Solve a puzzle ??

RJ · Post by RJ » Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:03 pm

Have had the ResMed S-8 Elite with Humidifier about 10 days and haven’t had a lot of success.
I will though.
Ramp time originally 20 min - EPR 3 and a setting of 11cm. A figure of 5 shows on startup.
Wearing the mask produced a feeling of not being able to exhale without exerting considerable extra effort. Also inhaling didn’t give a feeling of getting enough air intake. I’ve had a difficult time understanding the EPR settings. For some reason it just didn’t compute that 3, (the highest EPR) was supposed to provide the least resistance in breathing out until the ramp time expired. .
My Bride of 57 years just informed me that ramp time had nothing to do with EPR. ( By now I should know to give up but I’m somewhat stubborn, hoping I may eventually win one.)
Anyway here is the interesting part. A couple of nights ago I awoke after an hour or so using the mask and felt comfortable in breathing. Not being able to read with the FlexiFit 407 mask doesn’t help my going to sleep promptly. It is my understanding that a longer ramp time gave a greater period of time to adjust to what ever, at the end of that time. By then you are asleep and don’t know the difference. (Sorry this doesn’t make a lot of sense but I don’t know else to word it.) I requested the tech extend the time to 45 min.
Didn’t notice a difference thereafter. However today, experimenting, I lay on the couch and noticed at the end of the 45 minutes I could breathe much easier and had very little trouble with air coming from the mouth. Something changed that allowed much easier breathing when the ramp time expired.
Some what later I adjusted the ramp time to 10 minutes and started again. This time for some reason breathing was easy from the git go.
The only other variable in this is, that I take 4mg of Requip about a half hour before going to bed.
Don’t know if that might be part of this.
I apologize for the length of this but sure would appreciate your help in solving this puzzle.
Any comments would be appreciated.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:36 pm

R.J. I'm no expert and others might respond with other suggestions. But, I would guess that your ramp pressure isn't set high enough to open your air passages. When you lie down, your air passages get compressed, and your pressure isn't forceful enough to open them. After the ramp shuts off, your pressure goes up - thereby opening your breathing passages, etc.

That's just my guess - I don't have your equipment. Try not using the ramp and see if that helps.

Good luck, and watch for additional suggestions.

RJ · Post by RJ » Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:50 pm

Linda3032; Thanks, indications look like this approach may have something to do with it. Certainly will try it and advise results.
Appreciate your comments.

Colorado Jan · Post by **Colorado Jan** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 6:15 pm

R.J......For what it is worth, I've never been able to use the ramp feature of any of my machines for the same reason...I just can't seem to breathe at those lower pressures. Guess I prefer to get right into treatment mode...

Jan in Colo.

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 6:33 pm

I also vote to not even use the ramp.
Maybe it is a sales feature to impress dmes and docs, but IMHO, it is useless.

At least for me. I would bet that most who use it do so because the doc/dme told them to.

Disable the ramp-

I can give you advice on all aspects of PAP, but I am unable to help you win one of the discussions with your wife. I venture to say that none here can either.

RJ · Post by RJ » Mon Dec 19, 2005 6:46 pm

Colorado Jan & tomjax; Thanks loads. Will definitly start without the ramp tonight. I thought the ramp was supposed to ease you into the max setting of whatever. Guess I don't understand this feature.
tomjax, my Wife says thank you.
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Ramp

Lyn · Post by **Lyn** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 8:06 pm

R. J. Raymond wrote: Will definitly start without the ramp tonight. I thought the ramp was supposed to ease you into the max setting of whatever. Guess I don't understand this feature.

You're correct. That is how it's supposed to work. But, IMHO, I think it's more of a benefit to those with higher pressures. Mine runs at almost 11 & I have never used it. Of course, the Dr started me out at a straight setting of 4 & I never had that suffocating feeling that some people have. It's all individual tolerances.

Lyn

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 8:35 pm

I wish I had a way to get my auto ramp the pressure up in the beginning then drop it back down after I am all opened up and asleep. I never need the higher pressure after about an hour.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 12:25 am

Wishing Guest

The depends on your machine!

The PB420E has an initial pressure setting that can be set separately from the minimum pressure - meaning you can actually set the machined it to start at pressure X, and then drop lower than X if the breathing pattern justifies that.

O.

