CAN NOT tolerate this machine,HELP!

[upde47]

i just got a bi-pap and the doctors set my pressure at 17 to 21 and i think its too high.it is drying out my throat and mouth and inflating my lips like a balloon,and thats if i manage to get asleep. and suggestions what to say too my family doctor too get them too reduce the pressure? i think i can reduce it myself from some research i did online but am worried about insurance trouble like denying my coverage for tampering or something . anybody with experience with any of this please comment.thanks so much and god bless you all!!

[Kroldor]

What kind of mask are you using?

[zoocrewphoto]

Welcome to the group. Check out the sticky post for new people. It has info for how to download Oscar and take a screen shot with the info we need. If you can post some data, we can get a better idea of how to advise you. It is certainly easy to lower the pressure, and you may need to do that and work your way up. But it would be good to confirm that you do need it that high. Also, we can help you with comfort settings, mask options, and how to make it more comfortable and doable for you.

[Nite Ranger]

My personal experience was that it takes a little time to get used to high psi. My biggest problem was learning to breath through my nose, this REALLY helped.

I hope you overcome this and get comfortable, try adding humidity, what do you have it set to? Hopefully someone more helpful than me can give you better advice.

[chunkyfrog]

. . .
My personal experience was . . . high psi. My biggest problem was
. . .

Please do not confuse psi with centimeters of water.
Please stop confusing newbies with your ignorance.
21 cm h2o is less than 3/10 of a pound per square inch--not enough to inflate a balloon.

[TropicalDiver]

So, lets start by talking about the pressure. Yes, your settings are on the higher side. While it seems like it is a ton of pressure, it is less than 0.3 PSI. That is probably about one-third of what it takes to blow up a balloon. In other words, while you are not comfortable, your skull will be just fine.

But you are having real issues that we want to solve. Assuming your setting are what is needed for optimal therapy (and that is very much an if), lowering your pressure is a bad idea. If I understand from your other post, you have requirements to be met for your DOT physical. The goal here is not any particular setting value -- but rather settings that effectively treat your apnea.

SO, how to cope? Others will have lots of good ideas. Here is where I personally would start.
a) During the day, try using the PAP while watching TV or listening to music. This will help you get used to the device -- and help you learn if you have mask leaks,
b) Read the sticky posts. They are truly helpful.
c) Lets start with the dry mouth/throat. Things to work on there:
i) Staying hydrated during the day.
ii) Try using something like biotene spray right before bed.
iii) Try increasing your humidity. Everyone is different about what humidity level is optimal for them.
iv) Work on mask leaks. This is the most common cause of a dry mouth. (My first mask fit was so poor that I trained myself to sleep while holding it tighter.)
v) Keep water by the bed with a straw -- pop the hose disconnect and take a trink. Snap the hose back on and away you go.
vi) Try keeping your mouth closed while sleeping.

It does get better. Trust us.

[palerider]

It depends on the balloon, but I think Iv'e seen some numbers that some of them can be inflated with 40-50cmh2o pressure.

So, yeah, CPAP is really tiny pressure.

[ChicagoGranny]

am worried about insurance trouble like denying my coverage for tampering or something

Insurance companies only look at compliance (hours of use). They don't look at pressure settings.

That said, you shouldn't just turn the pressure down because it "feels" too high. Use OSCAR to help find an effective and comfortable pressure setting. Forum members have a lot of experience with helping people achieve this.

[D.H.]

This is quite high, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's wrong.

For reference, ny fixed pressure is 13.5 and it will go as high as 20 on an as needed basis. It generally does not go above 15, but it turns out that it went as high as 19.8 for a few minutes last week.

As a previous poster said, use OSCAR to analyze what's happening.

[upde47]

i was diagnosed 2 months ago aprox. i tried diligently for 90 days too wear the thing and in all that time i did not fall asleep once! i think the machine was the problem it starts out following by breathing rythom ok, but inevitably i have too swallow or something(dry mouth) the pressure they have me at is liike sleeping in a turbine wind tunnel,the machine goes into a cycle where it blows for literally 1 second and slowes for a second then blows for a second(this is a bi pap sorry forgot to mention) but that is how it stays. i will be inhaling and it will drop pressure then ramp up again as i realizes im still inhaling then slow again and as i exhale then it starts hi pressure blowing again.and that is how it stays never going back to following my rythem like it does the first 10 mins or soi CAN NOT establish any kind of rythem at all,it just fights me. i have told my pcp this and he said sounds like the machine is defective,so i sent it back to the supplier and they ran it for 8 hours they said they determiined its just fine.but its not and i need too come pic back up or sign a form saying i refuse to follow doctors ordered therapy.which is a problem me being a truck driver i have too use this monstrocity or i dont drive. does this sound like a properly functioning machine to you all with experience using these? this supplier is being no help whatsoever and they are causing me too lose my job cause of this.Any input would be very helpful.thanks and hope all and all your families are staying healthy in this virus filled times were having.oh yea the machine is a philips dreammaster i think its called.

[upde47]

my mask is a resmed airtouch f-20,i have not slept once with this thing i started another post about that being i forgot about this one sorry about that.im just stressed and tired with this and all that going on in the world right now,not to mention that once i got the machine my disability was stop cause i have the machine so all must be well now.LOL

[CPAP2017]

That does not sound normal at all. A machine should respond to your breathing need, not the other way around. If you’re breathing normally (while you’re falling asleep) it should provide a constant pressure at the lower end and be barely noticeable. Once asleep and you stop breathing, it should increase pressure to push the airway open, then return to normal pressure. Some machines allow various settings, one of which sets it on lower pressure until you’re asleep, then changes pressure as needed. I would check out the manual and see if some settings can be changed. Otherwise you might have to try a different machine.

[ChicagoGranny]

Please let this thread die and consolidate all help in this thread - viewtopic.php?p=1347577#p1347577

Thank you.

[ChicagoGranny]

upde47

Please let the other thread die and keep everything in this thread. This allows the support team to easily follow your history.

my mask is a resmed airtouch f-20

Please put the mask model and the exact machine model in your equipment profile - https://www.cpaptalk.com/ucp.php?i=prof ... pment_info

Then the info will show up at the bottom of each post you make.

[ChicagoGranny]

For the support team, here is some more history that was posted in the other (defunct) thread. Note, that he is a truck driver and needs to use CPAP to continue driving.

i was diagnosed 2 months ago aprox. i tried diligently for 90 days too wear the thing and in all that time i did not fall asleep once! i think the machine was the problem it starts out following by breathing rythom ok, but inevitably i have too swallow or something(dry mouth) the pressure they have me at is liike sleeping in a turbine wind tunnel,the machine goes into a cycle where it blows for literally 1 second and slowes for a second then blows for a second(this is a bi pap sorry forgot to mention) but that is how it stays. i will be inhaling and it will drop pressure then ramp up again as i realizes im still inhaling then slow again and as i exhale then it starts hi pressure blowing again.and that is how it stays never going back to following my rythem like it does the first 10 mins or soi CAN NOT establish any kind of rythem at all,it just fights me. i have told my pcp this and he said sounds like the machine is defective,so i sent it back to the supplier and they ran it for 8 hours they said they determiined its just fine.but its not and i need too come pic back up or sign a form saying i refuse to follow doctors ordered therapy.which is a problem me being a truck driver i have too use this monstrocity or i dont drive. does this sound like a properly functioning machine to you all with experience using these? this supplier is being no help whatsoever and they are causing me too lose my job cause of this.Any input would be very helpful.thanks and hope all and all your families are staying healthy in this virus filled times were having.oh yea the machine is a philips dreammaster i think its called.