nearly 2 weeks on cpap & frustrated with mask!

[golfcrazy]

Hi folks, I'm due back to the sleep centre this monday after a 2 week trail with a REMstar auto cpap machine. I thought after 3 days with hardly any sleep and getting used to the sensation wearing a mask I was finally getting somewhere but the last 3 days have been really bad with hardly any sleep. The main prob is waking with mask leakage, using the comfortgel. Also when i'm waking the pressure on the machine is as high as 16-19 most of the times its wakening me. I know its still early days for me but I was considering purchasing another mask to try when i go back on monday, namely the mirage swift 2 nasal pillows as it seems this is a very popular mask. DO you think I will have as many problems with leakage with a nasla type of mask? Also when I go back I've to decide wether to purchase a cpap machine of my own. They did mention that it would be the REMstar auto M series which is alot smaller than the current REMstar machine I have. I will no doubt purchase this but at the moment I'm definately not feeling any real benefit from using cpap but I will persevere as I read that alot of people take a few weeks to adjust.

[Wulfman...]

From my interpretation of your post, it sounds like you are probably mouth-leaking.....this will drive up your pressure.
Another potential problem is how they might have configured your Auto. If they set the range at 4 - 20, that's a recipe for disaster. At the low pressures, you can't get ENOUGH air and are prone to "mouth-breathe".....and this starts the leakage cycle problems. And, you're also considering another nasal mask. You probably need to plug up that big leak hole below your nose.
As the pressure goes up, the leaks go up.

Den

[Snoredog]

did you have a sleep study?

What was the pressure found there?
Was there any "CA" or MA listed on that PSG report?

I agree w/Den, they probably sent you home with the machine set for 4-20. Go through the programming and write down the settings you have now:

Respironics M Series Auto with C-flex/A-Flex:

1. Hold down the <- -> buttons while plugging in the power on the back, wait 2 beeps, release buttons.
2. Press the + key. <- -> buttons move to next field, -/+ keys decrement/increment
3. Check the following field(s), substitute your pressure ranges:

-Therapy Mode=AFLEX (CFLEX/AFLEX)

-Auto:Max=12 (default=20.0cm)

-Auto:Min=6.0 (default=4.0cm)

-CFlex/AFLEX Setting=2 (options are off, 1, 2 or 3)

-AutoRamp Time=30 (options are 05-45 minutes)

-AutoRamp Pressure=6.0cm (4cm->AutoMin pressure)

Suggested settings:

-Mask Alert Feature=ON (On/Off)

-Auto Off Feature=Off (On/off)

-Split Night Time = Off (off, 120, 180, 240)

-Show AHI/Leak Feature=ON (On/Off)

Press On/Off button to exit.