2nd night on cpap! Help

[southerngal]

Hello, I just got my cpap machine Monday. My problem is that when I put the mask on and the air starts to flow (ramp for 20 min), I feel as if I am suffocating and have to breathe through my mouth (I have a nasal only mask). Is this a common problem with others when they started out? Should I be sitting up for awhile and then lay down? Thanks

[Pugsy]

What are your pressure settings?
If ramp starts at 4 cm, likely it is too low to be comfortable. You can turn Ramp off or set it to start a little bit higher so you can be more comfortable.

[Froro]

I had the same problem when I first started too. I moved the ramp up to 5 minutes and found that better. They had the ramp pressure set at 4 which was suffocating.

I have turned off the ramp completely now but try it at 5 minutes and see if that helps initially. Good luck!!

[pitrow]

I too had that same problem my first night.

My machine was set to start at 4 and ramp to 10 over twenty minutes. At first I felt like I was trying to suck air through a straw (probably because that's exactly what's happening).

I bumped my initial pressure up to 5.6 and ramp to 15 minutes. Seems to work good for me. When I first lay down there's just a little bit of that sucking through a straw feeling, but within a couple minutes the pressure has come up enough that I don't notice it at all.

[millich]

I agree with the others to increase your initial ramp pressure.

When you feel the need to open your mouth, take a few deep breaths in fairly rapid succession to see if that helps.

In the beginning, I found I really had to focus on my breathing when I first put the mask on. It just felt so unnatural. I occasionally still have to when I first put it on (but then, I'm only 3 weeks in). For me, that's not an entirely bad thing. Focusing on my breathing helps me to drift off to sleep quicker.

Hang in there - it does get better!

[harry33]

try not using the ramp at all
relax, get comfortable in any position, you dont have to lie on your back, and take deep slow breaths at full pressure

[khemicals]

Hey,

We can be n00b buddies, we both started on the same night. I had the same issue the first night.

Here's what I did:

I upped the minimum pressure to 6
I enabled EPR (the exhale pressure relief), set to 2

The first change was to ensure there was enough air flow that I felt like there was enough air to breathe. The second change (enabling EPR) made exhalation easier. This essentially rid me of the breathing through a straw sensation.

Sleep well,

David

[spacetoast]

Add me to the list of noobies who started xpap on Monday night too!

My apap machine came set at 4 too. Since I was titrated at 9cm, I decided to set the minimum pressure of the machine to 8cm and disabled the ramp feature totally. It takes a few seconds to get used to it when you strap on the mask, but I think it the long run, it won't really matter whether you start on ramp or not.

Grrr! Be tough! You think your grandpa had a ramp feature back in the day? Heck no! He used a vacuum cleaner motor run in reverse

[khemicals]

Grrr! Be tough! You think your grandpa had a ramp feature back in the day? Heck no! He used a vacuum cleaner motor run in reverse

Grandpa used the exhaust port on a shop vac, much easier than reversing the motor

[millich]

Add me to the list of noobies who started xpap on Monday night too!:

Wow! Monday was a big night around these parts, wasn't it???!!!???

[Babette]

It's very common. Takes all of us some time to get used to therapy. Took me 8 weeks, 6 different masks, and numerous machine setting tweaks to get to the point where I could stand to wear it all night every night. Another 3 months before I saw improvement.

Keep at it, and keep posting, and we'll help the best we can!!!
Barbara

[JThalman]

I had the same problem, and turned off my ramping as well. I find it quite comfortable to turn on the CPAP, adjust it to fit, and begin breathing even at full pressure. Sure beats that "pillow on the face" feeling I did have...

[buzzies]

Hi there, this is my first post so I hope it gets through ok. I relax a short while in bed without the mask on and allow my breathing to slow to a steady rythm, then I slip on the mask and switch on without using the ramp. It also allows my sinuses to settle down and clear. I'm lucky to have an understanding partner and if I drift off to sleep without the mask she wakes me when I snore (which is literally seconds after falling asleep) Hope this helps, good luck,

[Rustyolddude]

DME set my ramp to 6cm and 20mins. I think I used it the first 2 or 3 nights. Then I went straight pressure 10cm with the C-Flex set to 3. I've been at it 4 weeks now? Over 200 therapy hours. The past 2 mornings I swear I woke up wondering if my machine was working or not, I was certain the pressure had dropped off. I find myself checking the mask vent at night to see if air is still coming out. Smart card says all data is normal. Moral of the story: it does get easier, really!

[toddl1962]

I've been on my machine for 5 weeks. It took me 3 weeks to be comfortable with it, there are just so many little nuances you have to get comfortable with. Perhaps a sleepaid would help. The first night you sleep all night with it you will get a lot of confidence. 2 nights is not very long but I know it's hard to be patient when you are tired!