My experience with the nasal mask w/new machine.

froger25 · Post by **froger25** » Thu May 11, 2006 1:39 pm

Well I tried to use the new machine the first night with the new Nasal mask I have. Well they set my minimum pressure to 4. I quickly found out that 4 isn't even adequate air for me to breathe. I felt like I was suffocating. I switched back to my UMFF mask and slept well. The UMFF mask leaked still but not near as bad as it did on the other machine. I slept pretty well on the auto.

On night 2 (last night) I raised the minimum pressure to 8 (I considered 10 because I haven't had anything less since I started Xpap) to see how it helped. When I put the nasal mask on this time I noticed it was much easier to breathe and I was able to fall asleep with it on this time. My wife told me that I did not snore with the nasal mask on. However in the middle of the night I woke up because the nasal mask had creeped up on my nose a little which once again made me feel like I was suffocating. So again I switched to the UMFF mask.

Does anyone have any advice on this or should I look into a different nasal mask?

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu May 11, 2006 1:43 pm

If you're sleeping well with the UMFF, why switch?

Den

froger25 · Post by **froger25** » Thu May 11, 2006 2:05 pm

Wulfman wrote:If you're sleeping well with the UMFF, why switch?

Den

I am switching because at the higher pressures the UMFF is leaking bad. I can reach up to 20 on nights I am really tired. I was told by the sleep lab that a nasal is less likely to leak at those pressures.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Thu May 11, 2006 4:18 pm

If the nasal mask slips, try stabilizing it with the "mantyhose" strap. That should help keep it in place.

froger25 · Post by **froger25** » Thu May 11, 2006 8:01 pm

I tried the nasal mask again today and I am not so sure that the slipping was my problem now. After laying awake (intentionally) with the machine on for about 10 minutes I noticed it becoming increasingly difficult to breathe. I had not moved so therefore the mask had not either. I think my air passages are closing on me or I can't pull enough air through my nose to satisfy my breathing.

I guess it is a good think I am seeing the ENT later this month. Maybe he can answer the question if I have nasal problems or not.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu May 11, 2006 9:04 pm

What pressure were you prescribed and what is your machine set to?

Den

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Thu May 11, 2006 9:21 pm

You know, something can happen one night, such as a mask slipping, and then it doesn't happen again or it happens infrequently. You might drive yourself crazy by assuming that one night is gonna be the way it will continue and changing your cpap behavior because of that. Also, you seem to be doing a lot of radical pressure changing. I'm not sure that's such a good thing.

Caroline

froger25 · Post by **froger25** » Fri May 12, 2006 12:52 pm

You might drive yourself crazy by assuming that one night is gonna be the way it will continue and changing your cpap behavior because of that. Also, you seem to be doing a lot of radical pressure changing. I'm not sure that's such a good thing.

I saw your post and the one above it about my pressure settings. My changes are not radical at all. On every machine I have had so far which is now 4 machines my pressure has never been set below 10 which was prescribed. After being tested they realized it should be really at 18. Since they could never get it right I requested an autopap. Anyway my point is that the new prescribed APAP setting of 4-20 is rediculas for me. Considering it has never been less than 10 their prescription is a radical change and was making it difficult for me to breathe even on a FF. I now have my pressure back at 10-20 and I selpt fairly well last night. I have tried the nasal mask a couple more times while awake and my nose locks up or something after about 15 minutes. As I said previously I think I may be having some sort of ENT type of an issue with my nose.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 12, 2006 1:07 pm

hi--

you started out by saying they set the machine to 4, and now you're saying that any one of four machines you've had has never been set below 10. i have no vested interest in your cpap happiness. i'm just trying to help.

caroline

harikarishimari · Post by **harikarishimari** » Fri May 12, 2006 1:28 pm

frogger, i think that 4-20 is the regular pressure for when they give you a new apap machine. mine was, and it was nothing to do with the pressure they titrated me on my sleep study, it was 13. i found that it take about 7 just to breathe normal for me, and i have only been at 13 pressure a few times only. i am usually about 8 or 9. remember the sleep study only looks at you for one night, and for just a few hours only. to get it right always you would need to sleep at the sleep lab always! cheaper to own a apap. -hks

froger25 · Post by **froger25** » Fri May 12, 2006 2:40 pm

4 is probably the default setting for an APAP. I am glad someone else had to raise the pressure to feel like they could breathe normal.

Caroline,

I feel like I stated the pressures of my machines incorrectly. I have had four machines and here is a list of how they were:

Resmed s8 Elite: 10
Respironics Virtuoso APAP: 10-20 (for a trial because 10 didn't help me sleep)
Resmed VPAP III BiPap: 18

Now my 4th machine which is my current is the first to be set with the minimum to 4. It was suffocating me or at least it felt I couldn't get enough air at that level. Now I have raised my pressure minimum to 10 so I can be consistant and so I can breathe better.

From your reply earlier saying "I have no vested interest in your cpap therapy" made me feel like you though I was yelling at you in my first reply when in fact I was not. If you felt that way I apologize, I simply did not want you to think I was a random pressure changer like some of the users are. I am just trying to be consistant in my xpap therapy while also trying new masks.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): respironics, resmed, bipap, CPAP, APAP

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Fri May 12, 2006 4:27 pm

there is nothing wrong with setting your bottom pressure higher at 10cm or even higher if you can tolerate it, in fact it should be better for you if your highest pressure is 18cm. That is not too large a pressure swing for the Remstars to handle.

With the autopap, its all about adding sleep comfort by only having to deal with the lowest pressure the majority of the time. So set that low pressure where it is best for you. While your titrated pressure may be as high as 18, you may not stay there but only a few minutes a night, wouldn't surprise me if the machine rarely needed to travel back up to that 18cm. At least with the reporting ability, you'll be able to see what you need.

our sleep patterns change on a nightly basis, it can go down just as easily as it goes up.

froger25 · Post by **froger25** » Fri May 12, 2006 5:24 pm

While your titrated pressure may be as high as 18, you may not stay there but only a few minutes a night, wouldn't surprise me if the machine rarely needed to travel back up to that 18cm

.

I agree, that is probably why I am sleeping better on the APAP's. I hope it continues to work well for me. Now I just need to get the mask issue straight and I will be set for a while.

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Additional Comments: Large mask collection