Now I understand...

[early2rise]

Hi everyone,

I finally picked up my Resmed S9 Auto yesterday and slept with it last night, well sort of. I was exhausted as always but could not fall asleep with it on. I tried to take my mask off just long enough for me to get sleepy but I must have dozed off and never re-masked. But I think last night was the wrong night to try it as I have work today and I'm under a lot of stress right now. Tonight I am making the commitment to have the mask on all night and see how it goes.

I remember feeling like I was going to snore and waking myself up. Not sure if I need to turn the ramp off or try it again.

FYI settings are:

Auto
Min 5.6 cm H20
Max 8 cm H20
ERP 3
Ramp on 20 min

[Pugsy]

With a minimum of 5.6 cm ramp may not be needed. Starting ramp at 4 cm may seem rather stifling, like not enough air is moving and possibly contribute to anxious feeling which could mess with falling asleep.

[wolewyck]

You might also try keeping it on for a while when you are awake, just to help get used to it...

[ameriken]

You might also try keeping it on for a while when you are awake, just to help get used to it...

I put it on about 20 or 30 minutes before I actually go to sleep and read or do something else to give me time to acclimate. Then when I got noddy, I'd turn off the light and go to sleep.

[xenablue]

Ditto on what ameriken does - I watch a DVR'd episode of Jeopardy with my mask on - that 20minutes is enough for me to get mask fit perfect and start getting sleepy.

The few times I put mask on and tried to go right to sleep didn't work well for me.

Cheers,
xena

[pap4life]

If you felt like you were going to snore,,,,,you probably already did.

CPAP therapy won;t help a thing with the mask lying on the night stand.

Stress from family, work or the idea of wearing a mask on your face is ...well... stressful..

Put the mask on, keep it on tonight (all night) and I'll bet tomorrow, some of the stress will be reduced..Good Luck

[jabman]

I think the only to get used to the mask is to wear it. Putting it on 20 minutes or more before bed is a good idea. I used the ramp feature for about 6 months thinking it was helping me get used to the pressure but it always felt like I wasn't getting enough air so I finally turned off the ramp and now I dont have that problem.

[early2rise]

You might also try keeping it on for a while when you are awake, just to help get used to it...

I put it on about 20 or 30 minutes before I actually go to sleep and read or do something else to give me time to acclimate. Then when I got noddy, I'd turn off the light and go to sleep.

Thank you for all the support and suggestions. I will try putting on the mask while reading tonight and see how that works out. I'm going to turn ramp off tonight. I remember feeling the same way during the titration.

[early2rise]

I took several of the suggestions here and the last two nights have gone much better. I almost feel energetic this morning, like the mountainous list of things I have to get done today isn't a problem

I did get sleepy during the day yesterday but I forced myself to stay awake and so far its paying off as I used the machine for 8.2 hours! AHI was 1.8. I never sleep for that long and I only had 1 wake up when i was too hot and had to adjust the room temperature. Enthusiasm is starting to build as I feel such a big improvement after just a few days.

Waiting on my card reader then I will have more detail and may adjust the min and max pressures accordingly.

[wolewyck]

Good for you! Sounds as though things are working very smoothly. Particularly under those circumstances, I would hold off on making any adjustments for a while, and just wait and see-- there doesn't seem to be an obvious need for tweaking, and it's good to give your body time to adjust.