New CPAP user here.. (couple of questions)

[Spectre]

So I'm 30 years old and have always been tired, sleepy and snore/stop breathing during sleep.

Well I did my sleep study about 2 months ago and have been on my cpap machine for about 2 1/2 weeks now..

I can't honestly give an opinion on how much better I am with the machine because I also quit smoking the same day. And I know smoking robs your body of energy and just doing that makes you feel better.

But since the cpap and quiting smoking I feel like a million bux during the day.. I think I've only felt tired twice in the past 3 weeks and if I remember correctly it was cause on those 2 nights I had pulled my mask off in the middle of the night.. Dunno why I did.. never woke up until the morning and the mask was off..

I used to be a very bad mouth breather but I guess the cfm being set so high is allowing me to breath through my nose and I don't open my mouth at night anymore.. pretty cool I guess..

My cfm is set to 16 unless I press the "ramp" button and then it will drop to 8 then build itself back up to 16..

Couple of questions I have..

Question #1 is 16 a high #? I used to have problems sleeping.. I would have to push the ramp button to fall asleep but now I can do it without a problem..

Question #2 Now in the mornings when I wake up my nose seems really dry.. I have the humidifier and am filling it to the line with distilled water. Is this common? Is it something I'll just have to learn to live with?

I feel like I'm sleeping better and I don't snore anymore.. My wife is a happy camper.. Well so am I... I don't have her pushing me in the middle of the night telling me to roll over.

Question #3 I see some people have "software" what's that all about? Is it being able to set your machine to whatever you want? Like hacking a Tivo box?

Anyhow.. I better get back to work.. Thanx for the input

-Vic

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap machine, humidifier, CPAP, Ramp

[mister_hose]

I see some people have "software" what's that all about? Is it being able to set your machine to whatever you want? Like hacking a Tivo box?

APAP machines and the higher-end CPAP machines record detailed, minute-by-minute event data (AHI, snoring, leaking) to a memory card every night. With a card reader peripheral for your PC and the machine manufacturer's special software, you can extract this detailed data and see what happened as you slept. This can help you fine-tune your therapy in numerous ways, and is extremely valuable for determining how to maximize the benefits you receive from it. For example, change your pressure and watch the results the next morning. Change it again, watch the new results. Find which pressure gives the lowest AHI values, or which mask does, or what sleeping positions do, etc. Very powerful tool.

From your profile, you appear to have a REMstar Plus CPAP, which is a machine without detailed data recording. If you have a card writer at all, it's only recording dates/times of your sessions, and no detailed, minute-by-minute apnea/hypopnea event, snoring event, and leak data. Consider upgrading to the REMstar "Pro 2" or the REMstar "Pro M-Series" CPAP models or to an APAP machine to get the detailed data recording, then get the card reader and software for your PC.

And yes, the card reader and PC software can put configuration instructions onto the card that the machine will read the next time you insert the card into the machine, which will automatically reconfigure (program) the machine, but then again you can just reprogram the machine with its own buttons and screen instead. The reprogram-via-card is primarily intended for doctors who wish to remotely reprogram their patients' machines when the patients are too clueless to realize how to do any of this (non-techical patients who just know how to put on the mask and hit the on/off button, nothing more).

Hope that helps.

[Spectre]

That did make sense.. I remember Apria said my machine was pre-programed and if I needed changes I would have to bring it back to them..

So far it seems good and sure being able to see the stats myself would be nice, right now all I care about is sleeping good..

[Linda3032]

Hi, welcome and glad you are feeling better with cpap.

1. 16 is pretty high, especially with a straight cpap. If you had an apap (auto), then most of the night you would be at a lower pressure and only hit 16 when you needed it to stop an obstruction. You would probably be better off with an apap -- or even a bi-pap if you start swallowing air.

2. Dryness: what is your humidifier set on? You might bump it up a little. Also, are you using a full tank of water every night? If so, you might be mouth breathing and not know it.

