AT LAST I FEEL IN CONTROL!

Hi there, CPAPTALK.COM and readers! For the first time in 6 months I can say that I'm now in full control of my therapy program. I looked up how to change the pressure on the machine and last night decreased the pressure from 11 to 9. AND I LIKE IT !!! Again, I am so grateful to be able to read about the experiences and advice of other cpap users on CPAPTALK. The reason why I decreased the pressure is because when I went for the sleep study, the technician asked me if I wanted a sleeping pill. Of course I said, Yes ! Now I know that (maybe) taking a sleeping pill wasn't the right thing to do? The neck muscles relax even more, not so? ? ? Because of this (I think) the study showed that I needed a pressure of 11. Not a true reading, or what? Anyway, I feel very happy today and know that now I can tackle any sleeping/machine/leak-problem! Thank you, everyone, have a perfect day. Lovies - Marietjie

You should set up a Ramp starting at about 6.0 cm and 30 minute timer and use that when falling asleep. Keep an eye on how you feel, if you truly needed 11 cm, fatigue will come back gradually over time.

Use of the Ramp feature would have accomplished the same thing without lowering your therapy pressure. I don't think a sleeping pill would have made that much of a difference on your PSG.

My belief for what it is worth is that sleep meds may deepen you sleep and make it harder to be roused from sleep to deal with an apnea on your own. Thus the Dr.'s prohibition of sleep meds between your diagnosis and beginning of CPAP therapy. But, the physical condition of your airway in deep sleep would not be markedly different. I take some sort of sleep aid nearly every night to assure I fall asleep quickly and get my eight hours in quickly. My opinion is that the pressure needed is the pressure needed and external influences won't change the pressure.

So, don't put more value on your comfort than on your required therapy. The ramp may be a more valid solution for you.


Good luck,
TerryB

Snoredog wrote:You should set up a Ramp starting at about 6.0 cm and 30 minute timer and use that when falling asleep. Keep an eye on how you feel, if you truly needed 11 cm, fatigue will come back gradually over time.

Use of the Ramp feature would have accomplished the same thing without lowering your therapy pressure. I don't think a sleeping pill would have made that much of a difference on your PSG.

Hi Snoredog - Just a short report on how I feel after changing the pressure from 11 to 9cm..... Remember you said I must keep an eye on how I feel ?......Well, Snoredog the two days after I had the pressure on 9cm was TERRIBLE.....I was sleepy, tired and terribly DEPRESSED. Last night I had the pressure set to 10cm and, thus far (almost 5pm) I'm feeling fine but will still watch how I feel - especially the depression. I like the 10cm better than the 11cm pressure because the 'wind sound' is not so loud. (I'm full of nonsence!!!) Good Day - Marietjie