Getting ready for first night... bipap set to 25/15

[TNT]

Okay, I picked up my BiPAP machine today... the prescription is 25/15. Apparently I did well on that at some point during the titration study, but... 25 on the inhale seems a tad excessive.

I got a Philips Respironics BiPAP Pro 660. I asked about the auto-set model, but apparently this is what the doctor wanted. It has a cell modem so everything can be monitored and set remotely, so there's that. It also came with a heated humidifier.

I got a Quattro FX mask.

So, everybody's been helpful so far. Any insights on the equipment and pressure would be appreciated.

Thanks.

T

[Pugsy]

You can go here and request the provider/clinical manual for your machine
http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p ... tup-manual
What you will request will be
PR System One 60 Series BiPap Pro

There may be a SD card under the modem. You can pop it off to check and see. SleepyHead will work fine with that model machine. If you want Encore software send me a private message and tell me what operating system is on your computer.

If you have a Mac and want to use SleepyHead you will have to get the special Patch file for the Mac or use the most recent unstable Mac build. Let me know if you have to do that.

I doubt that the doc ordered that model specifically. Most likely the RX was for bipap and so and so pressure. Be sure to get a copy of the RX for your records.

[mint0101]

TNT--not much insight on my end, but just like you--I picked up my machine today (mine's CPAP). Good luck!

[TNT]

Thanks, Pugsy. There is an SD card on the machine. I'll let you know about the software once I real computer set up.

Mint -- Good luck to you, too!

[SleepDisturbed]

Good luck to both of you!

[Bill44133]

I have pressure of 23/19... You get used to it. Most mornings I have check to make sure that the machine is still working.
Just make sure your mask has good seal on your face. Make sure you wash your face good tonight before putting on the mask.

I wish you good luck!! Let us know how you do........

[avi123]

I am puzzled by what can make a person needing such high pressures. Are they weighing 400 lbs, or been smoking for decades, or been scuba divers, or what?

Take a look at my one year data, I am 6" 1" tall and weigh 230 lbs. I smoked for 30 years until 40 years ago:


My exhaling pressure is 12.1 cm (the 95%) less EPR of 3 cm = 9.1 cm

[DEXSUZ]

TNT:

First of all, best of fortunes. I also have a QFX and have learned how to succeed and thrive with it.

I was a lousy sleeper my entire adult life and began CPAP just over one year ago. Right off the bat, I had many problems but have found nocturnal bliss as I adapted to the gear and the way it works.I've got a simple program that did wonders for my adaptation to assisted sleep. Here it is:

This is the four-step program I devised. I had a tremendous sleep study at the local krankenhaus but ran into a granite roadblock as I attempted to get accustomed to masks on my own. You might want to give this a try:

My main advice is to back away from immediately trying to do all-nighters with your full-face equipment. Use my four-step weekly plan WHICH WORKED WONDERFULLY for me:

1) During the first week sit, watch TV, or read with your equipment whirring away next to you. Get accustomed to the sounds, feelings of the moving air, and all the external trappings of the great chance at quality sleep you are nearing. Do NOT go to bed with the equipment.

2) Take the phone off the hook, draw the shades, evict everyone from the house, don't think about any nearby clock, and loosen your clothing as you lie on your bed in mid-afternoon. Turn on the CPAP gizmo, put the mask on your face, and close your eyes. Think peaceful thoughts, whatever they are to you. At some point in the week you WILL fall asleep. After you have this nap, you'll be amazed at what a refreshing experience it was.

3) During the third week have all your CPAP gear ready for action as you go to bed for the night. As you've done so many times throughout the years, you'll awaken far before morning. When you do, slap the mask on your face and turn on the CPAP gear before your groggy brain has any idea what's going on.

4) After successfully completing the first three steps at your pace, decide on a night (mine was March 3rd, 2013) when you have full confidence and will retire for the night WITH your mask on. You'll succeed!

My biggest mistake was expecting everything to go perfectly from the first night. It rarely occurs because the brain must be retrained after all those years of awakening in the middle of the night. One must be patient and keep anxiety as far away as possible. On March 3rd, I had a goofy sort of celebration to mark one year of refreshing sleep I never had - over four decades - before last year.

