a newbie

Hi

I got my 1st machine last week. a resmed S8 autoset2 w/a swift lt mask. I don't seem to have too much of an issue w/the system, except for a need for a new prescript for the 1st 15 min. I feel that I am not getting enough air. My problem is that I don't seem to be able to fall asleep while using the system. I take an Ambient and stay awake. If I take the mask off, I can usually fall asleep ok.

Is this normal? Is there a "breakin" period for the body to adjust? Right now, I'm thinking of waiting for new prescript be fore I try again.

Hi Zacritt,
Welcome. I am a relative newbie, too. (About 2 months). Had the same problem you did - could not breathe on the ramp. I don't know your machine, but you can probably turn off the ramp. Just start with your prescribed pressure. I did better that way. But, my DME could change the ramp starting pressure w/o a prescription.

But, read and learn here. You can find the clinician instructions for your machine and change it yourself! There is a section in the Our Wisdom tab (Yellow lightbulb at top of page) that tells you how.

I struggled a whole lot the first month trying to comply, but the pressure was too low. (and I did not know how bad it was because I did not have the data). My doc and DME are pretty good and will respond when I call them. But, it is a lot easier to change my pressure on the machine without having to haul something down to the DME.

This is a great forum. I have learned so much here. People here will help you and they know a lot. The primary advice is:
LEARN - Get Software and data (if you don't have it already) and Take control of your therapy!

Good luck!

Cecile

welcome new guy....

you need a script for the first 15 minutes.. do you mean the ramp time? If so, you can adjust that easy from the main screen.. I started with a ramp time of 45 minutes, where I increase from 4 to 9... I lowered it after a few days to 30 minutes... Much like you, with a pressure setting of 4 I spend the first 2 minutes fighting for air...

Its funny as I see myself typing this. I have been on cpap for 23 days now I think? For the past 2 nights I have been having a hard time going to sleep. I do not get anxiety but I sort of do for a few minutes. I think it started after I tried taping my mouth last night to prevent mouth leaks... (not sure if I mouth leak or not, but trying to get my leak rate numbers down).

Trust me Zacritt... There is a great wealth of information to be discovered in here, with an abundance of people that are willing to help you. Do not be afraid to register, do not be afraid to ask questions. One thing I learned since joing this forum... my ENT is an idiot. He is not as concerned with my health as I am..

If you have other questions, feel free to ask. Also, as was told to me, feel free to click on the yellow light bulb at the top... tons more information there.

I suspect your lower pressure (where you seem to have ramp set) is too low.

You need to have a pressure of about 6 cm at least to feel like you can breathe properly. With anything lower than that you also have the problem of not having enough pressure to blow the CO2 out of your mask. These 2 things make therapy very uncomfortable.

It would also be helpful to know your pressure setting and, if the machine is set in straight cpap or set in auto mode with a pressure range.

I see you have an auto and are using the SwiftLT mask. A little more information on pressure setting(s) and ramp setting will help us to help you.

drubin007 wrote:welcome new guy....

you need a script for the first 15 minutes.. do you mean the ramp time? If so, you can adjust that easy from the main screen.. I started with a ramp time of 45 minutes, where I increase from 4 to 9... I lowered it after a few days to 30 minutes... Much like you, with a pressure setting of 4 I spend the first 2 minutes fighting for air...

Its funny as I see myself typing this. I have been on cpap for 23 days now I think? For the past 2 nights I have been having a hard time going to sleep. I do not get anxiety but I sort of do for a few minutes. I think it started after I tried taping my mouth last night to prevent mouth leaks... (not sure if I mouth leak or not, but trying to get my leak rate numbers down).

Trust me Zacritt... There is a great wealth of information to be discovered in here, with an abundance of people that are willing to help you. Do not be afraid to register, do not be afraid to ask questions. One thing I learned since joing this forum... my ENT is an idiot. He is not as concerned with my health as I am..

If you have other questions, feel free to ask. Also, as was told to me, feel free to click on the yellow light bulb at the top... tons more information there.

Hi Drub

Thanks for the response. The other night I let the machine run for the 1st 15 min, when I put the mask on I rec'd enough air. The problem is, I still didn't fall asleep. After 2 hours, I turned mach off and fell asleep fairly soon(of course, I woke up a few times). I have a message for my doc for a new prescript. My issue is, is it normal for it to take a few weeks to be able to fall asleep w/these machines?

Bob

Hawthorne wrote:I suspect your lower pressure (where you seem to have ramp set) is too low.

You need to have a pressure of about 6 cm at least to feel like you can breathe properly. With anything lower than that you also have the problem of not having enough pressure to blow the CO2 out of your mask. These 2 things make therapy very uncomfortable.

It would also be helpful to know your pressure setting and, if the machine is set in straight cpap or set in auto mode with a pressure range.

I see you have an auto and are using the SwiftLT mask. A little more information on pressure setting(s) and ramp setting will help us to help you.

Hi Hawthorne

Thanks for the response. I see that my machine is in the 4-20 range. I know its too low in the beginning, I have an e-mail into my doc. Is it "normal" to have a problem falling asleep in the beginning of treatment? I understand that cpap's do not help all. My sleep test showed I did not have an issue often, maybe 3 x's that night, but each time I stopped breathing I woke up, went out to the bathroom, figuring I was awake anyway. This can happen 2-6 x's per night. Needless to say, I'm tired all the time.

Bob

I think it is quite normal to having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep when first beginning cpap therapy. It is even more difficult with a minimum pressure that is too low and 4 cm is just too low. There is no telling what the right minimum pressure is for you(that comes with starting at a decent pressure and gradually working up until things improve) but 4 cm is too low for anyone.

You are getting used to a whole new way of sleeping and that's not easy. It is much too soon to be thinking that you are one of the people for whom cpap does not work.

You do need to get that pressure range adjusted asap. With a minimum pressure of 4 it is almost impossible to get to sleep. Every time you get up, you start at that pressure of 4 when you get back to bed. I'm not saying you shouldn't get up if you need to but it is a fact that you start at that low pressure again when you try to go back to sleep. You are just trying to breathe and are very conscious of that, as well as the fact you have a mask on your face, hooked up to a machine that is blowing air into your airway.

A decent minimum pressure will, at least get rid of one of the problem in beginning this therapy. The rest will come with time and practice.

I think that you will get to sleep easier and stay asleep easier and things will start to work and when you get that minimum pressure up to at least 6 cm.