First night on apap

[lightsleepernomore]

Last night was my first night use. I had a AHI of 5.6 pressure median of 11.3 Pressure set at. min 5 maximum of 18. ramp on at 4.6 for 25 min. EPR on set at 3. I had a hard time getting used to it. It fells like I am sufficating and had a hard time catching my breath for the first hour or so.. will this go away in time? I also felt like i swallowed some air and was not to rested.

[brazospearl]

You might adjust to it, but it kinda sounds like your minimum pressure needs to be raised. If you shorten the ramp time and the feeling of suffocation reduces with a shorter ramp-up, that could be a sign that the pressure should be bumped up.

[Wulfman]

Last night was my first night use. I had a AHI of 5.6 pressure median of 11.3 Pressure set at. min 5 maximum of 18. ramp on at 4.6 for 25 min. EPR on set at 3. I had a hard time getting used to it. It fells like I am sufficating and had a hard time catching my breath for the first hour or so.. will this go away in time? I also felt like i swallowed some air and was not to rested.

With those settings, you WERE suffocating.
Unless you have major aerophagia or GERD issues, you need to get your minimum pressure up (at least) to near your indicated median pressure.

But, I'm glad to hear you made it through your first night......


Den

[elena88]

Hi there!
Congratulations on making it thru our first night!

I swallowed a bunch of air the first week, but two months down the road, not anymore..

Im on apap too.

I also thought I was suffocating, but none of that now either.. so dont give up!

It will get better!

I have a wide open apap range as well, but I like it, as I am a shallow breather, and cant get to sleep with pressures
over five.. Most people dont like that wide open range, so you may have to do some tweeking with it..

[lightsleepernomore]

Thanks for the replies. It gives my some comfort. My wife thinks i look like a space man and our dog wont come near me with my mask on. With my insurance deductible and auto cpap and sleep study i spent over 5000 so I hope this works out.

[rosiefrosie]

Last night was my first night use. I had a AHI of 5.6 pressure median of 11.3 Pressure set at. min 5 maximum of 18. ramp on at 4.6 for 25 min. EPR on set at 3. I had a hard time getting used to it. It fells like I am sufficating and had a hard time catching my breath for the first hour or so.. will this go away in time? I also felt like i swallowed some air and was not to rested.

With those settings, you WERE suffocating.
Unless you have major aerophagia or GERD issues, you need to get your minimum pressure up (at least) to near your indicated median pressure.

But, I'm glad to hear you made it through your first night......


Den

Agree, raise your minimum pressure and that will take care of the feeling of suffocation. Congrats on making it thru your 1st night. It will get better.

rosie

[elena88]

Your wife will get used to it, and you can play astronaut..

Give your dog some steak or chicken when you put the mask on every night..

if they afraid of the mask, let them sniff it, if they are afraid of YOU with the mask, the treats should
work..

if they are afraid of the sound, just leave it blowing and feed them some treats near it while its blowing..

My dogs cant wait for me to "mask up"

UNLESS YOU HAVE A YOUNG PUPPY, DISREGARD THE SNIFFING THING, THEY WILL EAT YOUR EQUIPMENT!


OUCH on the five grand! I know your pain, we paid a fortune too, but you cant put a price on your health, so dont give up, it WILL
be worth it. ( strokes and heart attacks cost a lot more)


Anytime you think you cant take it, or have a problem, or an idea, come here..

Also, dont make any big decisions when youre upset and frustrated with your machine... thats when people give up..

There really isnt an option, YOU MUST do this, you will get thru it!

Keep us posted!

[cpapernewbie]

you should consider yrself very lucky. In my first week I cannot stand using CPAP for more than 15 minutes. Then I dropped out - returning my trial straight CPAP to the DME.

6 months later - after browsing the internet and talking to real CPAP users I returned and achieved success with an Auto CPAP - the old tank, buy auto M series etc etc

[wil]

Don't give up... I agree that the wide range is a problem... What's your 95% pressure?

Just for starters, I'd try 2 or 3 cm less than your 95% and see how that helps. It really helps to know where you're spending most of the night. Believe it or not, the machine (especially yours) is VERY good at knowing what you need. Trust it, and don't start at 5 cm if you're spending most of the night at 12 cm... Was there a reason they gave you such a wide range? Have you had your titration study yet?

The ramp isn't doing you ANY favors at this point. You're at such a low level to start, and the ramp starts insignificantly lower. The ramp is really only useful to most people if they're starting at 9 or 10+. A ramp from 4 to 5 cm is hardly noticeable.

Trust us... it will get so much better you'll wonder how you ever slept without a machine. I live in fear of the day mine doesn't come on (no backup yet...).

[lightsleepernomore]

Yes i had my titration study. The doctor wrote out my script for auto cpap set at 5 to 15. I get obstructive and central apneas. I will try raising the min and the ramp a little for tonight. Let ya all know tomorrow

[lightsleepernomore]

Last night I had my pressure set at min 8 max 15. I hit the max pressure a few times and it stayed there for a few minutes at a time. Should i raise this so it has some reserve.

[brazospearl]

I wouldn't raise the max yet. Generally, you need to wait several days to spot a trend before you play with your pressures, so give yourself a little time and watch your data. Did the feeling of suffocation lessen with the increase in your minimum pressure?

[lightsleepernomore]

Yes i did not feel sufficated thank you.

[wil]

Yes i did not feel sufficated thank you.

Sounds like progress to me! Definitely give it a few more days and see how it goes. Raising the max may be what you need, but you really do need a better idea of where you trend. The theory is that high pressure can possibly cause central apneas if you're predisposed for them, and having too high a pressure can likely interfere with your normal breathing patterns (playing with your body's autonomic nervous system).

The beginning is a series of baby steps closer and closer to therapy that is truly beneficial and that you can live with. It's better to measure progress than to measure the distance you've come. Once you get this tackled, I'm sure other issues will pop up... but fear not! The fine people on this forum have helped me a great deal, and I'm trying to pay that forward with my limited knowledge...

Sleep well!

[pdean44]

Congrats on your first night. Sounds like you ar eoff to a great start!