3. Software helps us monitor how we are doing. Unfortunately, your machine will only show compliance. If you had a Remstar Pro 2, or a Remstar Auto, then you would get all the rest of the "important" data.

PS: Sorry to be redundant. Mister-Hose is a faster typist than I am obviously.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, CPAP, auto, APAP

[Handgunner45]

Congratulations yes, 16 is considered by many to be high. A standard CPAP only goes to 20. above that you have to go to a bilevel machine. Many require the bilevel at pressures lower than yours. As to the dry nose, what is your humidifier set to. You may need to turn it up a level or two. As for the software, it won't do much good with your machine. With the right machine it will record information on your events during the night ie apneas and hypopneas and snoring. Your machine will only record the compliance data, ie how long you use it each night. It would allow you to change the machine settings, but you can do that with the buttons on the unit so the software is not necessary.

[mister_hose]

If you had a Remstar Pro 2, or a Remstar Auto, then you would get all the rest of the "important" data.

Don't forget the new "M-Series Remstar Pro"... it has the detailed data goodies even though it doesn't have the "2" in its name. =)

PS: Sorry to be redundant. Mister-Hose is a faster typist than I am obviously.

Yeah, but I also am developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Maybe slow typing is better! =)

[Snoozing Gonzo]

Your pressure of 16cm H2O is the amount needed to hold the throat open in your particular case; it isn't one of the measures of OSA severity. Whether it takes 7 cm or 28 cm to keep a particular person's throat open, at 0 cm we all are shut off. On the other hand there are plenty of other problems that folks with higher pressures seem to endure such as more "backpressure" exhaling, mask sealing, etc. As the others have mentioned, knowing your own data is very useful as it gives you additional control and ability to see how different things may impact your sleep (I'm avoiding the word "experiment"). Your DME is giving you pretty old technology. You should ask for an upgrade whether or not they know its for reading your own data (they like to do it and bill you.)

Smoking inflames the throat and makes it swell up and probably exacerbated your OSA. Keeping close track of your sleep data may allow you to try lower pressures as the impact of the smoking dissipates.


Good Luck

Chris

[kurtchan]

Vic,

It sounds like you're on the right track and, with some fine tuning, your CPAP experience should improve over time and keep you feeling better and better.

I feel qualified to address only one of your questions and that's humidity. As has been previously suggested, I would recommend bumping up your humidifier a notch or two to see if you notice improvement. Also, there's a wonderful product (no, I'm not a spokesperson) called Ayr Saline Nasal Gel. A little bit on a cotton swab rubbed inside each nostril should help alleviate the dryness. I use it every night before "masking up" for bed. It's available in most chain drugstores and you might want to give it a try.

Good luck!

Kurtchan

[Spectre]

I haven't paid for anything.. insurance has paid for it all.. No money out of pocket..

My humidifier doesn't have any "adjustments" that can be done.. I fill the water to the line every night and leave it at that. I only have 3 buttons on my machine

1) Power on and off
2) ramp button - sends the machine to 8 and then it builds itself back to 16
3) Heated humidifier button.. I was told this will heat the water and it is not needed. I have not turned on the heater because I was instructed that the heater didn't need to be used..

I can't stand breathing in hot air and freak out that's why I haven't used the heater..

But then again now that I think about it, the humidifer isn't really going to be doing anything without the heat applied right?

[byront]

