Mask??? problems

THier · Post by **THier** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 12:14 pm

Hey everyone,
I have recently been diagnosed with "moderate" apnea. Thursday (10-13-05) I received my cpap, Breas pv10, and IQ mask. My pressure is 12, and I use the ramp feature to go to sleep. Here is my problem,,, at 12, I have a hard time exhaling, I find myself removeing the mask at some point in the night, last night our daughter woke us up about 1:30am because she had gotten sick,, and mask was off, after cleaning her up and getting her back to bed, I went back to bed, mask on, woke up at 5:30am and had again removed the mask. I notice myself waking up, I think from having difficulty exhaling, a number of times, but never remove the mask as far as I can remember.

On my sleep study I had a Profile lite, which was swapped out for a Comfort Classic because of leakage. I don't remember any exhaling problems with either of those masks.

Has anyone else had these problems?

Thanks,
Tom

limpy · Post by **limpy** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:35 pm

Hello,

I saw your post with 0 replies drifting to the bottom, so I guess you're stuck with my advice instead of some of the more famous CPAP'ers. Your problems have been run up against and then overcome by many on this website.

The most popular fix to the "hard time exhaling" problem is the Auto (or Auto with C-Flex). An Auto is slang for an Auto Adjust or Auto Titrating Machine - it adjusts to give you the minimum pressure you need at any given moment. Its different from a normal CPAP that just blows one pressure the whole time.

C-Flex makes breathing against your CPAP's pressure easier to do.

Here's a link to the auto with C-flex

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... ifier.html

Lest WillSucceed be angry, I should let you know that the Auto C-Flex is a fairly large machine, whereas the other very popular Auto, the Puritan Bennett 420E is travel sized (really small).

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/purita ... -cpap.html

So the trade off between the two is size vs c-flex.

If you have questions, keep asking and people will pick up on this thread and answer them.

THier · Post by **THier** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:56 pm

Thanks limpy,

BUT,

who determines if I get a cpap, or a bipap? If I was ok with a cpap during my study,, how do I get them,, insurance mostly,,, to give me a bipap type machine?

Can the mask make a big difference in exhaling?

Tom

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 2:41 pm

Start by reporting to your doctor just what you reported here: you have difficulty exhaling at 12cm. He'll either suggest something like a machine with CFLEX or biPAP, is my guess. You may have to be insistent though, depending on how well your doc listens to you.

NOzsnAZ · Post by **NOzsnAZ** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 3:34 pm

THier,

Just as some moral support, I had the same problem the first couple of nights but I found that after a while I got "somewhat used to it" - and that was with an Auto CPAP!

I was titrated at 7cmH2O but my "auto" goes up to 14 nightly and now I don't even notice (other than the ocassional leaky mask ).

Keep at it and as WAFlowers suggested, report your difficulties to your doctor.

Best of luck!

NOzsnAZ

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:34 pm

Tom,

You are so new to this, I wouldn't worry yet. It does have this effect on a lot of people when they start. When I started on 10, I didn't know if I'd be able to exhale against that, either. But give yourself a little time and you won't even need or want the ramp anymore.

So many members here have done what you're doing now; which is, removing the mask in their sleep. I think you may be jumping too fast to conclude you have a problem just yet. Like Bill/WAF said, if necessary, after you've given it a little time to see if you will adjust (you probably will), you can always talk to your doctor about possibly a bipap machine which will give you two different pressures, one for inhalation and one for exhalation, the exhalation being lower, or a machine that has either auto capabilities or Cflex, which helps on the exhale, too. Auto is nice because you don't keep it set at 12 exclusively (in your case), but rather would set a range of somewhere of about 8-16 and the machine will respond according to what you need. If you don't need the 12 cms., it may stay at 8 or 10 the whole night and you won't have to worry about exhaling against the 12 cms.

But honestly? You are not rare or uncommon in that you are removing your mask. One bit of advice? Try using it when you're not sleeping so you can get used to it. Maybe an hour before you go to bed tonight, put it on to watch a little TV so you get accustomed to wearing it and breathing with it on. Try to relax. You can't lose...hey, you found this site. It is every CPAPer's salvation (it was and still is mine).

