Newbie with questions about pressure

ffarmer · Post by **ffarmer** » Wed May 02, 2007 4:06 pm

Hi folks,
I've been using CPAP for just over a month, and trying to find the right pressure (with my neurologist). How do you know if you are on too much pressure? Too little? What sort of symptoms are there for each? My sleep has been so messed up for a while now, that I don't know what is apnea, what is discomfort from getting used to wearing a mask, and what is pressure problems. So if someone could help me identify pressure symptoms, that would help.
Many thanks.
Frances

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed May 02, 2007 4:13 pm

Hi Frances.

Welcome to the forum!
Would you mind filling in your "profile" so we'll know what kind of equipment you're using? Also, if you could tell us how your machine is set up.....pressure setting, C-Flex or EPR.....stuff like that.

Best wishes,

Den

tangents · Post by **tangents** » Wed May 02, 2007 4:40 pm

Hi, Frances!

You've come to the right place for help. Like Den says, if you post some more information, the kind people here will do their best to set you straight. Good luck!
Cathy

ffarmer2 · Post by **ffarmer2** » Thu May 03, 2007 10:48 am

Thanks for the responses. I went into "profile" but I wasn't able to type anything - how do you fill it in?

In the meantime, my machine is REMstar/auto C-Flex, with a Respironics humidifier, and ComfortClassic nasal mask. The pressure was set initially at 6, and increased to 7.5. I am on Provigil in the day.

I sleep well for a few hours then I wake up and I'm awake for a while. I will eventually go back to sleep, but that period of being awake is recent for me. My sleep apnea was brought on by a head injury in a car accident two and a half years ago (I was hit head on by a drunk driver). I also developed seizures as a result of the injury.

The excessive sleepiness after the accident was at first thought to be due to my injuries (others besides the head injury) and pain meds, as well as meds to control seizures. Eventually I was off the pain meds, still am on the seizure meds, and was referred for a sleep study where the apnea was diagnosed in the "severe" category. On CPAP since the end of March.

Still sleepy, trying to determine if I am not getting enough sleep due to waking up, and is that because the pressure is not the right level, or is it due to seizure meds, or still recovering from injuries, or having difficulty sleeping because I'm still adjusting to sleeping with a mask, or sleepy because I'm still recovering from injuries, or some combination thereof!!

Anyway, in trying to sort through this, I wanted to ask what symptoms to look for that would indicate too little or too much pressure, as that would be helpful in trying to determine what's what.

Thanks again.
Frances

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Thu May 03, 2007 4:26 pm

You need to be logged in to enter info into your profile.

Brenda

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Thu May 03, 2007 4:31 pm

Frances,

You have come to the right place to get friendly help - if any of us use words or acronyms that are unfamiliar, don't hesitate to ask for clarification.

Sometimes you may be referred to the top of this web site where there is a link to terminology but most of us realize it is so much easier when we interactively explain things.

Good luck with your learning quest

DSM

JohnSerrano · Post by **JohnSerrano** » Thu May 03, 2007 5:03 pm

Hi.

I´m also new to sleep apnea. I've been diagnosed severe. Like Frances, I don´t know right now if I'm not sleeping any better because of the wrong prescribed air preassure or from my not getting adapted to my nasal mask.

My sleep study showed severe sleep apnea with a few obstructive apneas, several central apneas, and a lot of hypoapneas. My titration showed that I only need a preassure of 4, which I feel it's not being enough, for I'm not feeling any better and I sometimes feel like I need more air from my mask, like I soffocate a little.

My doctor won't believe I'm sleeping badly, so I feel I need to change doctor. What´s the right doctor to see? An otorrinus, a neurologist, a neumologist? Respiratory technicians don´t exist here (Colombia, South America). I´ve had trouble finding treatment, for it seems as if there aren´t specialists or specialized sleep centers for sleep apnea.

I also seem to have PLMD or sleep related seizures/jerks, which makes me sleep even worse. I´m taking Piramex, but I´m not having any improvement, for it can be caused by the sleep apnea or not. We don´t know yet.

Will switching to an Auto CPAP make me have a more detailed track of my apneas at night, and therefore, success in finding the right preassure for me? Or should I go trough another titration?

I sleep on my stomach, which has been difficult adapting to sleeping with my nasal mask. Are there appliances for this? Any advice on this?

Sorry to throw it all out at you guys like this, but I´m desperate. Thanks.

John.

cflame1 · Post by **cflame1** » Thu May 03, 2007 5:05 pm

John,
If you'd fill out your profile that would be a good place to start... machine and mask are things that would help, and so would knowing if you have the appropriate software (if your machine is even data capable).

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Thu May 03, 2007 5:07 pm

John, please complete your profile so we can see what equipment you are using.

Newbie with questions about pressure

Newbie with questions about pressure

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