Made it 8 hours now panic

khallow · Post by **khallow** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:52 am

I am proud of myself. The smaller mask was less panic inducing to me than the 407. I took 1 bathroom break/got water around 1am. I used the ramp (yes I know someone here will think I'm a wimp b/c "ramping is for wimps") when I got back from the bathroom to reduce my tense feelings. Mouth opened 2x (haven't gotten my chin strap yet) but that was early in the night and no problems after that. Had some water in the mask so I turned down the humidifier at that point as well and had no other problems. I didn't sleep great as I was on my back more than usual (I'm a side/stomach sleeper) and it took me hours to go to sleep but it wasn't awful or scarey either. I used a badge clip and a pony tail holder to keep my tubing stable on the bed.

So, a success I feel like. Hopefully I will sleep better and better... And YES I did wake up at 7 am wondering if the machine was off! *for a few seconds anyway!*

Have a good day everyone.
Karen

sleepyred · Post by **sleepyred** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 7:06 am

Good news! IMHO you are not a wimp using the ramp. What works for some, does not for others. When I was on a straight cpap and not my present apap, I used a 45 minute ramp! Worked for me like a charm! Do whatever it takes to make yourself comfortable with this therapy.

Good thinking with the badge and pony tail holder to route your hose out of your way!

As far as the chin strap - some use the taping method and some polident strips. I have used the polident strips for 2 nights and they have worked like a charm! I can keep my mouth in a comfortable position and have nothing aggravating my TMJ! I used a chin strap with some success for almost 2 years! Whatever works for you!

Sleepyred

[quote="khallow"]I am proud of myself. The smaller mask was less panic inducing to me than the 407. I took 1 bathroom break/got water around 1am. I used the ramp (yes I know someone here will think I'm a wimp b/c "ramping is for wimps") when I got back from the bathroom to reduce my tense feelings. Mouth opened 2x (haven't gotten my chin strap yet) but that was early in the night and no problems after that. Had some water in the mask so I turned down the humidifier at that point as well and had no other problems. I didn't sleep great as I was on my back more than usual (I'm a side/stomach sleeper) and it took me hours to go to sleep but it wasn't awful or scarey either. I used a badge clip and a pony tail holder to keep my tubing stable on the bed.

So, a success I feel like. Hopefully I will sleep better and better... And YES I did wake up at 7 am wondering if the machine was off! *for a few seconds anyway!*

Have a good day everyone.
Karen

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 7:48 am

Ramp is not for wimps. Ramp is for folks who don't have an auto and have high pressures--you are smart for using it, not a wimp!

The important thing is to set it for a little longer than you think it will take you to fall asleep.

My first machine was set by the dme for 20 min--that wasn't long enough. On a good night it takes 1/2 hour to fall asleep. Unfortuneately I didn't know how to change it at the time. With shorter ramp times like this, you can really feel the pressure change if you are at a hi pressure.

I didn't notice what your machine is, if it is an m-series respironics, i can tell you how to change the ramp time. Just ask if you want to know.

Jen

PS after a while lower pressures won't even feel like enough air! I would suffocate at a pressure of 4 now! I start my auto bipap off at 10 because 8 didn't feel like enough air!

drummergirl410 · Post by **drummergirl410** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:19 am

Congratulations on a good first effort! Hope mine goes as well as yours.

Snoozing Gonzo · Post by **Snoozing Gonzo** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:05 am

Ramping isn't for wimps but it's not necessarily just for people with strait CPAPs either. I think many folks with APAPs use it as their lower number, set to limit apneas not comfort, feels too hard to exhale against for a while.

Ramp was the first thing I turned off. I just felt starved for air which, for me, caused more panic and difficulty going to sleep than breathing out against pressure. Athough it may seem hard for you to believe after one or two nights; it is hard for me to sleep without pressure, its reassuring and comfortable.

You're doing great. Stay relaxed. Don't let the inevitable frustrating nights get you down. Ask questions of your DME, Dr. and Cpaptalk friends. From your Dr. DME and insurance, accept only the responses that answer your questions.

