Sudden wakings - have you solved this?

[mkirkwag]

Here's something: I just read for the first time that not all masks work with apap. I've searched Respironics and ResMed and not found anything that says "compatible with this type of machine" or "not compatible with this kind of mask" except this in the Swift literature: "The Mirage Swift II is not compatible for use with ResMed AutoSet CS™ 2 and VPAP™ Adapt SV devices." Well, I have a REMstar not a ResMed, but there's that word "auto"... Does anyone know if the REMstar Auto M Series is incompatible with the Swift II?

[Snoredog]

we solved this already, it was Col. Mustard and Professor Plum found doing it in the den with the candlestick.

[mkirkwag]

I don't get it, snoredog. What is it you want me to understand that I don't? That I'm mouth breathing? I acknowledge that that would be a great answer, but what I asked about that was, wouldn't that show a high leak rate? I have a much lower leak rate than I had when I was mouth breathing - in fact, I have the lowest leak rate I've ever had, including the period where I was was doing pretty well. You didn't say I was wrong in the assumption that mouth breathing would show a higher leak rate - if that's the case, please tell me.

The other thing you mentioned was to raise the pressure, which is what I did...so I'm not getting what's annoying you - just as I didn't understand it the first time. Whatever it is, I'm not trying to - I just don't get it.

[Goofproof]

So the part where I said

Sorry - you're right. I get resmed on the brain. It's a REMstar Auto M Series with C-Flex

didn't count?

I get that the faux confusion is funny - intellectually - but I'm so exhausted and depressed I just want to weep. If ANYONE knows how to raise the pressure on the REMstar Auto M Series with C-Flex[ and would share that information with me, I would be most grateful and possibly regain a sense of humor.

Maybe if you filled out your profile in text form, you could get used to seeing it, and you would be more sure of what you use, as would we. Jim It's not hard to do, and it helps us all.

[Georgio]

"Im hot."

Congratulations, at least you have that going for you!

I don't know anything about apnea yet except I feel rotten.

[mkirkwag]

LOL!! Thanks, I needed that. I can drag you down to the depths. I gather you're just starting therapy? Hang in there - the results are sufficiently worth it that I'm going through all this fuss

[mkirkwag]

Maybe if you filled out your profile in text form, you could get used to seeing it, and you would be more sure of what you use, as would we. Jim It's not hard to do, and it helps us all.

I get that you like that profile. I can't quite articulate why I don't like it, but it's something about communicating personal information directly to people who are writing back as opposed to blasting it out there for thousands of strangers. Not that those strangers care - it just bugs me. Sorry to be frustrating - it's just my pathology.

[roster]

Maybe if you filled out your profile in text form, you could get used to seeing it, and you would be more sure of what you use, as would we. Jim It's not hard to do, and it helps us all.

I get that you like that profile. I can't quite articulate why I don't like it, but it's something about communicating personal information directly to people who are writing back as opposed to blasting it out there for thousands of strangers. Not that those strangers care - it just bugs me. Sorry to be frustrating - it's just my pathology.

It is for your benefit, not for the benefit of the people who are trying to help you. It is no frustration to me.

[OutaSync]

mkirkwag,

I think the reason there is confusion over the type of machine you have is because you mention your leak rate at ".3" The Resmed machines measure the leak rate starting over and above the intentional exhaust rate. So it sounds as though you have a Resmed machine. The Respironics machines, like the Auto M-Series measure the total leak rate and you have to find out what your mask rate is and subtract that from the total to find out how much you are leaking. So, at a pressure of 14, my Activa mask may have an intentional 38 leak rate and if my data says 43, then I know I am leaking from somewhere else. Each mask comes with a chart that tells you what the intentional leak rate is for each pressure. Your AHI is way too high. WE can help you, but we have to know what kind of machine you have so we know what your leak rate should be and if you are leaking from your mouth there are ways to fix that and make your therapy more effective.

Does that make any sense? I'm very tired, too.

