Newbie First Questions and Post

[CaptainPAP]

Hi All - Absolutely enjoying this site. I knew there was a place to get other deeper CPAP answers when my provider (Kaiser) could not offer them (as good they as are). Been at CPAP a month and absolutely sold on the concept (after my wife said try this or else ). Definitely experiencing the benefits, albeit slower than I expected, and with general/usual struggles but nothing catastrophic.

1. My pressure range initially set at 6-20. I am starting to increase it - first from 6 to 6.2. Any thoughts as what increments and over what time intervals to do these increases?

2. Started with Full Face for 2 weeks. Then went to a Nasal Mask for a week. Then Nasal Pillow for a week. Recently, I tried this: If I wake up because the mask feels uncomfortable, I'll switch to another mask type and I fall asleep quickly. Does anyone rotate mask type nightly (or with any regularity) or as a matter of practice?

Thanks!!!

[LSAT]

There is no reason why you couldn't increase the pressure by 1 every couple days, but you should be downloading Oscar Software so you can see what your nights look like. I see no reason to change masks during the night...you will never get used to a mask that way. I have used 2 masks in 11 years.

[NoOnesPerfect]

Be aware that there is a setting for full face vs nasal. If you are switching between the two during the evening, it might have some impact on how effective your therapy is. Then again, it may not - I leave that to people here that know more about the settings.

[zonker]

Hi All - Absolutely enjoying this site. I knew there was a place to get other deeper CPAP answers when my provider (Kaiser) could not offer them (as good they as are). Been at CPAP a month and absolutely sold on the concept (after my wife said try this or else ). Definitely experiencing the benefits, albeit slower than I expected, and with general/usual struggles but nothing catastrophic.

1. My pressure range initially set at 6-20. I am starting to increase it - first from 6 to 6.2. Any thoughts as what increments and over what time intervals to do these increases?

2. Started with Full Face for 2 weeks. Then went to a Nasal Mask for a week. Then Nasal Pillow for a week. Recently, I tried this: If I wake up because the mask feels uncomfortable, I'll switch to another mask type and I fall asleep quickly. Does anyone rotate mask type nightly (or with any regularity) or as a matter of practice?

Thanks!!!

welcome to the zoo! and what's that they say,"happy wife, happy life", right?

yup the changes come slowly but the benefits are there. we have someone come in every now and then to tell us it happened right away. but these people are in the minority. took me what seemed like forever.

for me, i had to raise the pressure very slowly, as you are doing. if i didn't do that, i would get a bad case of aerophagia. so it took me quite a while to get where i am today.

please don't switch out masks during the night. it's best to stay with one, in my humble opinion.

as suggested, get either oscar or sleepyhead software to monitor your progress. you can gather data from either of these and display it here so the experts can help.

good luck!

[Janknitz]

There's nothing wrong with changing masks from day to day, as long as you change the mask setting. Most people find one good mask and stick to it, though. I also keep a FF mask for those times when I have a lot of sinus congestion.

With Kaiser that's fairly easy since they let you keep the samples, but be aware they follow Medicare replacement schedules, so you will only get replacement cushions and straps for the one that is in your current prescription.

And watch your Crapria billing carefully. Don't trust them.

[kteague]

I think the idea to switch out masks during the night if one has become problematic is a great idea. That would have been helpful to me when my nervous system was in a state of agitation and I couldn't bear the first masking touching me for one more second. Changing touch points would have made common sense for me, had I thought of it. I will defer to others on how much changing masks without changing the settings might affect your data. While you're still trying to optimize your treatment it is probably of more importance than it will be once things become routine and you're not counting on data to dial in your treatment. If you had a second mask of the same type you could still get a degree of change in fit and feel without needing to change your setting.

[palerider]

Hi All - Absolutely enjoying this site. I knew there was a place to get other deeper CPAP answers when my provider (Kaiser) could not offer them (as good they as are). Been at CPAP a month and absolutely sold on the concept (after my wife said try this or else ). Definitely experiencing the benefits, albeit slower than I expected, and with general/usual struggles but nothing catastrophic.

1. My pressure range initially set at 6-20. I am starting to increase it - first from 6 to 6.2. Any thoughts as what increments and over what time intervals to do these increases?

I advocate taking large jumps, based on what the pressure curve looks like, in order to get better sleep quicker.

Pugsy likes taking it slower, in order for the base pressure increases to be less disruptive.. it all depends on what the pressure curve looks like. a 0.2 increase is negligible and likely won't even be noticed.

[CaptainPAP]

There is no reason why you couldn't increase the pressure by 1 every couple days, but you should be downloading Oscar Software so you can see what your nights look like. I see no reason to change masks during the night...you will never get used to a mask that way. I have used 2 masks in 11 years.

Thank you LSAT.

[CaptainPAP]

Be aware that there is a setting for full face vs nasal. If you are switching between the two during the evening, it might have some impact on how effective your therapy is. Then again, it may not - I leave that to people here that know more about the settings.

