To JudyAnn

How did you know you couldn't tolerate the CPAP and needed the autopap?
Sometimes I wonder about my machine. It's the resmed cpap c-flex with heated humidifier. I like it when I put the ramp on but often wake up later on and feel the top pressure causes more mask leaks.

Hi Suserbec,

After 4 weeks of being on the straight CPAP, I could not sleep all though the night with it on. I would wake up after a couple hours when it reached whatever they set it on (think it was 10) and the constancy of the pressure would make me feel claustrophobic and I would take off the mask and shut the machine off. After 4 weeks I went to see the Respiratory Therapist at my Pulmonary doctor's office and she thought the number was too high and that she wanted to try me on an autopap machine so she could read the printout and see what my numbers averaged through the night.

When I went back, she said that I would reach between 10-11 and sometimes 12 and that I did well on the autopap and so I was put on it with a setting of low 6 to high 13. After I tried the autopap, I started sleeping through the night and did not have those feelings I experienced with the straight CPAP.

Maybe you should talk to your doctor and see what the problem is. I think this is a hard disorder to get perfect relief from and I think that the body changes over a time and the breathing does too. Of course, I am not a doctor but just common sense to me.

I hope you find out what is causing your leaks. What kind of a mask do you use. I use Mirage Activa and Swift. Both are very good but I have nothing to compare them with. Only ones that I have used so far. I would like to try the Breeze someday.

Take care,
Judy

Thanks Judy,
I think I'm going to have to see the doctor soon. I wasn't supposed to go back until December but am encountering too many problems.

I've used the comfort gel mask but after a few weeks, it began to leak too much. Then they put me on the Ultra mirage full face mask because they thought I was opening my mouth at night. That mask hurts my forehead something awful and if I don't have it adjusted JUST RIGHT, it leaks around the chin.

Am pretty frustrated right now. After reading your description, I don't have the claustrophobie or anything like that. I don't have any trouble breathing with the machine I have. It is set on 11 but has the ramp feature. I think it's just a mask problem for me. GRRRR!