Cpap Users: Does anyone have to wait?

[Lewis12]

Does anyone have to wait a few minutes at night before putting their mask on?

I find that if i just lay down and put it on it feels like i am almost drowning. I have to let my breathing slow down before i can put it on. At times, i fall asleep without it being on lol

does anyone else do this? or am i weird?

[mdbarthe]

I don't have that problem, but I'm sure there are a good many folks who use this forum that might have some good advice for you. It would help to know what kind of XPAP you are using; what kind of mask you are using; what your titration pressure is set at; and whether or not you use the ramping feature on your XPAP machine, just for starters.

[TSSleepy]

The first questions that come to my mind are: what's your pressure and do you use a low pressure ramp?

For me, if my pressure is too low or I use a ramp with a low pressure...I feel like I'm not getting enough air at first. That feeling is made worse if I'm breathing a little faster/heavier because I've been running around getting ready for bed.

So here's what I do: I get in bed, roll around and get comfortable for a few minutes, let my breathing slow down a bit, and then launch straight into my moderate pressure without using a ramp.

I use A-Flex and I sometimes find myself breathing a little faster than I normally would when the machine starts up. So I often need to spend a few minutes intentionally breathing slow and deep when I first put my mask on, to "settle in".

[Babette]

When I was first starting therapy, I used this routine.

Go to bed about 30-45 minutes before I planned to sleep. Mask up and turn on machine, while sitting up. Read book while masked up and breathing slowly and deeply. When naturally sleepy, turn out light, put book down, and lay down for sleep.

Might help you.

Now I just do the reading sans-mask, turn out light, pull mask on, and fall asleep.

Good luck!
Barbara

[lewis12]

okay i am using a respironics remstar cpap with 10 cm pressure and a 5cm pressure for ramp
the ramp only last approx 3 minutes before it shoots up

[Babette]

You can change the ramp time. Look at your machine and tell me if it says "Plus," "Pro," or "Auto" on it. Also look for the words "M Series," or not. That will determine which set of directions we send you to change the ramp time.

Cheers,
B.

[lewis12]

okay it is a remstarplus m series with c flex