Darth Vader Look · Post by **Darth Vader Look** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:27 pm

Moogy posts - Wow, I love that little guy!

Now if only he could spit out those words, I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy .

Gidgie · Post by **Gidgie** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:55 pm

Darth.......I thought I'd seen 'em all!.......Grasshopper.

1st day with cpap questions

1st day with cpap questions

Thanks

Re: 1st day with cpap questions

Re: 1st day with cpap questions

Thanks all