Off to the DME tomorrow...AGAIN!

bethlori · Post by **bethlori** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 9:17 pm

I have been on the cpap for just about 2 weeks and took my regular 3 hour nap today...sans cpap. I just can't nap with that thing on.

I'm also going to the DME tomorrow...AGAIN to get a full face mask. I am not comfortable on either the comfort classic nasal mask or the Swift Mirage nasal pillow system. I "think" I have a deviated septum since I can really only get air through one nostril and my doctor had told me that my throat opening is one of the smallest he's seen. When I put the mask on I feel like I'm suffocating since I just can't get enough air through one side. I am hopeful that the full face will be the best solution so I can breath through my mouth.

Any suggestions as to which one is the most comfortable?

I'm really shocked that this therapy takes a while. I thought it would be the first night.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:03 pm

A couple questions.

What's your pressure?
Are you using ramp? If so, what pressure is it set for?

Most people have a very hard time breathing at 4, which is what the ramp defaults to. This makes you feel like you're suffocating because there's not enough air being moved through the mask to wash out the CO2. Bumping the ramp up to 6 or not using ramp at all often fixes the suffocation problem, even for people with deviated septums.

And to continue not answering your question about FF masks, many here would recommend you go to an ENT and get that nose fixed.

Also, you're going to have an even harder time seeing benefits if you keep napping without your CPAP. You really do need to use it every time you sleep for benefits to start coming through.

bethlori · Post by **bethlori** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:20 am

Pressure is 11, ramp is 4 but I don't use ramp. I will go to an ENT but I will not have any surgery to fix my nose.

CollegeGirl · Post by **CollegeGirl** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:28 am

bethlori - Just for curiosity's sake:

Something you said in another post made me wonder: Do you have C-Flex on? I only ask because I can only generally breathe through one nostril myself, and I still don't feel suffocated. My pressure is similar to yours. Some people who have difficulty exhaling against their pressure describe this feeling as "suffocation" - just one more thing to look at. Not everyone likes/tolerates/is helped by Cflex, of course, but it's one more thing you can try and see if you like. If it's already on, you can try upping it a little to see if that helps.

Good luck

bethlori · Post by **bethlori** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 7:37 am

My machine does not have cflex capabilities. My problem isn't breathing out it's breathing in. I think a FF mask will solve this problem since I'm primarily a mouth breather

taterbug · Post by **taterbug** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:37 pm

bethlori wrote:My machine does not have cflex capabilities. My problem isn't breathing out it's breathing in. I think a FF mask will solve this problem since I'm primarily a mouth breather

Bethlori,

If the machine listed in your profile is correct, your machine IS capable of a C-Flex setting of 1,2, or 3. Now then, it may not have been "enabled" by your DME. I haven't gotten my machine yet (should be here today) but someone else here may be able to tell you how to enable it.

Greg

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): C-FLEX, cflex, DME

bethlori · Post by **bethlori** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:23 pm

Yes you are right and he showed me how to change the c-flex setting. I also got the Ultra Mirage FF mask.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:32 pm

Good luck with your new mask and cflex tonight.

College Girl, love your "happy feet" P'guin. I want to see the movie, but also have yet to see March of the Penguins.

Bonnie · Post by **Bonnie** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 5:46 pm

Linda,
When I saw March of the Penguins I thought it was so boring....I kept falling asleep. A few day later I was diagnosed with severe OSA. I recently saw it again and thought that it was a great movie. Just goes to show, untreated sleep apnia causes a lot of "other" problems, too

I agree, cute little happy feet, College Girl

taterbug · Post by **taterbug** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:26 pm

[quote="bethlori"]Yes you are right and he showed me how to change the c-flex setting. I also got the Ultra Mirage FF mask.

bethlori · Post by **bethlori** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:10 pm

Hi Greg,

Yeah I didn't need a chin strap during sleep study but really the sleep study (in my opinion) is just a vague idea of how you really sleep. When I got home, with the heat on in my apartment and a stuffy nose I was feelign too suffocated. I'm going to try and full face tonight and pray it works. I ahve woken up several times in the night, with the nasal mask only with my mouth open so this is a sure fix

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