looking for help

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
worried4myhusband
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2015 3:31 pm

looking for help

Post by worried4myhusband » Thu Jan 29, 2015 3:43 pm

My husband was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. He had a sleep study done a little over a month ago and received a cpap. I believe he has had this for years but it is suddenly much worse and very scary.He falls asleep constantly but doesnt stay asleep and has not had REM sleep in a long time. The snoring is violent and I can tell when he stops breathing. His results were that he wakes up/stops breathing 96x an hour! This man has not slept in 8 months. He is on auto pilot and looks like a zombie. He is miserable and just blah. He started to use the machine about a month ago and can still not wear it more than maybe 20 mins. He has trouble breathing out against the air, feels like hes suffocating and ends up pulling it off and then falls asleep before he can put it back on and of course doesnt stay asleep but is so exhausted he isnt aware he is no longer wearing the mask. i try to wake him but he instantly falls back asleep from the exhaustion. He has been back to the DR. twice and they basically told him he needs to keep trying and will get used to it. He is falling asleep driving at this point and I am very worried and would love any tips, hints or insight into this problem and am interested in any solutions. thought i should add here that his sleep setting is 12 but it gradually increases while hes sleeping automatically and when he wakes up when it is that high he cant stand it but the dr said he needs to keep it there. I believe it starts at 4. even at 4 he is uncomfortable and he gets stuffed up from it also but tries to keep it on but as it increases he starts feeling worse.

User avatar
Pugsy
Posts: 63872
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: looking for help

Post by Pugsy » Thu Jan 29, 2015 4:01 pm

Starting out at the 4 cm pressure could very well be a significant part of the problem with him feeling like he is suffocating and not being able to use the machine at all.
While some people do just fine at 4 cm ...most people would feel suffocated at such a low pressure....6 cm is probably the minimum most people would be comfortable with.

Which machine (brand and model) does he have and which mask?
First thing I would do is turn off that 4 cm ramp or not use it...or set the starting pressure up around 6 or 7 if ramp needs to be used.
How to do that depends on which machine is being used.
If he can't get to sleep with the machine then it can't possibly help him.

_________________
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.

worried4myhusband
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2015 3:31 pm

Re: looking for help

Post by worried4myhusband » Thu Jan 29, 2015 4:07 pm

His machine is a ResMed air sense 10 autoset and the only thing i see on his mask is F&P Eson

User avatar
SGearhart
Posts: 434
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:54 am
Location: Georgia

Re: looking for help

Post by SGearhart » Thu Jan 29, 2015 4:10 pm

1. What Pugsy said!

2. Have your hubby wear the mask while watching TV or reading prior to going to sleep. This will help him getting acclimated to the mask and pressure.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: CMS-50F & 50IW - SleepyHead 1.0.0-Beta

User avatar
Pugsy
Posts: 63872
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: looking for help

Post by Pugsy » Thu Jan 29, 2015 4:17 pm

Okay...with the Resmed machines the ramp is built in and has to be either turned off or modified in the clinical setup menu area.

Go here and request the clinical manual for that model machine. Instructions down near the bottom of the page.
http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p ... tup-manual
If you can't figure it out...I think I have the manual somewhere.

I would suggest either turning the ramp off or adjust the starting pressure from 4 cm to 6 or 7 cm to see how that feels to your husband in terms of suffocation and comfort.

The F & P Eson is a nasal cushion mask. It's a good mask to have. Not a crap mask but sometimes pressure on the nose from the mask itself can cause congestion. Will cross that bridge later if needed.

Address the initial suffocation issues with the pressure first...then try to evaluate if he is having separate issues of nasal congestion which might be a factor...and try to figure out what the humidifier setting is set to if he is having nasal congestion that gets worse when the mask and machine is on.

First thing we have to do is get him to use the machine longer than 20 minutes though..heck the ramp is probably set to 45 minutes. Has he ever made it to sleep with it?

_________________
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.

Bbecker223
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2014 10:17 am
Location: Akron, OH

Re: looking for help

Post by Bbecker223 » Thu Jan 29, 2015 4:19 pm

Agree with the above- I got diagnosed last October. Been on APAP with the same machine- LIFE CHANGING! Everyone is different- just have him wear the mask without the machine..... LIFE CHANGING!!!!

User avatar
Julie
Posts: 19898
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:58 pm

Re: looking for help

Post by Julie » Thu Jan 29, 2015 4:51 pm

Two things - one is that setting the humidifier too high when not needed (if not living in a dry place or central ht not too high) can cause congestion, so can be lowered, and do not let him sleep on his back as it causes way more apneas. He may be resistant to change (especially in front of the TV) but it's quite important.