RJ · Post by RJ » Tue Dec 20, 2005 11:49 am

OK here's the scoop. Clocked out at 12:30 am-no ramp-a figure of 11 showing on the screen, (guess that's full throttle for me) and a setting of 3 for humidity, (good old Florida weather).
Spent about 5 min getting adjusted, settled down etc and lights out.
Woke up at 6:30 this morning surprised, with the mask still on. Remembered trying to scratch my nose once last night but that's it.
Had no problems whatsoever with breathing in or out. Felt no restrictions or laboring either way. It's the blankety,blankety RAMP.
I can't figure out why the Tech or supplier were not tuned in to this. I talked them into increasing the ramp time to make life easier till I fell asleep. I had told them of my problems. Turning off the ramp enabled easier breathing. I do realize that this would not work for everyone but would certainly say thats the first thing to check, if your complaints were similar to mine.
Many thanks to all. With my experience (altho not unique) and your help it might make some some other poor soul's life a lot easier much quicker.

RJ · Post by RJ » Tue Dec 20, 2005 2:22 pm

Lets put my above post on hold a day or so.
Just tried to take a nap downstairs and did not have the same results. Lots of air through the mouth. All settings the same. The downstairs is about 3 degrees or so cooler that our bedroom upstairs. That might have something to do with it. However i've had one good session on the couch and one upstairs. Thats better than none.
I realize there will be different results depending on a lot of things, but I was sure we had it. Still might.
Well no pain, no gain. Nothing, but nothing,comes easy.
Will follow up.

sleepylady · Post by **sleepylady** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 3:20 pm

Hey R.J.,

Welcome to the land of hoseheads. Congrats on starting your treatment. I can say it's been a lifesaver for me. It took me awhile to get the perfect combination of pressur and mask so don't give up. I keep getting lots of positive aspects out of it.

Now I'm going to weigh in on the ramp or no ramp idea. I DO use the ramp every night since beginning at the end of September. In the beginning my pressure was 14, though now it's up to a wind-blowing 16. The ramp helps me adjust to the force of it a lot better. I have found putting the ramp on a shorter time is better than longer. I've also found that if my humidifier is set higher, it makes me feel more claustraphobic. Now as to why it's easier to breath after awhile? Your lungs have adjusted. I've found if I get up in the middle of the night, I don't turn off the machine and am fine with the pressure as is. Well that's my experience. Hope it helps.

RJ · Post by RJ » Tue Dec 20, 2005 4:09 pm

Thanks sleepylady. With enough input I'm sure the combination will surface.
Appreciate your help.

RJ · Post by RJ » Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:16 pm

Beats me.
Signed off about 12:55. Set ramp to 5 (experimenting). Humidifier midway, a setting of 3 on my machine. Also used the warmup feature on the humidifier. Allows you to pre warm whatever so you don’t get a cold blast upon startup if using the humidifier. Was definitely made aware when the ramp had terminated (only 5 min) as I begin imitating Don Ho, remember, Tiny bubbles. (Probably before your time). Except they were not tiny. Felt like I was blowing up a blimp. (Small exaggeration.). Anyway much air from the mouth.
Fought it for about an hour and was just about to give up when things clicked. The mask worked its way into the groove just right, no leakage, and no feeling of resistance breathing in or out. Remembered turning over a time or two and then the clock showed 8:30. Wow some 7 or 8 hours.

Conclusions: Everything has to pretty much be perfect for a full nights rest. One of my settings starts off at 5 and peaks at 11cm. I’m not sure what this is but suspect, most important. What I don’t understand I try not to fool with. The ramp allows time to ease into the maximum figure of 11. Some amount of pressure I presume. ( I shall not assume). No ramp time, bam I am full throttle at 11. I could feel a definite change when we reached the cutoff time for the ramp. Mask fit properly, top of the list.
Everyone is different. I hope my experiences might give someone a little shortcut into reaching serenity.
Unless I have some humongous revelation I shall put this to rest for awhile. ( What I say, REST. No pun intended.)
Thanks to each one of you for your help.

popcorn machine · Post by **popcorn machine** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:55 pm

R. J. Raymond wrote: ...Fought it for about an hour and was just about to give up when things clicked...

Sounds like when you quit "fighting" it started to work.

Solve a puzzle ??

Solve a puzzle ??

Puzzle

ramp

Puzzle

Re: Puzzle

Ramp feature

Puzzle Solved ??

Puzzle solved????