Some Newbie Challenges

[eric_burcham]

Hello everybody. I'll cut righ to the point. I could really use some help here.

Equipment: VPAP Auto 25 with standard accessories. Hose, power cord, carrying case, humidifier, and a really nice mask. It is a Mirage Quattro, and seems to have wonderful reviews.

I am completely new to CPAP/BIPAP, but have done a lot of homework. I have a few concerns.

1) I don't seem to be able to sleep with the mask. I even shaved my beard I have been so proud of for about 10 years now, but the thing is just uncomfortable. It isn't bad at low pressure during ramping, but at 16/12, it keeps me awake. I think I'm sleeping about 3-4 hours with it, but end up taking it off. Once I wake up I just lie awake for hours. Any advice?

2) I have no idea (and no instruction from any care provider) how to get my "numbers" out of the machine. I have the card, but cannot read anything from it. I would ultimately like to buy the card reader as sofware, but the DME says they are not allowed to sell it!??? What the hell is THAT about?

3) I have severe airborne allergies that I am used to just living with, but I'm wondering if they will affect my treatment. I normally breathe through my mouth. Is this going to be a problem with CPAP/BIPAP, or is it OK?

Ultimately I would like everything I need "in house" to fire my doctors if they are no good. So far that has not been the case, but I don't want to trust my health and longevity to someone else. I'd like to be able to read and measure my results, and program my machine to make adjustments as needed… If anybody can point me in the right direction for these resources I will be very grateful.

[KatieW]

Welcome to the forum.

I found that buying a air purifier and running it in the bedroom 24/7 really helped with air born allergies. I keep the cats out, and the door and windows closed. I bought the Blue Air from Costco.

If you post your titration info, and what your machine settings are, perhaps those with a Bipap can help.

I sent you a PM with other info.

Katie

[Muse-Inc]

Welcome Eric! Mask issues are often the biggest challenge new users face. Might have to try other FFMs or try the Hybrid Universal (nasal pillows & covers the mouth)(ResMed Liberty is their knockoff) to find one that works well for you. If I remember right, of the group of us who wear the Hybrid several have facial hair of one sort or another (maybe you can grow yours back if the Hybrid works). I have 30+ yrs of allergies, chronic sinusitis, vasomotor rhinitis -- congestion is my major challenge to CPAP therapy. I love my ResMed AutoSet II as it varies pressure needed to stent open my airways matching my open-->closed airways, so I can go to sleep breathing through an open nose and be completely blocked sometime during the night and breathing thru my mouth (thank goodness for the Hybrid, no losing therapy air) without seeing anything more than that my pressure rose and stayed higher than average when I download my data the next day. I am not familiar with your machine; I'm sure someone will come along who is and share details with you.

Welcome aboard!

[bailachel]

I have always suffered from allergies and therefore have always had clogged sinuses. However, one of the side beneifts of CPAP for me has been that the combination of the air blowing through my nose and the filter has left me with an unclogged nose for the first time in many many years. I no longer have to reach for a kleenex first thing in the morning.

[djr1215]

and a really nice mask. It is a Mirage Quattro, and seems to have wonderful reviews.

It might be a really nice mask, but it doesn't appear to be working for you. So you'll need to investigate others. Your DME should have told you that you could. Ask them for another mask to try for a while.

[eric_burcham]

Argh... Now I'm just annoying myself!

I got the manual (thank you for PM that!) and found out how to go look at my numbers! Yaaaaay!

HowEVER, before I did so, I stuck the card in the reader slot on my machine. This apparently not only copies all data to the card, but also removes all data from the machine. Boooo.

So now I have to wait at least one more night to get any useable data. Oh well.

Thanks again ya'll!

Eric.