Hello everyone! I was diagnosed 3 weeks ago with severe OSA and just got started with cpap last night. I had a TERRIBLE night. I was given a remstar pro2 cpap with heated humdifier and a swift mask. The machine is set at 10. On my second test (titration?) they said they didn't get any good results so they were guessing I should be at 10 and then they want me to pay for another test in a month!!! The reason I got bad results was because the tech sucked and was really rude which made me even more uncomfortable so I couldn't really sleep. They have since fired him!! Anyway, all night last night I would start to doze off only to wake up quickly with so much pressure being forced up my nose. I never really got to sleep that I can tell and I finally took off the mask around 5am and got some of my normal non-sleep. I woke up feeling far worse than I normally do (which is really tired) and with a severe migraine. I guess I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions? I feel like there is just too much pressure but maybe I need that? This really sucks right now but I want t to work. My RT is supposed to be calling me today to ask how it went and I don't knwo if I should try a different mask or machine (auto??) or what. I am just feeling pretty lost and confused and tired!!!
Sorry for being so long winded...first post
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): swift, CPAP
Newbie needs some advice/comments
Hi SleepyGeorge,
You sound very much like I did at the beginning - almost 6 months ago. I was terrified by the feeling of the air blowing in and not letting me exhale, taking off the mask in the AM in order to sleeping, tired, frustrated, annoyed - the works.
You hava a number of good reasons to insist on an auto:
* This is not a guessing game, and no one can justify guessing what the right pressure is for you, when there in an alternative in the shape of a self adjusting machine.
* You need help in getting used to the extra pressure gradually. It does happen, but for some of us, not at once. Your muscles have to get used to breathing out against resistance - and they will. But that doesn't mean they can do that immediately. Tell the RT you want an auto to help you comply with the therapy.
*On the second week of my therapy, I was given a machine with the pressure too high for me - I woke up with one of the worst headaches I remember ever, and informed the clinic I am stopping till I talk to a Doctor. After that I had a new RT who listened to me, was given an auto machine for a 2 week trial and now use an auto. Some night I don't get to that head ache causing pressure at all.
*You need to find a mask that is comfortable - one you feel OK in.
*Don't give up. Getting this therapy up and running is not so easy for many of us - it takes weeks. But it's worth it.
*Make yourself time to browse the forum - pay special attention to posts by "rested gal" and "WillSucceed". There's lots of good info in other posts as well.
Come back and tell us - complain, ask. We've been there: we've taken off our masks in frustration, found tips and trick and friends on the forum. You are already one of us - welcome, and hang in there.
O.
You sound very much like I did at the beginning - almost 6 months ago. I was terrified by the feeling of the air blowing in and not letting me exhale, taking off the mask in the AM in order to sleeping, tired, frustrated, annoyed - the works.
You hava a number of good reasons to insist on an auto:
* This is not a guessing game, and no one can justify guessing what the right pressure is for you, when there in an alternative in the shape of a self adjusting machine.
* You need help in getting used to the extra pressure gradually. It does happen, but for some of us, not at once. Your muscles have to get used to breathing out against resistance - and they will. But that doesn't mean they can do that immediately. Tell the RT you want an auto to help you comply with the therapy.
*On the second week of my therapy, I was given a machine with the pressure too high for me - I woke up with one of the worst headaches I remember ever, and informed the clinic I am stopping till I talk to a Doctor. After that I had a new RT who listened to me, was given an auto machine for a 2 week trial and now use an auto. Some night I don't get to that head ache causing pressure at all.
*You need to find a mask that is comfortable - one you feel OK in.
*Don't give up. Getting this therapy up and running is not so easy for many of us - it takes weeks. But it's worth it.
*Make yourself time to browse the forum - pay special attention to posts by "rested gal" and "WillSucceed". There's lots of good info in other posts as well.
Come back and tell us - complain, ask. We've been there: we've taken off our masks in frustration, found tips and trick and friends on the forum. You are already one of us - welcome, and hang in there.
O.
