New and having problems with CPAP. Can you help?

Just a thought. a 45 minute ramp seems extreme to me. I had a 5 minute ramp and it caused me anxiety issues. Personally I'd try turning the ramp off altogether.

I don't go to sleep right away. Usually watch TV for a short while. The machine seems to go full out and annoys me if not set this way.

Will the clinical manual tell me about the high/low settings etc if that is what I need to know to figure out how to to help stomach pain? Doesn't the doctor need to allow you access to those settings?

I do question if the machine is malfunctioning. Scary thought. When I took it off this morning, it didn't turn off by itself. It just ran full blast making noise until I got up and turned it off on the machine. I hoped to take it off and stay in bed a few minutes. Isn't it supposed to turn off by itself after a few seconds when you remove the mask/pillows? Also, there are times when I have run warm up and it says it can't due to an error - other times it works.

BTW, the full blast noise terrifies my dog. Guess we both have issues with the machine.

LLrry wrote: ↑

Mon May 14, 2018 5:25 pm

Isn't it supposed to turn off by itself after a few seconds when you remove the mask/pillows?

It doesn't always turn itself off like it is supposed to...depends on the pressure being used and the mask being used.
This is explained in the manual.
My machine doesn't turn itself off but it will auto start just fine. It's because of the lower pressure I am using and the nasal pillow mask I am using. This is so common it is mentioned in the manual.

Thank you, good to know.

I've used the CPAP for about a week with the new settings (set by the doctor). Stomach pain is back. Any suggestions? Is it possible that air can get into the stomach by the way you hold your mouth while asleep? I have nasal pillows and pretty much have to keep my mouth closed. I suspect that I have found a way to position my tongue against the front teeth (and nightguard) and have my lips open. I am wondering if I am getting some air in around the sides. Does that sound possible and could that lead to getting air in the stomach? I am not sleeping all that well although more than I was when not using the machine. I've had good readings and low events on my daily report.

I got the clinical manual downloaded. It looks like there might be a way to adjust the settings on the machine? Are people adjusting their machines without a doctor's input and/or permission/guidelines? I will set up the Sleepyhead software when I figure it out.

The air is getting into the stomach because the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (at the esophagus/stomach connection) is not staying closed well enough to keep the air that is in the esophagus from entering the stomach. As you know the airway and esophagus are common up to a point so it's nearly impossible to keep all the air out of the esophagus.

There are some things that can be done to reduce the leakage at that sphincter and it does involve changing the settings sometimes.
And yes...there are a lot of us here who are very comfortable changing any and all of the settings available on these machines.

Sometimes we have to make compromises in terms of therapy and comfort.

I talked to someone who has a ResMed machine and he told me that he can see a lot more data on his machine than I can see on mine. He said he goes to sleep report and it tells him information about the days used, total hours used over the month, pressure, leak, AHI, total AI, etc. I can't see any of this on my machine although I see what he's talking about in the clinical manual that I downloaded. When I go to sleep report on my machine, it doesn't show this. It only shows hours used and mask seal with happy or sad faces. When I log in to ResMed online, it only gives a score for 4 items - hours used, seal good or not, events per hour, and mask on/off. The person that I spoke with does not have an online account with ResMed. Could it be because of the way my machine is set up that I can't see this data? If so, is it because the doctor determines that?

LLrry wrote: ↑

Tue May 22, 2018 7:57 am

Could it be because of the way my machine is set up that I can't see this data? If so, is it because the doctor determines that?

Yes, it's a minor little setting that affects what you can see on the sleep report and it's not so much the doctor as the way the machine comes from the factory setup with the default settings.

You just need to go into the clinical menu set up area and find a setting called "Essentials" and change it from the default for "usage" to "Plus" and then you can see the details on the LCD screen.
See the manual here if you don't know how to get into the clinical setup menu area. If you don't already have this clinical manual (it's different from the user manual that came with the machine) then I suggest you download it. It's got some very useful information in it that isn't in the user manual.
https://sleep.tnet.com/home/files/resme ... -guide.pdf

I stopped using the ramp after the first two weeks. I recommend it only if the pressure is bothersome at startup.

Thank you for the information. I had downloaded the clinical manual but didn't know if I could change it or had to ask the doctor's office.

I will adjust the ramp to a lower time and see if that helps. I usually set the timer on the TV for a short time and fall asleep before it goes off.

LArry, I wouldn't spotty too much about what your doctor says about making changes to your machine. I have been making changes to mine ever since I learned how. The worst they can do is slap you on your wrist.

Thank you, Dear Mind, that's good to know. I feel like I wasn't informed very well.

About the ramp time, why do you not use it? I tried shortening the ramp time last night and just as I was falling asleep, the machine was making a noise that prevented me from going on to sleep. It was a rhythmic noise which probably meant the machine was working as it should. It was not a mask leak which is louder plus I didn't feel any leaks. Report this morning said good mask seal. After that I had trouble going back to sleep and didn't sleep well.

I'm female. Set up the use name incorrectly and can't change it. Looks like Larry and like a male with a machine "for her". Oh well.

LLrry wrote: ↑

Thu May 24, 2018 8:00 am

I'm female. Set up the use name incorrectly and can't change it. Looks like Larry and like a male with a machine "for her". Oh well.

It can be changed but only by Carolyn. Just send her a private message and tell her your error and what you want to change it to.
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=25316

As for ramp use....do whatever feels best for you and don't worry about what someone else does.
Using the ramp or not using the ramp is a personal comfort choice. Some people like it and some people don't like it.
You are going to find that pretty much everything related to cpap use comes with a big YMMV sticker and a wide variety of opinions on just about everything. Figure out what works for you and don't worry about what someone else finds works for them.