I'm new need a little advice

Mageborn23 · Post by **Mageborn23** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 3:59 pm

I've had my cpap machine for about 2 months and it works wonderfully. But recently I've been exhausted and moody and i don't know why. Yesterday my girlfriend told me that she heard me snoring with my mask on. And today i woke up to myself snoring with the mask still on and my mouth closed. Somethings wrong i don't know what i should do. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 4:08 pm

Start by looking at the top of your CPAP and telling us which brand and model you have. Also tell us which type of mask you are using: Full Face, Nasal Pillows or Nasal Cushion and the mask name. You can do this easiest by clicking on Profile at the top of the page and scroll down near the bottom to choose which CPAP and mask you are using and also the humidifier if you have one of those too. The icons of the products are nice, but - they are easier and faster for us to identify if you elect to display them in text rather than the icons.

It would also help if you told us what your xPAP pressure setting is, whether your xPAP has and you use the Ramp feature and also the EPR or C-Flex setting.

With that information we can begin to give you some suggestions or advice. Meanwhile you could also contact your local DME supplier's RT for assistance or even call you sleep lab for assistance. They have no way of knowing that you are having problems and can't help you w/them if you don't tell them you are having problems.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 4:12 pm

Since you didn't fill out your profile with what equipment you're using, I'd guess that you're using a nasal mask and leaking your therapy air out your mouth.....which means you're not getting proper therapy.......which caused the other conditions you mentioned.

Tape your mouth shut, use Polident adhesive denture strips or get a full face mask like mine. Your girlfriend will be glad you did.

IF, by chance, you ARE using a full face mask already, you might need a little higher pressure.

Den

deglorious · Post by **deglorious** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 4:14 pm

try to avoid sleeping on your back...

Deglorious

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 4:27 pm

Welcome to the forum Mageborn23.

After you fill out your profile please click on the yellow light bulb and/or the red question mark. Both of these have a wealth of information on various cpap topics. By reading some of the past threads, the above information and asking questions you should be able to fine tune your therapy so that it works better for you.

Mageborn23 · Post by **Mageborn23** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 5:01 pm

Sorry i didn't give any info I didn't know i could just add them in through my profile. My humidifier is built into the machine. My machine does have me use the Ramp Pressure. My pressure is 4 start and 7 Cpap. I don't know what a flex setting is.

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 5:06 pm

Yep, what Den said. You are most likely leaking from the mouth. All the air pressure is lost when your mouth opens. You can try a chin strap, but they don't seem to work for most. I tape my mouth shut every night, and have had great success with it.

Brenda

thimarine · Post by **thimarine** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 5:42 pm

I use the same mask as you. I have the chin strap, but it doesn't work. I am a confirmed mouth taper. There is an excellent exposition on mouth taping on this forum. I would point you to the correct url but I'm not sure how to do that. It is probably in the collective wisdom portion of this forum. I use 3M three in micropore surgical tape. I put Chap Stik (I like the kind with ex moisturizer) on my lips and turn my lips inward before taping. Leave a small strip taped to the tape on each side for easy removal. I seldom have tape residue in the a.m. If I do, it is easily removed with an alcohol pad (box of 50 is less than 3 bucks). Taping is not recommended the the techs or doctors, but it works for me. My AHI is 0.7. I expect it to go down now that I stepped up a size in nasal pillows. I thought I was a medium but am a large. That's another thing to make sure of--- that you are using the correct size nasal pillow.

Taping is not as scary as it sounds. I've been through a power outage and been able to breathe just fine through the mask vent and able to get the tape off.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 6:39 pm

Here's Rooster method of mouth taping. I use it every night!

viewtopic.php?t=9653

Brenda

Mageborn23 · Post by **Mageborn23** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 6:50 pm

Thank you very much for the advice. I'll try it tonight and I'll let you guys know
how it worked. I just hope that it doesn't freak my girlfriend out to much. She already calls me Snuffalufagus

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:19 pm

I'm glad to see that you have a Resmed S8 Elite CPAP. It is a great little machine. I have one too and love it.

Tomorrow, a half hour or so after you get out of bed in the morning, get a piece of paper and a pen or pencil and go sit next to your Elite. Press the Left and Right buttons and hold them for 3-4 seconds. You will see Efficacy Data pop up in your LCD screen. Press the Left button to enter the next menu. The figure that comes up in the window is the pressure at or below which you spent 95% of the night. Write it down. Press the Down button. The figure that comes up in the window is 95% of the leak rate at or below which you experienced during the night. Write it down. Press the Down button again. That AHI is the number of apneas and hypopneas you experienced that night. Write it down. Press the Down button again. That AI is the number of apneas you experienced that night. Write it down. Press the Down button again. That HI is the number of hypopneas you experienced that night. Write it down. Press the Right button. Press the Down button and you willl see the Usage data.

Left button to Enter, Right button to Exit. Down button to go to the next data, Up button to return to the previous data. And don't worry: you can't accidentally change your therapy pressure or settings from these menus.

The Elite has EPR which is expiration pressure relief (similar is called C-Flex and A-Flex in the Respironics xPAPs). You have the option of 3 levels of EPR. 1 = 1cm of relief, 2 = 2 cms of relief, 3 = 3cms of pressure relief. Be sure to read thru your manual for directions on how to change your Ramp time and your EPR.

IF you opt to make any changes to the EPR level only make one change a week. IF you make any changes to your Ramp time, only make one change a week. It takes a week of data to have any real idea of how well you do w/that change.

You now have access to the data that will help us to help you with suggestions and advice.