Tired Newbie

[xenablue]

Hi, this is my first post here, but I've been coming here as a lurker/reader for a few weeks since my endo ordered a sleep study.

I've been kinda excited about finally sleeping well, lowering my BG numbers as well as my cholesterol and BP without meds.

Last night was my first intimate rendezvous with my CPAP, and I've gotta say diabetes is a walk in the park compared with this! OK, I read a lot here that it can take some time to get used to, but I hope it's not too long!

I have a ResMed machine and a nasal mask. The technician set it all up and he set a ramp for 20 minutes to start at 3 up to 7 (my neurologist's setting). Well, I didn't feel it got up to 7, and checked the machine and it showed 4+ after an hour and a half and I felt like I was suffocating. Tried to go through the settings, got confused, mad and scared I'd suffocate so by 2am took the mask off, shut it down and slept without so I'd at least be semi-concious for work today.

I don't have my sleep study report yet - the neuro wanted to send it to me when she'd finished dictating the rest of her notes. I do know that I stopped breathing 96 times in a hour on my back and 21 times on my side, my O level was 78%, and went up to 91% after they put a CPAP on me at the study. Sorry, I have no other stats at this time.

However, any words of wisdom would be appreciated. I've broken out in hives on my neck and chest the past week, I think due to the stress of this - not like me at all.

My DH is awesome and is 100% supportive but knows even less than I do about this.

Cheers, and thanks for your help/support.

Xena

[Janknitz]

I have a ResMed machine and a nasal mask. The technician set it all up and he set a ramp for 20 minutes to start at 3 up to 7 (my neurologist's setting). Well, I didn't feel it got up to 7, and checked the machine and it showed 4+ after an hour and a half and I felt like I was suffocating. Tried to go through the settings, got confused, mad and scared I'd suffocate so by 2am took the mask off, shut it down and slept without so I'd at least be semi-concious for work today.

Please try to figure out EXACTLY what machine you have and post it. This will help us help you. You can go to our host, cpap.com and look at the resemed machines there to find one like yours.

I don't believe that ANY pap machine has a setting of 3, most start at 4 cm H2O and go up to 20.

If you have an auto-adjusting machine (APAP) it will adjust between the lowest and highest settings according to your needs. If you were wide awake and breathing well rather than sleeping, then that higher setting of 7 will never be achieved. Most (but not all) of us have settings above 7 cm--I feel like I'm suffocating if my pressure is below 9! 4 is unbearable to me.

It would help to know your titrated pressures. You should try to get ahold of your detailed (not summarized) sleep study.

[Jersey Girl]

Welcome to the forum! I don't know how anyone could breathe on a setting of 3 or even 4! If it were me, I would shut off the ramp and put in a straight pressure of your 7 and see how that goes.

If you are able, please click on the user control panel and register your name and enter your information - what type of equipment you are using, mask type, etc. that way we can try to help you more.

Best regards,

Jersey Girl

[xenablue]

Thank you for the responses.

I'm at work, not at home right now, but I have the guides here to read at lunchtime LOL. I have a ResMed AutoSet or Elite with a heated humidifier. The mask is a ResMed Mirage Micro nasal mask.

I don't have any details from my study - am waiting for it to be sent from my clinic, but it will be fully detailed. I'm a record kinda gal and have every lab report etc. in a big binder, so my CPAP stuff will go in a new section.

You're likely right about it starting at 4, not 3 - will post again in a couple of hours. I like the idea of trying it without the ramp though, and 7 is it the level my neuro requested - even the CPAP tech said this was quite low.

Cheers,
Xena

[rosiefrosie]

If you have a ResMed Autoset or Elite that is great! Sounds as if you need to shut the ramp off as the others have suggested. No wonder you felt as if you were suffocating with a pressure of 4! Let us know what machine you have when you can and good luck.

rosie

[Breathe Jimbo]

I had trouble breathing when my ramp started at 4, so I changed it to start at 6 and am okay. You might just turn off the ramp and start at 7 right away. 7 should not be too hard. Just make sure you are using EPR, to make it easy to exhale. Setting EPR to 2 means that the pressure would drop to 5 for a short time when you begin to exhale.

I love my S9 Elite.

[xenablue]

Thanks Rosie!