User avatar
kteague
Posts: 7768
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 8:30 pm
Location: West and Midwest

Re: looking for help

Post by kteague » Thu Jan 29, 2015 9:52 pm

The fact that his difficulty seems to be during his ramp period is highly suggestive that changing the ramp will help him. My guess is not that he's having trouble breathing against the pressure, but rather, having difficulty breathing without enough pressure. I was one that had trouble falling and staying asleep during the ramp period and resolving the ramp issue dramatically turned my CPAP experience around. Had I persisted in trying to use the ramp as originally set I would definitely been a CPAP failure. Sad thing was, in exhaustion I would doze off right away, then wake right back up and snatch the mask off because I felt like I was suffocating. Per instructions from the sleep doc and DME, after I'd wake up and take the mask off, when I put it back on I'd hit the ramp button again to start over. Didn't realize I was condemning myself to almost a full nights at a pressure of about 4 as I never stayed asleep long enough for it to rise to a therapeutic pressure. Because of my experience, I think ramp settings should be the first suspect when the timing of the adjustment issues is as your husband's.

_________________
Mask: TAP PAP Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Improved Stability Mouthpiece
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Bleep/DreamPort for full nights, Tap Pap for shorter sessions

Janknitz
Posts: 8410
Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2010 1:05 pm
Location: Northern California

Re: looking for help

Post by Janknitz » Fri Jan 30, 2015 1:21 pm

Please STOP letting him drive until this gets fixed. He's going to kill someone or himself. Drive him to work, call a cab, whatever you need to do. His doctor should be pulling his license at this point.

I know it sounds harsh, but how will you feel if he hurts someone??? And losing the ability to drive may be the motivation he needs to get on with using the CPAP.

His doctor stinks. "Just keep using the machine" is not helpful advice when he is having difficulty using it. We can help, but it's a big and complicated process when it's not the CPAP user who is here on the board asking for advice (although we have a few spouses who have done a great job helping their spouse use CPAP).

Hopefully someone will be along soon who can help you figure out what the settings are on the machine. That will help us know how we can help him. Meanwhile, he needs to get used to the mask (or a better mask if that's not working for him). He needs to start wearing it in the evenings when he is awake, so that he can either figure out the problem (often it leaks too much or hurts, or makes him feel claustrophobic) and fix it or just get used to wearing the mask. No TV without the mask.

Start with those two tasks. Keep us posted.
What you need to know before you meet your DME http://tinyurl.com/2arffqx
Taming the Mirage Quattro http://tinyurl.com/2ft3lh8
Swift FX Fitting Guide http://tinyurl.com/22ur9ts
Don't Pay that Upcharge! http://tinyurl.com/2ck48rm

worried4myhusband
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2015 3:31 pm

Re: looking for help

Post by worried4myhusband » Fri Jan 30, 2015 3:10 pm

Thank you everyone for the advice. My husband is reading everything that gets posted. When i say that he is falling asleep driving , i do not mean he is putting anyone in danger, i mean he starts to feel groggy and pulls over until he can continue on. His biggest issue is breathing out against the air coming in and even though he starts to fall asleep when it starts at 4 when it increases it wakes him up and we are not sure that it is even getting to his needed 12. I will read every post and take all of your advice to heart and put it into practice and see what helps him. He is not opposed to this, he is looking forward to it working and is determined to get there.

worried4myhusband
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2015 3:31 pm

Re: looking for help

Post by worried4myhusband » Fri Jan 30, 2015 3:16 pm

Pugsy wrote:Okay...

I would suggest either turning the ramp off or adjust the starting pressure from 4 cm to 6 or 7 cm to see how that feels to your husband in terms of suffocation and comfort.

The F & P Eson is a nasal cushion mask. It's a good mask to have. Not a crap mask but sometimes pressure on the nose from the mask itself can cause congestion. Will cross that bridge later if needed.

Address the initial suffocation issues with the pressure first...then try to evaluate if he is having separate issues of nasal congestion which might be a factor...and try to figure out what the humidifier setting is set to if he is having nasal congestion that gets worse when the mask and machine is on.

First thing we have to do is get him to use the machine longer than 20 minutes though..heck the ramp is probably set to 45 minutes. Has he ever made it to sleep with it?
I am going to adjust the pressure moving it up from 4 and the mask is the one the dr thinks will be best for him, he tried 2 others during his sleep test but you may be right because he has mentioned feeling congested and that could be part of the problem that he feels he has trouble blowing against the air. Last night was the first night he actually fell asleep with it but he did not stay asleep and couldnt keep it on

User avatar
OkyDoky
Posts: 2870
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2014 5:18 pm

Re: looking for help

Post by OkyDoky » Fri Jan 30, 2015 3:41 pm

There are adjustments that can be made to make it easier to breath out. Did he have a titration study in lab where he wore the mask or just sent home with the auto machine. If he tried different masks and wore the mask in lab did he have a problem breathing there? Get and read the above clinical manual, ask questions, and there will be help adjusting.
1. I agree to turn the ramp off. I only used mine 3 days. It was just too uncomfortable.
2. Check his EPR settings. This provides expiration relief.
3. Pulling the mask off can become habit. After he becomes more comfortable and sleeping with it, a piece of tape across the straps might wake him enough to remind him to put the mask back on.
4. Download Sleepyhead to see other factors that may effect therapy. http://sleepfiles.com/SH/index.html?TestingVersions
There are a lot of good people here to help you through. Ask questions. It takes a while to become adjusted but there are many benefits.
ResMed Aircurve 10 VAUTO EPAP 11 IPAP 15 / P10 pillows mask / Sleepyhead Software / Back up & travel machine Respironics 760