Tweaking the settings to finally breathe

Always tired · Post by **Always tired** » Fri Apr 05, 2013 9:39 pm

FINALLY fixed my-- I can’t breathe, claustrophobia, rip my mask off feeling!

I was originally on CPAP at 6.0 for about a year with no real problems when my pulmonologist discovered that I should have been on APAP with a pressure of 5-8 and the switch was made in about November 2012.

Over the last several months I have changed my mask seven times. Quattro, Eson, True Blue, Ahoha Pillows, Swift Pillows, Sleep Weaver and the FitLife FF. Could never find a comfortable mask except for the Eson (and it only came close) that did not feel like I was getting enough air. Assumed that the “I can’t breathe” thing was the result of the mask or a stuffy nose.

I did bump my low pressure setting to 5.5 for two days, but never felt a difference and went back to 5.0.

Last evening a forum member suggested I take my pressure from 5.0 to 6.5. I thought, well maybe 6.0 and made the change to my PR sys 1, then right before bed bumped it to 6.5.
Masked up and freaking Awesome--I can breathe! I did not feel anxiety, suffocation, or the need to constantly sniff and snort to clear my nose. The 5.0 pressure was just not enough for me. Also it wiped out a bunch of hypopneas that had been creeping up lately according to SH.

I don’t know if there is a moral here except that the members of this forum (for the most part, we all have our spats) are a wonderful group of people. Last night was a huge success for me and it all came down to the recommendation of one very helpful member.

Thank you so very very much, and to all of you who have helped me on this journey, thank you too.
Always Tired

sleepstar · Post by **sleepstar** » Sat Apr 06, 2013 6:37 am

Great to hear you're doing much better

Have you got any recent data for us to look at ? Is your AHI < 5? Your window of 5-8 cm h2o (which I'm guessing is now 6.5-8 ?) is small. If it's doing the job though and AHI is controlled and you're feeling great, then I wouldn't think there's need to change

pandatx · Post by **pandatx** » Sat Apr 06, 2013 6:42 am

That made me so happy to read! So glad that you got some good sleep last night. That things finally clicked for you.

Sweet dreams!

Always tired · Post by **Always tired** » Sat Apr 06, 2013 7:02 am

sleepstar wrote:Have you got any recent data for us to look at ?

Sleepstar,
Thank you for your interest and please comment. Perhaps the 8.0 needs to go up a little? My AHI would have been even better if the machine had not picked up those 3 events about 22:20-- I was awake and doing some mask adjustments. Now I need to work on all of the other stuff.
A T

caffeinatedcfo · Post by **caffeinatedcfo** » Sat Apr 06, 2013 7:08 am

Awesome news!!! Glad to hear of your success!

sleepstar · Post by **sleepstar** » Sat Apr 06, 2013 8:11 am

Your AHI is fantastic. Your pressure trace is hitting 8 CM h2o frequently though, it may even hit higher if it has the room to move. Increasing that 8 to 10 isn't going to hurt. Your AHI is great though.

2 B Sleeping Soundly · Post by **2 B Sleeping Soundly** » Sat Apr 06, 2013 8:51 am

A T, this is an awesome and surely welcome change to your therapy! When a missing piece of the puzzle finally clicks into place, PAP therapy can become something truly wonderful! Unfortunately, most of us have a set it and forget it mindset/approach, but as our bodies continue to change and even adapt to our therapy, it can become necessary to reevaluate things and listen to what our bodies and minds are telling us.

I agree with sleepstar that it might be a good thing to bump up the upper APAP pressure a little. As has been said here by one of the wise ones (I believe Pugsy), the machine won't go where it doesn't need to go, so bumping it up to 10 will give it room to work. That is why viewing our machine information is so important, so we can see if we keep hitting our APAP ceiling each night a need to increase it. Otherwise we handcuff the machine from doing what it was designed to do.

Continued good luck with this new change in pressure!

John

quietmorning · Post by **quietmorning** » Sat Apr 06, 2013 8:53 am

THAT'S AWESOME!! Yay!!

Always tired · Post by **Always tired** » Sat Apr 06, 2013 9:05 am

sleepstar wrote:Your AHI is fantastic. Your pressure trace is hitting 8 CM h2o frequently though, it may even hit higher if it has the room to move. Increasing that 8 to 10 isn't going to hurt. Your AHI is great though.

I just changed the settings to 6.5 -- 10.0
Again thanks to everyone,
AT

Xney · Post by **Xney** » Sun Apr 07, 2013 1:36 am

That's great!

Your data looks pretty good, you probably don't "need" to do anything, but a little more room doesn't hurt. Keep an eye out on the pressure readings, for some people the APAP decides it really likes the top of the range for no reason. For most people, it will never touch it.

I have to say personally, I much prefer "too much pressure" from high pressure to "too little pressure" from low pressure. The latter feels like I'm being smothered.

I think with doctors regularly prescribing low pressures and wide-open ranges, it's something we as forum posters need to be very proactive about mentioning.

49er · Post by **49er** » Sun Apr 07, 2013 7:16 am

Always tired wrote:FINALLY fixed my-- I can’t breathe, claustrophobia, rip my mask off feeling!

I was originally on CPAP at 6.0 for about a year with no real problems when my pulmonologist discovered that I should have been on APAP with a pressure of 5-8 and the switch was made in about November 2012.

Over the last several months I have changed my mask seven times. Quattro, Eson, True Blue, Ahoha Pillows, Swift Pillows, Sleep Weaver and the FitLife FF. Could never find a comfortable mask except for the Eson (and it only came close) that did not feel like I was getting enough air. Assumed that the “I can’t breathe” thing was the result of the mask or a stuffy nose.

I did bump my low pressure setting to 5.5 for two days, but never felt a difference and went back to 5.0.

Last evening a forum member suggested I take my pressure from 5.0 to 6.5. I thought, well maybe 6.0 and made the change to my PR sys 1, then right before bed bumped it to 6.5.
Masked up and freaking Awesome--I can breathe! I did not feel anxiety, suffocation, or the need to constantly sniff and snort to clear my nose. The 5.0 pressure was just not enough for me. Also it wiped out a bunch of hypopneas that had been creeping up lately according to SH.

I don’t know if there is a moral here except that the members of this forum (for the most part, we all have our spats) are a wonderful group of people. Last night was a huge success for me and it all came down to the recommendation of one very helpful member.

Thank you so very very much, and to all of you who have helped me on this journey, thank you too.
Always Tired

I am so happy for you AT.

Yup, this forum is the best, no ifs ands about it.

49er

SleepWellCPAP · Post by **SleepWellCPAP** » Sun Apr 07, 2013 8:06 am

Hello Always Tired,

Now that's a great story!

Thanks for posting and great job to whomever suggested the slight pressure increase.

Pretty soon though, you are going to have to change your pseudonym.

Have a great day!

Jim

Tweaking the settings to finally breathe

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