New to Forum - BiPAP Res PRO2 CFLEX - 1st night!

[OldSeaRock]

Hello Friends,

I just picked up the machine at our local DME and can't wait to try it this evening. Thanks to all who post here and other BOB's - I appreciate your help.

[yawn]

Good luck tonight. Let us know how you did tomorrow.

[OldSeaRock]

Thank you very much! I went and set up the machine, got it all ready to roll.

What confuses me most about this is ignorance; So many of these terms are new to me. I don't even know where to start... so instead of creating a new thread, why don't I ask the "bonehead" questions here and get them over with?

My RX says that, "It is recommended the patient begin BiPAP at 14/10 with a follow up oximetry study in 30 days.

1. What is this 14/10? What does it mean?

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): bipap

[WAFlowers]

Rock, I believe those are your inhalation and exhalation pressures (14 and 10) known respectively as IPAP and EPAP I belive. (Working from faulty sleep-deprived memory that is like swiss cheese so you should try and get confirmation of this.)

[ozij]

You'll find many terms explained in the CPAPopedia, 3rd icon in the row just above the message list.

Lots of cheese and no holes in WAFlowers explanation....

You're getting your pressure lowered for exhale so you won't have to fight it, and higher for inhale, so that it splints your airway open.

Good luck - ask whatever you need - theortical of practical - someone will have a reliable answer --

O.

[OldSeaRock]

The first night went quite well, thanks to the sage advice I've gotten from this site and one other.

Keys, IMO:

I took the hose and ran it through the top of the head-board on our bed. This allowed the fitment in the Breeze hose-line to swivel without disturbing my sleep.

Prior to putting on the mask I applied some Burt's Bees salve to my nostrils to help and reduce the irritation by the nose pillows. The nose pillows will take some getting used to but the performance was awesome vs. the mask I used during the sleep study. No issues at all other than my nostrils were a bit sore.

Bedtime was 10pm and I felt like it took me a good half hour to go to sleep. Though I do remember waking up once or twice due to the "newness" of the mask/machine, overall I feel that I slept very well.

The machine? Man, the only thing I remember is that I woke up around 4am and my throat was DRY, DRY, DRY! I got up, took a drink of water and then turned the heater on the humidifier. Initially I'd not turned the heater on (it's 90° here at night!) but thought, what the heck.

So - the outcome is that I woke up feeling pretty fresh this morning and look forward to getting used to the nose pillows. Good stuff - and my wife slept like a baby! She does NOT miss the snoring.

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[MartiniLover]

That is from opening your mouth. It sometimes takes time to train yourself to keep it shut. If it becomes a problem, you might try a chin strap.

My pressure is close to yours on BiPap, and I still find myself waking up with that dry mouth.

Welcome, and hope your time on the hose only improves.

[yawn]

I was told that increasing the humidity level can help with dryness too...or maybe that was just for stuffy noses. It definitely helped my stuffy nose. Just be careful not to increase it so much that you get rainout (too much water in your tubing...will start to gurgle). I'm glad this has been such a positive start for you
Amy

[OldSeaRock]

Great advice, yawn. I did that last night and didn't have the "dry mouth" problem at all. Plus, as martini stated, I did do my best to keep my mouth closed.

Last night was the night from HELL. When I went to put the Breeze nose pillows into my nostrils, my nostrils were... well, they weren't happy.

At 5am the left nostril went into full REVOLT. I awoke with a burning sensation in that left nostril that I'd never experienced before. While taking the mask off I quickly noticed how tender both nostrils were.... I went to the mirror and my left nostril (I'm sure there's a medical term for the 'rim' of the nostril) was bleeding! Not profusely, mind you, but there was blood and both nostrils were as red (from irritation) as a beet.

Thus, I put some isoproply alcohol on a swab, cleaned the area (oof!) and then went back with some neosporin on the top.

Back to bed, I didn't even THINK about putting that contraption on - I slept for an hour or two without it.

Fortunately the DME that worked with me on the machine GAVE ME a nose mask made specifically for the breeze headset. The R/T advised me to use the nose mask for a week or so and then start rotating back with the nose pillows if I so desired.

