Getting Used to CPAP

Barbhuz · Post by **Barbhuz** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 11:11 pm

I have had an auto cpap for about a month. It ramps from 4 to 19. I have gone from nasal pillows to a nose mask, but there are still air leaks and it ramps up to 19, filling me full of air, making my throat sore, nose sore, and feeling like all the snot in my head is impacted into my skull. I have finally convinced the doctor that 19 is too high, but he is only titrating it down to 16, plus I am supposed to get a mask that covers my nose and mouth. Needless to say, Im ready to kick the whole set up to the curb. Any ideas here????

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 12:04 am

Barb, what machine do you have? Full name of it, if you can. I'm a little bit confused as to whether it really is an "autopap", and, if so, if it's an autopap that was set from 4-19 (and now 4-16.) Full name of the machine would help, in case anyone might have some suggestions for you to try.

Also what are the names of the nasal pillows mask and the nasal mask you tried, and what's the brand name of the full face (covers mouth and nose together) mask that the doctor is going to have you try?

It can be a bearcat trying to get comfortable treatment, especially if you have to use high pressures. Good luck!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 8:27 am

The APap is a ResMed Autopap Spirit. The nasal mask is a Respironic ComfortGel.. The Nasal pillows were Respironic too...

Barbhuz · Post by **Barbhuz** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 5:11 pm

The APap is a ResMed Autopap Spirit. The nasal mask is a Respironic ComfortGel.. The Nasal pillows were Respironic too...

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 5:50 pm

Thanks, Barb. I've not used the Spirit autopap. It's a very good autopap, according to what I've read posted by Spirit users on the TAS apnea message board.

I'm not a doctor, but I do seem to recall a very knowledgeable Spirit user on TAS mentioning that it was not a good idea in some cases to have that particular autopap set "wide open" - which seems to be the way yours was set until you talked the doctor into dropping the top pressure down to 16. Perhaps someone much more knowledgeable than I am will respond with more info on why a narrower range is often a better way to use the Spirit (or any autopap, for that matter.)

Otherwise, I'd suggest you take a look around on the TAS message board, searching within the last 30 days for keywords like:

Spirit pressure

Spirit humidifier

Spirit leaks pressure

Or search on that board for posts by sleep talker.

What was the single pressure (titrated pressure, prescribed pressure) suggested for you in your sleep study report?

Getting Used to CPAP

Getting Used to CPAP

CPAP

APAP