winded from cpap

[sonnichs]

I am new to the CPAP machine. I have an auto-calibrating one. It am fine with it until early morning. The pressure at this times seems to rise to about 12. I notice I am winded at that point, much like and asthma attack. The problem abates if I shut off the machine. My respiratory therapist didn't have any further advice about it. Has anyone else experienced this?

[Julie]

What machine do you have - not e.g. 'Resmed', but the fullest name and model you can give, and that will tell us if you have one that lets you adjust relief of exhale pressure, presuming that's your issue (if it isn't, please describe what is more clearly if possible).

[Wulfman...]

I am new to the CPAP machine. I have an auto-calibrating one. It am fine with it until early morning. The pressure at this times seems to rise to about 12. I notice I am winded at that point, much like and asthma attack. The problem abates if I shut off the machine. My respiratory therapist didn't have any further advice about it. Has anyone else experienced this?

Along the lines of what Julie said, you need to find out (and tell us) what specific brand and model of machine you're using. Also, what all of the settings are, including any exhale relief, humidifier settings, which mask, etc.
If your machine is data-capable, there is some software available that could tell you what's happening.

I suspect that it's the changing pressures that are disturbing your sleep and breathing. If that's the case, either narrowing the pressure range or switching to a single pressure setting may help.


Den

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[sonnichs]

Thanks for the replies. I have a Resmed Airsense Autoset 10. It does have an exhale relief setting-the therapist reset it 2 days ago to ease exhalation.

The machine is almost useless with regard to reporting what is going on and when. It has an SD card but the data is in binary and apparently the reading software is a coveted item reserved for physicians. There are a few nominal user settings that don't apply to much--the user is shielded from the important ones. I don't expect to go in and tamper with the settings but I am pretty disappointed that I cannot even read the log and track pressures vs. time etc. Up until now the process has been waiting a few days at a time for a response from the therapist. She really doesn't offer much information, tampers with a few settings and then we wait a few more days.

Going into this I probably should have requested a machine that was user accessible. Given the present situation perhaps the best thing to do is just set it to a fixed setting as you mention.

thanks
Fritz

[Pugsy]

Making the data available on the LCD screen is easy.
Just have to set it to "Essentials Plus" and there is data on the machine LCD screen.
https://sleep.tnet.com/home/files/resme ... -guide.pdf
You can read about how to do it in the manual.

As far as software...SleepyHead will work with it
https://sleep.tnet.com/equipment

and you can find ResScan if you look
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread ... -available

[Wulfman...]

Thanks for the replies. I have a Resmed Airsense Autoset 10. It does have an exhale relief setting-the therapist reset it 2 days ago to ease exhalation.

The machine is almost useless with regard to reporting what is going on and when. It has an SD card but the data is in binary and apparently the reading software is a coveted item reserved for physicians. There are a few nominal user settings that don't apply to much--the user is shielded from the important ones. I don't expect to go in and tamper with the settings but I am pretty disappointed that I cannot even read the log and track pressures vs. time etc. Up until now the process has been waiting a few days at a time for a response from the therapist. She really doesn't offer much information, tampers with a few settings and then we wait a few more days.

Going into this I probably should have requested a machine that was user accessible. Given the present situation perhaps the best thing to do is just set it to a fixed setting as you mention.

thanks
Fritz

Yep! What Pugsy said.
Your machine is definitely fully-data-capable, user accessible and the software (Sleepyhead and ResScan) is free.

Most of us have found that our therapy improves after we take control of our own therapy. "Education" is the key.


Den

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[ChicagoGranny]

It am fine with it until early morning. The pressure at this times seems to rise to about 12.

It is typical to have more REM sleep in the early morning hours. Muscles are the most relaxed in the REM stage. When muscles are at maximum relaxation, obstructive sleep apnea is worse and it is common to need a higher pressure to keep the airway open.

If you use the software and check that your CPAP therapy is indeed optimized, then hopefully your body and mind will adjust to the higher pressure.

