New to CPAP - HELP!

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
pparsels19
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New to CPAP - HELP!

Post by pparsels19 » Mon May 14, 2018 7:57 am

Good Morning Everyone!

So I have had my cpap for over 6 months now. I tried hard for several weeks when i first got the machine to wear it every night, as my snoring has gotten worse and I am still so tired every morning when I wake up. I have to Dreamstation machine and it was set 5 to 15 pressure. I couldn't ever keep it on for more than 30 minutes as I felt like I was suffocating and trying to catch my breath. I took my results and machine back to the doctor just recently and he upped my pressure to 9.5. While this feels better when I initially fall asleep, I inevitably end up ripping the mask off less than an hour into falling asleep. I want to use this so bad and start sleeping better but I have no idea how to get over this feeling of suffocation. My doctor didn't really give me many tips on it either, just upped my pressure. I have been trying to take naps with it during the day but still cannot get used to it. Can anyone suggest any ways they have gotten over this feeling and gotten themselves to restful deep sleep with a cpap? Thank you all!

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LSAT
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Re: New to CPAP - HELP!

Post by LSAT » Mon May 14, 2018 8:26 am

I don't know what mask you are wearing, but if you would sit and watch TV with your mask on for a few nights, your face may get used to the feeling. Go to the Control Panel and fill in your Equipment profile.

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BTS
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Re: New to CPAP - HELP!

Post by BTS » Mon May 14, 2018 8:32 am

I had a similar issue back when I started xPAP and it was a case of the pressure being way too low and the mask type... I switched to pillows the P10 and found it to be way less claustrophobic...

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kteague
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Re: New to CPAP - HELP!

Post by kteague » Mon May 14, 2018 10:00 am

There is a difference between treatment and therapeutic treatment. Hopefully you've got a machine that can give you data so you can know your treatment is doing what it is supposed to do. Early on my settings were inadequate, both my treatment pressure and the ramp settings, and I felt as if I were suffocating. Once I came here and learned about machine data etc, a few tweaks and things turned around for me. List your equipment and someone will be able to point you to where to go from here.

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Re: New to CPAP - HELP!

Post by D.H. » Mon May 14, 2018 10:12 am

To the OP:

You statement of 5 to 15 pressure (which was later adjusted) suggests to me that you have the DreamStation Auto. You didn't fill in your profile (please do so), so I'm not certain of this.

The good news is that this machine (if I have the correct one) is fully data capable and SleepyHead compatible. You can analyze what's happening.

Now a question: What you say you feel like your "suffocating" is it that the pressure is not enough on inhale or too much on exhale (or both)? This will give a hint of whether you might need more pressure or less.

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Julie
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Re: New to CPAP - HELP!

Post by Julie » Mon May 14, 2018 11:53 am

Why would settings of 5 and 15 suggest any particular machine... STOP GIVING STUPID ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS!

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BTS
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Re: New to CPAP - HELP!

Post by BTS » Mon May 14, 2018 12:30 pm

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Oh man that had me shoot coffee out my nose ...

D.H. The xPAP Whisperer* ... SpOoOOKY**

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pparsels19
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Re: New to CPAP - HELP!

Post by pparsels19 » Tue May 15, 2018 8:27 am

Hey Guys,

thank you so much for the replies. I will fill in all of my information now. brand new to all of this so just learning the ropes. Bear with me. I believe it is more on the exhale where I feel like I cant get all of my air out. once we increased the pressure, the inhale is perfectly fine and feels comfortable, however on the exhale, I feel as if i cant get all of my breath out in time before it starts trying to shoot air back down my throat if that makes sense. I am currently wearing the ESON 2 nasal mask, but have a Wisp and Have the nasal pillow set up as well. I have yet to try the nasal pillows since we upped my pressure.

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Pugsy
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Re: New to CPAP - HELP!

Post by Pugsy » Tue May 15, 2018 8:37 am

If you feel like you are having some trouble with the timing of the exhale and the machine not giving you ample time for your respirations you might play with the Flex exhale relief settings a bit and see if changing Flex or even turning it off seems to help with your exhale issues.
Play with all the settings (even off) and choose the setting that is the most comfortable in terms of ease of inhale/exhale for you.

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pparsels19
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Re: New to CPAP - HELP!

Post by pparsels19 » Tue May 15, 2018 1:52 pm

Thank you very much! now just gotta figure out how to do that! ha

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zonker
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Re: New to CPAP - HELP!

Post by zonker » Sat May 19, 2018 10:27 pm

bump
people say i'm self absorbed.
but that's enough about them.
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InnerGlow
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Re: New to CPAP - HELP!

Post by InnerGlow » Sat May 19, 2018 11:23 pm

Thank you very much! now just gotta figure out how to do that! ha
Check out this page for instructions on entering setup mode on the Dreamstation:
https://www.apneaboard.com/dreamstation ... structions

And check out this page for how to get a copy of the clinician manual:
https://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap- ... tup-manual

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Re: New to CPAP - HELP!

Post by USMCVet » Sun May 20, 2018 3:37 pm

pparsels19 wrote:
Tue May 15, 2018 8:27 am
I feel as if i cant get all of my breath out in time before it starts trying to shoot air back down my throat if that makes sense.
I have a Dreamstation as well. Changing flex settings might help but you shouldn't have to change those at all.

This problem is only in beginning right? If you wake up later in night it's fine correct?

All you have to do is breathe the way you want to breathe and do it consistently. Don't breathe the way you think the machine wants you to breathe. It will adjust to you.

It really is that simple.

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