Bev

[mkirkwag]

mkirkwag,

I think the reason there is confusion over the type of machine you have is because you mention your leak rate at ".3" The Resmed machines measure the leak rate starting over and above the intentional exhaust rate. So it sounds as though you have a Resmed machine. The Respironics machines, like the Auto M-Series measure the total leak rate and you have to find out what your mask rate is and subtract that from the total to find out how much you are leaking. So, at a pressure of 14, my Activa mask may have an intentional 38 leak rate and if my data says 43, then I know I am leaking from somewhere else. Each mask comes with a chart that tells you what the intentional leak rate is for each pressure. Your AHI is way too high. WE can help you, but we have to know what kind of machine you have so we know what your leak rate should be and if you are leaking from your mouth there are ways to fix that and make your therapy more effective.

Does that make any sense? I'm very tired, too.

Bev

Thanks, Bev. It makes perfect sense...BUT...I have a REMstar® Auto M Series with C-Flex. You can see it without the humidifier right here:
http://remstarautomseries.respironics.com/ That's my buddy with the bright blue lights like the runway of an international airport on my nightstand.

What my smartcard reports is "L/min" which was, last time I reported it, .3. I knocked my mask off a couple of times since, so it's back up to 5.9. One round of something like that can drive the numbers way up because my usage is so low. A good night I manage two hours - a great night, four. I haven't had a great night in awhile. My AHI is coming down again, but that could be because I do so little sleeping with the mask on.

It's hard to see meaningful data with so little usage. I don't know what my problem is. Well, yes I do. It's that waking up the second I fall asleep thing. I don't actually jerk awake most of the time, but just come right to the surface like a hooked flounder. It drives me crazy, and after awhile, I start thumping around into positions where no mask has gone before, so off it comes. Anyway, because the leak rate was happily low by the doctor and DME provider's standards, I haven't explored further, so I probably don't express it the way people who are more into it do. I just read that machine, and as long as it stays in single digits, I'm okay with it. You think I'm wrong? Tell me what I should do.

I'm beginning to think it's a probably not associated with apnea. When I come to (I've started paying attention since this thread started) my lips are sealed, my teeth together, and my ears feeling a bit of pressure. That's with the mask on - no ear pressure with the mask off obviously, but my mouth is closed then, too. I think I'm just terminally middle aged.

[mkirkwag]

LOL!! Thanks, I needed that. I can drag you down to the depths. I gather you're just starting therapy? Hang in there - the results are sufficiently worth it that I'm going through all this fuss

Really, I meant IT can drag you down to the depths, but since I've offered, if you ever need to be dragged down, just give me a holler.

[roster]

.......Thanks, Bev. It makes perfect sense...BUT...I have a REMstar® Auto M Series with C-Flex. You can see it without the humidifier right here:
http://remstarautomseries.respironics.com/ That's my buddy with the bright blue lights like the runway of an international airport on my nightstand.

What my smartcard reports is "L/min" which was, last time I reported it, .3. I knocked my mask off a couple of times since, so it's back up to 5.9. ...........

If your leak rate is 0.3 to 5.9 with a Respironics machine you can quit worrying - you are dead.

[kteague]

Early on in my cpap use, I would wake up within a couple minutes of dozing off every time, and that turned out to be because my ramp was on 4 which was way too low for me. Once I upped it to 6 and shortened the length of time so I wasn't unprotected after falling immediately asleep, I was able to stay asleep longer.

My frequent wakeups since that time have been a combination of what seemed to be impaired sleep mechanisms and ineffectively treated limb movements. Your description of being somewhere between awake and asleep sounds so much like the miserable experience that has been my lot lately. Last week the doctor suggested I take TylenolPM with my Requip to see if it would help me "cross over". It's been a godsend. In the last 5 nights not once have I had that misery. I still wake up briefly a few times, but it is not fitfull. I do know my my legs are still moving, as my days are really rough with painful legs and sleepiness, but at least I don't go to bed crying because I'm dreading it and wake up crying because of what I've through. I've always been resistant to anything to make me sleep, but now I'm just grateful.

Maybe you're already taking meds, but if not, may be time to start, at least till you work thru some adjustments.

[looking4zzzz]

I don't know anything about how well this works, but there is a one-person bed fan called "The Bed Fan" listed on cpap.com. Here's the link: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/tompki ... mfort.html If being hot is a problem (and I can definitely relate!!), then perhaps this gadget would help. Maybe some others on this board could give you feedback if they've tried one.

Good luck.

[roster]

Regarding BedFan: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32638&p=277914&hili ... an#p277914