Hey Vic - good going on the quitting smoking choice! I quite about 18 years ago now. Used to have a real bad hacking cough - that's completely gone now. Don't miss it a bit - the cough and the smoking! No longer have any urges also - those have been completely gone a very long time now, in fact I really don't like being around the smoke. It wasn't too long after I quit that the only time I got the urge was when I was around someone else smoking - so avoid that if possible, the smell of the smoke will trigger the urge. For about three years after I quit the only times that I would get any kind of a craving was when I was in a restaurant or bar and got a whiff of that 1st puff of smoke after someone lit up. My solution to that was to immediately start thinking of all of the negatives associated with smoking - the little burn holes in so many of my nice shirts, the disgusting ash trays, the hacking cough I mentioned, the car that smelled like smoke, me smelling like smoke, the cost, etc, etc, etc... . One of the big problems that I found that I had with quitting was that it was also a learned nervous habit. I finally realized it seemed that whenever I tried to quit I was at a loss as to what to do with my smoking hand - it was used to fiddling with a cigarette most of the time! My solution was to give it something to do, so I went out and bought an old morgan silver dollar (about $7), something I would not spend, and kept it in my pocket. When the hand was in need I pulled out the morgan and just started fiddling with it - worked on coin rolls, palming, simple coin vanishes, little things like that. I'm sure that other things will work, ith my Dad it was chewing gum - maybe his mouth or lips had developed a habit. I no longer need to carry the coin in my pocket, but my Dad chews gum to this day. Sometimes I would get the urge after dinner or when I sat down in the evening - at those times I broke out the bicycle and would go for a ride. I guess the message is that substitution seemed to work well for me, and if it can be something healthy - so much the better. Anyway the very best of luck to you on that, believe me the urge does go away and as time goes by you will see others smoking and wonder why anyone would ever want to put themselves through that. By the way I am also very new to CPAP (7 days) and also can not remember ever, even as a youth, having felt rested after sleep - always just as or more tired in the mornings. I haven't had as much success as you but I am told by this board that I probably have a tremendous sleep deficit to make up for - BUT, I have noticed that it is now very seldom that I make trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night. But then that may not be something a young buck like you has had to deal with. I am still trying to figure to figure out my humidifier so I can't really help you out there. Anyway good luck withy all. --- BT

[Spectre]

I was actually waking up atleast once a night to go to the bathroom for the past year, but now I haven't for the last week.. I love the CPAP...

As for the quitting smoking.. It's really not that big of deal for me.. I'm pretty much over it.. Only time I think about it is when it's out of habbit.. Like when I first get off my motorcycle it was habbit to smoke.. It's kinda like I reach for something that's not there..

My wife is having a harder time then I am.. My only complaint is now I'm gaining a little weight.

[Goofproof]

If you don't like heated moist air, just fill it with distilled water, the air flowing in the chamber will pick up some moisture and that helps. I like it cold too, just the temp of the machine running and my own breath is too much for me almost. I'd like the room to be 65 degrees but 70 is all I can get in my cave in the summer. I need to dig the cave deaper. Jim

You are using a nasal interface, make sure you don't mouthbreath.

[sleepypirate555]

3. Software helps us monitor how we are doing. Unfortunately, your machine will only show compliance. If you had a Remstar Pro 2, or a Remstar Auto, then you would get all the rest of the "important" data.


Hey! I think I have a remstar pro 2. How do I find all of the "important" data? All I know is how to turn it on/off, ramp (which I don't use), and heat (for the humidifer that I don't use). I would love to find out more!

[Linda3032]

Heated humidifier button.. I was told this will heat the water and it is not needed. I have not turned on the heater because I was instructed that the heater didn't need to be used..

I can't stand breathing in hot air and freak out that's why I haven't used the heater..

Sorry, but that's typical of many DMEs. If you aren't supposed to turn on the heater, then why have a "heated" humidifier? Unreal...

But, if you find that your mouth is getting dry, then you might have to turn on the humidifier - and you probably can get it set for 1. I can't believe the DME didn't at least tell you that.

Seriously, you need to get a more up to date machine. Was this machine new? Are you sure it was new, or is the DME trying to pull the wool over your eyes? If it's new, he is definitely taking you to the cleaners - and getting rid of very old stock.

If you are buying instead of renting the machine, insist on a good one. Especially with your high pressure.

[Cympianne]

I hate to sound stupid here - but I think Spectre asked a question that no one answered (that I could see) and I've asked as well --- how do you make changes to the settings? I was also told that I would have to bring my machine in to have any changes made to the settings. I don't think there was an instruction book that gave that info. I have the same machine - also no software I guess - and I got the same instructions - and also do not use the heat on the humidifier.

Thanks,
Cindy