Help with ramp

[Katy27]

Can you give me advice re my Cpap teamed airsense10 ramp and a few other things ? Please
I have been on 16 fixed pressure even though I have auto as I am very heavy and auto just gave me more apneas
However since sleep study a dr did suggest could turn it down a bit -I've tried I KERP going back to 16 . I recently got a new machine and ramp was set to auto -I usually go with like 10 mins . Also ramp begins at 10 -I know it sounds high but I tried the auto ramp is it like 45 mins ? That is long and sometimes I hyperventilate but it was comfortable .
I want to try a pressure of 14 but I am obese and am stuck on BENZOS for now which destroy my sleep .
Of course there is no dr following me -so I am on my own . I really want to go back to auto as well 14-18 w a ramp beginning at 4 . I wear the Aussie full face mask ? Not a Quattro but the other one simplis as I am a mouth breather . I do own a Quattro but this one is more comfortable . Should my ramp begin at 10 ? And I have it set for 10 mins . It doesn't say in Manuel how long auto ramp is but 45 mins is too long for me I begin to hyperventilate. Someone before suggested I shorten it and I did it helped a lot . But do I begin st 10? I have the option of trying several ramp styles . I just think 10 is high . The guy who reset the new machine forgot my numbers and I noticed ramp auto. I apologize I have some health issues for sure but any advice would be appreciated I have epr at 3 it's tough to breath thru but I manage and my apneas like .03 or very low. Yes have dry mouth humidity at highest and heated hose. My airsense makes noise but I'm used to it just kinda breathes with me. Any input is appreciated

[palerider]

Should my ramp begin at 10 ?

that's up to you, ramp is for comfort going to sleep only.

It doesn't say in Manuel how long auto ramp is but 45 mins is too long

autoramp waits till your breathing looks like you've gone to sleep and then it starts increasing pressure a cm per minute, I believe. if it takes you 2 minutes to go to sleep, it starts after 2, if it takes you 30 minutes, it starts after 30.

[sammy1954]

thank you for replying -my apologies ,I had an account here with this name.

so auto is beneficial then rather than setting it myself?

Ive tried a setting of 4 to begin with when I was on auto c pap but it seemed just too low .

I am not sure but now telling me how it works I may return to auto as it makes sense.

after using a fixed pressure i find it tough to go back to auto as first the apnea begins and then the machine takes time respond --is that correct? my old dr told me why bother waiting for apneas ? just keep the steady airflow so Ive been gong with that.

but it is tempting as 16 is a big pressure and i often think it word be nice to be between 14-18 ,,,,,my biggest complaint is breathing back on 16 cm as it is not a bipap...i know i still don't know much about this , and how to set the thing . i am experimenting a little.
why do most people use auto and are their pressures as high as mine or higher?
i am registered w air sense but it doesn't tell me much now that i switched machines, it says I'm only sleeping like 1 hour,as i often take the mask off after settling in to get up close window etc, air sense is weird do you agree or helpful tool? since i switched serial numbers it wont record a full night any way to fix that?

[palerider]

thank you for replying -my apologies ,I had an account here with this name.

so auto is beneficial then rather than setting it myself?

Ive tried a setting of 4 to begin with when I was on auto c pap but it seemed just too low .

I am not sure but now telling me how it works I may return to auto as it makes sense.

after using a fixed pressure i find it tough to go back to auto as first the apnea begins and then the machine takes time respond --is that correct? my old dr told me why bother waiting for apneas ? just keep the steady airflow so Ive been gong with that.
but it is tempting as 16 is a big pressure and i often think it word be nice to be between 14-18 ,,,,,my biggest complaint is breathing back on 16 cm as it is not a bipap...i know i still don't know much about this , and how to set the thing .

don't confuse *auto ramp* with "autoset mode".

I was talking about auto ramp starting at 10.... perhaps I misunderstood what you were asking.

as to auto mode vs straight pressure, that again is something you'll have to decide for yourself. there are advantages to both, some people say they feel better with the straight pressure, myself, I prefer auto.

if you want to set it to auto mode and min 14 max 18, give that a try, and see how you sleep.

why do most people use auto and are their pressures as high as mine or higher?
i am registered w air sense but it doesn't tell me much now that i switched machines, it says I'm only sleeping like 1 hour,as i often take the mask off after settling in to get up close window etc, air sense is weird do you agree or helpful tool? since i switched serial numbers it wont record a full night any way to fix that?

yes, people with pressures as high, or higher than yours use auto, Pugsy, for example, has pressures that go from 8 during part of the night to 19 or higher when she's in REM sleep.

people use auto mode so they don't have to have their pressure cranked up so high all night long. set the minimum to take care of most of the night, and let the auto pressure increase when needed.

