Using Ramp Feature (and making it work)

[DWaldman]

xxxxxxx

[Goofproof]

Lucky it didn't come with bed bugs, I wouldn't want to try them out, just for kicks. Jim

[Krelvin]

Have been using my preference of not using the ramp feature for more than 9 years, and see no benefit in trying since I simply don't need it.

[Gasper62]

The low pressure presented by the ramp allowed me to have apneas while drifting off to sleep. No more ramp for me, I don't need it or the apnea events it causes me. YMMV

[Goofproof]

Kind of a little like learning to ride a 2 wheel bike, then putting training wheels on it, and being amazed that it stands upright. The logic escapes me! Jim

I have a problem wrapping my hear around circular breathing, long enough circular thinking.

[LSAT]

8 years ago when I started CPAP I used the ramp for 3 days...I found that it was too hard to breathe. Took too long to get up to 10. DME told me to shut off the ramp. Everything has been fine since.

[kteague]

...I decided to revisit the ramp feature.I have an S9 Autoset, set to 9.6-17. ... at what pressure I feel "natural", it is about 7.5. So last night I set the ramp start to 7.5, and time to 5 minutes...

The ramp feature is not necessarily a bad thing. It's misuse without understanding is where problems can lie. I've been at this for 10 years now and still have a 5 minute ramp set at I think 9.5 for the simple reason I do a lot of coughing and throat clearing when I first mask up and don't want that junk in my data. Many nights I fall asleep before the 5 minutes is up, but even when still awake I never even notice the pressure change. Just not sensitive to it. It appears you are using ramp with understanding, so if it benefits you, that's great. There's no shame in using it. No glory in not using it.

For others reading this who are not knowledgeable about potential pitfalls, here's some pointers. Except for certain newer machines, any sleep during ramp time at a sub-therapeutic pressure can allow events and the machine will not respond during ramp. Say for instance a ramp starts at 4 for 30 minutes. Not only is one un/under protected, it can be harder to fall asleep when the brain is on alert from sensations of near suffocation. It's easy to blame higher pressure for not falling asleep when it could be the too low ramp causing the problem. Also, the person who wakes frequently and restarts the ramp each time needs to be mindful of the cumulative time they are spending sleeping unprotected over the course of a night. Also, mask fitting at a low pressure may not be the fitting that will work at a higher pressure.

[Heart Jumping]

Kind of a little like learning to ride a 2 wheel bike, then putting training wheels on it, and being amazed that it stands upright. The logic escapes me!

I have a problem...

Maybe you can learn more about your problem here.

[Heart Jumping]

...I decided to revisit the ramp feature.I have an S9 Autoset, set to 9.6-17. ... at what pressure I feel "natural", it is about 7.5. So last night I set the ramp start to 7.5, and time to 5 minutes...

The ramp feature is not necessarily a bad thing. It's misuse without understanding is where problems can lie. I've been at this for 10 years now and still have a 5 minute ramp set at I think 9.5 for the simple reason I do a lot of coughing and throat clearing when I first mask up and don't want that junk in my data. Many nights I fall asleep before the 5 minutes is up, but even when still awake I never even notice the pressure change. Just not sensitive to it. It appears you are using ramp with understanding, so if it benefits you, that's great. There's no shame in using it. No glory in not using it.

For others reading this who are not knowledgeable about potential pitfalls, here's some pointers. Except for certain newer machines, any sleep during ramp time at a sub-therapeutic pressure can allow events and the machine will not respond during ramp. Say for instance a ramp starts at 4 for 30 minutes. Not only is one un/under protected, it can be harder to fall asleep when the brain is on alert from sensations of near suffocation. It's easy to blame higher pressure for not falling asleep when it could be the too low ramp causing the problem. Also, the person who wakes frequently and restarts the ramp each time needs to be mindful of the cumulative time they are spending sleeping unprotected over the course of a night. Also, mask fitting at a low pressure may not be the fitting that will work at a higher pressure.

My hat off to you for always offering people helpful informative replies.

[HoseCrusher]

Comfort isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's just more comfortable.

The improper use of ramp can cause difficulty. If you don't want to take the time to figure out how to use ramp properly you should probably not use it at all.

Unfortunately many people get burned by having the ramp set up at too low a starting pressure and having it set for too long a time. As a result they simply shut ramp off and eliminate a problem. However if you set ramp up properly it can help you ease into CPAP therapy with a little extra comfort.

You can use the machine effectively by shutting ramp off, but when set up properly ramp offers a transition that can be more comfortable.

Sleeping with a mask on your face is "obtuse" at best. Anything to make this more comfortable is welcomed but not required.

[DWaldman]

xxxxxxx

[ChicagoGranny]

My minimum pressure is 12 and I find no need for ramp.

The overlooked disadvantage of ramp is that you miss the opportunity to check your mask for leaks at a therapeutic pressure.

[Heart Jumping]

Damn... did not expect so many negative comments. I said at the end, YMMV, hoping that those who found ramp not to work would realize that I was not saying EVERYBODY should use it. I posted this so that those who may have tried, and not found it to work, but still have some discomfort when first masking up may find a way to make their therapy better. You people are brutal.

Don't let it get to you, there are a bunch of super helpful people here, including some of the ones responding rudely here. But for some reason when the conventional wisdom here is threatened some of them react this way.

[LSAT]

Damn... did not expect so many negative comments. I said at the end, YMMV, hoping that those who found ramp not to work would realize that I was not saying EVERYBODY should use it. I posted this so that those who may have tried, and not found it to work, but still have some discomfort when first masking up may find a way to make their therapy better. You people are brutal.

What's brutal about people explaining their experience with the ramp? You gave your opinion...others gave theirs.

[ChicagoGranny]

Damn... did not expect so many negative comments. I said at the end, YMMV, hoping that those who found ramp not to work would realize that I was not saying EVERYBODY should use it. I posted this so that those who may have tried, and not found it to work, but still have some discomfort when first masking up may find a way to make their therapy better. You people are brutal.

You should be happy about the negative comments. They reinforce your declaration that YMMV. You are proved correct by the negative comments, not the positive ones.