New CPAP user having problems.

[palerider]

1. 24-hour generic Zyrtec once in the morning. Shop around and you should find it cheap.

16$ for a years supply at costco.com, less in the stores.

[ChicagoGranny]

I have an ENT and he prescribed nasal spray that really doesn't help very long. I guess it lasts maybe 3 hours or so. He says I have no serious issues with the sinus area. One thing I just realized is that he has never suggested a prescription allergy medicine. All I have ever taken was over-the -counter and it doesn't work well.

If you haven't seen him since you were diagnosed with sleep apnea, another visit is in order. He should scope you and examine the size and condition of the nasal turbinates, vocal cords, tonsils, adenoids, soft palate and tongue. Once they know you have obstructive sleep apnea, some ENTs take a different perspective on your case. (The really good ones look for signs and symptoms of OSA on the first damn visit.)

[OkyDoky]

If you have a ramp of 45 minutes it doesn't sound like you are at therapeutic pressure for very long. I started out with a bilevel machine from the titration study after I had a hard time exhaling and history of GERD. After seeing some comments here about how sometimes you have to fail other machines and be persistent to get one, I consider myself lucky.
With my pressures of 15/11, I quit the ramp after a couple of weeks because it is a comfort feature and I didn't find it helpful, I have had only one episode of GERD since I started 5 months ago.
Seems like a discussion with your ENT about a bilevel machine would be helpful.

[Mike208]

Well, I had a visit with the sleep specialist this morning. She said the high pressure was definitely the cause of the air in the stomach. It was lowered to 11 and the ramp time was changed to 45 min. instead of auto.

1) not sure how ramp can help with air swallowing

I'm not either but I assumed she knew what she was doing. I could tell there was a change in temp and humidity. It seemed to make the congestion worse.

that's a dangerous assumption.

That can be true. I learned a long time ago what assume means. LOL Yet, I still do it.

[Mike208]

I have an ENT and he prescribed nasal spray that really doesn't help very long. I guess it lasts maybe 3 hours or so. He says I have no serious issues with the sinus area. One thing I just realized is that he has never suggested a prescription allergy medicine. All I have ever taken was over-the -counter and it doesn't work well.

If you haven't seen him since you were diagnosed with sleep apnea, another visit is in order. He should scope you and examine the size and condition of the nasal turbinates, vocal cords, tonsils, adenoids, soft palate and tongue. Once they know you have obstructive sleep apnea, some ENTs take a different perspective on your case. (The really good ones look for signs and symptoms of OSA on the first damn visit.)

He knows about the apnea. He's the one that was pushing for me to get on CPAP. He has run a scope through my nose a couple of times and said nothing stood out that would be aided by surgery.

[Mike208]

If you have a ramp of 45 minutes it doesn't sound like you are at therapeutic pressure for very long. I started out with a bilevel machine from the titration study after I had a hard time exhaling and history of GERD. After seeing some comments here about how sometimes you have fail other machines and be persistant to get one, I consider myself lucky.
With my pressures of 15/11, I quit the ramp after a couple of weeks because it is a comfort feature and I didn't find it helpful, I have had only one episode of GERD since I started 5 months ago.
Seems like a discussion with your ENT about a bilevel machine would be helpful.

It sounds like, to me, a biPAP might be the thing I need. I suggested that yesterday and she said she didn't think it was necessary. But, if one of my other doctors agrees that it's necessary I will get it. It's not her call.

[ChicagoGranny]

He's the one that was pushing for me to get on CPAP. He has run a scope through my nose a couple of times and said nothing stood out that would be aided by surgery.

Sounds like you have one of the good ones.

[Sleeprider]

If you have a ramp of 45 minutes it doesn't sound like you are at therapeutic pressure for very long. I started out with a bilevel machine from the titration study after I had a hard time exhaling and history of GERD. After seeing some comments here about how sometimes you have fail other machines and be persistant to get one, I consider myself lucky.
With my pressures of 15/11, I quit the ramp after a couple of weeks because it is a comfort feature and I didn't find it helpful, I have had only one episode of GERD since I started 5 months ago.
Seems like a discussion with your ENT about a bilevel machine would be helpful.