[sonnichs]

OK and thanks to all of you!
Your replies were a big help.

It turns out that my machine was shipped with a subset of the manual which was quite useless. The version that Pugsy passed along was what I needed. I also was able to run the Sleepyhead software which was what I needed. The plots are really informative and I now have a much better idea of what is going on and can have intelligent discussions with the therapist. I am not trying to push the "experts" aside but nobody knows me better than me

I think Wulfman summed it up well:
Most of us have found that our therapy improves after we take control of our own therapy

Cheers All
Fritz

[ChicagoGranny]

The pressure at this times seems to rise to about 12. I notice I am winded at that point, much like and asthma attack.

I thought of something else last night when I used this common "trick". If you awaken because the pressure has run up to a high level, turn the machine off and then turn it back on (Or, let it AutoStart.)

When it comes back on it will be reset to your minimum pressure or your beginning ramp pressure. Then you may be able to fall back asleep and if your body later needs a higher pressure, the machine will respond appropriately.

I went to bed at 11:00 last night and fell asleep quickly. My min pressure is 10. I awoke at 2:30 and the pressure was running 15. I used the "trick" and fell back asleep quickly and slept until 6:00.

The plots are really informative and I now have a much better idea of what is going on and can have intelligent discussions with the therapist.

Or you will know so much more about your therapy than the therapist knows, you will bore with speaking with her and discontinue the conversations.

[sonnichs]

Thanks for the trick. I actually tried something like this the other night and it seems to work. I am running 5->13 right now.
I guess my (rather shallow) lungs were becoming so inflated that I couldn't exhale in time-I was really short winded when it woke me up. Adjusting the exhale pressure seems to have helped. I have to look at the manual when I get a chance and see if I can find more about the adjustments that can be made there.

thanks again
fritz

[ChicagoGranny]

I am running 5->13 right now.

Not to complicate things at this point, but I never felt comfortable with a min pressure below 7. Others report this also. This has nothing to do with apnea. Just breathing while still awake, I would feel like not enough air (slight suffocation).

Your experience may be different.

[yaconsult]

Welcome - you're in the right place! It sounds like you've gotten the advice you needed. It's a shame how little information we patients are given. The more involved people are in their therapy, the better they seem to do.

Your machine has three levels of exhalation relief with 1 being the least and 3 being the most. It's a matter of trial and error to find out what works best for you. And you will get used to it as you use it.

What a relief getting sleepyhead is, huh?! Getting a look at all that interesting data that the machine hides from you. It is superior to the official software which is designed to produce written reports. With sleepyhead, you can zoom and pan and slide your way through the night and take closeup looks at anything you like. We also post screenshots from sleepyheads when we have questions about different aspects of our therapy.

[sonnichs]

Interesting comment about minimum pressure. I will keep this in mind. I am sticking with the therapist for now but when that period ends I will try adjusting some things like that so thanks again.

Yes-I agree that the healthcare community has bordered on irresponsible in this endeavor. I understand the liability issues and the reluctance to let the "patients run the hospital" but as has been mentioned here the CPAP interaction with the patient is apparently a highly individual thing and I don't think there is any other way of succeeding without a lot of patient feedback and interaction with the therapist and the machine. My only fear is that someday the "safety sissies" will password protect the software and files. Then I guess its down to my workshop with the soldering iron

Sleepyhead is great. They've done a really nice job on the reporting and the plots have been very useful for me to decide what is going on. I keep a mental log of issues I have at night and then look at the plots in the morning.

I work in engineering and physics, designing electronics and software not dissimilar to what the CPAP/Sleepyhead does so I have a high level of appreciation here.

cheers
Fritz

[chunkyfrog]

I showed Sleepyhead reports to my sleep doc, and he got excited!
He turned my 15 minute appointment into 45!
Please note, I showed him DATA, but did not attempt to offer diagnosis.
He now prescribes full-data machines only!
Sometimes you are lucky, and your doc is a tech nerd.