[sammy1954]

Ok I see that auto mode makes perfect sense .I have to admit I have been struggling with straight pressure all night .

I did understand the ramp thing ,mine is now set at 10 for 10 mins...reasonable?

I am getting a little confused with all of this I have heated hose but how do I determine if it is a slimline? apparently the s10 has a setting for that.
my hose is quite loud as I said but then again straight pressure rather high.

May I ask why you prefer auto pressure? I think I will try that as this is very efficient at controlling my apneas but my mouth is very dry and I am struggling to breath back on 16 .what is epr anyway?
also a big thank you for your swift and informative replies.

[sammy1954]

another thing is always having a stuffed nose and actually ear issues as well.I had many ear infections as a kid and adult.but that steady pressure really gets to me.

I read a post about gluten of yours ,and i definitely wanton look into it. as I am struggling.

you seem knowledgeable and I am grateful for the advice.

I know i must find what is comfortable and I SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF MY DEC 2015 sleep study too. people here seem very unconcerned. and I dont buy equipment off the net
they take advantage here ,my machine was 2200 masks hoses ridiculous price.
yikes

[palerider]

Ok I see that auto mode makes perfect sense .I have to admit I have been struggling with straight pressure all night .

I did understand the ramp thing ,mine is now set at 10 for 10 mins...reasonable?

like I said, ramp is *purely* a comfort feature, something to make it easier for you to get to sleep... set it for whatever feels best for you. I used it for a little bit when I first started, then turned it off, years ago. a lot of other people do the same... some people continue to like it, it's completely up to you, and how you feel, there's no therapeutic advantage to ramp, at all, so set it for whatever you like.

I am getting a little confused with all of this I have heated hose but how do I determine if it is a slimline? apparently the s10 has a setting for that.

if you use a heated hose, it talks to the machine and the machine sets itself properly, automatically, the only time you have to worry about hose size settings is with a non-heated hose, then set it to regular if it's about the size of the *connector* on the mask, and set it to slimline if it's a lot smaller than the connector on the mask. the ends of the hoses are all the same size, though.

my hose is quite loud as I said but then again straight pressure rather high.

that can't really be helped.

May I ask why you prefer auto pressure? I think I will try that as this is very efficient at controlling my apneas but my mouth is very dry and I am struggling to breath back on 16 .what is epr anyway?

I prefer auto because that way the machine adjusts to my needs throughout the night, sometimes I don't need as much pressure as I do at others, and when I don't need the pressure, why have it?

EPR reduces the pressure between inhales, so it's a bit easier to exhale.

also a big thank you for your swift and informative replies.

Glad i could help reduce some of the confusion

[Julie]

If you're using the humidifier it could be the source of your stuffiness, so try turning it down (or even off) for a few nights - the humidifier's for comfort, not therapy in itself, and you're free to use it on high, low or not at all. It also depends on local climate, season, elevation, etc. I never use mine because I'm near the ocean, other people use it all the time or only e.g. in winter when central heating's on... you just have to figure out what works for you.

PS - your avatar is gorgeous - and my (now ex) Sammies are envious ). Funnily enough, I saw yours as being a wolf until I read the name - I've got pix of mine next to pix of white wolves and can't tell a couple apart!

[sammy1954]

thank you palerider and Julie.

very clear response

re humidifier ,it is usually very very dry here ,I see there is an auto for hose humidity as well.

I can try turning it down and see what happens.

ty again

ps love wolves and cats too!

[sammy1954]

Just wanted to say I looked up manual online for my machine as well. And i tried auto ,it was very different .I am not sure I could get used to that.

I will give it a few more days though. I remember I was on auto and when switched to a single pressure i had the best sleep ever.

But that was a few years ago.

I swear I woke up several times but dont know if it was an apnea .

I have to get on top of the readings to see.

thanks again

[palerider]

thank you palerider and Julie.

very clear response

re humidifier ,it is usually very very dry here ,I see there is an auto for hose humidity as well.

the setting for the hose is *heat*, to warm it up, just enough, that water doesn't condense on the hose walls.

[sammy1954]

Thank you!