It sounds like, to me, a biPAP might be the thing I need. I suggested that yesterday and she said she didn't think it was necessary. But, if one of my other doctors agrees that it's necessary I will get it. It's not her call.

Now that is the right attitude! Do YOU know how to access the clinical menus of your device to change settings? Your sense of air starvation early in therapy is from the ramp being too long at too low of a pressure. Also, you can take control of the pressure settings and try to find that threshold where you're not dumping air in your stomach, and if you will download the software already discussed, you can determine if the impact on you therapy is positive or not. Your experience, as you passively wait for the "experts" to get it right, is what drove most of us to take our therapy in hand and do something positive. Someone has to say it, stop being so passive and waiting for someone else to do what you yourself can do today.

[Mike208]

If you have a ramp of 45 minutes it doesn't sound like you are at therapeutic pressure for very long. I started out with a bilevel machine from the titration study after I had a hard time exhaling and history of GERD. After seeing some comments here about how sometimes you have fail other machines and be persistant to get one, I consider myself lucky.
With my pressures of 15/11, I quit the ramp after a couple of weeks because it is a comfort feature and I didn't find it helpful, I have had only one episode of GERD since I started 5 months ago.
Seems like a discussion with your ENT about a bilevel machine would be helpful.

It sounds like, to me, a biPAP might be the thing I need. I suggested that yesterday and she said she didn't think it was necessary. But, if one of my other doctors agrees that it's necessary I will get it. It's not her call.

Now that is the right attitude! Do YOU know how to access the clinical menus of your device to change settings? Your sense of air starvation early in therapy is from the ramp being too long at too low of a pressure. Also, you can take control of the pressure settings and try to find that threshold where you're not dumping air in your stomach, and if you will download the software already discussed, you can determine if the impact on you therapy is positive or not. Your experience, as you passively wait for the "experts" to get it right, is what drove most of us to take our therapy in hand and do something positive. Someone has to say it, stop being so passive and waiting for someone else to do what you yourself can do today.

Thanks! I'm tired of people screwing around, taking their sweet time, while I sit here suffering. I'm currently going through this with the cervical issues I have. Wait, wait, wait, wait. I do know how to access the clinical menu. I have gone in and reset the ramp, lowered the pressure to 8, and put the temp and humidity back to where it was. I'll try this tonight and see what happens. I refuse to wait any longer.

[New guest]

I had a cervical fusion years ago. I still have nerve damage with my face and neck. I still choke on food and liquid. I have a resumed air sense 10 Autoset. I have the H5 I humidifier, setting on auto which is 81 and 4. I use the P10 mask. My pressures are 12 -18. I have air filling my stomach every time I use the CPAP. I was told by the DME to use the maximum ramp. I start to fill up with air after 30 minutes on ramp. I have tried sitting up but get the same result. Pain in my chest, stomach and intestines. I have seen the gastroenterologist. I took a medication to relax the esophogus but I still have the filling with air problems. I have no help to offer just letting you know I have the neck fusion and nerve damage problem. I am following your posts to see if there are any other ideas to help with filling with air. I am actively seeing doctors to get help too.

[Sleeprider]

Way to go Mike!

Do you have EPR dialed in at 3?

[Mike208]

Way to go Mike!

Do you have EPR dialed in at 3?

Thanks! Yes, it is on 3. Tube temp back to 81. Humidity back to 6. Pressure at 8.

[ChicagoGranny]

I wonder what you do for a living? You seem to know how to keep a lot of balls in the air.

[Mike208]

I wonder what you do for a living? You seem to know how to keep a lot of balls in the air.

Balls in the air? No, I can't juggle. I tried that with chainsaws once. The results were not impressive. Just kidding.

[Mike208]

I'm actually retired, more or less. I went on disability for back injuries suffered in 1992. My body has been steadily falling apart ever since.