new to cpap and w/ oxygen

[shylakay]

Hi.. I am new to the whole thing...and have been set up with REMstar M Series.. I only have mild to moderate apnea and have oxygen machine hooked up to it as well. I use mask that covers the nose AND mouth as I HAVE to be able to open my mouth occasionally without feeling like a Hurricane is rushing out of my mouth and tries to choke me and take my breath away.
I think what is happening to me.. is I hear the dang oxygen machine's rhythm and I seem to breath along with it. I feel like it must be in the middle of the night sometime when I finally must drift off to REAL Sleep.
Mine is only set to start off at 4 and then increase to 6.


And how long DOES it take to wake up and feel like you have breathed good all night long?

Lately I have been waking up to lines on my face from mask being too snug I think..okay.. hit me with all the blond jokes you want .. I am very dark haired ~ lady~..with dark brown eyes to document how full of it I truly am.

thanks to anyone who replies.
shylakay

[Slinky]

Welcome to the forum, ShylaKay. First off, why not take a good look at your Respironics M series and see just WHICH of the Respironics M series models you have. Then go back in to your Profile and add that information. Same for the mask you are using and your humidifier, if any. That way those of us in the forum can help you out better w/your questions w/o having to have you remind us each time what equipment you are using.

How many liters of 02 is your CPAP being supplemented with? Are you on 02 during the day as well?

I have COPD. I started on CPAP back in October 2006. I was started at 6 cms of pressure, then it was upped to 7 cms of pressure and then to 8cms of pressure. In April 2007 we added 2L of 02 supplementation to the CPAP therapy. I'm not on 02 during the day except for Pulmonary Rehab and exercise.

I have a 5L DeVilBiss concentrator and 4 of the E tanks, 2 for emergency and 2 for exercising in the basement w/treadmill and AirDyne bike. I wish I had a good arm ergometer instead of or in addition to the Therabands. I also have a Helios but I'm still a bit timid with it and I don't trust it not to run out on me.

YOU initiate the rhythm of the machine. I had the Resmed equivalent of C-Flex which was set at 3 and w/in less than 2 months I turned that down to 2 and then 1 and then just turned it off as not needing it. If your Respironics M series CPAP has C-Flex it might be that you could turn the relief down a little or even off.

It may be that the starting pressure of 4 is too low. I know I found that I didn't need the Ramp feature w/in just a week or two. Or maybe you need the Ramp set for a longer or shorter time.

I've never tried a full face mask. I've preferred to go the other way, with nasal cushions and nasal pillows and finally found that I prefer the simple nasal cushion of the ComfortLite 2 or of the Simplicity. Each of us is so different on mask fit and comfort.

It took some doing but I learned how to open my mouth at full pressure and not leak and to unplug my ears when they plugged up and to swallow. I did resort to PoliGrip gel to seal my lips when I was encountering the "lip flutters" but don't even need that any more.

I gotta tell you tho, those first 30 days on CPAP I was MORE exhausted than I had ever been prior to CPAP and I sure turned into one snarky, mean tempered witch for that while!!! I didn't even like me!!!

I would think that the best way to get a good and comfortable fit w/a full face mask would be to lay down with your head on your pillow and just let the full face mask LAY on your face w/your CPAP turned on. That would let it fill well w/air. THEN adjust your headgear straps to fit. When you get it tightened to the point of COMFORT and maybe a MINOR leak or two try just running your finger along the line of the seal between your face and the mask. Or try twitching your nose and/or your mouth and jaw. The mask just might settle in and seal those minor leaks. If not then you can try tightening the straps again just a skosh. Most of us newbies go for too tight a fit. And it may just be that 8cms of pressure isn't enough to fill and keep your full face mask cushion filled w/air which is what creates the seal.

How long it takes to adjust to CPAP and mask and to get a restful night's sleep night after night varies from individual to individual. I sure do envy those that take to CPAP like a duck to water and start sleeping and feeling better right away. Most of us aren't that lucky!!

[Hurricane]

I think what is happening to me.. is I hear the dang oxygen machine's rhythm and I seem to breath along with it. I feel like it must be in the middle of the night sometime when I finally must drift off to REAL Sleep.

My wife could not take the sound of the oxygen machine, after one week she said you have got to do something, so out came the drill a hole thru our bedroom wall, got a 20 ft hose from the dme, put the machine in the adjoining room, we both slept better. Kinda of a pain to turn it off and on, but worth the quietness, I only use the oxygen at night when sleeping.
Ed

[Slinky]

So true about those concentrators. Mine is on a square of carpeting in the adjoining room but I didn't ask hubby to drill a hole (never thought of it) I just run the tubing out one door and in the other and along the wall. The square of carpeting helps a lot.

In addition that adjoining room is where my 'puter is. I keep my evening meds in the 'puter room too and a small chest w/all my 02 and CPAP supplies in it. The last thing I do at night is take my evening meds and check my e-mail, turn on the concentrator and off to bed.

[shylakay]

I never thought of that..lol..I suppose I could ask the respiratory therapist for a long cord and put the machine in another room..then I wouldn't even hear it..duh...I think that is what my Mom does (she is not on a cpap machine just on oxygen at night.) I think hers is in her living room way day hall and around the corner. I was told I have beginnings of COPD and am only on oxygen at night hooked thru the machine. My humidifier is all in one attached to my machine.

[Slinky]

The 02 tubing for the concentrator comes in 25' lengths. Ask your DME for a second 25' length of tubing AND a swivel connector for the two lengths of tubing. That swivel connector is a God send for preventing or reducing snarls and tangles in that long a stretch of tubing.

Good, you have an integrated humidifier w/your Respironics xPAP. Most of us do much better w/a good heated humidifier and those integrated humidifiers sure do take up less space on our nightstands.

You can try donning your mask and turning on your xPAP whilst reading a good book or watching TV or knitting, crocheting, doing needlepoint, working a crossword or a jig saw puzzle, anything that diverts your interest, during the day or early evening from time to time just to get you used to wearing them w/o the night time "concentration" we give them laying there in bed with nothing to occupy our mind but hoping to get to sleep and the sound and sensation of the machine and mask and our breathing.

If you are interested in knowing specifically WHICH RemStar M series xPAP you have, just look on the top of your machine. If it has C-Flex (expiration pressure relief) that should show up as white letter on blue. The RemStar is quite clear to read but the Plus, Pro, Auto or whatever may be in a deep red and not show up as well on the black casing. Or even look at your User's Manual.

Then if you go back to your profile and scroll down towards the bottom you will see where you can designate which equipment you are using and then chose to have it show up in your posts either as pictures or as text.