Need more than 2.5 hours

[alpha752]

I am trying very, very hard to use my cpap after months and months of ignoring it. It is really hard for me to use. I've been doing pretty good about falling asleep with it on, but consistently almost every night I take it off after 2.5 hours. Never more than 3. I am not aware of waking up to a leak or anything, I just wake up, take it off, and go back to sleep.

This is so frustrating. I know I need to get therapy for my OSA but cpap and I don't get along. I even looked into the Inspire implant, but my BMI is too high. How can I keep the damn mask on more than 3 hours?!?!?

[Wulfman...]

I am trying very, very hard to use my cpap after months and months of ignoring it. It is really hard for me to use. I've been doing pretty good about falling asleep with it on, but consistently almost every night I take it off after 2.5 hours. Never more than 3. I am not aware of waking up to a leak or anything, I just wake up, take it off, and go back to sleep.

This is so frustrating. I know I need to get therapy for my OSA but cpap and I don't get along. I even looked into the Inspire implant, but my BMI is too high. How can I keep the damn mask on more than 3 hours?!?!?

It would help if you would fill out your profile so we would know what machine, settings (including humidifier) and anything else you can provide.
There are various reasons for taking the mask off during the night.......and most of us went through that, too. But, the trick is to overcome it and keep it on.
If you're using a range of pressures and they're disturbing your sleep, that may be a cause.
If you're using too low of a pressure and you're feeling suffocated, that may be a cause.
If you're using too high of a humidity setting, you may be feeling suffocated and that may be a cause.

Taping the mask on, wearing some tube socks on your hands to make it more difficult to take the mask off. And, if you wake up and discover it, make sure to put it back on immediately.

Try to give us some more information to go on.


Den

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[PoolQ]

+1
There are treatment settings and "comfort" settings, if you are not comfortable then you will take it off even though it is "working".

[alpha752]

I dont know why it isnt putting my machine info, but I have a PR Series 60 APAP with heated humidifier, and a F&P Simplus FFM. I have the APAP set to 13-20. I dont use a DME, and purchase all of my stuff myself. I think my original prescription said CPAP at 12, but it was a very low sleep result, so thats the best they came up with. I got the APAP on my own, because I figured the adjusting pressure would treat apnea better... it makes sense to let the machine make adjustments to what you need.

The last few days (with <3 hours use each night) I had an AHI between 1-2.5, my 95% and Max pressure was 14.5, my 95% total leaks was 37 (no idea what this means).

[LSAT]

+1
There are treatment settings and "comfort" settings, if you are not comfortable then you will take it off even though it is "working".

I know you are trying to be helpful, but you are having almost the same issues....????
viewtopic/t107152/Need-some-advice.html

[PoolQ]

LSAT, It would seem so and this is why I did not give any advice. In my thread I was asking about how insurance works, I have since been asked for machine settings which I have just given.

[Wulfman...]

I dont know why it isnt putting my machine info, but I have a PR Series 60 APAP with heated humidifier, and a F&P Simplus FFM. I have the APAP set to 13-20. I dont use a DME, and purchase all of my stuff myself. I think my original prescription said CPAP at 12, but it was a very low sleep result, so thats the best they came up with. I got the APAP on my own, because I figured the adjusting pressure would treat apnea better... it makes sense to let the machine make adjustments to what you need.

The last few days (with <3 hours use each night) I had an AHI between 1-2.5, my 95% and Max pressure was 14.5, my 95% total leaks was 37 (no idea what this means).

Not necessarily. Changing pressures can be very disruptive for some people. A person's breathing changes when they enter deep or REM sleep stages and can trigger the machine to increase pressures. This can bump the person out of those needed sleep stages and into lighter ones......including waking them up.

You need to analyze your data to determine what is causing the pressure changes. For all intents and purposes, APAPs won't increase pressures on apneas but will on Snores or Flow Limitations. So, it's important to analyze the data and figure out some of these things.

I've never used a DME either. Have purchased all of my equipment out-of-pocket......insurance reimbursed me for 80% of my initial purchase (I had already met my deductible with the sleep study) but I have not relied on insurance after that.

Those numbers are pretty good, but you need to figure out what's limiting your sleep time. Some of the answers should be in your reports. Are you using Sleepyhead or something else?


Den

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[alpha752]

I have sleepyhead but usually just look at the machine directly.

Should I put it on cpap and see what happens?

[Wulfman...]

I have sleepyhead but usually just look at the machine directly.

Should I put it on cpap and see what happens?

That's definitely an option (I would suggest trying). Your APAP is a "multi-mode" machine. One of the main purposes of this therapy is to get good quality sleep. Everybody's different and each person needs to explore and evaluate what works best for them.


Den

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[alpha752]

Should I set the CPAP to 14 since that's where the APAP would ramp up to? Or what should I set the pressure to?

[Wulfman...]

Should I set the CPAP to 14 since that's where the APAP would ramp up to? Or what should I set the pressure to?

That's probably a reasonable place to start. Or, maybe a little lower if 14 seems a little "stiff" to start off with. But, you've probably been experiencing some pressures that have been that high or higher than that while using your range of pressures.
Let it ride for maybe a week and see what happens. Monitor your data with software and report back on the results.

Right now, the obstacle is the amount of sleep you're getting......and figuring out how to get more.


Den

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[alpha752]

Thanks Den, I appreciate the help!

[alpha752]

Last night, 45 minutes. UGH! Machine was set to CPAP 13. I am so frustrated. I am exhausted all the time, and NEED to get some sort of treatment for my OSA. Im trying everything.

[Julie]

Try taping the straps to your face so if you start to take the mask off, it won't be as easy, and you'll hopefully be alert enough to not do it and go back to sleep.

[knothead]

Try wearing your mask while sitting. I wore mine watching tv just so my brain would get used to having something strange on my face. After I was comfortable sitting while wearing my mask I hooked it up to the generator while watching tv, eventually moving to bed. I don't remember how long I did this BUT it worked. Taking my mask off at night got less and less, now I sleep like a baby. Try it, just may work for u too...