Got it and thanks!

[CaptainPAP]

Hi All - Absolutely enjoying this site. I knew there was a place to get other deeper CPAP answers when my provider (Kaiser) could not offer them (as good they as are). Been at CPAP a month and absolutely sold on the concept (after my wife said try this or else ). Definitely experiencing the benefits, albeit slower than I expected, and with general/usual struggles but nothing catastrophic.

1. My pressure range initially set at 6-20. I am starting to increase it - first from 6 to 6.2. Any thoughts as what increments and over what time intervals to do these increases?

2. Started with Full Face for 2 weeks. Then went to a Nasal Mask for a week. Then Nasal Pillow for a week. Recently, I tried this: If I wake up because the mask feels uncomfortable, I'll switch to another mask type and I fall asleep quickly. Does anyone rotate mask type nightly (or with any regularity) or as a matter of practice?

Thanks!!!

welcome to the zoo! and what's that they say,"happy wife, happy life", right?

yup the changes come slowly but the benefits are there. we have someone come in every now and then to tell us it happened right away. but these people are in the minority. took me what seemed like forever.

for me, i had to raise the pressure very slowly, as you are doing. if i didn't do that, i would get a bad case of aerophagia. so it took me quite a while to get where i am today.

please don't switch out masks during the night. it's best to stay with one, in my humble opinion.

as suggested, get either oscar or sleepyhead software to monitor your progress. you can gather data from either of these and display it here so the experts can help.

good luck!

Thanks Zonker! Yes, HWifeHL!!! Yeah, I tried increasing it too much and was burping up air in the morning. Returned to the incremental increases and feel more comfortable.

[CaptainPAP]

There's nothing wrong with changing masks from day to day, as long as you change the mask setting. Most people find one good mask and stick to it, though. I also keep a FF mask for those times when I have a lot of sinus congestion.

With Kaiser that's fairly easy since they let you keep the samples, but be aware they follow Medicare replacement schedules, so you will only get replacement cushions and straps for the one that is in your current prescription.

And watch your Crapria billing carefully. Don't trust them.

Thanks Janknitz! Yes - when I am a bit congested I am going to FF but, thankfully, the Full Nasal seems to be my go to mask for now. Also, thanks for the Heads Up about Apria ... just today a bill arrives after I was told everything's paid

[CaptainPAP]

I think the idea to switch out masks during the night if one has become problematic is a great idea. That would have been helpful to me when my nervous system was in a state of agitation and I couldn't bear the first masking touching me for one more second. Changing touch points would have made common sense for me, had I thought of it. I will defer to others on how much changing masks without changing the settings might affect your data. While you're still trying to optimize your treatment it is probably of more importance than it will be once things become routine and you're not counting on data to dial in your treatment. If you had a second mask of the same type you could still get a degree of change in fit and feel without needing to change your setting.

Thanks kteague! Well, it wasn't so much of an idea as it was an impulsive response (and me thinking someone lied to me as nearly everyone was telling how great they feel!) lol For now I seem to have settled into the Nasal Mask but definitely have the FF ready if I am congested. I also want to explore other nasal pillows since that design is the lightest but for some reason my Resmed Airfit Pro P10 model and I don't get along. Thanks again!

[CaptainPAP]

NEW QUESTION: Comments/thoughts about the Phillips Respironics Dreamwear Nasal CPAP Mask would be appreciated (especially in relation to Resmed nasal pillows). Thanks!

PS: My well meaning Apria Technician fitted me to the small size attachment for my Resmed AirFit P10 nasal pillow. I've used it about two weeks. I felt my breathing was "ok" at best however I really prefer the nasal pillow design/feel compared to my Resmed FF/NM (although my breathing was better with the later). I just remembered I had the Medium and Large pillow attachments and switched to medium last night. What a difference in my breathing and sleep quality all around!!!

[Dog Slobber]

PS: My well meaning Apria Technician fitted me to the small size attachment for my Resmed AirFit P10 nasal pillow. I've used it about two weeks. I felt my breathing was "ok" at best however I really prefer the nasal pillow design/feel compared to my Resmed FF/NM (although my breathing was better with the later). I just remembered I had the Medium and Large pillow attachments and switched to medium last night. What a difference in my breathing and sleep quality all around!!!

A common issue with ResMed P10 Nasal Pillows is wearing undersized ones.

Many even believe they should be in the nostril.

[zonker]

NEW QUESTION: Comments/thoughts about the Phillips Respironics Dreamwear Nasal CPAP Mask would be appreciated (especially in relation to Resmed nasal pillows). Thanks!

PS: My well meaning Apria Technician fitted me to the small size attachment for my Resmed AirFit P10 nasal pillow. I've used it about two weeks. I felt my breathing was "ok" at best however I really prefer the nasal pillow design/feel compared to my Resmed FF/NM (although my breathing was better with the later). I just remembered I had the Medium and Large pillow attachments and switched to medium last night. What a difference in my breathing and sleep quality all around!!!

applause.gif

good job!