Waking Up In A Hurricane

ILevine · Post by **ILevine** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:14 pm

here is my problem. I go to sleep with the ramp on and I am out until around 6am when I feel the pressure in my mask . I feel like my nose is in a hurricane. Is this normal? Or am I not breathing and the machine is taking over? I am using a M Series Auto C-FLex apap machine. My mask is Comfortlite2 nasa interface. I use the mask over my nose....thanks for your help...

skjansen · Post by **skjansen** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:57 pm

What do you mean by a "hurricane" in your nose? Is there water sputtering out of the mask on to your face? Perhaps someone can reply if you can explain further.

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:48 pm

You mean you aren't used to having a wind tunnel strapped to your face yet?

Stick with it, your body will acclimate with time. Somebody gave this concept a term but I can't remember what they called it. Your body gets used to the pressure and then one day you wake up wondering why the machine isn't on--only it is! Flow tilt! That is what they called it.

There is hope. With practice and perserverence there is hope!

Jen

Stefernie · Post by **Stefernie** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:03 pm

socknitster wrote: Stick with it, your body will acclimate with time. Somebody gave this concept a term but I can't remember what they called it. Your body gets used to the pressure and then one day you wake up wondering why the machine isn't on--only it is! Flow tilt! That is what they called it.

I've had that happen. WOOPIE!

Wolfmarsh · Post by **Wolfmarsh** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 5:10 am

Thats funny because I am actually sitting here on CPAP.com wondering if i should order the pressure gauge so I can make sure my machine is still working. The pressure doesnt bother me at all anymore.

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 5:50 am

People often post describing the hurricane.
This is very confusing and may thought of because the open ended hose and pillows or mask will have air coming out at a relatively high velocity.

It changes the instant you put on the mask and at that point there will be an increase in PRESSURE, but there will not be the continuation of increased VELOCITY.
The air coming in should be no different in velocity that the air we breathe normally.

If a person senses a great air flow, it must be the result of a leak, not as described.

This is simply basic physics and any other interpretation is flawed.

If we breath in with force, then there may be an increased flow, but this is very minimal and ceases at full inspiration.

Our mind plays tricks with our intuition sometimes.

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:32 am

Well, tomjax, I took physics too and you can tell me all you want about the physics of how our device works. My concern is with comforting a fellow patient who FEELS overwhelmed and FEELS like there is a hurricane strapped to his face.

For beginning users (and I only started xpap 6 weeks ago, so I remember what the first nights feel like!) it FEELS different from breathing room air. It feels like there is a hurricane or wind tunnel or some other device of torture strapped to your face. Telling him or her it isn't so, cannot help with compliance. It cold only discourage someone who is already discouraged, possibly near a breaking point.

Telling him or her it will get better, and I assure you it will, CAN help with compliance.

My goal is to keep people from putting their machines in a closet and dying before their time, K?

Jen

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 7:45 am

I was in a hurricane once (Alicia I think it was). My buddies and I had a hurricane party, got drunk, and we went up on the roof of the house to get a better view of the debris flying around ... wow check out that trash can flying over that tree! ... and there goes the Ramey's patio furniture!

SisterShotgun · Post by **SisterShotgun** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:19 am

Yes, it feels as if there is a hurricane strapped to your face. I found it hard to exhale the first night, but that passed and now I have no trouble at all. The first time I placed the mask on my face and turned the machine on I thought how in the world am I going to get used to this..I did, and now I sometimes have to pull the mask away from my nose to make sure the thing is on. Give yourself time and you too will get used to the mini-hurricane..

Snoozing Gonzo · Post by **Snoozing Gonzo** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:23 am

My son and I went on a cleanup and rebuild trip to the Gulfcoast shortly after Katrina. I don't think, even with alcohol, I could have been there during the storm. I'll stick with drought and wildfires.

That said, my first thought was similar to Tomjax's; a mask hurricane is a major leak that needs to be addressed. By the end of the post I finally understood (color me slow I guess) that it was just a cool metaphor... its hard to breathe against the wind.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 3:39 pm

ILevine wrote:here is my problem. I go to sleep with the ramp on and I am out until around 6am when I feel the pressure in my mask . I feel like my nose is in a hurricane. Is this normal? Or am I not breathing and the machine is taking over? I am using a M Series Auto C-FLex apap machine. My mask is Comfortlite2 nasa interface. I use the mask over my nose....thanks for your help...

Your profile shows a REMstar Pro 2 and a Mirage Swift II.
You also didn't specify what your pressure (range) was or what your Ramp start pressure and the amount of Ramp time. Also, if you're using C-Flex, what is your setting?

My guess is that you're leaking air out your mouth and the machine is increasing pressure, trying to compensate for the air loss.

Tape your lips shut, use Polident adhesive strips between your lips to keep them sealed OR get a full face mask.

Hang in there.

Stefernie · Post by **Stefernie** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:27 pm

Here ya go...

*drops off hurricane window clips*

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:35 pm

Anonymous wrote:
ILevine wrote:here is my problem. I go to sleep with the ramp on and I am out until around 6am when I feel the pressure in my mask . I feel like my nose is in a hurricane. Is this normal? Or am I not breathing and the machine is taking over? I am using a M Series Auto C-FLex apap machine. My mask is Comfortlite2 nasa interface. I use the mask over my nose....thanks for your help...
Your profile shows a REMstar Pro 2 and a Mirage Swift II.
You also didn't specify what your pressure (range) was or what your Ramp start pressure and the amount of Ramp time. Also, if you're using C-Flex, what is your setting?

My guess is that you're leaking air out your mouth and the machine is increasing pressure, trying to compensate for the air loss.

Tape your lips shut, use Polident adhesive strips between your lips to keep them sealed OR get a full face mask.

Hang in there.

johnnygoodman · Post by **johnnygoodman** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 7:53 pm

Howdy,

Please forgive an oversimplified answer if you are already familiar, but could you be experiencing rainout?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo5B4MKQAfQ

https://www.cpap.com/downloadVideo.php?VGID=16

Johnny

ILevine · Post by **ILevine** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:26 pm

No rain out. The mask gets really loud. I can hear the wind/pressure increase and it wakes me up. It seems to be around 6:30-7am. If I hit the ramp button I can get back to sleep. It just seems to increase pressure in the early morning and wake me up . My ramp pressure is at 4.0.My prescribed pressure is 4.5-10.0

Waking Up In A Hurricane

Waking Up In A Hurricane

hurricane

Re: Waking Up In A Hurricane

Re: Waking Up In A Hurricane

Mask

Additional Comments: Pressure at 17

Mask