New CPAP user with equipment issues/questions
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- Posts: 2
- Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2016 3:44 pm
New CPAP user with equipment issues/questions
Good Morning - I have been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea - I stop breathing 40 times per hour. I just received my machine, a ResMed, AirSense 10 Auto, and tried using it for the last two nights. I have a nasal mask. Its programmed to start at "6" and then ramp up to "10-20". It starts off o.k. but then it starts pumping so much air it is going into my mouth and my ears. When I open my mouth air rushes out, and my sinuses feel strange. Last night when I took the mask off my ears were crackling. Has anyone experienced this? Is 10-20 too high? I cannot use this equipment under these circumstances. I will be contacting the technician who set up the equipment a little later this morning, but I thought I would get some advise from this forum. Any comments would be appreciated.
Re: New CPAP user with equipment issues/questions
mine starts at 13 and goes to 25 if needed.Hannah'sGram wrote: Is 10-20 too high?
pressure needs are very individual, though you may take some time to get used to the *VERY* slight pressure.
and, when i say 'very slight pressure', that's what I mean. a pressure of 10 is 10cm of water, or about 4 inches.... so if you take a straw, and put it in a glass with 4 inches of water, and blow bubbles, you've just created more than 10cm of pressure.
20 is around 8 inches, so a tall glass of water, and a longer straw. that's all 20cm of air pressure is.
new people let themselves get all psyched out about the pressure and airflow... the 'gushing air' is just the machine trying to get up to that slight pressure, then it settles down to a much lower flow to maintain the pressure.
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Re: New CPAP user with equipment issues/questions
Yes. In fact my first day using mine I had it set to start at 5 and it could go as high as 15. I noticed my ears popping as it ramped up, and when I went off the machine they had to readjust again. The mouth thing was annoying, but I keep my mouth closed and that isn't as much a problem for me. I understand some people use chip straps or soft cervical collars to prevent their mouth from opening at night.Hannah'sGram wrote:Good Morning - I have been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea - I stop breathing 40 times per hour. I just received my machine, a ResMed, AirSense 10 Auto, and tried using it for the last two nights. I have a nasal mask. Its programmed to start at "6" and then ramp up to "10-20". It starts off o.k. but then it starts pumping so much air it is going into my mouth and my ears. When I open my mouth air rushes out, and my sinuses feel strange. Last night when I took the mask off my ears were crackling. Has anyone experienced this?
I understand some users have to go even higher to get their symptoms under control. I found that 10 was too high for me to start with, and decided to choose comfort over effective therapy, at least until I got used to it.Hannah'sGram wrote:Is 10-20 too high?
The second night I set my maximum to 8, and had a much easier time. The third night I set the maximum to 10 and found I could deal with it much better than I had the first night.
A lot of doctors will choose to give you the therapy you need immediately, rather than slowly ramping up to it. It's dangerous to receive therapy that's less than you need, but it's much more dangerous to not get therapy at all.
Suggest to your doctor that you want to try lower pressures at first, then ramp them up slowly over the next few months. You'll be surprised a month or two from now at how easily you can deal with 20, but you might have to start off at 6 or 8 first and work your way up to it.Hannah'sGram wrote:Is 10-20 too high? I cannot use this equipment under these circumstances. I will be contacting the technician who set up the equipment a little later this morning, but I thought I would get some advise from this forum. Any comments would be appreciated.
I indicate your doctor, because your technician can't change the machine without a prescription change (assuming they are operating under doctor's orders in the first place).
You can also change the settings yourself with help here and elsewhere on the internet, but unless you really want to delve into managing your own sleep apnea I'd advise taking the slow route working with your doctor.
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Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control |
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- Posts: 2
- Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2016 3:44 pm
Re: New CPAP user with equipment issues/questions
As you suggested, I contacted my doctor's office. The nurse wanted me to make an appointment to see the doctor to discuss changing the pressure, but I convinced her to just give him a message spelling out my concerns and see what he suggests. I will wait to hear back from his office later today. Thanks for your responses -- it is so beneficial to discuss questions/concerns with people in the same "boat". Have a great day.
Re: New CPAP user with equipment issues/questions
One thing that helps a lot of new users is to use the mask and machine during the day while watching TV or other activity. To help with the "mouth gushing air" place your tongue on the roof of your mouth with the tip just behind your top teeth. Relax and breath in and out through your nose using your abdominal muscles. The tongue placed this way will create a vacumn so the air goes where it is supposed to go. During the day breathe this way and it helps some mouth breathers to stop doing this at night.
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Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Additional Comments: Sleepyhead Software |
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Re: New CPAP user with equipment issues/questions
It is very awkward at first. Takes some getting used to. I started off with a low fixed pressure and even that was strange. I'm used to it now and am on a tight range of 18-20cm. Been using the machine for 4 months. Now it is just a normal part of going to bed.
Re: New CPAP user with equipment issues/questions
A couple of things will help:
1) if you are using a nasal mask, you have to keep your mouth closed. Otherwise the air going in your nose comes out your mouth. This will not work to splint your airway open.
2). It helps if you learn to seal off your mouth so air does not flow into your mouth when closed, either. Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth, behind your front teeth. This seals off the airflow from your nose. The key is to practice that all day long, so it becomes second nature at night.
3) As already suggested, practice wearing your mask during the day when you are doing a quiet activity like reading or watching TV. This will help you get used to the sensation of the pressure. It may help to turn off the ramp feature, if you can figure out how--you need to get used to the pressure range from 10 to 15, not just to the ramp pressure of 6.
4) there will be some pressure on your ears. Here's a funny way to alleviate it. Put an earplug or earbud in just one ear. It helps balance the pressures.
1) if you are using a nasal mask, you have to keep your mouth closed. Otherwise the air going in your nose comes out your mouth. This will not work to splint your airway open.
2). It helps if you learn to seal off your mouth so air does not flow into your mouth when closed, either. Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth, behind your front teeth. This seals off the airflow from your nose. The key is to practice that all day long, so it becomes second nature at night.
3) As already suggested, practice wearing your mask during the day when you are doing a quiet activity like reading or watching TV. This will help you get used to the sensation of the pressure. It may help to turn off the ramp feature, if you can figure out how--you need to get used to the pressure range from 10 to 15, not just to the ramp pressure of 6.
4) there will be some pressure on your ears. Here's a funny way to alleviate it. Put an earplug or earbud in just one ear. It helps balance the pressures.
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Mask: DreamWear Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear |
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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