I've decided to take a li'l vaca from the diabetic message boards and come here for a while 'til I get this new contraption and way of life under some kind of control.

I'm very excited that many of my health issues will improve and reduction in meds, so I'm determined to get this working right!

Think I'm going to like my time here - the people seem very nice, knowledgeable and friendly

Cheers,
Xena

[Emilia]

Welcome xenablue! Take a minute to go up to the User Control Panel (top left) and then Profile. Choose Edit Equipment and then choose your gear from the pull down menus. Then choose to show it in TEXT, not pictures/icons.

I started off using the Delay (ramp) feature on my machine, but I turned it off just the other night and now start out at 7. My range is now 7-10 as I have found that to be the best for me. It has been 45 days for me, and with a fully data capable auto machine, I was able to make minor adjustments and achieve great results from observing my data. It is advisable to get the software for your machine so you can do the same.

Look for Uncle_Bob on here and either view one of his posts where he has links in the lower left to download your clinician's manual and another link for your software.

Good luck! keep us posted on your progress!

[Guest]

Thanks Emilia, I will update my profile over the weekend, and will look out for Uncle_Bob.

I'm not sure whether my machine is data capable - I really hope so cuz I'm really into the stats - I am going to do some more reading shortly to see if it is.

I'll be sure to keep the forum updated on my progress as I'm at the bottom of a huge learning curve LOL.

Thanks again!

Xena

[Breathe Jimbo]

Of course, the Binary Sleep site has the following disclaimer:

THIS SITE IS NOT A SOURCE FOR MEDICAL ADVICE! PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO YOU OR A PERSON IN YOUR CARE. THIS SITE IS DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK IN SLEEP MEDICINE OR HAVE A GENERAL EMPIRICAL INTEREST IN SLEEP MEDICINE.

It appears to be a web site for sleep professionals who have a financial interest in having CPAP users be completely dependent on them for everything.

Our host here does not appear to exert any influence over the content of the discussions here, let alone censor any information on other suppliers and sources for CPAP equipment or supplies.

Hmmm. Apparently I posted this in the wrong thread. I could have sworn caliste posted here.

[xenablue]

caliste - regarding your PM to me - to be perfectly honest I trust the advice of professional medical people a whole lot less than that of those who walk the walk.

A couple of years ago I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes. As with here, the first place I went was to a well respected message board. There I learned everything I needed to, to get my blood glucose not only under control, but for the most part in non-diabetic range. Yes, I go to an endo, cardio, PCP, CDE, podiatrist, opthalmologist and PCP - but guess what? THEY are fully supportive of my self treatment - they ALL admit to not knowing a lot about diabetes, except my endo whose specialty it is, but even he can't know all about ME and what causes my BG to spike. They ALL respect the research I've done and the advice I've followed from other diabetics to get where I am now.

Following on from that success, I fully intend to come here to seek the advice, support and friendship of those who have more experience and knowledge than I, but most importantly that they LIVE, BREATHE (pun intended) and SURVIVE OSA 24/7 - who else could possibly help another to get through all the issues that come with this.

I trust you won't bother to send any more PMs to me, and for that I would be most appreciative.

Xena

[ozij]

calist has had a spate of posting and erasing - he's up to no good.
I'm glad you responded in to that PM in public, Xena. Good thing you're experienced in taking care of yourself.

Welcome to the forum!
O.

[jabman]

the first place I went was to a well respected message board

I just wanted to Say Hi xenablue and welcome to cpaptalk.
I believe I have saw you posting on the above said message board. Anyway glad to see you here this is a great place.

[xenablue]

calist has had a spate of posting and erasing - he's up to no good.
I'm glad you responded in to that PM in public, Xena. Good thing you're experienced in taking care of yourself.

Welcome to the forum!
O.

LOL, thanks ozij. Indeed I've seen enough of calist just in the short time coming here - I like to cut them off at the pass.

Xena

[xenablue]

the first place I went was to a well respected message board

I just wanted to Say Hi xenablue and welcome to cpaptalk.
I believe I have saw you posting on the above said message board. Anyway glad to see you here this is a great place.

Hi jabman - thanks for the welcome!
Yes, your name does look familiar.
I'm glad I found this place too - a recommendation from another D board

Xena