First night on CPAP

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
dwhla
Posts: 32
Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2015 1:16 pm
Location: Los Angeles

First night on CPAP

Post by dwhla » Fri Nov 27, 2015 1:41 am

After a couple false starts (long story), I finally had my first night of CPAP last night. I wouldn't say that it was super fitful sleep. It was tough getting used to the mask and noise etc... and I had to wake up and play with the settings...but it's a good start.

Funnily enough, when I woke up & removed the mask, I felt like just laying down and getting some sleep w/ a free face. And later in the day did just that

Initial questions on the Philips Respironics System One REMstar Auto A-Flex™ with SD Card:

1. I need to periodically change the humidifier thingie that holds the water, right? How often?: NVM found it! Nightly!.
2. I need to dump out the distilled water nightly, wash that thingie and put in new distilled water, right? NVM found it, nightly!
3. My doc gave a prescription for 7cm/h20 so I set the minimum to 5, max to 8.5. Woke up to it being on 7.5. So I'm thinking 5-10 would be a good setting. Yes?
4. Tubing type: 15, 22 or 15h. Hmm, let me find what I bought:
"6 Foot Long 19mm Diameter CPAP Hose with 22mm Rubber Ends "
So I guess I should pick 22??
Looks like H is for heated... Did I buy the wrong hose for heating?
5. System ONE resistance. What is that?
6. Are the wipes I bought generally used for the mask or?
7. Do y'all religiously thoroughly clean the mask daily, submerging in water making sure all air pockets are gone?

Thanks!

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Additional Comments: Not sure I selected right. Cpap&humid is 2nd one here: http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=108915&p=1038905#p1038905

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Sheriff Buford
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Location: Kingwood, Texas

Re: First night on CPAP

Post by Sheriff Buford » Fri Nov 27, 2015 6:03 am

dwhla wrote: 1. I need to periodically change the humidifier thingie that holds the water, right? How often?: NVM found it! Nightly!.

Not necessary. Most folks will refill the tub without empting the tub. Just top it off.

2. I need to dump out the distilled water nightly, wash that thingie and put in new distilled water, right? NVM found it, nightly!

Above....

3. My doc gave a prescription for 7cm/h20 so I set the minimum to 5, max to 8.5. Woke up to it being on 7.5. So I'm thinking 5-10 would be a good setting. Yes?

Your settings are on the low side. For me anything below an 8 would give me that suffocating feeling. If you can handle 5... ok, but if was me, then I'd set the settings at 6, with the max setting at 18. In the autoset mode the machine will only use was pressure it needs to treat an apnea event, then ramp down. So the max is usually moot. I may hear it from other people, but to me, you are a candidate for straight cpap with a setting of 7.5.

4. Tubing type: 15, 22 or 15h. Hmm, let me find what I bought:
"6 Foot Long 19mm Diameter CPAP Hose with 22mm Rubber Ends "
So I guess I should pick 22??
Looks like H is for heated... Did I buy the wrong hose for heating?

Don't know what the H means.
5. System ONE resistance. What is that?

No clue.
6. Are the wipes I bought generally used for the mask or?

I wipe down my mask every morning with a baby wipe. Every week or two, I'll scrub and soak the mask in baby shampoo. Then rinse very well. Make sure the wipes are aloe and alcohol-free. The aloe will leave a film and the alcohol will break down the mask silicone. I use Pampers Thick Wipes for sensitive skin. At WalMart, they are less that $2.00.

7. Do y'all religiously thoroughly clean the mask daily, submerging in water making sure all air pockets are gone?

Above

Thanks!
Sheriff

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Pugsy
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Re: First night on CPAP

Post by Pugsy » Fri Nov 27, 2015 9:36 am

System One Resistance Control has to do with the mask you are using. It is not a critical setting.
What mask are you using? If it is a Respironics mask then there is a number that corresponds with that mask that you would set the Resistance setting to.
If it is a mask by any other manufacturer then we usually just use 0 setting which is the Off setting.

Which Respironics machine did you get? The new DreamStation or the older PR System One model?
When you have time please add your equipment to your profile like I have mine.
It helps us help you better/faster if we can easily see what you are using.

Heated hose is a smaller (15 mm) diameter hose and is automatically detected when they are used so with a heated hose it makes the diameter selection for you.
With non heated hoses you have to make the selection for diameter manually based on the diameter of the hose and not the rubber coupling ends which those couplings are always 22 mm.
So choose the setting based on hose diameter.
In your situation...choose the 22 mm setting because that is closest to your setting choices.

Your minimum pressure setting is actually the most critical setting...your idea of 5 to 10 is probably a good starting point...need to evaluate how well that 5 cm minimum is doing by looking at the AHI.
The maximum setting isn't that critical unless you are spending all night at the maximum.
Some of this is best evaluated by using software if available.

