One Month and still struggling...... Noise & APAP Question

[FLKaren]

Hi

I have been reading many posts and trying to absorb the advice of so many. I still find that I am trying to sort out my mask and machine. Tried a nose & mouth mask but found I couldn't sleep on my side (which is what I mostly do). I have gone back to my LT Swift with the original small size nasal pillow - seems the most comfortable, however I still have not been using my cpap consistently. Last night I tried again but experienced a loud noise - sort of a tapping...... noise which seem to come from the hose but I couldn't find any obstruction. It stopped if I put the hose down off the side of the bed rather than hooked to the top of the swift and behind my head - which has been the most comfortable in the past... I was so frustrated with the noise (which distrubed my husband from a sound sleep) that I tossed it off after what seemed like a few hours but when I check this morning I had only been using it for an hour. Any thoughts??

I am also considering would a Auto Pap be better for me?? I have seen a few people exclaiming the benefits. So hence my second question - What is the benefits of APAP vs. a standard machine? Is it worth the extra money? I don't have a read out to look at my stats, I am not sure if a read out is necessary or not, my doctor says I have mild OSA but I am sure my husband wouldn't agree.... Thanks
Karen

[flavita]

Hi,

I am also struggling with the CPAP what is an APAP.? You can write me back at flavita@pacbell.net

[Babette]

Hi Karen!

Sounds like you were having "rainout", which is moisture condensation in your main hose. It can collect and "gurgle" which can sound like tapping.

1) Cover your main hose. Variety of things out there to do that with. I recommend Padacheeks latest hose cover: http://www.padacheek.com/. They work better than the SnuggleHose brand, which are cut too narrow, and are a royal pain to get on and off.

You can also make your own very easily. I did. I just sewed up a tube of fleece, making it generously wide, and then tied off the ends with lengths of Velcro One Wrap cable ties.

Another vendor of fleece wraps: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5525230

And lastly - my new favorite tube wrap - the Resmed zippered wrap. Works great!
http://www.directhomemedical.com/hose-t ... cover.html

I just linked to this vendor because our host doesn't carry it.

2) Other issues may be your mask. I'm a side sleeper, and I find most masks aren't very stable on me. The most stable I've found is the Nasal Aire II. It's counter intuitive, but the prongs up my nose are MORE comfortable than any other mask I've tried. And it stays put. And I can side sleep unencumbered. I run a free test drive for this mask. See the links in my signature lines below.

3) Lastly, try PurSleep. http://www.pur-sleep.com. It's an aroma therapy product that really helps patients get used to their cpap therapy. After nearly 2 years, I still use it every night.

Good luck!
Babs

[kteague]

An autopap has some features a cpap doesn't. A pressure range can be set and you will stay at the lower pressure until the machine senses an need to increase the pressure. Some love them. Some are sensitive to the pressure changes and their sleep is disrupted. They can be especially helpful if one's fixed pressure isn't adequate, then the apap can find the needed pressure. An apap can be run in cpap mode. A cpap cannot be run in apap mode. Sleep docs often aren't fond of apaps. If there's any question about your pressure, some docs will order a 2 week trial on an apap just to check out the data. There are cpaps that are data capable, and to me, having data is most important. I started on cpap without data unsuccessfully, used an APAP for about a year (loved examining the data), but have been on a data capable cpap for well over a year. Long as I've got my data, I'm good. My pressure is only 12, and doesn't bother me enough to matter if I could stay at a lower pressure part of the night on apap. Then again, I'm also content with a vehicle with manual windows and doors, so while bells and whistles are appreciated, I don't have to have them. When ones treatment doesn't require an apap, then it's a matter of personal preference. Sounds like so far your issues are mask and hose related rather than machine. But if you're not satisfied with your machine, hopefully you haven't had it long and can swap it out without too much hassle.
Kathy

[FLKaren]

Thanks Babs for the info on the tapping noise, that makes sense to me as I'd not used the machine for quiet a few days so I guess it could have moisture building up. I will also try a cover and also have been thinking about the aroma option too.

Thanks for your help.

Karen

[FLKaren]

Thanks Kathy for the info on the Autopap - my setting is only 9 so I guess if I understand your feedback correctly that it might be over kill at this stage?? I guess I could ask my doctor. It would be good to see some data though as I wonder how effective the treatment is as I've not noticed a great change but then I've not been very consistent too.

Karen

[plr66]

Karen, I had the same experience during my first week. Try decreasing the HH level. Also keep your hose under the covers and hanging down straight from your face if you can (rather than snapped to the top of your head where the hose is exposed to likely colder air, causing condensation inside). The hose cover is nice for making the thing more cozy. And be sure to hang your hose every day to dry it out. I use one of those over-the-door clothes hooks for that purpose.

[kteague]

Karen, even if an apap isn't necessary, if you could get a data capable machine, that could prove helpful in troubleshooting if you continue to have problems. I know this is a bit strong but I think non data capable cpap machines should go the way of the typewriter (no offense to any typewriter diehards). Not because data is bells and whistles, but because it's a tool to better optimize cpap therapy. I wonder how many of the statistically high cpap dropouts would have persevered if they weren't so frustrated with "stab-in-the-dark" resolution attempts? There's something about knowledge that is empowering. And measurable progress and successes are motivators. Ok, off my soapbox now.