ASV Advisability of using Ramp

Getting ready to start my ASV therapy. Question is whether it is advisable to use Ramp as an aid to fall asleep more easily and also to use it if I wake in the middle of the night and can't fall right back asleep again. OR is it better to avoid this feature all together as I think I have read some people stating.

I want to be most successful on this therapy and want to be sure of the advisability of this feature.

Thanks for your thoughts.

photonic wrote:Getting ready to start my ASV therapy. Question is whether it is advisable to use Ramp as an aid to fall asleep more easily and also to use it if I wake in the middle of the night and can't fall right back asleep again. OR is it better to avoid this feature all together as I think I have read some people stating.

I want to be most successful on this therapy and want to be sure of the advisability of this feature.

Thanks for your thoughts.

ramp is a comfort feature, use it if it helps you fall asleep. it's up to you.

I found it nearly impossible to sleep on ASV without ramp (never bother with it on normal CPAP). On the Philips machine it will still treat your events (if it is able to at that pressure) while it is ramping up, some other machines don't, so the worry is that if you had say 5 ramp events a night for 40 minutes you'd be guaranteeing a long period of time without therapy. But yes, definitely use it to help you sleep if that is a problem, what it is designed for after all.

But not just because Overflow says so . Try not using it and see what happens. If you then really feel the need, go ahead and use it. And then try not doing it again... no one can decide about it but you.

Photonic:

If you are having difficulty getting to sleep with the ASV machine, some time using ramp is appropriate.
Since a "normal" sleep latency is about 20 minutes, try that number and see how it goes.
If that is not long enough for you to get to sleep, adjust upward until you can get to sleep.
If you can do without the ramp period, it is better but being able to go to sleep is more important.

On the question of waking and not being able to fall asleep right away, if that period of time exceeds about 20 minutes, you should consider getting up, going to another room and doing something quietly until you feel sleepy again and then back to bed, mask up, and go to sleep. Just lying there for a long time is not productive of developing the habit of "I'm in bed and masked up so I'm going to sleep."

Welcome to the ASV club

JDS is right on target with this. This is a pretty standard suggestion when treating clients suffering from insomnia. The key is that if you don't fall asleep within 20 minutes, you are probably so frustrated and/or anxious about not falling asleep that it is self defeating. Read a boring book, watch a boring movie, listen to soft music, meditate, or listen to a guided imagery CD.

Thanks for all the replies. My MD just responded and said he highly recommends using the ramp at first, sooo I will. AND I have a plan if insomnia strikes thanks to all of the suggestions from the board.

photonic wrote:Thanks for all the replies. My MD just responded and said he highly recommends using the ramp at first, sooo I will. AND I have a plan if insomnia strikes thanks to all of the suggestions from the board.

just remember, the ramp is there, not for effectiveness of the machine, but for your *comfort* only...

don't think (like some new people have) that there's some reason you SHOULD be using it.... just use it when you WANT to.

palerider wrote:

photonic wrote:Thanks for all the replies. My MD just responded and said he highly recommends using the ramp at first, sooo I will. AND I have a plan if insomnia strikes thanks to all of the suggestions from the board.

just remember, the ramp is there, not for effectiveness of the machine, but for your *comfort* only...

don't think (like some new people have) that there's some reason you SHOULD be using it.... just use it when you WANT to.

Gotcha! Thanks.