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| Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: Machine: Resmed AirSense10 for Her with Climateline heated hose ; alternating masks. |
And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Good advice is compromised by missing data
Forum member Dog Slobber Nov. 2023
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Good advice is compromised by missing data
Forum member Dog Slobber Nov. 2023
SleepyGeorge:
HANG IN THERE! i was going to reply to your post but then i saw ozij had replied. I could not have said it better! the advice ozij has given you is right on, in my opinion. Some take longer than others to adjust to cpap therapy but doing as ozij suggests will get you going in the RIGHT direction!!! do not hesitate to ask anything on this forum-there are many GREAT people here to help and advise you! i have been on cpap for 11 years and i'm still learning (thats why i got an AUTO machine in July-from advice here)!
best to you,
steve,
ufo13
HANG IN THERE! i was going to reply to your post but then i saw ozij had replied. I could not have said it better! the advice ozij has given you is right on, in my opinion. Some take longer than others to adjust to cpap therapy but doing as ozij suggests will get you going in the RIGHT direction!!! do not hesitate to ask anything on this forum-there are many GREAT people here to help and advise you! i have been on cpap for 11 years and i'm still learning (thats why i got an AUTO machine in July-from advice here)!
best to you,
steve,
ufo13
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| Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: Also use ResMed N30 and ResMed P30i |
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SleepyGeorge
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:23 pm
I think I will try it one more night and if it is still the same (terror) then i will ask for (demand) an auto. Even though my 2nd study sucked, they did use an auto for about 2 hours and I remeber I liked it the best. Thanks for all the words and advice. It REALLY helps to hear it from others who are in or have been in the same boat... I will let you knwo how things progress...THanks
Re: Newbie needs some advice/comments
Hi SleepyGeorge,
I use to freak out when I had the mask on and the air start flowing. What I found is that if I started to exhale thru the nose when I sensed air flow, it wasn't so bad. Just a thought. Hang in there.
Stan
I use to freak out when I had the mask on and the air start flowing. What I found is that if I started to exhale thru the nose when I sensed air flow, it wasn't so bad. Just a thought. Hang in there.
Stan
After life, death is inevitable. Everything in between is negotiable.
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SnoreNoMore2005
- Posts: 228
- Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2005 12:58 pm
Welcome SG
Glad to have you aboard SleepyGeorge,
You'll find loads of good information on this site.
My advice?
Don't ask for... DEMAND an AUTOPAP. It will be the smartest thing you ever did. I started three months ago with a cpap even though my doc recommended an autopap. The DME told me a cpap with c-flex is basically the same as an autopap. Not True.
I had the same problem you do trying to to get used to air pressure blowing up my nose.
Get an AUTOPAP. It is about 1000 times better than a CPAP IMHO, especially is you don't like air pressure blowing up your nose. Also get the software so you'll know how you're doing. Otherwise, you'll be driving blind (as rg says)
Good luck to you.
You can get plenty of help and support on this site.
SnoreNoMore2005
You'll find loads of good information on this site.
My advice?
Don't ask for... DEMAND an AUTOPAP. It will be the smartest thing you ever did. I started three months ago with a cpap even though my doc recommended an autopap. The DME told me a cpap with c-flex is basically the same as an autopap. Not True.
I had the same problem you do trying to to get used to air pressure blowing up my nose.
Get an AUTOPAP. It is about 1000 times better than a CPAP IMHO, especially is you don't like air pressure blowing up your nose. Also get the software so you'll know how you're doing. Otherwise, you'll be driving blind (as rg says)
Good luck to you.
You can get plenty of help and support on this site.
SnoreNoMore2005
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SleepyGeorge
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:23 pm
So I went to the RT office today and they exchanged my cpap for an auto. It is a rental which is fine. I was checking it out and it is a Remstar auto. It does have the sticker on it that says c-flex. The only problem is that I cannot find the c-flex setting anywhere. I have downloaded the manuals from respironics and it looks to me like it is just the auto model with no c-flex. I even went into the setup menu by holding down the arrow keys while plugging it in and no sign of cflex there that I can see. Am I missing something? I don't know if I should even use this or just wait until moday and go back and change it out AGAIN.....Boy this is frustrating. I did put on the mask to try it out and the pressure on exhalation was harder than the cpap machine I had the other night!!!. I'm just not sure what to do!!! My wife says I should just box it back up and wait until monday to exchange it. What do you all think??
