Newbie here- need help

Cubbieblue999 wrote:

Pugsy wrote:You might also consider trying a little tape over the straps on your cheeks so that the slight discomfort associated with the tape being pulling off the skin might wake you up enough so you can stop the unwanted "removing the mask in my sleep and not realizing it".

That's an idea. Thanks. Can anyone give me any insight to these "comfort settings" on the CPAP itself that was mentioned above. I don't know how to get to those. I don't even really know what they are.

If you have a ResMed S9 ans indicated by your profile, you have an EPR setting (Exhale Pressure Relief). This reduces the exhale pressure by 1,2 or 3 depending on your setting. If your pressure setting is 10 for example, an EPR setting of 3 would reduce your exhale pressure to 7 and make exhaling easier.

You might go here and request the provider/clinical manual for your machine. Be sure to request the correct model.
http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p ... tup-manual
EPR exhale pressure relief is explained in the manual and also how to turn it on if it isn't turned on in your machine now.

Ok thanks appreciate the advice, you two.

I went into the settings and it says the following:
Mode: auto set
Max pressure: 15
Min pressure: 9
Max Ramp: off
Start pressure: 4.0
EPR: Full time
EPR level: 3

Cubbieblue999 wrote:Max Ramp: off
Start pressure: 4.0

Look closely at that 4.0 start pressure...is it grayed out so that you can't change it?
With Ramp off there shouldn't be a starting pressure other than the minimum pressure of 9 cm which you documented.
I think that the 4.0 start pressure can be seen but isn't really active or in use when Max Ramp time is turned off because with it off there is no ramp at all.

Pugsy wrote:

Cubbieblue999 wrote:Max Ramp: off
Start pressure: 4.0

Look closely at that 4.0 start pressure...is it grayed out so that you can't change it?
With Ramp off there shouldn't be a starting pressure other than the minimum pressure of 9 cm which you documented.
I think that the 4.0 start pressure can be seen but isn't really active or in use when Max Ramp time is turned off because with it off there is no ramp at all.

Yes you are correct the 4.0 is grayed out. So is that correct? I don't really understand the ramp too much but its off. I did decrease the EPR level to 1. So I'll see tonight if that makes any difference.

I just wanted to make sure that you weren't starting out at 4 cm by accident somehow unless you wanted to.
Since that setting is grayed out it doesn't apply and isn't part of your settings.
Just wanted to clarify it in case someone new saw the mention and was thinking that you were indeed starting out at 4...and being new they might not understand and either confuse you or themselves.

You might like EPR...some people do and some people don't. I find that I like it...I don't necessarily need it and didn't when I was using apap starting at 10 and going to 20 but I found I rather liked the rhythmic breathing and ease that it offered.

Pugsy wrote:I just wanted to make sure that you weren't starting out at 4 cm by accident somehow unless you wanted to.
Since that setting is grayed out it doesn't apply and isn't part of your settings.
Just wanted to clarify it in case someone new saw the mention and was thinking that you were indeed starting out at 4...and being new they might not understand and either confuse you or themselves.

You might like EPR...some people do and some people don't. I find that I like it...I don't necessarily need it and didn't when I was using apap starting at 10 and going to 20 but I found I rather liked the rhythmic breathing and ease that it offered.

Hmm ok Pugsey, I'll see if I feel any difference between EPR 1 and 3.

Yes, the hose hanger from amazon works a treat and is a bargain for less than $10! Put it at the head of your bed in the middle. Have the hose drape down with enough slack in it so that you can turn any way you want. I normally have mine so that the slack loop doesn't quite touch me and this gives me enough slack to move as much as I like.

yaconsult wrote:Yes, the hose hanger from amazon works a treat and is a bargain for less than $10! Put it at the head of your bed in the middle. Have the hose drape down with enough slack in it so that you can turn any way you want. I normally have mine so that the slack loop doesn't quite touch me and this gives me enough slack to move as much as I like.

Great, yes I will be glad when mine arrives to see how it works. I bought the $50 one- couldn't decide between the cheaper one or that one. So we'll see. People who reviewed the $50 one said they had the cheaper one first and it broke.

Wow, I can't imagine how anyone broke it. It's made out of metal and has an elastic cord inside that the hanger connects to. Unless you drove over it in your car, I can't see breaking it! I hope you are happy with your purchase.

So just wanted to post update. Got a hose buddy- didn't like it. I'd rather just tuck the tubing behind my pillow in the bs k of the bed.

Still can't sleep longer than 4 hrs with the P10. I am able to fall asleep with it on but all I know is I wake up in the morning and find that I've taken it off and shut the machine off in my sleep. I don't remember doing it. Last night I only slept for 1 1/2 hrs with it and 3 hrs the night before.

So for the first time last night I remember why I took the CPAP off. I felt like I was choking/gasping for air and that woke me up so I took it off. Not sure if this is what happens every night, but I distinctly remember this last night. Any thoughts on what this could mean?

Thanks.

Use the software to see exactly what might have been going on at the time you removed the mask.

Pugsy wrote:Use the software to see exactly what might have been going on at the time you removed the mask.

The sleepyhead software u mean. Ok I'll have to try to figure out how to use it. I had looked at it before and couldn't figure it out.

Either SleepyHead or ResScan
https://sleep.tnet.com/equipment