Frustrated And New To Cpap

[BigB504]

This is my first post on Cpaptalk.com.I am very exhausted,frustrated and full of uncertainties and doubt of ever feeling like my old self.I am going through my second attempt of trying to use Cpap.Let me fill you all in on my situation.I got in touch with a family doctor,earlier this year who sent me home with a PulseOxy meter that indicated,something wasn't right with my sleep.So I was sent to a sleep study and I was diagnosed with severe OSA,my AHI was 79.I was given a System One Cpap and an Ultra Mirage full face mask at a setting of 12cm.The problem that I was having was,I felt like I could hardly exhale against the pressure and I would take the mask off in my sleep.I tried to fight it for about 2 weeks and I just honestly got discouraged and gave up.Because of my non compliance with my insurance,the Cpap was taken back.So,I thought maybe I should get a second opinion with another doctor.So I went to a whole new doctor.He sent me through another sleep study and my results are pretty much the same,78 AHI and my pressure is 13cm.The only difference with my equipment is that I now have C-flex on my System One Cpap.I have had the machine for 2 weeks now and I am really trying to sleep with it so that I can feel alive again.But, it is waking me up out of my sleep after only an hour,give or take a few minutes.I feel like I am struggling to exhale when I wake up.I called my DME today and all they tell me is give it time,Try the ramp feature(which I tried already) and try to wear it as much as I can when I am awake.

Is it normal to have these problems just starting out and have any of you had similar problems when you were just starting out and if so can you please tell me how you got over it?

And I wanted to say hello and thank you,to all of you on this site.

[2 B Sleeping Soundly]

BigB504,

Welcome!

Don’t give up! One thing you will find here is everyone’s journey is slightly different, but it is still a journey. My AHI was 73.8 and O2 Sat was 74. I have the same machine as you do and have had some adjustment, but it seems like maybe you might need a Bi-PAP or something that gives you some relief from the pressure when you exhale. Wait for the others here, whose masks I am not fit to hold, to respond to you as I am very new to all of this and still learning. But please don’t give up EVER because the outcome could be at some point unrecoverable (like Reggie White).

John

[cindjo717]

What number is your c-flex set on. Number one will give you the least resistance,which is what you need.

[cflame1]

You've got a brick... so it won't help.

A brick doesn't give you any AHI or leak numbers to know what the problem is short of either getting a short term rental or another trip to the sleep lab.

If you've had this machine for less than 30 days... take it back and get at least a PRO... if you can't get an Auto.

[Pugsy]

To explain the "brick" and why you don't want it, please read this "help I am stuck with a brick"
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/
Just a short way below the information on data capable machines.

People do get used to the gale force winds from the machines. It does take time though..some people adjust quickly and some it is a struggle. Use the ramp...try gradually increasing your ramp pressure so that you are closer to your therapy pressure to make the transition easier. Believe it or not but a lot of people don't need the ramp at all..even with pressures into the 15 cm and up. We do adjust to it but it takes time.

[BigB504]

My C-flex is set to 3.

[cowlypso]

I thought 3 was the most relief... 1 is the least. Am I wrong?

[Pugsy]

I thought 3 was the most relief... 1 is the least. Am I wrong?

Actually with the Flex settings there isn't really a more or less relief with the settings like there is with ResMed EPR.
Flex relief is base on Flow from the individual and seems to adjust the timing for inhale and exhale based on the settings. It is not the full cm drop per setting like EPR on ResMed machines.
Flex options explained here. A setting of 3 doesn't mean a significant drop in pressure but different response to the flow.
http://cflex.respironics.com/

When I have tested the various settings I had the feeling of more of a rhythm difference. A setting of 3 seemed to try to make me breathe a little faster than I wanted (almost like it was making me hyperventilate) and a setting of 1 seemed too slow and setting of 2 was just about perfect.

So when someone is having trouble exhaling with any Flex option instead of going up or down and relying on just the setting they should actually try each setting to see if one suits their breathing rhythm better than another.