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rested gal
- Posts: 12881
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
George, maybe do the unplug/pluginwithbuttons thingie again and look in the clinician menu once more -- to see what mode it is set for. The machine can't use C-Flex unless the mode in the clinician menu is set for CFLE (straight single pressure cpap mode with C-Flex enabled) or AFLE (autopap mode with C-Flex enabled.)
It would be most unusual for a machine to have the C-Flex blue sticker on top, and not really be a machine with C-Flex in it.
While you're prowling through the menu, I'd see if the machine is set for a reasonable range and isn't set "wide open." I'm not a doctor, but to me a reasonable range to use at first, given that they guessed at "10" for you, would be:
Low (Min pressure) - whatever low feels ok to you (most people find at least 5 or 6 to be as low as they like. "4" can make you feel stifled for air.
High (Max pressure) - 14.
Of course it would be much better if you had the software to see what's happening for yourself. That would be expensive to get just for a trial.
George, please send me a PM with your email address.
It would be most unusual for a machine to have the C-Flex blue sticker on top, and not really be a machine with C-Flex in it.
While you're prowling through the menu, I'd see if the machine is set for a reasonable range and isn't set "wide open." I'm not a doctor, but to me a reasonable range to use at first, given that they guessed at "10" for you, would be:
Low (Min pressure) - whatever low feels ok to you (most people find at least 5 or 6 to be as low as they like. "4" can make you feel stifled for air.
High (Max pressure) - 14.
Of course it would be much better if you had the software to see what's happening for yourself. That would be expensive to get just for a trial.
George, please send me a PM with your email address.
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SleepyGeorge
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:23 pm
I tried the clinician menu again. the only things I can see in there are: # of times used >4, led on or off, ramp time, user disconnect on or off, and the pressure settings for low and high. The pressures are set at 5.0 and 15.0 and the ramp is set at 0. I cannot find any other options at all. It doesn't even look like I can switch between cpap and apap....Hmmm...Must be doing something wrong..
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rested gal
- Posts: 12881
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
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SleepyGeorge
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:23 pm
I held the buttons down for around 20 seconds and all it ever shows on the first screen is >4 in the bottom left corner with 144 in the center and an unlocked padlock symbol in the top right. If I press left or right, it shows all the menus I mentioned in the pervious post. The heat/ramp buttons change the values in the menus.
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rested gal
- Posts: 12881
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
George, what you've been seeing as you stepped through the menu sounds right, except for it not ever showing you one of these words:
AFLE (auto mode with C-Flex turned on)
AUTO (auto mode with C-Flex turned off)
CFLE (cpap mode with C-Flex turned on)
CPAP (cpap mode with C-Flex turned off)
When in AFLE or CFLE mode, there will also be an additional item in the menu letting you set C-flex to where you want it: 1, 2, or 3 depending on how much drop in pressure you want to have when you exhale. The drop won't be in exact "cm's"...will just be a vague relative drop, but definitely more comfortable for many people to breathe out against.
One correction...in my other post, I said hold the buttons down until you see the words "Therapy Set Up". No such words will appear. When you get into the therapy menu, all that comes up at first is as you said... and it will be blinking.
This is very strange that it is never giving you an option that shows what mode it's set to operate in.
In fact, when you first get into the set up menu and are seeing the blinking ">4" display, if you then press the RIGHT user button, the machine's operating mode is the very first thing that should come up. Four letters filling the window... AFLE, Auto, CFLE, or cpap.
AFLE (auto mode with C-Flex turned on)
AUTO (auto mode with C-Flex turned off)
CFLE (cpap mode with C-Flex turned on)
CPAP (cpap mode with C-Flex turned off)
When in AFLE or CFLE mode, there will also be an additional item in the menu letting you set C-flex to where you want it: 1, 2, or 3 depending on how much drop in pressure you want to have when you exhale. The drop won't be in exact "cm's"...will just be a vague relative drop, but definitely more comfortable for many people to breathe out against.
