Fear response?

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 9:53 pm

bigdaddy wrote:Does it still humidify without the heat? I turned it off last night and actually enjoyed the cooler air. What's up with this.

You know the old saying....."If it feels good.....DO IT!"
The unheated/passover method is one that many of us prefer. You still get some humidification and probably won't have to deal with "rainout" and other things that the heated humidification brings. For me, it keeps my nasal passages open during the night and I have a clear head in the morning.

Best wishes,

Den

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 2:12 am

As y'all know, I am an experimeter (survived childhood building black powder bombs, & teen years playing with 'valve radios' & in my 20's working on hi-powered transmitters & radar systems ) & recently have obtained the following humidifiers

1) Resmed 2i
2) Resmed 3i
3) ResMed Humidaire
4) Remstar h/h
5) F&P HC150 with ambient tracking
6) PB420 h/h
7) Respironics passover

I plan to do a write up on the benefits/disadvantages of each, when used with both a CPAP and an APAP.

Todate, I am very happy with each & can't say for certain that one is better than the other as much as I would like to be able to

Cheers

DSM

bigdaddy · Post by **bigdaddy** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 10:29 pm

I meant to ask about ramp features too. I start out with the ramp setting on to be able to fall asleep. I tried today just turning on the machine without the ramp and I felt like a baloon the pressure seemed awful high. The ramp seems to be the way to go, but is there a point where I won't need it?

I really just want to get comfortable with this treatment so I don't even think about it, but right now it seems to be taking a lot still just to use the device when I'm ready for bed.

Before I couldn't stay awake, now I can't get to sleep because I'm not nearly as tired (This is great) but now I'm avoiding going to bed because when I do, my mind is consumed with all these "issues". Am I just nuts?

Thanks for the continued posts!

Bigdaddy.

Colorado Jan · Post by **Colorado Jan** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:13 pm

Big Daddy...

RELAX! Don't worry so much! You WILL get used to this treatment. The CPAP machine WILL work....whether you watch it or not, lol. The ramp feature is there to help you...whether you need that help for a couple of days or the rest of your life, using the ramp feature doesn't hurt a thing.

Glad to see you have had so much success...it will all get to be second nature to you soon!

Jan in Colo.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:49 pm

BigDaddy,

I have found that during my 1st 5 months I kept changing settings to new ones I preferred. I now find myself back to some I started with.

Ramp is one such feature. In the early days I used it while running a CPAP (later switched to APAP). Then I went thru a bout of no ramp. But then I ended up using it again.

Did the same with CFLEX. Stopped using it, then once I got my preferred pressure sorted out & my preferred mask (a f/f) I started using CFLEX again (I was even guilty of say I thought it was a marketing ploy but I now humbly retract that remark ).

I do like using my machine in AUTO mode but because the RemStar AUTO when used at higher settings (14+), have a problem where they can 'runaway' (go to max pressure setting & stay there) I set my max cms at my titration setiing (15) & the lower at 13.5 (machine on av sits at about 14.5).

Good luck

DSM

bigdaddy · Post by **bigdaddy** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 7:50 am

An update to everyone who was so helpful when I needed it. Things are going great!

I sleep all through the night, I leave the mask on, I prefer to have the humidification (I'm still trying different heat settings cause I don't want to go to high) and I stay awake all day long.

I have occassions where I take the mask off at night, but most of the time it's not a problem. This morning I woke up and I wasn't even sure the thing was working because it was so comfortable to breath with it on. I had to break the seal to make sure air was still moving.

Thanks to everyone who helped out and for anyone having trouble, stick with it. You CAN do it!

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 9:38 am

Thanks for the update, bigdaddy - it's wonderful to hear you're doing so well.
O.

Jerry69 · Post by **Jerry69** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 7:26 pm

bigdaddy wrote:I'm still using the machine a feeling better. Not tired during the day. That's the only real difference I feel so far. For some reason I am having a few issues.

What's the deal with humidifiers? I can't decide if this thing is good or not. I like the idea of getting humidified air, but on the lowest heat setting I feel like I'm deep in a rain forest sometimes. Does it still humidify without the heat? I turned it off last night and actually enjoyed the cooler air. What's up with this.

I also seem to be taking off the mask about 6-7 hours of sleep. Then I fully wake up and put the mask back on, but then I start all over getting comfortable with the mask on and getting used to the air and such. What can I do to help myself get used to keeping the mask on all night.

Each night I also find myself wondering "is this going to work tonight or am I going to freak out, or take it off, or some other problem." I know I can do it and I'm not afraid anymore, but there is that nagging voice that something might get screwed up somehow. Is this an unfounded concern?

Anyway, it's working and I'm glad. Just trying to get used to it. Is there a point where all this goes away and it's just "normal" or second nature?

Thanks again!

Bigdaddy,

Here is a topic on humidifying: viewtopic.php?t=6139 Most like it, but some, including me, prefer cool, natural air.

Congratulations on your progress. I've been on CPAP for a month. My first night was panic, too. Seems most CPAP'ers have experienced it. From your post, I'd say you are getting over it.

Jerry

Colorado Jan · Post by **Colorado Jan** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 11:08 pm

Bigdaddy...

For some reason I just now saw the updates to this thread... Just want to say congratulations for sticking with it! Pretty soon you will be at the point where you will have to check to see if there is actually air in your mask every night, lol. I have to...I always just put a hand up to feel the exhaust when I can't tell if the machine is on or not....and yep....I feel the exhaust air and know all is well.

Congratulations, Big DAddy!!!! WHOOHOOOOOO!

Jan in Colo.

Fear response?

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