I'll not go into details about the sores in my nostrils but save to say, they still make CamphoPhenique® for a reason; It's WONDERFUL stuff.

To the newbies out there like me, this is a learning process and not an event. I wish it was different but it's not. My energy level increase makes up for the negatives - and thank God for a DME that's caring.

[rested gal]

Good start, oldsearock.

What I'd do now, if it were me, is get an Activa mask just as fast as you can. ResMed Mirage Activa is the whole name of the mask. It's a very leakproof nasal mask that covers the nose. Works best with straps worn surprisingly loose.

Alternate between the Activa and the Breeze/nasal pillows. Use the Breeze when your nostrils aren't sore, and use the Activa the rest of the time.

I'd also be sure to wear the side straps with the Breeze. Put them down low to really steady it. The stabilizing side straps don't have to be tight at all - just having them on there can help keep the whole assembly in place better - less likely for anything to get shoved sideways at the snout.

The Swift is another good nasal pillows mask to get. Sometimes alternating between two different nasal pillows interfaces can work to relieve specific pressure points as each brand is held differently against the nares (that's the word for the nostril openings..the "rims" you mentioned.)

If the nasal pillows they gave you for the Breeze are light mint green color (Large), I'd get them to let me have Extra Large pillows - lavender or very light pink-ish purple color. Bigger nasal pillows than most DMEs would fit you with stay more to the outside of the nostrils - usually more comfy and more leakproof if they don't have to be crammed up into the nostrils.

Always be sure you have tilted the Breeze pillows to match the angle of your nares (nostril openings.) Generally the oval holes in the tips of the pillows should be tilted toward each other at the top, like this / \

Not be straight up and down, or straight sideways.

Good luck!

[OldSeaRock]

Howdy Rested,

Is this the Activa mask to which you are referring?

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/1795

I'll try your advice on the nasal pillows when my nares aren't so raw!

What I was using was the clear set, the R/T told me that they appeared to be a good fit. On the next "go round" with the Breeze pillows I'll try the larger lime colored set. I'm not giving up on that mask but gosh, I don't want to endure the torture again... oy vey! I did tilt the pillows every way possible so it's either that I had the wrong pillows or that the pillows simply aren't for me.

If this mask they gave me doesn't work then I'll ask for the Activa - if I've referenced the correct mask in the link above.

Thanks for the sage advice~

[rested gal]

What I was using was the clear set, the R/T told me that they appeared to be a good fit.

heheh...typical of a "professional fitting" of nasal pillows.

Clear are size Medium.

I have a small nose and small nares. I use the Large (mint green.) The Medium (clear) "fit" me, but are not anywhere near as comfortable when worn all night as are the bigger ones that stay more outside...on me, anyway.

[ufo13]

Rock:


Welcome! you will be OK in due time!
You can not get ANY BETTER ADVICE THAN RESTED GAL gave you in my
opinion!!!


steve,
ufo13

[Sleepless on LI]

Oldsearock,

Welcome. Sounds like you're off to a rather great start. Listen to Restedgal...she's one of the best here.

By the way, my nose blistered from trying to get used to the Breeze (never did adjust to it and ended up with the Swift-LOVE it). I had to keep my nose bathed in Neosporin for two days to heal it. I bled from some of the blisters, too. That doesn't mean the Breeze won't eventually be your favorite. Just didn't work for me. There is my long saga (posted thread) on this site about the problems I encountered with it, but it also contains a lot of advice that was given to me by the "sages" on this site to try to fix certain problems associated with it. I've take the liberty of giving you the link to make it easier to find viewtopic.php?t=3703&highlight=breeze.

I, too, used the Activa, after a disaster for one week with the Oracle, and the advice given here to me, too, was to get that mask. I used it for six weeks before getting and staying with the Swift now.

Good luck. Sounds like you've already hit the ground running.

[WAFlowers]

Bigger nasal pillows than most DMEs would fit you with stay more to the outside of the nostrils - usually more comfy and more leakproof if they don't have to be crammed up into the nostrils.

Interesting advice RG. I'm going to try that with my Swift tonight.