1st night

[ilvsleep]

I got my cpap and used it for the 1st night. I had some struggles with the nasal pillows. I felt they were noisy and that I had trouble keeping my mouth closed due to the pressure. My pressure is 9 with a ramp of 4.It kept waking me up. As soon as I would fall asleep I would have a huge mouth leak. I think I have a shallow long expiration so I feel like I dont get rid of all my air before the machine forced the air into my mouth. I dont have the software but was able to get into the data from last night. My AHI was 3.6 and it showed no large leaks. Maybe they weren't as bad as I thought? I did take the mask off after 5 1/2 hours because I had to get some sleep before work. I will tape my mouth or try to find something to strap around my head for tonight. I have to say...for me feeling like I didn't sleep...I feel very refreshed today!!!!!

[amos]

Congrats on a good start.

amos

[Janknitz]

Good job on your first night.

Don't expect to see the leaks register on the PRS1 screen. They just don't. It says "large leaks" and it must mean cataclysmic, because I've purposely caused what I'd call large leaks and they never register. Supposedly if you have the software (I don't) you can see the leaks in much better detail.

If you are a side sleeper, you can try my trick for keeping your mouth closed. I push an extra pillow up under my chin. I also use a little chap stick on my lips, just enough to make them tacky so they don't part easily. This does it for me--I never have an issue with my mouth coming open.

[ilvsleep]

Thanks! Yes, I am a side sleeper so I will try the pillow idea tonight. I felt like I had many large leaks through my mouth and wondered why it didn't register. I think I will switch to the smaller pillows tonight too and see if it helps.

[Hawthorne]

The large leaks will show up with the software for this machine.

[ilvsleep]

I am assuming we can't get the software from the DME after he told me..no way no how will you EVER be able to get your hands on the software!! Plus he said I wouldn't be able to undersand it anyway!!!!
So do you purchase the software online?

[Hawthorne]

The software (Encore Viewer 2.0) for us users for this machine, is available at cpap.com. I think it is $99.00.

They have a package with a card reader but the card with this machine is a regular SD memory card and you can use any card reader. Some computers and some printers have card readers on them. I have a card reader built into my printer and that's what I use.

You WILL be able to understand it and lots of people here can help you!

I don't know of any DMEs that will sell software. They have a different one (Encore 2.2) and it is available online but not legally as far as I know.

[elena88]

hi there!
congrats on your first night!

If you are a shallow breather, its going to take awhile to get used to all this..


If you can practice taking deep "belly" breaths during the day a few times a day, it should help you get used to the cpap pressure..


Im sure yoga breathing helps too..

I bought a book on breathing, because Im also a shallow breather, and to make this all work, I think I need to learn to breath all
over again..

I would be happy to tell you how the book goes when I get it if you would like..

hang in there!

[sleepmba]

So far so good! When I first started, I ran across similar problems. I would pull the mask off after the first few hours. But, gradually, I was able to wear it longer and longer.

Janknitz has a good idea with the pillow under your chin...I do the same thing.

Check out my blog, you may find it interesting.