Maybe this is causing more problems than it is fixing?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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cherylann
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Location: Tulsa, OK

Maybe this is causing more problems than it is fixing?

Post by cherylann » Wed Apr 01, 2015 5:45 am

Even though, after nearly four years, I still only manage 2-3 hours a night on CPAP - I keep trudging along. Last night I laid down a couple of hours before bedtime for a few minutes because I wasn't feeling well - it was not a "going to bed lying down" - not even a catnap, but I fell asleep anyway and didn't wake up for six hours. I immediately put my mask on and two hours later woke up suffocating and gasping for breath with my heart beating very fast. Usually, I don't have any recollection of taking the mask off during the night, but this type of thing has happened to me a couple of other times while I had it on.

I'm beginning to wonder if it is causing more problems than it is supposed to fix.

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MachineMask
My priorities in life are God, family, and baseball. Starting in April, I do change the order around a bit.

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Julie
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Re: Maybe this is causing more problems than it is fixing?

Post by Julie » Wed Apr 01, 2015 6:14 am

What are your pressure settings? If they're too low and you can't breathe, you're not going to get treated... have you tried to raise the lower one?

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zoocrewphoto
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Re: Maybe this is causing more problems than it is fixing?

Post by zoocrewphoto » Wed Apr 01, 2015 6:55 am

It really sounds like your settings have never been optimized. And since you have never had a full successful night of sleep with it, you haven't felt an improvement.

Tell is which model machine S9 you have (escape, elite, escape auto, autoset, etc (name by the power button) and what your current settings are. If your machine has full data, we can direct you to the free software, and you can post some data and graphs for review. It really sounds like your pressure is too low, making it uncomfortable as well as not being therapeutic.

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Mask: Quattro™ FX Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Resmed S9 autoset pressure range 11-17
Who would have thought it would be this challenging to sleep and breathe at the same time?

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OkyDoky
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Re: Maybe this is causing more problems than it is fixing?

Post by OkyDoky » Wed Apr 01, 2015 8:18 am

I saw where last time we helped you get Sleepyhead running. If you would post a daily screen shot it would help see what is happening. These are sites that will help you learn how. https://sleep.tnet.com/reference/tips/imgur and https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead/shorganize
ResMed Aircurve 10 VAUTO EPAP 11 IPAP 15 / P10 pillows mask / Sleepyhead Software / Back up & travel machine Respironics 760

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cherylann
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Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2011 9:51 pm
Location: Tulsa, OK

Re: Maybe this is causing more problems than it is fixing?

Post by cherylann » Wed Apr 01, 2015 8:55 pm

Thanks, everybody. I have the VPAP Auto. (What is VPAP? I thought I had a Bipap.

I don't know what my settings are right now. But over the last four years with several doctors, they have been changed and changed and changed ad nauseum. I have been to pulmonologists, heart doctors (even had a stent), and three different so-called sleep specialists. I just keep getting worse, but all I get from doctors is assembly line medicine. I have difficulty breathing, chest pressure, and heart palpitations. Sometimes it happens when I'm sleeping - sometimes not. I don't even know how I'm still alive.

I'll download my data shortly and post it. Do I do that just by a copy and paste>

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My priorities in life are God, family, and baseball. Starting in April, I do change the order around a bit.

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kaiasgram
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Location: Northern California

Re: Maybe this is causing more problems than it is fixing?

Post by kaiasgram » Wed Apr 01, 2015 9:14 pm

VPAP is just ResMed's name for their bilevel machine. BiPap is the Respironics brand name for bilevel.

To post a screenshot, upload it to a free site like imgur or Photobucket -- your image will be assigned an image code and you paste that code directly into a post here. It will look like just text but if you hit Preview and you can see the image, then we'll see it when you Submit.

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Machine: AirSense 10 AutoSet with Heated Humidifer + Aifit N30i Nasal Mask Bundle
Mask: Aloha Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: SleepyHead-now-OSCAR software on Mac OSX Ventura