New CPAP User -

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
jnew71
Posts: 57
Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2014 3:55 am

New CPAP User -

Post by jnew71 » Fri Oct 31, 2014 3:59 am

Hello -

I recently starting using a CPAP 4 nights ago and while I realize it will take some time to work out the kinks and get used to it, I'm having a problem. I'm using a nasal mask and I find that when wearing it, it feels like my nasal passages are being constricted. I breath fine through my nose otherwise. Size doesn't seem to be an issue. It feels like the soft rubber edge of the cup is camping out under my nose and blocking air. It didn't feel like this the first couple of nights using it, so I'm wondering if I'm getting used to the initial pressure they set my machine to. Any advice?

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Sheriff Buford
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Re: New CPAP User -

Post by Sheriff Buford » Fri Oct 31, 2014 4:05 am

Please post the equipment you are using in the control panel.

Is the "air constriction" giving you a problem? Are you sleeping thru the night? How do you feel in the morning?

Sheriff

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49er
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Re: New CPAP User -

Post by 49er » Fri Oct 31, 2014 4:20 am

jnew71 wrote:Hello -

I recently starting using a CPAP 4 nights ago and while I realize it will take some time to work out the kinks and get used to it, I'm having a problem. I'm using a nasal mask and I find that when wearing it, it feels like my nasal passages are being constricted. I breath fine through my nose otherwise. Size doesn't seem to be an issue. It feels like the soft rubber edge of the cup is camping out under my nose and blocking air. It didn't feel like this the first couple of nights using it, so I'm wondering if I'm getting used to the initial pressure they set my machine to. Any advice?
Hi jnew71,

Welcome to the forum. As Sheriff suggested, please post your equipment profile so members can better tailor their response to your situation. You can use the link in my signature to do so.

Without having more information, it is hard to say exactly what is going on. Your pressure may be set incorrectly. Or you might need to something to clear out your nasal passages before bedtime. Or you may need to chose another nasal mask or also look at the nasal pillow and full face masks.

So if you could provide as much information as possible, including filling out your equipment profiles, that would greatly help. And by the way, hopefully you will have a data capable machine which would mean you could download Sleepyhead Software, which is free. The advantage is you would be able to post screen shots so folks could help you analyze the data to see if anything is screaming to be fixed. The links for downloading and posting screen shots are also in my signature.

49er

jnew71
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Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2014 3:55 am

Re: New CPAP User -

Post by jnew71 » Fri Oct 31, 2014 4:41 am

Thanks - I've updated my profile. My machine is on the list and was selected, but isn't showing up on the forum - I'll let an admin know. At any rate, it's a System One Remstar Pro w/ C-Flex +. As I mentioned, the first few nights, breathing seemed much easier with it and I could tell the air was flowing. Last night it was as if they air was off and that it was constricted (I take the mask off and I'm fine) Again, it almost seems as if the lining of the cup is blocking my nostrils. I tried moving it down a bit to where the bottom edge was closer to my lip, but that didn't seem to work - perhaps I need to adjust the top portion of my headgear to allow for this. Just wondering if this is common.

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49er
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Re: New CPAP User -

Post by 49er » Fri Oct 31, 2014 4:58 am

jnew71 wrote:Thanks - I've updated my profile. My machine is on the list and was selected, but isn't showing up on the forum - I'll let an admin know. At any rate, it's a System One Remstar Pro w/ C-Flex +. As I mentioned, the first few nights, breathing seemed much easier with it and I could tell the air was flowing. Last night it was as if they air was off and that it was constricted (I take the mask off and I'm fine) Again, it almost seems as if the lining of the cup is blocking my nostrils. I tried moving it down a bit to where the bottom edge was closer to my lip, but that didn't seem to work - perhaps I need to adjust the top portion of my headgear to allow for this. Just wondering if this is common.
Ah, some people have complained about the wisp directly pressing on the nasal passages which can cause the feelings you have described. If you can't make the necessary adjustments to prevent this from happening, I would look into trying another mask. Please ask your DME about return policies and how many masks you can try without penalty as they are all different. You might want to look into this quickly in case your DME only allows unlimited trials within the first 30 days.

49er

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englandsf
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Re: New CPAP User -

Post by englandsf » Fri Oct 31, 2014 7:00 am

I have a narrow nose and any FFM or nasal mask blocks it at the top. Nasal pillows were the answer - P10 in my case. Maybe try them?

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Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Sleepyhead SW. NeilMed and Alkalol Nasal rinses. Veramyst. AutoPAP 11-20 cms. Started June '14, untreated AHI 31-38, with PAP around 1.

