"New" user.....not using it! Help!

[SsusieQ94585]

I've had my CPAP machine for over a year. My challenge has been using it! It's hard to me to fall asleep as I almost feel like I don't get enough air to breathe comfortably. I have the full mask because I'm a mouth breather. I did try to use it several nights a week at first but it's seriously hard for me to want to try on again. I play this game of trying to wait until I'm almost asleep and then slap it on.....guess what? I fall asleep and DON'T wear it. Could my settings be wrong?? I had a sleep study which I wasn't able to get any info on as my PCP hospital is terrible. I called and called about results, had to do a second test because they didn't have results and still never actually talked to a doctor about the results. They just sent a guy to fit me and show me how to use the machine. The lady at the sleep study place said my apnea was "moderate" because I only stopped breathing 10-11 times/hour. That seems like crazy talk to me. I need to breathe! My husband insists that in the past few weeks my lack of breathing has gotten progressively worse. I have asked him many times to WAKE ME UP and make me put the mask on but he has an aversion to waking people up (he's an insomniac - and I'm not helping him sleep!).

Full mask users: was adjusting to breathing through the mask difficult? Did you feel like you couldn't get enough air before it transitioned into "sleep mode"? I told the guy I normally fall asleep quickly so he made my "ramp" pretty short. How do you do with using it every night? Does it get easier? Any help you can provide would be GREATLY appreciated!!

[Julie]

What are your pressure settings? It's very possible they're not high enough (at least the low one) as doctors assume having auto machines will automatically make pressure rise to meet any events, but if those are too high for the setting to reach in time, they're not helping. What machine do you have (fullest name you can give plse) and mask?

[SsusieQ94585]

I had a ResMed IPX1 H5i and I have no idea what my settings are other than the humidity level. Either it's preset and I can't change it or it self adjusts? I have the full mask.

[OkyDoky]

I had a ResMed IPX1 H5i and I have no idea what my settings are other than the humidity level. Either it's preset and I can't change it or it self adjusts? I have the full mask.

That's not the model name. Does it say on the top or front a name? If you don't see one. Take the water out of the humidifier and look for a REF or Model number on the bottom of the blower.

[SsusieQ94585]

REF 36900A

[OkyDoky]

REF 36900A

I think that is the number on the humidifier. Be sure and look on the blower unit not the humidifier. On the top of the blower does it say Escape, Autoset, or something else?

[SsusieQ94585]

Auto Set

[SsusieQ94585]

Ok, so I just watched a really long video about how my machine is initially set up and yes, the person setting it up would have set the airflow number. I am going to try bumping the ramp down to 5 mins and/or off and see if that helps. My question is honestly how hard it was for all of you to get used to using daily - was it hard to force yourself to put on nightly? What kind of timeframe did it take for you to get more comfortable with it? Thank you all for your time!!

[OkyDoky]

To be able to better help we need to know your minimum and maximum settings, EPR, Ramp pressure and time. Here is a link how to get them. http://www.apneaboard.com/resmed-s9-cpap-setup
Here is a link to your clinical manual. http://www.apneuvereniging.nl/forum/pdf ... manual.pdf
With moderate sleep apnea you need to get through this and there are many here to help.
Once you understand your machine and settings there is a free computer software program where you can see the data on the SD card. By posting that here we can take a look and see if there are areas that might need small changes. Here is a link to show how to download. https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead

The time frame for all of us was different. I had inital mask leaks, dry eyes, dry sinus and mouth, and sore areas on my skin that took about a mounth to work through. I learned quickly that the 4cm ramp didn't feel like enough air and turned it off. I was lucky that I could use a nasal mask and while it seemed to take a while to get to sleep, I didn't have problems keeping it on. We're all different.

The first things that come to mind are low pressure with that not enough air feeling, and possibly events that are waking you up. That's why it's good to look at the data.

[Wulfman...]

Ok, so I just watched a really long video about how my machine is initially set up and yes, the person setting it up would have set the airflow number. I am going to try bumping the ramp down to 5 mins and/or off and see if that helps. My question is honestly how hard it was for all of you to get used to using daily - was it hard to force yourself to put on nightly? What kind of timeframe did it take for you to get more comfortable with it? Thank you all for your time!!

The sooner you take control of your own therapy, the faster you'll get accustomed to using it.
It's like anything else and varies from person to person.
Be sure to get some software (like Sleepyhead) to monitor your therapy.

Here are some links to download or make configuration settings changes to your machine.

http://www.resmed.com/ja-jp/dam/documen ... ow_eng.pdf

http://cpap.1800cpap.com/s9-autoset-manual.pdf

http://www.apneaboard.com/resmed-s9-cpap-setup


Den

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[codinqueen]

Your ramp may have pressure set too low. Try to turn the ramp off and see if it helps. I was smothering with the ramp on in my machine but the smothering feeling went away when I turned the ramp off. I think your initial lowest pressure range may be too low, like mine was- they were starting me at 4 csi to 10 csi but I need 6 to 10 csi, so 4 was smothering me. If turning the ramp off doesn't help you, please come back and we can make some other suggestions. I think you have a ResMed S-9 Autoset machine. People need to know what you're using (machine and mask) to be able to make good suggestions, so please fill your machine in on your profile- don't use the pictures, since machines are so similar we can sometimes not tell pictures apart.
Good luck! You will feel better if you use it and get used to it. I felt better after about 6 months of constant use.

[y_not]

Your ramp may have pressure set too low. Try to turn the ramp off and see if it helps. I was smothering with the ramp on in my machine but the smothering feeling went away when I turned the ramp off. I think your initial lowest pressure range may be too low, like mine was- they were starting me at 4 csi to 10 csi but I need 6 to 10 csi, so 4 was smothering me. If turning the ramp off doesn't help you, please come back and we can make some other suggestions. I think you have a ResMed S-9 Autoset machine. People need to know what you're using (machine and mask) to be able to make good suggestions, so please fill your machine in on your profile- don't use the pictures, since machines are so similar we can sometimes not tell pictures apart.
Good luck! You will feel better if you use it and get used to it. I felt better after about 6 months of constant use.

Have to agree with you on this - my ramp was set at 4 for 5 minutes and I felt like I was suffocating - turned it off and it's soooo much better.

Worth trying & good luck