Good Luck

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:09 am

it sounds like you did quite well, so was the "now panic" in your subject line meant to say "no panic"? LOL...

glad to hear it went ok...

is it humid where you live? if so, you can turn you HH right down to 1 if you're getting rainout...i actually have mine on zero right now and just running as a passover; in the winter i had problems with rainout, so not having to use the HH is a bonus for me now in the summer

i don't use the ramp but my pressure is only '6' so i starve for air on the ramp...at such a low pressure i don't need it...but for wimps? i don't think so...you have to do whatever makes this work for you

best wishes for continued (and even improved) success
sharon

frete50 · Post by **frete50** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 10:01 am

Karen,

For the rainout in the mask, you might want to get a hose cover. It does help to keep limit the moisture.

Becky

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 10:24 am

Hose covers are easy to make yourself. I bought some colorful fleece and sewed a tube. I sewed velcro to it, but next time, I won't - I'll just hem the ends and use Velcro one-wraps on the outside. Velcro in the washer can be icky...

For the lady who was having trouble getting her hose out of her cover - sew the cover several inches bigger than the hose. You get all the same benefits, and the hose slips in and out easily.

Also, I sleep with 0 on the HH. I don't have dry mouth problems. YMMV, but don't hesitate to turn it to 0 if you continue to have rainout problems. I get rainout with the slightest heat on my machine. I think I just have a cold damp bedroom.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
B.

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 10:27 am

For the m-series, if you want to change the ramp, unplug the electrical plug from the back of the machine. Then place two fingers of other hand on top two buttons next to the lcd screen (arrows) and depress them simultaneously while plugging back in. Hold until you hear two beeps. Then a second or two later the lcd screen will change to the clinicians mode. You can then use the arrows to go thru the menu and when you arrive at "Ramp" just change the time to what you think will work for you.

When you are done, press the power button and it will return to regular mode.

jen

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 10:30 am

It is so weird. I have never experienced rainout and I use my humidifier on max and use up all the water each night. We have air conditioning and the vent is probably 2 feet from the hose. My hose does make a big "loop" that dips way down on the side or back of the bed b4 coming back up to my head, so if there is water condensing it must stay there. I've never noticed water come out when I take the hose off to wash.

Weird.

jen

Lepeu63 · Post by **Lepeu63** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:11 am

Congratulations! That's a big achievement! Don't freak over trying to duplicate it - that was my problem. I made myself so tense trying to sleep for 8 hours again I freaked myself out Just know in the back of your mind you can do it and relax and before you know it you won't even notice the thing's on.

jum001 · Post by **jum001** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:30 am

Ramp is not for wimps. Ramp is for comfort. I still use it every night because it minimizes the "chipmunk cheek" problem as I fall asleep. My lack of testosterone may make it more acceptable to me.

Julie

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:31 am

LOL

khallow · Post by **khallow** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:13 pm

socknitster wrote:For the m-series, if you want to change the ramp, unplug the electrical plug from the back of the machine. Then place two fingers of other hand on top two buttons next to the lcd screen (arrows) and depress them simultaneously while plugging back in. Hold until you hear two beeps. Then a second or two later the lcd screen will change to the clinicians mode. You can then use the arrows to go thru the menu and when you arrive at "Ramp" just change the time to what you think will work for you.

When you are done, press the power button and it will return to regular mode.

Thank you so much! I was wondering how you get in to that sneaky mode and I knew someone here would know how. I also turned on my data so I can see how I do AHI wise. I reduced to 2.1 last night. That's good. I wonder if the times I woke a little choke-y were those two times. Thanks for the tip. I have my ramp set to 40 minutes starting at 5... probably over kill but I want to make this "getting to know the CPAP" period as panic free as possible. I can change that later as I get more comfy. Thanks!

And yes... that should have said NO panic... spell checked and re-read my post but not my subject line! Probably got a lot of reads off of that typo!

Have a great night everyone... I'm going on a date with my hubby!
Karen

Stefernie · Post by **Stefernie** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:25 pm

My ramp starts at 4.4 and goes to 9 over 45 minutes.

Mask

Additional Comments: Aussie Heated hose for rain out/PapCap Headgear and chin strap

Made it 8 hours now panic

Made it 8 hours now panic

Re: Made it 8 hours now panic