Need Advice on BIPAP

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
Tau44
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2014 4:48 pm

Need Advice on BIPAP

Post by Tau44 » Tue Sep 23, 2014 4:57 pm

I am going into detail. please bear with me.

I started with a CPAP machine. I took sleep test one. They said my apnea was so bad that they put me on the machine the first night during the test. ti-trate machine up to 18. but my legs where moving so much from restless legs that they couldn't pin down exactly what I needed. I was oxygen starved at 18. They moved machine to 20 on CPAP. Still oxygen deprieved. ordered another sleep test and knocked me out so they could get a good reading. Now I have a BIPAP 21/18 settings. I was doing great getting eight hours a night and all the sudden I have gone to He"" with this machine. I can't fall asleep, can't sleep with it on. I take it off in the middle of the night without knowing it. I am having a terrible time. The first 3 weeks when I got this new bipap machine I was doing great felt great. now I am struggling with machine. I don't understand why all the sudden I am having so much trouble with it. I have gone through four masks. I have tried nasal and full face. full face makes my checks hurt. Help please!!!

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kaiasgram
Posts: 3568
Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2012 2:08 pm
Location: Northern California

Re: Need Advice on BIPAP

Post by kaiasgram » Tue Sep 23, 2014 9:07 pm

Tau, welcome. Have you been watching your AHI with software, or on your machine's display? What make and model machine do you have?

_________________
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

Tau44
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2014 4:48 pm

Re: Need Advice on BIPAP

Post by Tau44 » Wed Sep 24, 2014 9:32 am

I downloaded sleepyhead from jedi last night. I didn't know anything about software until I found this forum yesterday.

I have a Respironics BiPAP machine. I am using a resmed nasal and full face depending on if I can breathe at night well due to allegies.

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Denial Dave
Posts: 1335
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2012 6:45 am
Location: Connecticut

Re: Need Advice on BIPAP

Post by Denial Dave » Wed Sep 24, 2014 9:39 am

1st suggestion is to register here and post your machine and mask.... it'll help folk give you tips

I'm on bipap with setting pretty close to yours.... I have a resmed machine, so I really can't help with machine settings.

at 1st glance, my suggestion is to drop the settings a little bit to get accustomed to the new set-up and then raise them after you have become accustomed to the higher pressures.

To stop the removal of the mask, I suggest using painters tape over the connection area of the mask straps. it has stopped a lot of folks from removing their masks in the middle of the night.

Dave

_________________
Mask: Mirage Quattro™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Started at VPAP pressure setting of 20/14.4. I've survived Stage 1 cancer and lost 80+ lbs. Pressure is now 14.5 / 11
if you don't know where you are going... any road will take you there.... George Harrison