You will have at least AHI available on the machine's LCD screen...once we know exactly which machine we can better tell you your options pertaining to data available.

That water chamber....are you using distilled water or tap water?
If using distilled water it really isn't necessary to dump it each morning but it doesn't hurt anything to dump it. Many of us just top it off and do the dump and clean/wash thing maybe once a week or once a month or whatever. Do what you are most comfortable with.

Heated hoses are optional...useful to prevent condensation in the hose or mask or prevent uncomfortably cold air on/in the nose or face.

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dwhla
Posts: 32
Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2015 1:16 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Re: First night on CPAP

Post by dwhla » Fri Nov 27, 2015 2:18 pm

Why it's an honor to get an answer from the famous secret agent's police officer Sheriff Buford T Justice!
Sheriff Buford wrote: Not necessary. Most folks will refill the tub without empting the tub. Just top it off.
Fantastic. Do you ever wash it? Weekly, monthly?
Your settings are on the low side. For me anything below an 8 would give me that suffocating feeling. If you can handle 5... ok, but if was me, then I'd set the settings at 6, with the max setting at 18. In the autoset mode the machine will only use was pressure it needs to treat an apnea event, then ramp down. So the max is usually moot. I may hear it from other people, but to me, you are a candidate for straight cpap with a setting of 7.5.
Night two it went even higher. Sounds like I can even make the minimum a 6 or 7. I will try tonight.
I wipe down my mask every morning with a baby wipe. Every week or two, I'll scrub and soak the mask in baby shampoo. Then rinse very well. Make sure the wipes are aloe and alcohol-free. The aloe will leave a film and the alcohol will break down the mask silicone. I use Pampers Thick Wipes for sensitive skin. At WalMart, they are less that $2.00.
Oh thank god I don't want to wash that puppy every day!

How do you wash the hose? Seems like it wouldn't be super easy to get it all submerged in the soapy water. At least for me. I have issues with the sinks at my place, I'll need to buy a tub to get the hose in.
Pugsy wrote:System One Resistance Control has to do with the mask you are using. It is not a critical setting.
What mask are you using? If it is a Respironics mask then there is a number that corresponds with that mask that you would set the Resistance setting to.
If it is a mask by any other manufacturer then we usually just use 0 setting which is the Off setting.
Good to know...
My mask I bought from CPap.com is DreamWear Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear - Fit Pack (All Cushions Included with Medium Frame) - Small, Medium, Medium Wide, Large Cushions with Medium Fram
Which Respironics machine did you get? The new DreamStation or the older PR System One model?
The second one listed here:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=108915&p=1038905#p1038905
When you have time please add your equipment to your profile like I have mine.
Aha! OK I will try to list it correctly.
Heated hose is a smaller (15 mm) diameter hose and is automatically detected when they are used so with a heated hose it makes the diameter selection for you.
With non heated hoses you have to make the selection for diameter manually based on the diameter of the hose and not the rubber coupling ends which those couplings are always 22 mm.
So choose the setting based on hose diameter.
In your situation...choose the 22 mm setting because that is closest to your setting choices.
Thank you.

I guess no heat but so far it doesn't bug me.
Your minimum pressure setting is actually the most critical setting...your idea of 5 to 10 is probably a good starting point...need to evaluate how well that 5 cm minimum is doing by looking at the AHI.
The maximum setting isn't that critical unless you are spending all night at the maximum.
Some of this is best evaluated by using software if available.
I will work on using the software this weekend.
You will have at least AHI available on the machine's LCD screen...once we know exactly which machine we can better tell you your options pertaining to data available.
OK let me check that.
AHI
1 Day 1.0
7 Day 4.4
(this is only my second night, I didn't wipe old data but I had the machine itself for a week so I don't think that 4.4 data includes previous user)

90%:
1 Day 9.0
7 Day 8.8
That water chamber....are you using distilled water or tap water?
Distilled.
If using distilled water it really isn't necessary to dump it each morning but it doesn't hurt anything to dump it. Many of us just top it off and do the dump and clean/wash thing maybe once a week or once a month or whatever. Do what you are most comfortable with.
GREAT!
Heated hoses are optional...useful to prevent condensation in the hose or mask or prevent uncomfortably cold air on/in the nose or face.
OK, I think I'm doing fine on these for now.

Thanks all!

_________________
MachineMask
Additional Comments: Not sure I selected right. Cpap&humid is 2nd one here: http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=108915&p=1038905#p1038905

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blownaway
Posts: 86
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 2015 12:03 am
Location: NW Florida

Re: First night on CPAP

Post by blownaway » Sat Nov 28, 2015 1:17 am

I clean my mask every morning with anti bacterial soap, takes only a minute. Skin oils will wreck the soft parts if you don't. I get slime in the tank if I use tapwater, but not distilled.