Ramp Up confusion

[manlymutt]

I'm new to CPAP and sadly haven't been able to sleep with it. The first time I tried it I actually did so in the day in my recliner. I wanted my mind to get used to the mask and machine and become comfortable with it. During the hour long session the Ramp Up was on Auto and it got up to 10-11. It felt GREAT! At 4 I felt suffocated. I had them increase the minimum to 6 as my prescription said 6-14. Even at 6 I THINK its not as good for me as 10 was. I say this because I have yet to see it get up to 10+ again. I even set the ramp up from auto to 5 minutes. 5 minutes later it wouldn't get above 7. I'm really confused on why I haven't took to therapy yet and fallen asleep. Although I've only tried twice so I know there's lots of work to do. My confusion lies in why it hasn't got back up to 10 like the first time. I'm not positive I'd be able to fall asleep with that higher pressure or if pressure is the problem at all. I just know even though I didn't sleep in the hour in the recliner that 10 pressure made me feel great afterwards.. Maybe it was a placebo effect. How do I get it to ramp up to 10+ like it did the first time?

[Okie bipap]

The ramp function will only bring the machine from it starting pressure (default of 4) up to the lowest setting of your prescribed pressure (6 with your current settings). The machine will only go higher if it senses flow restrictions such as an obstructive apnea. If you feel more comfortable at 10 than you do at 6, then set your lower limit to 10.

[manlymutt]

So when it got to 10 while sitting in my recliner it detected an event and that's what triggered it to 10? If that's the case, I wonder if I fall asleep for just a brief minute and didn't realize it. I hate to ask the supplier to keep making adjustments until I find something I'm comfortable with but I guess that's their job.. :/

[Julie]

You can't do things while you're awake - the machine will sense only that your (awake) breathing pattern is very different from an asleep one and the results you get will be invalid.

Sleep more than 4 hrs in bed with the machine at whatever setting you choose (6 would be good for the lower/min. setting) and e.g. 20 for the max, which is usual for most as it won't inadvertently cap the lower one - the one that does 'the job' if it goes higher than 6 at any time. And then use Oscar to see results - post them in this thread and we'll help you interpret.

[zonker]

So when it got to 10 while sitting in my recliner it detected an event and that's what triggered it to 10? If that's the case, I wonder if I fall asleep for just a brief minute and didn't realize it. I hate to ask the supplier to keep making adjustments until I find something I'm comfortable with but I guess that's their job.. :/

welcome to the zoo! you can make these changes yourself. please go here-

https://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap- ... tup-manual

to get the clinicians manual. it will show how to do it.

also, when you find time, please fill out your equipment profile. once you do, your machine and mask will show up at the bottom of each post, as mine does below.

good luck!

[chunkyfrog]

They don't call it SLEEP apnea for nothing . . .

[ChicagoGranny]

How do I get it to ramp up to 10+ like it did the first time?

Please fill out your equipment profile ( https://www.cpaptalk.com/ucp.php?i=ucp_ ... pment_info ) and post again to bump this thread up. If we know what equipment you have, we can tell you how to change the pressure. If you do better with a higher pressure, let's get it changed.

BTW,

At 4 I felt suffocated. I had them increase the minimum to 6 as my prescription said 6-14.

Anything below 7.0 and I feel suffocated. It's common.

[manlymutt]

Thank you everyone for the help so far. I had no idea I could change the settings myself. Hopefully this will help me figure out the pressure I need to fall asleep with the mask on.