One correction...in my other post, I said hold the buttons down until you see the words "Therapy Set Up". No such words will appear. When you get into the therapy menu, all that comes up at first is as you said... and it will be blinking.
This is very strange that it is never giving you an option that shows what mode it's set to operate in.
In fact, when you first get into the set up menu and are seeing the blinking ">4" display, if you then press the RIGHT user button, the machine's operating mode is the very first thing that should come up. Four letters filling the window... AFLE, Auto, CFLE, or cpap.
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SleepyGeorge
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:23 pm
The first screen is blinking. I don't get any of the words you listed at all. The first screen I see when pressing the right button is the user disconnect on/off or 1-0. I have done the unplug hold the buttons thing like ten times now and I never see any other menus than what i listed before. Could it be that this is an older version?? or just busted?? It is a rental. It has something like 1100 hours on it.
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rested gal
- Posts: 12881
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
George, after carefully reading what a message board poster nicknamed "dizzy" wrote in this topic over on the TAS message board:
Sep 05 2005 subject: New Sleep Apnia Patient
I do believe they have given you an old Remstar Auto that does not have C-Flex at all. Since you noted that your machine does have the blue C-Flex sticker on top, it sounds like someone has either accidentally or deliberately put that sticker on an older non C-flex REMstar Auto.
Perhaps a clueless person at the DME thought all REMstar Autos normally have that sticker and assumed it had come off. Maybe they scoured the back room, "borrowed" a C-Flex sticker from an old broken down machine in the back, and slapped that sticker on the old REMstar Auto they are renting you.
Sep 05 2005 subject: New Sleep Apnia Patient
I do believe they have given you an old Remstar Auto that does not have C-Flex at all. Since you noted that your machine does have the blue C-Flex sticker on top, it sounds like someone has either accidentally or deliberately put that sticker on an older non C-flex REMstar Auto.
Perhaps a clueless person at the DME thought all REMstar Autos normally have that sticker and assumed it had come off. Maybe they scoured the back room, "borrowed" a C-Flex sticker from an old broken down machine in the back, and slapped that sticker on the old REMstar Auto they are renting you.
SleepyGeorge
Once you have sorted out the machine, just a thought about the mask.
I was diagnosed in June with very severe apnea and needing a pressure of 10. I was interested in the Swift but my supplier recommended I start with a nasal mask rather than nasal pillow as I might not always be able to use the Swift e.g. if I had a sore nose. It was good advice as the mask (407) allowed me to get used to the flow of air (after a week I stopped using the ramp).
After several weeks I bought the Swift (thanks to this forum encouraging me) and am very happy with it. I'm glad I didn't start with the Swift because the direct pressure on my nose would have unnerved me when starting out. Also my nose was sore for the first few days and I had to switch back to the 407 during the night. I still use the 407 on occasions. With the Swift I have to use the ramp facility (5 minutes) as I still can't handle the sudden pressure.
I would ask for a second mask. Don't give up as any trouble now is worth the result you will achieve.
Margaret
Once you have sorted out the machine, just a thought about the mask.
I was diagnosed in June with very severe apnea and needing a pressure of 10. I was interested in the Swift but my supplier recommended I start with a nasal mask rather than nasal pillow as I might not always be able to use the Swift e.g. if I had a sore nose. It was good advice as the mask (407) allowed me to get used to the flow of air (after a week I stopped using the ramp).
After several weeks I bought the Swift (thanks to this forum encouraging me) and am very happy with it. I'm glad I didn't start with the Swift because the direct pressure on my nose would have unnerved me when starting out. Also my nose was sore for the first few days and I had to switch back to the 407 during the night. I still use the 407 on occasions. With the Swift I have to use the ramp facility (5 minutes) as I still can't handle the sudden pressure.
I would ask for a second mask. Don't give up as any trouble now is worth the result you will achieve.
Margaret