Ramp or no ramp?

[Chuck Connors]

Just curious about the ramp. Is this just more about personal preference and comfort? Thanks for any information you want to pass along. -Chuck-

[ems]

From everything I've heard and read here, it's a matter of personal preference. Some people feel they aren't getting enough air with the ramp on, while others feel that they like the air coming in slowly and building to the correct pressure. I started out using the ramp for 30 minutes (far too long I think). Now, I use the ramp for about five minutes, just long enough to get the mask on and lie down. Definitely a personal thing...

[DagoRed]

FWIW I use the ramp feature for my machine, I like it as I dont have to take the full 10cm right off the bat.

[jweeks]

Hi,

I think of ramp as being like training wheels for CPAP. Once you get acclimated to the pressure, you don't have a need for it. Your body typically has a few events as you fall asleep, and it is good to treat them, which generally means running at treatment pressure. In addition, it is much easier to adjust your mask after putting it on at your normal pressure. This helps avoid running into leaks after the pressure ramps up, which would be just after I went to sleep, which would wake me up.

After you have a week or two of success using CPAP, try running without the ramp for a few nights. If you do OK, then you no longer need to use it. If not, the button is only an arm's length away.

-john-

[MJKelleher]

I think I used the ramp for three nights. Now, I use two breaths to trigger the auto-on function, two or three more brings the pressure in my respiratory system up to the 12cm H2O that comes out of the hose, and I'm good for the night. Everybody's got their own system, own level of tolerance for the pressures. See what other people are doing, but go with what works for you.

MJ

[zoocrewphoto]

I did two nights with ramp for 30 minutes. One night at 5 minutes, and then off. I felt like I was smothering when it started out at 5. And since I do still have leaks that require multiple off and on with the mask to get right, I prefer to wait until the mask is at 11 (my lower end of the pressure range) before I am satisfied that the seal is good, and then I get into bed.

[tony72]

My first night I felt like I was suffocating.

[kteague]

I got into a lot of trouble overusing the ramp early on. I still use it for a very few mintues starting just below my prescribed fixed pressure. The reason why is that when I mask up I have a brief period of coughing, throat clearing, etc. before I settle in. I don't want that mess factored into my data, and the ramp data isn't a part of the calculations, if I understand it correctly. It is personal preference, but I would recommend setting the time for no longer than it takes you to fall asleep, as it does not respond to apneas during ramp. Also, too low of a ramp pressure to start can make it hard to fall asleep because it can feel like you are suffocating. I think some of the people who complain about feeling like they are suffocating have a ramp starting at too low of a pressure, and it makes them feel they can't handle cpap when they actually just can't handle the low pressure. I wonder how many have given up and quit when something as simple as using ramp properly could have been their breakthrough? I can't be the only one.

[SleepyToo2]

Absolutely agree that setting the ramp too low may contribute to many people giving up very early in their therapy. I blame it on the idiot DMEs who have never tried cpap themselves, so don't know what it feels like to have a pressure of 4 or 5 cm. Or maybe it's the idiot manufacturers who design the machine that way. Whatever happened to market research with real patients? I would be delighted to volunteer!

[bayourest]

yes the ramp is a comfort feature and I used it initially because the DME set it. Then I discovered this forum and felt motivated to do a lot more for myself than the DME had indicated I could do!! My best pressure is around 13 and I started out with a setting of 10. I stopped using the ramp long ago as soon as I acclimated to the pressure and realized I didnt really need it for comfort. Now, to be honest, I just turn on the machine and it starts at 13 and sometimes I cant even tell if I've turned it on or not!!! I'm just accustomed to it and the air feels good/normal.

[Sheriff Buford]

Yes, it is a personal thing. I like the training wheels theory. When I first started I used it for about two weeks. Then I found myself waiting for the air pressure to "kick in" instead of sleeping. That's when I kicked it off. Also, if I get up at night, when I get back to bed and mask up, I preferred the prescribed air pressure instead of the ramp.

Sheriff

[insylem]

I'm a no ramp person.
The only time I would use the ramp if I COULD is if the ramp did about 2 minutes at say the lowest pressure so like the other person said, get the mask on lay down,
then build up to me normal pressure.

It takes me an hour to fall asleep as it is and the max ramp is like 45 minutes haha

[greatunclebill]

i don't see my ramp as training wheels. i don't see any need to set a goal to get off of so called training wheels. in this forum age i'm younger than alot (5 months). in real age i'm up there at 62. in cpap age i'm about 10 yrs. in lung age with asthma and copd i might be older than alot. my ramp is 6 for 15 minutes with my range 8.5-12. i do feel a need for the ramp and also don't view it so much as a comfort feature but more like something i need. i don't hit the pillow sleeping so it helps me get to sleep.

[jen4700]

I didn't like the change in pressure after ramp went off. So after a couple nights I turned it off.

[Ticman]

I got into a lot of trouble overusing the ramp early on. I still use it for a very few mintues starting just below my prescribed fixed pressure. The reason why is that when I mask up I have a brief period of coughing, throat clearing, etc. before I settle in. I don't want that mess factored into my data, and the ramp data isn't a part of the calculations, if I understand it correctly. It is personal preference, but I would recommend setting the time for no longer than it takes you to fall asleep, as it does not respond to apneas during ramp. Also, too low of a ramp pressure to start can make it hard to fall asleep because it can feel like you are suffocating. I think some of the people who complain about feeling like they are suffocating have a ramp starting at too low of a pressure, and it makes them feel they can't handle cpap when they actually just can't handle the low pressure. I wonder how many have given up and quit when something as simple as using ramp properly could have been their breakthrough? I can't be the only one.

kteague,

I do the same exact thing when I first put on my mask and I do get some events while settling in. I'm going to start my ramp about .2 below my low setting and run it for about 5 minutes. That should be long enough to cover getting settled and not affect my therapy.

Thanks for the tip!!