New CPAP user having problems.

[Mike208]

Hello all. I am on my second week of therapy. I had a sleep test done a year ago because of snoring. I learned I have sleep apnea with 76 episodes per hour during the test. But I didn't sleep well at all, had constant mask leaks, waking up, and suffered through the night and next day. That's why I hesitated about going on therapy. I tried some mouth devices, not prescribed by a dentist, that didn't help. So, I decided to try the CPAP.
I have the newest machine with a humidifier. Pressure is 13 set on auto. Humidifier is on 81 I believe. I still have events that began at 3.5 and steadily increased to as much as 8. I wake up now and then with the feeling that I am suffocating and fighting to breathe. And when the pressure goes up I have leaks which wakes me. The mask is tight, so tight that it leaves marks and even hurts.
My biggest problem now is swallowing air. I wake up constantly, belching, with stomach pain and a great deal of gas. I already have stomach issues so I wasn't sure what was going on until I searched on the Internet. That's how I learned about gastric insufflation. The therapist recommended a chin strap, which I picked up yesterday. It's adjustable and I set it so that my mouth would not fall open when I was asleep. I woke shortly after midnight, belching, with a great deal of stomach and chest pain and I felt like I was suffocating again. I removed the mask and slept without it.
I have been using the Internet U-Sleep. I check it daily and make notes. But I wonder if anyone is reading them because there are no comments. I have another call into the therapist. Since I started using the machine my sleep quality has been lousy. I feel so bad the following day that I can't hardly function. And my stomach hurts and is nauseated. If I sleep without the mask I fall asleep quickly and sleep well. I do dream and frequently remember them. But, I suppose I am having a good number of events. So, what do I do?

[Sleeprider]

Start by completing a profile so we know what machine and mask you use. Also more information on maximum and minimum pressure setting and whether you're using ramp and some form of exhalation relief (i.e. EPR / A-Flex)

Swallowing air is called aerphasia, and lots of posts exist here about it. https://www.google.com/search?q=aeropha ... 8&oe=utf-8

You should be able to loosen the mask and still have effective therapy. Mask liners are very effective in providing an improved seal and comfort. https://www.google.com/search?q=mask+li ... 8&oe=utf-8

[Mike208]

I went to my profile and selected the equipment that I think I have according to the delivery ticket. The machine is a Resmed Air 10 but the humidifier isn't listed. I have a HUMH-RMD-AIR 10. The mask is a FF Quattro full face.

[Wulfman...]

Hello all. I am on my second week of therapy. I had a sleep test done a year ago because of snoring. I learned I have sleep apnea with 76 episodes per hour during the test. But I didn't sleep well at all, had constant mask leaks, waking up, and suffered through the night and next day. That's why I hesitated about going on therapy. I tried some mouth devices, not prescribed by a dentist, that didn't help. So, I decided to try the CPAP.
I have the newest machine with a humidifier. Pressure is 13 set on auto. Humidifier is on 81 I believe. I still have events that began at 3.5 and steadily increased to as much as 8. I wake up now and then with the feeling that I am suffocating and fighting to breathe. And when the pressure goes up I have leaks which wakes me. The mask is tight, so tight that it leaves marks and even hurts.
My biggest problem now is swallowing air. I wake up constantly, belching, with stomach pain and a great deal of gas. I already have stomach issues so I wasn't sure what was going on until I searched on the Internet. That's how I learned about gastric insufflation. The therapist recommended a chin strap, which I picked up yesterday. It's adjustable and I set it so that my mouth would not fall open when I was asleep. I woke shortly after midnight, belching, with a great deal of stomach and chest pain and I felt like I was suffocating again. I removed the mask and slept without it.
I have been using the Internet U-Sleep. I check it daily and make notes. But I wonder if anyone is reading them because there are no comments. I have another call into the therapist. Since I started using the machine my sleep quality has been lousy. I feel so bad the following day that I can't hardly function. And my stomach hurts and is nauseated. If I sleep without the mask I fall asleep quickly and sleep well. I do dream and frequently remember them. But, I suppose I am having a good number of events. So, what do I do?

"Auto"?.......Auto what? If you have a pressure setting of 13 cm., that would be a fixed/straight CPAP pressure.

But, if it is set to a range of pressures, that sounds like the biggest part of your problems.

Ingesting air is called "aerophagia" and if you look that up in the forum Search (above), you'll find literally thousands of posts about it.

You need to find out exactly what your machine settings are and put them in your profile under Additional Comments.


Den

.

[mike1953]

Mask should not be so tight it leaves marks watch this video on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmJpCoKYA0Y#t=61

[Mike208]

What I meant by auto is that the machine starts out at a low pressure and builds up to the prescribed 13. I adjusted the mask so that it doesn't leave any marks on my face but it does still irritate the bridge of my nose. If I loosen it I get a lot more leaks when the pressure builds.

[mike1953]

What I meant by auto is that the machine starts out at a low pressure and builds up to the prescribed 13. I adjusted the mask so that it doesn't leave any marks on my face but it does still irritate the bridge of my nose. If I loosen it I get a lot more leaks when the pressure builds.

That is not Auto that is called Ramp. Have you read your owners manual on your machine and mask?

[palerider]

What I meant by auto is that the machine starts out at a low pressure and builds up to the prescribed 13. I adjusted the mask so that it doesn't leave any marks on my face but it does still irritate the bridge of my nose. If I loosen it I get a lot more leaks when the pressure builds.

what does it say on the lower right corner of the machine? autoset, elite, cpap?

[Mike208]

Airsense 10, Autoset

[palerider]

What I meant by auto is that the machine starts out at a low pressure and builds up to the prescribed 13. I adjusted the mask so that it doesn't leave any marks on my face but it does still irritate the bridge of my nose. If I loosen it I get a lot more leaks when the pressure builds.

it helps if you use the right words, avoids confusion

[Mike208]

I'm new to this so you'll have to excuse me if I don't know the correct terminology. I'm doing the best I can.

[Julie]

You're doing great, some people just have a different sense of humor... don't take it personally! It's hard to be new and have all the tech stuff float around - at least you do understand stuff, whether or not you've got the words yet.

[Mike208]

Thanks Julie I appreciate a vote of confidence.

[OkyDoky]

If you haven't downloaded Sleepyhead at http://sleepfiles.com/SH/index.html?TestingVersions I think that would greatly help you to understand what is going on with your therapy. And then others can help you to post data so they can better help you.

With the Auto there is a range of pressures ? - 13 and if ramp is turned on it starts low (at 4 a lot of times) for a few minutes to ease into the higher pressures. Many users have found the ramp time to be unnecessary and feel like they are not getting enough air at the low pressure. You do get enough air, but since it is a comfort feature and not treating your apnea, I turned mine off after a few days.

So the question people have is( not including the ramp), if you are on auto what is your lower pressure or are you on a set cpap pressure of 13 and starting with ramp.

[palerider]

I'm new to this so you'll have to excuse me if I don't know the correct terminology. I'm doing the best I can.

sorry, I wasn't meaning to be critical, though it looks that way, but just trying to point out that if you try hard to use the right words you'll end up getting better, faster, more accurate and helpful answers.