impossible

williexwhip · Post by **williexwhip** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:59 pm

I think that this is some sort of terrible practical joke lol. There is no way I can sleep with this thing on. As soon as my little brain drifts off into sleep land, I'm snapped back into reality because of the stupid machine.

It's my 3rd night and I haven't gotten more then 10 minutes of sleep with it at one time. I lay there for an hour or so drifting off occasionally then I'm right awake again. Eventually I take it off and try to sleep without it, but i cant sleep that way either. I finally went to sleep at 8 am this morning without it on, and I got up at 6pm. Not good. I think I'm going to leave it alone until after Christmas. I just have so much going on in my mind its hard enough falling asleep without air shooting in my face and down my throat.

BUT, my mask does work well, no leaks. don't have a sore nose or throat. The first night every time I tried to swallow my ears would get plugged up, but that stopped. I couldn't even doze off the first time, so I guess I am adjusting. Just gotta get through Christmas and think positive =P

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:20 pm

Instead of waiting until bedtime, try using it in your recliner (if you have one) or while you're watching TV to get used to it. Also, if you've been prescrobed a higher pressure, that also can take a bit of getting used to. Personally, I think it's better to start of with a little lower pressure and work up. At least a person is getting more air than they had been before they started therapy.

Den

sburke91 · Post by **sburke91** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:50 pm

It's been just the opposite for me. Tonight will mark my third night of full-on therapy and aside from having force myself to stop concentrating on the cycle of my BiPap, and the minor issue of the power going out last night (that was a rather wierd feeling), it's been smooth sailing.

Good luck--the results when things settle in are well worth it!

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:30 pm

Many people ask their MD's for a short course of something like Ambien to help them sleep, and so get used to the mask more quickly.

williexwhip · Post by **williexwhip** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:58 pm

my pressure is at 15, but i restart the ramp when it gets there lol. and im def. going to talk about some sleeping meds.

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 9:30 pm

Williexwhip -

Have you tried using your machine in auto mode with a range of pressure? Many who do find they rarely reach their top pressure, and if so, not for very long. Having a lower yet therapeutic pressure some of the night may help you adjust. Even when it goes higher, it will drop back down without you repeatedly hitting the ramp. When it peaks are you on your back? If so, and if using the auto feature, turning on your side might make it drop back down.

Hope you find solutions soon. Don't know how long your ramp is set for or your starting pressure, or how many times a night you are hitting it, but if you only sleep while in ramp and then restart it when it hits your titrated pressure, you aren't getting much if any therapeutic treatment. In time you will probably adjust, but if you have options to try to make this better sooner than later, it's worth a try.

Kathy

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 9:36 pm

could you be waking up because of the ramping? i only used it for the first few nights but i couldn't stand it and haven't used it since

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 9:43 pm

The first thing you must do is switch from the can't mode to the can do mode. No, I'm not trying to be smart, but the first thing you have to do is think success. Also background noise can help, as can the APAP mode with C-Flex on, with a narrow 4 cm range. You can do this, it's just a matter of taking control. Also I don't believe in the Ramp, and using it more than once tells your body it willing by not conforming. Jim

jules · Post by **jules** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 9:56 pm

I agree with goofproof as this needs to be a CAN DO IT !

You have a serious condition, you are very overweight, and you just GOT TO DO IT !!!!

No ifs, ands, or buts and no waiting a few days.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:02 pm

williexwhip wrote:my pressure is at 15, but i restart the ramp when it gets there lol. and im def. going to talk about some sleeping meds.

The machine in your profile is showing as being a Bi-PAP Auto. Is that right?

Take a look at your machine again.

Den

annie123 · Post by **annie123** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:15 pm

The recognition that your thinking has to be positive is huge. Most of us struggled to get used to the treatment, but trust us, the treatment is far better than the alternatives! Keep up the positive thinking and try again after the holidays. I know I am much less stressed this year than I have been in the past now that I am getting good sleep due to the therapy.

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:19 pm

Den - You're right, I looked and saw the word auto and overlooked the bi-Pap part. Can a bipap even be set to work as a straight cpap? Don't remember reading about that.
Kathy

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:22 pm

kteague wrote:Den - You're right, I looked and saw the word auto and overlooked the bi-Pap part. Can a bipap even be set to work as a straight cpap? Don't remember reading about that.
Kathy

Yes, it can be......but WHY?.....and it would seem to be counter-productive (or at least a little strange for an expensive machine).

Den

williexwhip · Post by **williexwhip** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:06 pm

yeah its an m series bipap auto. it goes from 11 to 15. i guess i worded it wrong?

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:49 am

Willie,
You've got a very sophisticated machine that does a number of things, and can do many, depending on how it is set up.

On a bi-pap, the two numbers you were given 15/11 mean your pressure for inhaling is set to to 15, and the pressure for exhaling is set to 11. The inhale pressure is called IPAP, the exhale pressure is called EPAP. When you inhale , you need the higher pressure to keep your airway from collapsing. When you exhale you can do with less - and that makes therapy easier to tolerate.

Ramp lets you instruct the machine arrive at the target pressure gradually. The may be helpful for some, but on the other hand, if your ramp is too slow, you may be drifting to sleep when the Inhale pressure is only - for example - 8, and you get an apnea or hypopnea which jolts you awake. So you hit the ramp, drift asleep, get jolted awake - etc. Which is why it may be better for you to try to fall asleep without using the ramp if you can. The ramp is a comfort feature which sometimes screws the therapy.

In addition to being a bi-level machine, which supplies a different level of pressure for inhale and exhale, your machine is also an automatic machine - that can have a range of pressures defined separately for the IPAP and the EPAP. Whether it was set up like that depends on what the script was, and on what your DME did.

A third feature on this machine, an important comfort feature, is called bi-flex, and it make the beginnig of exhalation and the beginnig of exhalation easier.

Browse this site for more infomation about your machine's capabilities:

http://sleepapnea.respironics.com/technology/

I would not ask for sleep medication.

O.

impossible

impossible

It can be done. .

Can't sleep with mask on

Machine type

Re: Machine type

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Armini about every other week for travel.