The start of my CPAP treatment. 06/05/14

[Janknitz]

Jim, this is doable, but it takes some time. Hang in there.

What are your pressure and EPR settings?

[jimmye4golf]

Pressure is 10 and start pressure is 5. EPR is Full Time, EPR Level 3, EPR inhale is Med.

[jimmye4golf]

Well Sunday I decided to take a little nap and set the machine on AUTO to see what that was like. I only slept for an hour and everything looked good but then again that was only an hour. So last night when I went to bed I changed it back to CPAP mode but lowered the max from 10 to 9 to see if that would allow me to sleep longer. I wake up this morning and the mask is laying beside me and the machine is off. I dont recall the choking feeling but still dont know why I took the mask off. I checked the machine and it was on for 3.9hrs and 0 AHI. I took the memory card and downloaded it and checked the info and from what I could see is everything looked pretty good (eyes of a pure rookie Im sure). No leaks, no AHI's, no obstuctions, flow looked nice and steady. Im hoping I took it off because Im not used to it. I didnt use the chinstrap because I didnt like the way it made me feel. Should I keep it the way it is or change the max back to 10? Should I try a full night on Auto and if so what pressures? I would love to search more on this forum today but unfortunately I have to work so that limits me. Any advice would he great. I even wondered about taking a sleeping pill this next weekend and see if I will sleep sound enough to leave the mask on. Not sure if thats a good idea or not.

[zoocrewphoto]

Well Sunday I decided to take a little nap and set the machine on AUTO to see what that was like. I only slept for an hour and everything looked good but then again that was only an hour. So last night when I went to bed I changed it back to CPAP mode but lowered the max from 10 to 9 to see if that would allow me to sleep longer. I wake up this morning and the mask is laying beside me and the machine is off. I dont recall the choking feeling but still dont know why I took the mask off. I checked the machine and it was on for 3.9hrs and 0 AHI. I took the memory card and downloaded it and checked the info and from what I could see is everything looked pretty good (eyes of a pure rookie Im sure). No leaks, no AHI's, no obstuctions, flow looked nice and steady. Im hoping I took it off because Im not used to it. I didnt use the chinstrap because I didnt like the way it made me feel. Should I keep it the way it is or change the max back to 10? Should I try a full night on Auto and if so what pressures? I would love to search more on this forum today but unfortunately I have to work so that limits me. Any advice would he great. I even wondered about taking a sleeping pill this next weekend and see if I will sleep sound enough to leave the mask on. Not sure if thats a good idea or not.

Was the 3.9 hours the longest you have gone for a night? If so, I would keep it there for awhile and see if you start getting used to it and go longer times. Once you are better used to it, if the ahi is too high, you can raise it back up. Part of starting out is just getting used to it. We take the mask off for a variety of reasons, usually dealing with comfort. It takes time to get used to sleeping with an alien on your face. If you make a lot of changes frequently, it may take longer to get used to it.

Are you having to make compliance? If so, you need to get at least 4 hours per "night". It changes at noon unless your time is set differently. You don't have to be asleep, so you can use practice time awake to add to that. Your 3.9 won't count, but you still have time to get it past 4 hours.

[jimmye4golf]

Yeah I forgot about the compliance part. Quick question. When I download the info off the SD card does it erase the previous data? I would hate to go back in a month later to the Dr and there only be 1 night left on the card. Lol. I will leave it alone and just continue using it. I didnt think about the getting used to it part. I just figured if I could fall asleep with it that would be the hard part. Actually I think I fall asleep faster with it on than I was before I got the machine. Thanks for the advice!

[billpedley]

Thanks for the great response . I am going to take matters into my own hands very very shortly. Nobody seems to really care too much anymore. I have done some things with the other bionic parts so I guess I'll just keep going and see what happens. Maybe someday I won't wake up. No I shouldn't say that. LOL

[Pugsy]

When I download the info off the SD card does it erase the previous data? I would hate to go back in a month later to the Dr and there only be 1 night left on the card.

No, downloading doesn't remove any files from the SD card.

[jimmye4golf]

Ok cool. Thanks Pugsy. Well last night I went to bed late but the mask stayed on from the time I went to bed until I woke up to my alarm. That was 5.5 hours! Again I forgot to replace the memory card. AHI 0.9 is all the info I have. I think I might have went a full 7 or 8 hours with the mask.

[jimmye4golf]

Well I was so tired yesterday that I fell asleep on the couch at 7pm. My wife woke me up at 8 and told me I should go to bed and use the machine. So after feeding the dog and our saltwater fish I went to bed. I slept from 8:30ish until 6am! Of course when I woke up the mask was off. I checked the machine and I only had it on for 1.5 hours. UGHHHH. I have had this annoying dry cough for about 2 weeks and I found out yesterday that its from the blood pressure medication my Dr started me on about a month ago. I hope that thats whats giving me a hard time sleeping with the mask on because its really not uncomfortable at all. Different yes, but not uncomfortable.

[jimmye4golf]

New update. I woke up Wednesday morning at 6am and that night I could not sleep at all. I ended up being awake for 31 hours straight before taking a 5 hour nap and my mask stayed on the whole time. Then that night I went to bed about 1am and woke up at 6am with the mask still on. Today is the best I have felt in a very very long time! Im not sure if its from the machine but I did get some really good sleep. WAHOOOO

[jimmye4golf]

Well its been 12 days with the CPAP and other than 06/13 I just cant seem to sleep with the mask on for over 4-4.5 hours. The mask is very comfortable and it seems like once I put it on and start the machine I actually fall asleep faster than I used too. I dont know why I keep taking it off. Could it be that I'm still not used to it?

[Nick Danger]

Yep - it took me months. Just keep putting it back on every time you notice that you've taken it off. Don't let yourself fall into the trap of saying "I'm so tired of fighting it tonight - I think I'll just leave it off". When you are half awake, your judgment isn't very good - especially if you have been having some apnea events. I've gotten to the point that I feel something is missing if I fall asleep without the machine and the air pressure (it no longer feels like a gale!) helps me fall asleep. It took 6 months or so of consecutive use before I got to that point.

BTW, being "compliant" within your first 12 nights is excellent! You are doing very well, just keep it up!!

[Pugsy]

Do you wake up and take the mask off in the middle of the night? Or are you taking it off during your sleep and not waking up in the middle of the night so that you are waking up the next morning with the mask off and no memory of removing it?

If you are removing it during the night and don't realize what you are doing and have no memory of doing it...try applying a little tape to the straps on your cheeks so that when you attempt to remove it in the middle of the night the minor discomfort from the tape pulling on the skin will hopefully wake you up enough to stop the unwanted behavior.

Premature mask removal is fairly common and not remembering doing it is also fairly common. Eventually the brain comes to accept the new mask attached to the face and won't be so quick to want it gone but you may have to help the brain a little. If you are awake when you remove the mask...don't fall into that trap as it is a bad habit easy to make and really hard to break (as all bad habits are). Keep putting it back on.
If you are asleep when you do it and don't remember...try taping it to your skin with just a little tape in a couple of places. This has worked well for a lot of people until the brain recognizes the mask as a welcomed friend and no longer wants it gone from the face.

[jimmye4golf]

Thanks Nick Danger and Pugsy! Yes when I wake up I have no recollection of taking the mask off. I will try the tape and see how that works. Thanks for the support and advice.

[jimmye4golf]

Ok its been a few days since my last post. Ive slept a little over 6 hours twice with the mask on. Last night was the first time I have slept 8 hours with the mask on. I guess im getting used to it finally. I felt like I won something when I pushed the button and it showed 8.1 hours. LOL I havent looked at the data yet.