Felt Suffocated with Full Mask & APAP Years Ago -- Recommendations for Second Try?

[ccompton]

The pressure range I thought was pretty low 5-15 per the prescription I have that I attached. The neurology office actually looked at the machine itself as they weren't sent reports, and they said it was doing what it was supposed to be doing, but I have no recollection of the data. I'm hoping to actually be able to use OSCAR this time to see this information and get help with it. I never really felt educated. Rodg never felt the need for education as the BiPap worked for him but for me it was a struggle. Now, my new PCP wants me to try again so I'm willing to try again.

I hope I can resolve the feeling of suffocation. Even if my fatigue stays the same, the doctor said that she was concerned my apnea was impacting my diastolic blood pressure since its gone up and I've read that is a risk factor with my heart. I do have family history of heart issues, blood pressure issues, etceteras so I took what she said and that is when I started looking and found you guys.

This is a resource I wish I'd known about years ago. Thank you all for doing it, as its a big help.

CLC

[Pugsy]

Without knowing all the settings on the machine when you used it that 5 to 15 range doesn't mean much.

5 cm is extremely suffocating for some people. My own sister couldn't use anything less than 6 cm without saying she was suffocating.
Plus if you were set up to use the ramp which starts at 4 cm...that can be uncomfortable as well.

There's a lot more involved than just that 5 to 15 range...was it doing a good job?? were maybe your suffocation feelings in the middle of the night related to maybe some sort of apnea event or just a problem with the mask at whatever pressure was going on when that happened.

I suspect that your pressure probably never varied much from 5 cm but I don't know for sure.....lots of stuff we don't know and to be honest if we knew I don't know if it would give us the definitive answer we need at this point.

With 5 cm...EPR really can't work its magic...and that's even if you had EPR enabled.

Too many unknowns and it might just be best to start fresh and monitor closely and deal with things now instead of what happened in the past.

What I would like to see you try to start with is
7 minimum...and whatever range we come up with and 15 is as good a number as any. I doubt seriously you ever came near it but if you do...we can deal with it.
Also...make use of EPR and set it to 3 full time...
and give the nasal pillows a try...see what happens.
Not going to worry about mouth leaks right now...going to worry more about you using the machine all night and see what kind of pressure response we see....as well as your own sleeping response.

Target goal to start with...simply get you sleeping comfortably all night with the mask and machine in use.
If you can't sleep...nothing else matters much does it?

[SwirlySauce]

I'm not a seasoned CPAP veteran by any means, but I dealt with that air hunger/suffocation feeling for the longest time. It turns out that I was using the wrong "Mask Size / Mask Type" (depending on which machine you're using) setting for the mask I had.

I was using a Resmed mask with my Philips Respironics machine. Philips' user guide specifically states that a setting of x0 should be used for any non-Philips masks. This is blatantly incorrect and likely just covers the company of any liability.

In any case, changing the x0 setting to x1 and x2 resolved that suffocating feeling for me. If upping the air pressure higher alone doesn't work, I would recommend having a look at the Mask Size / Mask Type setting and playing around with it.

Good luck!

[ccompton]

I have no idea about that. I just used the mask I was given, and never really played with any settings other than the top and bottom of my range given me by the doctor. I will read to see about the mask information with the machine that should be delivered today.

Thanks,

CLC

[ccompton]

I got my used APAP and gave it a go in a nap. I downloaded Oscar, and I hope it'll show up. I print screened then opened and cut the files into jpg images in MS Paint. There should be 7 in total.

I upped the lower level from 5 to 8 as initially I felt suffocated again and I felt much better at the 8 level. I did not feel as suffocated with the nasal mask with it set at 8 for the bottom level as I did when it was set at 5 years ago

I have Phillips Respironics Comfort Fusion Nasal Mask. I didn't see it in the list of masks when I updated my profile.

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Thanks,

CLC

[ccompton]

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[ccompton]

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[Pugsy]

We don't need to see all those graphs.
See this thread of examples of basic graph formatting.
viewtopic/t158560/How-to-post-images-for-review.html
You can get all we need in one screenshot. If we need anything else someone will just ask.

Naps are notorious for having a lot of awake/semi awake flagging of false positives. I suspect those CAs/centrals at the beginning of the nap are awake breathing false positives.

Let's see what happens tonight.

[zonker]

I have Phillips Respironics Comfort Fusion Nasal Mask. I didn't see it in the list of masks when I updated my profile.

there is a bug in forum software. nobody can get there equipment profile to show up.

if you could, please list machine and mask via your signature, as mine does below.

[ccompton]

Do the straps and gear hurt you guys' faces? I have some chronic pain conditions and I woke last night to take it off as my face hurt. It looks like I got to 4 hours last night.

I'll check that post after my daughter's 8am computer appointment to see how to post last night's stuff.

[zonker]

Do the straps and gear hurt you guys' faces? I have some chronic pain conditions and I woke last night to take it off as my face hurt. It looks like I got to 4 hours last night.

I'll check that post after my daughter's 8am computer appointment to see how to post last night's stuff.

no. you have it too tight.

go to youtube and look at several mask fitting videos. be sure to put your mask in as one of the search terms.

good luck!

[SwirlySauce]

I got my used APAP and gave it a go in a nap. I downloaded Oscar, and I hope it'll show up. I print screened then opened and cut the files into jpg images in MS Paint. There should be 7 in total.

I upped the lower level from 5 to 8 as initially I felt suffocated again and I felt much better at the 8 level. I did not feel as suffocated with the nasal mask with it set at 8 for the bottom level as I did when it was set at 5 years ago

I have Phillips Respironics Comfort Fusion Nasal Mask. I didn't see it in the list of masks when I updated my profile.

The Comfort Fusion nasal mask should be used with a Mask Type setting of X1 according to Philips. May be worth trying higher settings as well if you're still feeling suffocated.

[Pugsy]

The Comfort Fusion nasal mask should be used with a Mask Type setting of X1 according to Philips. May be worth trying higher settings as well if you're still feeling suffocated.

Numerical mask settings like the X1 is only available on the Respironics machines.
OP is using a ResMed machine....there are no numerical mask type settings...only
full face
nasal
pillows

[SwirlySauce]

The Comfort Fusion nasal mask should be used with a Mask Type setting of X1 according to Philips. May be worth trying higher settings as well if you're still feeling suffocated.

Numerical mask settings like the X1 is only available on the Respironics machines.
OP is using a ResMed machine....there are no numerical mask type settings...only
full face
nasal
pillows

My bad. I'm not sure why I assumed she had a Respironics machine. Good catch!

[zonker]

My bad. I'm not sure why I assumed she had a Respironics machine. Good catch!

pugsy knows all and sees all. mwah ha ha ha!!!