Born Tired · Post by **Born Tired** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:46 pm

Hi Tom,
I have straight Cpap. My Remstar has Cflex which as others have said allows for easier exhaling--the pressure decreases on exhalation. It's a great feature especially for starting out. I've been on a straight pressure of 7 (which is relatively low)for over a year, but my Dr. upped me to 9. When she set the smartcard for 9, she accidentally turned off the Cflex. When I tried breathing at 9 with no Cflex I had to think about exhaling. The last thing I want to have to do is think while I'm trying to sleep. I know, I know--I'm a wimp. But I do like my Cflex. Anyway it's an option if you can't get use to what you've got. Tomorrow I'm hoping the rx for an auto will arrive.
Hope things smooth out soon.
Esther

Snoozie · Post by **Snoozie** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:48 pm

I have only been on CPap 2 weeks, going on 3 now, I guess. The 1st week, I had trouble exhaling also. I called my respiratory therapist and he said that I needed to get used to the machine and he also set up my CFlex and I used my ramp feature set at 4 and works up to 6, which is my setting. During my titration, anything higher than that and I had some breathing problems. But that is just me, if you are at a higher number, that is what went well for you during your titration. Anyway, now that I am used to the machine, I have no problems. I think you will get used to it if you give it some time and check into CFlex if your machine has it.

THier · Post by **THier** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:52 pm

First off, thanks for your replys so far,,

I am kind of lucky in that the nurse for my sleep study was a friend of my sisters when we were growing up,,, so I am able to talk to her for some help. Of course she doesn't remember all the details of the study,, but she and I determined that I started with a Profile Lite, but because of leakage switched to a ComfortClassic. I was on a Cpap, and I remeber her saying that I had two REM episodes during the study, so,,, I was able to use a Cpap on that night ,,,, I talked to her today and her first suggestion was to get a ComfortClassic mask first, and see if that helps. They are bringing me one tuesday. If not I guess I will have to persue other things.

If I get a RX for a C-flex or Automatic machine,,, what are the odds of insureance companies oking it? If it helps,, I have Aetna. I hope the mask will solve my issues,,, I'll keep you all informed.

Once again, Thanks for all your help.
Tom

THier · Post by **THier** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 4:07 pm

Well it obviously isn't a mask issue, I tried the ComfortClassic last night, and removed it, tried to take a nap this after noon, less than two hrs and removed it, I remember waking up twice with the "I can't breath" thought, but don't remember removing the mask. This is so darn frustrating. I called the DME, they said get an RX for different machine, (I asked about a REMstar). I called my DR, left a message, and missed the call back. Another night of this I guess. This really ticks me off I can't keep the mask on all night, but I have to guess it is prob. coming off in the first hour or two.

Tom

elliejose · Post by **elliejose** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 6:52 pm

It was about 3 months before I slept all night with my mask. I would awaken and it would be on the floor. My pressure is 14 and I had the same problem with exhaling. Just keep at it. Eventually you will wake up and realize that you have slept all night with it. Getting an auto was definitely a plus for me. I got the Remstar auto with c-flex after trying 3 other machines. The c-flex made a a great deal of difference for me at that time. Now, I don't need it, but for about 4-5 months it made all the difference in the world for me. When I got c-flex was when I began to be able to keep my mask on all night. Now I never take it off in my sleep! I have only used the Swift mask, and I really like the comfort of it. I do have some large leaks at times tho. Good luck to you and hope you soon find the perfect combination for a full and good night's sleep.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 6:56 pm

Josie,

I hope Amy/Yawn reads this post. Her doctor just raised her pressure to 14 and she is only using the Activa thinking the Swift won't work at that high a pressure. I think I'll send her the link to this post of yours. Maybe it will make her feel better.

You and I started our therapy at around the same time, first week in June of this year. Can you believe all these months have passed? Time flies when you're having fun...(did I say that?)

yawn · Post by **yawn** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 7:03 pm

Try to be patient Tom. CPAP takes alot of patience. You might want to read the thread from Drained Dad. He did a great job describing some of the frustrations most of us experienced in the beginning. It really is alot to get used to. I used to take me mask off in the beginning and didn't remember doing it. It also took me awhile to get used to breathing against the machine. It does get better...I promise!!! I have a Remstar Pro2 CPAP with C-flex. I started out at a pressure of 9. I was completely dependent on the Ramp feature to fall asleep. Then after a month or so, couldn't stand the Ramp...I wanted all the pressure I could get. Now I'm up to a pressure of 14 (as of 2 days ago). My 1st night at 14 was an "active" night....I had to get used to the mask (I switched from a Swift to an Activa) and the sound from the heated humidifier. Being at a higher pressure caused the humidifier to make an annoying noise. I'll get used to that in another day or so.

It sounds like you would benefit from the C-flex and possibly the ramp feature but I'm also sure that, in time, you could also get used to not having them. If your Dr. will prescribe them for you, take them! Get everything you can get. But don't be too discouraged. You will get used to this and it will get easier.....I PROMISE!!!!

Hang in there,
Amy

Mask