Exhaling with CPAP

[hbakar]

For the last couple of nights, I have been having hard time breathing after I put my mask on. It feels like it is hard to exhale and then I feel like taking a couple of really big breaths and my chest hurt a little. I have been using CPAP for days and I am pretty new to everything. I was wondering if anyone has had the same type issue or anyone knows what the problem could be?

[BlackSpinner]

Yes - chest muscles have had to work harder to exhale, so like any muscle that suddenly has had to work harder it complains. It clears up in a few days.

Note: This assumes you don't have any other possible reason to have chest pain - like heart issues of any sort what so ever - in which case you need to get your ass down to ER ASAP.

[cflame1]

do you have EPR turned on?

[hbakar]

do you have EPR turned on?

I am not really sure. I am not very familiar with my cpap yet. How do you turn it on?

[cflame1]

did you get the clinician's manual??... should be in there.

I don't have the actual directions... I use a different machine.

[Wulfman...]

The machine you show in your profile has a feature called Expiratory Pressure Relief (EPR) which makes exhaling against the pressure easier.......and there are a number of settings and ways to configure it. What are your settings and how is it configured?

After reading your response to cflame1......it's time you found out how to configure your machine.


Den

[Wulfman...]

ResMed S9 AutoSet & Elite:
Plug in machine and turn the Push Dial until the device is showing the Home position (Home Icon illuminated).
In Home position, press the Push Dial and the Setup Menu buttons down simultaneously for 3 seconds.
The clinician menu will appear.
Select parameter(s) you wish to modify with the Push Dial (push down to select, turn to modify).
When done, select the <<home choice from the displayed menu and the adjustment is saved.


If you need the manual, there are links on the forum to download it. (Find a post by "Uncle_Bob")


Den

[hbakar]

ResMed S9 AutoSet & Elite:
Plug in machine and turn the Push Dial until the device is showing the Home position (Home Icon illuminated).
In Home position, press the Push Dial and the Setup Menu buttons down simultaneously for 3 seconds.
The clinician menu will appear.
Select parameter(s) you wish to modify with the Push Dial (push down to select, turn to modify).
When done, select the <<home choice from the displayed menu and the adjustment is saved.


If you need the manual, there are links on the forum to download it. (Find a post by "Uncle_Bob")


Den

Thanks Den, the EPR was off! I would think that DME turn it on for me when I first got the machine. I did turn it on now though and set it to 3 (it is supposed to be most comfortable) and I turn the setting of EPR to full time. I also set up the AHI, so now it shows it in the screen...The only one thing I couldn't figure out is that how to see the air leaks....

[Wulfman...]

Glad to hear you got that much configured. It should make a big difference. I'm not a ResMed user, so I'm not that familiar with the display information. If you haven't downloaded the manual yet, I'd recommend doing so. Someone else who is a ResMed user may also be able to advise you on the data being displayed in the LCD.

One thing you need to keep in mind is that the EPR drops the pressure in actual centimeters when you exhale. So, if you are subject to having apneas at the point in your breathing cycle where you have finished your exhale and start to inhale, you may need to increase your therapy pressure by the number you have chosen as your EPR setting.
Example: If your machine pressure is set to 10 cm. and you use an EPR setting is 3, you're "effective" pressure at the end of your exhale cycle is only going to be 7 cm. So, you MAY need to increase the machine pressure to 13 cm. to compensate for it. Some people need that extra pressure at that point in their exhale cycle and some people don't.
It will also be a big help if you can get the software to see your data in the ResScan reports.


Den

[Lizistired]

I was going to suggest starting with 1 on the EPR and see if you need more relief. For many of us less is better.
Here is a great crash course:
http://www.osahelp.com/#15

[TalonNYC]

Also, remember that we have all been breathing by using muscles to pull air in, then letting them relax to push air out. CPAP requires you do the opposite, but this is something that your body can indeed do with no ill effects. Jet pilots do it regularly and don't have problems, but they have to get used to doing it - just like we do. Using the EPR will help, and remembering that you're not trying to do something your body can't handle is helpful too.

Hang in there!

[Bobby269]

To see your leaks you need the ResScan software. Here's the link viewtopic.php?f=1&t=52732&p=592962&hili ... 14#p592962
The link is under Uncle-Bob in his signature. There is also a download for the clinical file.

[hbakar]

Thanks everyone for all the help! I slept a lot better last night without forced breathing...I set the epr to ramp only and it helped me to fall a sleep easly and it didn't bother me while I was a sleep.

[TalonNYC]

That's GREAT! hang in there, this whole thing does get a bit easier to deal with over time. I'm 3 months in and I've already felt it becoming part of my normal nightly routine.

[hbakar]

That's GREAT! hang in there, this whole thing does get a bit easier to deal with over time. I'm 3 months in and I've already felt it becoming part of my normal nightly routine.

Thanks Talon..It seems like I have a one good night and a bad night after that. I slept horrible last night. I was wearing the pillows and it felt like I was not getting enough air when I inhaled, so I kept waking up. Then I changed my mask to FF and it felt like I was getting enough air, but then it was VERY uncomfortable. I got very irritated...Sometimes it feels like I am on the right track and it is working out fine and other times exactly the opposite of it. When there are times like that, I have hard time thinking positively and I feel very frustrated. You know how sometimes it feels like everything is going wrong... When I can't get enough sleep, I automatically become a pessimistic person, when I sleep I am fine. I like your positive attitude! I hope it rubs on me too!!!