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palerider
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Re: New CPAP User -

Post by palerider » Fri Oct 31, 2014 7:09 am

jnew71 wrote:Thanks - I've updated my profile. My machine is on the list and was selected, but isn't showing up on the forum - I'll let an admin know.
you either have an old machine, or you have picked the wrong one. that's ok, the list is very confusing and parts of it are broken.

take the water tank out and look on the bottom for a REF number, then pick the one out of the list that matches from below:
460 PR System One REMStar 60 Series Pro CPAP Machine
450 PR System One REMstar Pro CPAP Machine with C-Flex Plus

if it still doesn't show up, just put the machine in a comment, with the model (ref) number, the list won't get fixed.

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Accounts to put on the foe list: dataq1, clownbell, gearchange, lynninnj, mper!?, DreamDiver, Geer1, almostadoctor, sleepgeek, ajack, stom, mogy, D.H., They often post misleading, timewasting stuff.

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Pugsy
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Re: New CPAP User -

Post by Pugsy » Fri Oct 31, 2014 7:19 am

Your machine choice in your profile still isn't showing up.
I bet you probably chose the old PR System One Pro CPAP...and that machine has been discontinued and that link is broken.
While it wouldn't be impossible for you to have that machine...it would be unlikely for a DME to dispense that model over 2 years after it has been discontinued.

Look on the bottom of the blower unit for a 3 digit number....either 450 or 460....If it is the 450 then that is the older model and that link is indeed broken.
If it is the 460 then there's a different choice for both machine and humidifier.
PR System One 60 Series PRO CPAP
PR System One 60 Series heated tube humidifier with heated tube (and you choose this one even if you aren't using the optional heated hose at this time).

It's possible that you are simply getting used to the pressure. Is this feeling when you first start the machine??? Are you by chance using the ramp feature.
Is it you can't breathe or it simply doesn't feel like much air is moving?

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If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

jnew71
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Re: New CPAP User -

Post by jnew71 » Fri Oct 31, 2014 1:32 pm

Pugsy wrote:It's possible that you are simply getting used to the pressure. Is this feeling when you first start the machine??? Are you by chance using the ramp feature. Is it you can't breathe or it simply doesn't feel like much air is moving?
I'm hoping it's getting used to the pressure. I can breathe, but it feels like there's more resistance and that there's no air moving, whereas the first couple of nights it was much easier to breath. Again, when I pull the mask away from my nose for a few seconds, I can breath much easier (although the air is much cooler, so I'm now wondering if the temperature of the air is creating a sensation of no air).

At any rate, I'll keep it up to see if I can push through -

Explain the ramp feature a little more. My sleep tech set the machine at a lower level of 5 and said that it would adjust through the night for the first 30 days. I'm assuming this is the ramp feature?

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Pugsy
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Re: New CPAP User -

Post by Pugsy » Fri Oct 31, 2014 2:05 pm

jnew71 wrote:Explain the ramp feature a little more. My sleep tech set the machine at a lower level of 5 and said that it would adjust through the night for the first 30 days. I'm assuming this is the ramp feature?
Ramp and what you are thinking of are 2 separate things.

Ramp is where you start out at a lower pressure and work up to your set pressure. Typically this starts at 4 and gradually increases over whatever time you have it set to the set pressure.
In your case 5 cm...so not much of a change and there's no need to use ramp.

It sounds like what he is doing is using the 30 day apap trial mode where it starts out at 5 and can go up to 20 (I bet it left it wide open) and then in 30 days it decides the best pressure for you and then reverts back to cpap (fixed pressure) mode. Once ever 30 days it will sort of "look"at the data available and maybe adjust the pressure.

That 5 cm starting pressure is quite low and often people feel like that it simply is not moving enough air and they feel like they are either stifled or suffocating. This may be what you are experiencing now that you are used to the pressure.

The settings of 5 to 20 (meaning the machine can go up to 20 if needed) may not be the best settings for you for a couple of reasons.
1...that 5 can be rather stifling
2...if your pressure needs only amount to around 8 or 9 cm that 5 cm starting point would probably work out well but if your pressure needs are over 9 or 10 then the machine takes too long to get to where it needs to be effective at holding the airway open...meaning it's possible for your therapy to be suboptimal.

It's easy to check out though...Use SleepyHead software (links in my signature line) and we can see just where the machine is wanting to go.

Oh...BTW...there's only 30 days "official" apap mode available but there is a way to renew your 30 days for apap mode (unless they stopped that little trick) for 5 times I think it is but we don't want to do that while you are under the DME watchful eye in terms of compliance usage. I can explain that later.

Do you have the provider/clinical manual for your machine so you can get into the clinical setup menu and learn about your machine settings as well as explanation as to how it works and what you see?
You can request it here
http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p ... tup-manual

Short version here and a little video
http://www.apneaboard.com/pr-system-one ... structions

You might play with that start pressure just to see if increasing it resolves the breathing issue you are experiencing... I suspect that a starting pressure of 6 or 7 cm will be a lot more comfortable than the 5 cm.

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Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.