Bad Nights

fehler · Post by **fehler** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:26 pm

Hi,

My name is frank. I have been on the CPAP for a little two weeks. I have good days and bad days. The last two nights have been bad i wake up at least 3 times but the digetal read out on my machine is AHI.5 and Mask leakage is 9.0 I dont know what is going on.

Frank

jsmythe · Post by **jsmythe** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:41 pm

First of all, Welcome to the board Frank.
The first few weeks are going to be tough getting used to machine, mask, therapy, etc. If you feel like you still need the ramp, I suggest you turn it up to at least 8 or 9 a little closer to your prescribed pressure. If I even use mine and it is set low, I cannot breathe. Most of us here do not even use the ramp now. I used mine only until I got used to wearing the mask. To quote someone else,"kinda like a bicycle with training wheels". Also, are you using your humidifier? By all means use it if you aren't. It will really help.
Just keep coming back here for help, ask questions. Everyone is wonderful and will freely give you our support and advice. Also, click on the Yellow light bulb and the Red Question mark. Do lots of reading. Let us know how it goes...

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:53 pm

Yes, it just takes time--weeks for some, months for others. But hang in there! It will be worth it!

"You are getting sleepy . . ."

BigGayBert · Post by **BigGayBert** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 3:33 pm

jsmythe wrote:Most of us here do not even use the ramp now. I used mine only until I got used to wearing the mask.

Wow, you can go right up to 17? That's hard core! I don't know if I'll ever be macho enough to jump straight into 20 without the ramp. I have only one thing to say:

You go, girrrrl!

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 4:12 pm

Since you have a machine that collect real data, you should get the software and reader, and you will better be able to see what is going on. The LCD can be misleading. Welcome, and keep at it, ups and downs are the name of the game. Jim

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 4:22 pm

Welcome!

I still wake up 2-3 times a night but I still feel so much better it's amazing. It took me about 6 weeks to really notice a change. So it may or may not be related to those wake-ups. Each of us is different.

Mindy

fehler · Post by **fehler** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:02 pm

I have the software and the reader is on the way.

Frank

jsmythe · Post by **jsmythe** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:17 pm

BigGayBert wrote:
jsmythe wrote:Most of us here do not even use the ramp now. I used mine only until I got used to wearing the mask.
Wow, you can go right up to 17? That's hard core! I don't know if I'll ever be macho enough to jump straight into 20 without the ramp. I have only one thing to say:

You go, girrrrl!

paloa · Post by **paloa** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:06 pm

How newish? How long do you use the cushions?

[quote="jsmythe"]
I have only been on cpap for about 3 months, ... I have found that a newish [Activa] cushion makes all the difference, with a clean cushion and a clean face.

jsmythe · Post by **jsmythe** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:23 pm

[quote="paloa"]How newish? How long do you use the cushions?

[quote="jsmythe"]
I have only been on cpap for about 3 months, ... I have found that a newish [Activa] cushion makes all the difference, with a clean cushion and a clean face.

Zoeybd · Post by **Zoeybd** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:23 pm

I agree with the others. My cpap tech told me it would take a couple of weeks to get use to it, but I found it took a good month. When I first started with it, I told myself this is something you have to do if you want to live longer and have a decent quality of life. It has been 3yrs or more for me and of course I still have some nights that aren't great. But even with normal sleep and no machine not every night is blissful. If something doesn't seem to be working for you, think about it and try to figure it out or come on these boards and ask questions. It is rare, but I do have occasional nights where something isn't right and I take the mask off and say to h*ll with it. Sometimes I wake up later and put it back on or not. Just don't give up too easily. I think it takes determination and stamina to get it right.
GOOD LUCK,
Zoeybd

Nodzy · Post by **Nodzy** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:20 am

Frank... you're in the right place to get more and better information than most any doctor or therapist can or will provide you. First, they don't take the time with each xPAP patient to explain all of the variables, even if they know them. Factually, many of them do not know. The sleep disordered breathing medical field is past infancy but eons from maturity. Currently, too many med-types are practicing at it but without a full knowledge of the intimacies of the hardware, software, body and brain variables and how even the barometric pressure can affect a patient subtly.

Bad nights individually and in strings can occur even if your overall health remains steady. Most often no direct cause is evident when the bad nights occur. Sometimes it's related to the stresses of life, sleep hygeine (pre-sleep habits), food or beverage intake or other variables. At other times there's no apparent cause.

How long does it take to get fully adapted to the machine and mask? As others stated above it can vary from person to person. And it also relates too to the pressure settings, type of machine, type and style of mask, subtle odors coming from or through the machine, medications and numerous other factors.

I've been on xPAP therpay since 2002 and only on proper and great therapy since June of 2007 thanks to this board educating me about the machines, pressure settings, sleep disordered breathing overall and various types and styles of masks.

My med-types had me initially on a straight CPAP, constant pressure, with a nasal cup mask. In late they 2006 they switched me to a the machine you have, along with the same style of nasal cup mask. My therapy was torturous at best on every night, and I could not adapt. Here I found the answers -- I needed an auto-titrating machine and full-face mask because I'm a mouth breather. I acquired my own Auto-M AFLEX and a Hybrid mask and started getting therapy I could adapt to and benefit from. Now my med-types have me on a BIPAP Auto BIFLEX machine, which is heaven compared to the CPAP and CPAP w/CFLEX.

Simply, the machine and mask you'll benefit most from may not be what you were provided initially. Often that is the case with many sufferers. And your needs may change over time and warrant a switch to another type of machine. Many here have experienced that too.

I found, in 2007, that Pur-Sleep Aroma Therpay oils were a great help in achieving better sleep and adapting to keeping the mask on all night.

But even people getting great therpay for years can have bad nights or strings of them. Don't be shocked if, or when, that occurs. Sometimes there are causes obvious, and sometimes there is no known cause to be found.

Stick with it because your health and longevity depend getting good therapy every night.

Nodzy

Bad Nights

Bad Nights

17? Wow!

Re: 17? Wow!

Activa newish cushion

Re: Activa newish cushion

Bad Nights

Humidifier

Additional Comments: Aussie Heated hose, EncorePro, EPA, SPO Medical PulseOx 7500