New to CPAP Talk

[AnotherElizabeth]

This is my first post to this group. I just wanted to introduce myself.

It sounds from reading your posts that most of you have sleep apnea. I have Hypopnea that came with my Post Polio Syndrome.

I used a Respironic Bi-Pap for a few years about ten years ago. Was able to function nicely without it for the past 10 years and now am back on it. I went on in the summer and it has been one rocky adjustment. I've had a new machine for a few weeks, ResMed VPAP III ST-A and Humidaire 2i with several different masks, Swift the latest.

I am missing whole nights of sleep and drifting off as the sun is rising. I'm frustrated with my new machine...is more technical than necessary, I think. And it does things I don't understand yet. For instance, the first night I began to relax with it enough to sleep, every time I drifted off, the alarm went off and woke me. I don't think that is the way it's intended to work.

The local clinician upped my I & E numbers because the pressure was insufficient. She has said that is all the higher she can set them and I'll need a sleep test from a sleep specialist/pulmonologist for further changes. So, today I made an appointment with a local one I've seen before. I don't think the numbers are nearly high enough for me. Set at 8 for inhale and 4 for exhale.

Lots of minor adjustments with all the typical...leaks, sleep positions, masks, etc. and am feeling pretty frustrated at this point....lack of sleep symptoms.

I'm so thankful I found this forum and wish I'd have done so sooner. Might have saved some minor tantrums.

Thanks for being there.
Elizabeth

[bdp522]

Welcome!
You will find a lot of very helpful people here. If you have questions just post them and someone will be by shortly to help. Stop in the chat room some time and get to know us. If all you need is a kind word or to rant a bit...this is the place!

Brenda

[bookwrm63]

Hi Elizabeth and welcome!

As Brenda stated, everyone here is very kind and helpful...all you need to do is ask and there will be many to answer!

Good luck!

Mary

[Linda3032]

Welcome Elizabeth,

I would think that the doctor who prescribed your BiPap for you could authorize the tech to raise the pressure higher -- without a sleep study. At least to see if it works for you.

And that pressure is probably a little low. And the alarm should not be going off. Did you get a manual with it? Did the tech say why the alarm went off?

[AnotherElizabeth]

Thanks, Linda, for responding to my post.

Yes, I do have a manual. I have not spoken with the tech since that happened. I'll get back to her after I've seen the Pulmonologist and have spent a few more nights on it. I haven't spent an entire night on it yet, have had it for 10 days....it's still pretty much on and off. I still have my Respironics Bipap and have been using it when all else fails with the ResMed. Hopefully I can ditch it soon....it's 13 years old and on it's last legs, I think. It only has about 3 1/2 actual years use on it but nonetheless, it is faltering.

I'm needing to make my way through the manual of my ResMed slowly. It's technology on a level I'm not used to. I'm spending chunks of time getting to know it.

Thank you again for posting.
Elizabeth

[AnotherElizabeth]

Thank you Brenda and Mary also for your welcome.

Elizabeth

[Rabid1]

Welome Elizabeth!!!

Does your machine have a leak alarm? If so, that's the first thing I'd check.

Rick

[AnotherElizabeth]

Yes, Rick, it has a leak alarm. I've gotten that alarm several times already. This seemed different because it was timed perfectly with my just beginning to drift off to sleep.

I have a lot to learn and these machines are much more complex than they were actually 13 years ago when I began to use one for the first time. Respironic....straightforward...on and off switch.

Thanks for responding to my post.
Elizabeth

[Linda3032]

I don't know your machine or Bi-Paps, so I'm actually going to ask this question of the forum:

Since the leak alarm goes off just as she falls asleep, could it be that her mouth drops open, she starts mouth breathing, and that activates the alarm?

If that's the case Liz, you probably need to use a full face mask. Check with your Pulmo.