Newbie needs help, please!

[cmccann]

I'm new to the CPAP world and I need help from the veterans out there.

I've been using the mask now 4 nights. Here are some things that I've noticed... and hopefully someone can point me in the right direction...
with a humidifier setting of 3, I still woke up with a dry mouth/throat. I feel like I'm re-breathing air (at least partially). At the sleep study, the air felt more cool and refreshing (moist). My current air feels hot, not moist, and sort of re-cycled. They have the pressure set to 11 (starts off at . The humidifier is working since the water level comes down. Last night I filled the water to 75% and it came down to 50%.

The equipment is all new from the Dr. I'm using distilled water... renewed daily. Cleaning equipment daily.

I don't feel as rested as the 4 hours of sleep I got in the sleep study with their equipment. I'm getting at least 6 hours a night of sleep with the mask. I'm not sure what the difference in the equipment is, but I know I picked a different mask. I don't think my mask is leaking during the night (sometimes it does when I rollover since I don't have it on tight). I am hitting REM sleep though - I usually wake up shortly after my dreams for some reason. Without the CPAP, I would rarely get into REM sleep. During the study, I didn't hit REM even once... in 2 hours of sleep, I had 48 apnea incidents with 14 seconds of not breathing with 56 minutes of wake time because of it.

For the machine, I'm using the System One REMStar. I don't think its auto-adjusting, because I don't see anything that says it.
For the mask, I'm using the "EasyLife" : http://easylife.respironics.com/faq.aspx
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/easyli ... dgear.html

Thanks for the help!

[ozij]

Now that you're sleeping deeper, your mouth may be dropping open, and treatment air may be escaping through it.
This often causes a dry mouth and throat.

You'll find much relevant info, and links to solutions on this thread:viewtopic.php?f=1&t=54974&p=514303&hili ... to#p513939

[harry33]

welcome
it seems you have a nose only type mask, its very common for new CPAP users to mouth breathe, causing a dry mouth and loss of CPAP benefits

tape your mouth for a while to get into the habit of keeping it shut when asleep, roll lips inward and apply tape, double tape over at both ends to form 2 tear off strips

this is the only way to keep lips sealed, a chinstrap still allows mouth breathing

[Emilia]

Hi cmccann and welcome.... Please go to the top left and click on User Control Panel and then go to Profile. Choose Equipment and then fill in the machine, mask, humidifier and add any other info in the text box. Please choose your equipment by text only....don't use the pictures. Then save it. Every time you post your equipment will show up like mine does in blue at the bottom of your post.

If you aren't sure of your machine model, look at the top and tell us what it says, and look at the bottom and get the model #.

It is possible that the sleep study center only had their humidifier on passover mode.... without heat. I used my new machine for the first time night before last without heat and then last night with heat set at #1. I think I will go back to no heat as I preferred the coolness, too. I live in FL so it is pretty humid here even with a/c on.

Your dry mouth/throat sounds like you are doing some mouth breathing. There are many fixes for this and you can do a search on the forum for lots of suggestions.

Once you know your machine model, we can help determine if it is data capable for you. If it is, you may want to get the software to monitor your therapy closely and determine areas of issues such as leaks, events, etc.

Best of luck! Keep asking questions, and use the forum to read and learn. Also use the wiki available via the yellow lightbulb at the top of the page to help you learn.