By the way, I went to bed at 10:30 a few nights ago and awakened at - ready for this? - 7:45 the morning. For decades that NEVER happened.

Best of luck and God bless.

[OboeVet]

Have patience as a patient! As has been pointed out, it may take you and you team some time to get the mask, pressures and routine tuned into your needs. All the best!
Don

[Denial Dave]

patience and a positive attitude will go a long way to your success

I'm pretty close to your settings, I'm at 21/15.

Once you find a mask that works for you, the next biggest hurdle is solving mask leaks at our higher pressures.

what works for folks with much lower pressures doesn't always translate to success at high pressures.

Also at our higher pressure, you need to understand that obtaining zero leaks is nearly impossible. I'm thrilled when I have a night where the 95% level is below 10.


Good luck

[Denial Dave]

at the risk of diverting the OP's posting

Avi, my pressure is 21/15 I'm 5' 10" and weigh 250.

I've had a life long major gag factor when visiting the dentist. My dentist always complained that my "fat" tongue would get in the way when he was cleaning, doing X-rays, etc....

Then add in a deviated septum

It all translates into to a blockage in the throat. So my higher pressures are probably needed to keep my tongue from obstructing my airways when I sleep.

I have no intention of using a mouth piece, having surgery, etc.. I'm doing fine with this pressure and my nightly AHI is right around 0.2... never felt better !

I am puzzled by what can make a person needing such high pressures. Are they weighing 400 lbs, or been smoking for decades, or been scuba divers, or what?

Take a look at my one year data, I am 6" 1" tall and weigh 230 lbs. I smoked for 30 years until 40 years ago:


My exhaling pressure is 12.1 cm (the 95%) less EPR of 3 cm = 9.1 cm

[TNT]

Well, the first night is done. I didn't sleep a lot... I know I was awake at 2AM and I got up at 7AM, plus I woke up a couple of times during the night. As with the lab titration, I have the subjective sense that sleep was a lot deeper than I remember ever having.

Unfortunately, I don't have any objective numbers... the only computer I have is a Chromebook, so I can't use any of the software that reads the SD card. Even the LCD screen info seems very locked down and I haven't had time to take care of that, yet.

That's about it, I suppose.

PS: For avi, since you asked... I need the high pressure because I have the strength of ten ordinary men.

[Pugsy]

I need the high pressure because I have the strength of ten ordinary men.

Good one. I wouldn't have been so nice because I tend to be bitchy.

To see your data from last night that is available on the machine's LCD screen you need to go into the clinical setup menu and turn "Show AHI" to the On position. By default from factory it is "Off"...this will allow you to see AHI and other data gathered under the Info section on the LCD screen.

Please note that the machine doesn't update to the LCD screen until noon GMT time...so if you get up really early and go look and it hasn't been noon GMT time then it will not have updated.
Also if there is a significant therapy break around noon GMT time then the later session might not be on today's data. It might roll over and be on tomorrow's data.
All depends on how long of a break in therapy that encompasses GMT time. I forget how long the break has to be.

When you do get a chance to use the software...it doesn't matter whether the machine has updated to the LCD screen or not as the data gets written to the SD card immediately upon turning the machine off. So we don't worry about GMT time thing when using software.

[Pugsy]

Oh..I forgot.
Getting used to those pressures is likely going to be a challenge for first time user.
If you can't sleep at those pressures then perhaps talk to your doctor about starting a bit lower and working your way up to those pressures.
Better some sleep and some therapy at lower pressures temporarily than no sleep at all.

[avi123]

Thanks Denial and TNT for the explanations. So it's all anatomical. For some time now I was planning to experiment by lowering my pressure to let's say 7 cm (from 12 cm) and check how many events were left with this pressure. Would it be close to the 42 that I had in my sleep study 3 years ago? If it's below 10 then I could do without any battery power supply during bad weather's power stoppage as is occurring now two hours drive from my home. I would just not use the APAP machine for a night or two.