I have trouble exhaling when using CPAP

Hi,

I recently started using my CPAP machine again after a year-long hiatus after trying it on and off for a bit. You might as well say I'm a new user. I couldn't figure out how to make it work for me and the person responsible for my case is no help at all. She knows how to operate the machine but that's about it. I'm left in the dark when it comes to treating sleep apnea. I ended up getting frustrated and stopped trying to use the machine.

Anyways, I decided to give it a shot again and I think my weight has become a factor. I've gained around 50 lbs over the last year and a half and I'm wondering if my machine can't handle it. I'm currently standing at 6'2 with 325lbs to give you a good idea. Basically, when I exhale, my throat briefly closes for a split-second which abruptly cuts the air current, keeping me awake. It's hard to explain, but it's like I have a "flap" behind my nasal cavity. I've tried messing around with the automatic settings to see if it would help to no avail. Last time I tried sleeping with CPAP, I had the pressure on 12 with no min or max, but I'm really just pressing random buttons hoping something works.

The reason why I really want to get CPAP working is because I subconsciously roll on my stomach when I sleep (easier to breathe) and it kills my neck. I wake up with the worst cervicogenic headaches imaginable. I'd rather be permanently drowsy than deal with these headaches at this point.

EDIT: I have no clue why my equipment isn't showing. I have a Resmed 10 with a n30i nasal mask.

Your machine most likely has an exhale relief setting...is yours on? ResMed = EPR , Philips = Flex

.

LSAT wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 20, 2021 7:11 am

Your machine most likely has an exhale relief setting...is yours on? ResMed = EPR , Philips = Flex

It is on. Do I want it to be on? I just edited my post (I had no clue my equipment wasn't showing before I went to bed). I have the Airsense Autoset 10.

http://cpaptalk.com/viewtopic/t181835/S ... ryone.html

Sticky....

melonpaste wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 20, 2021 8:41 am

LSAT wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 20, 2021 7:11 am

Your machine most likely has an exhale relief setting...is yours on? ResMed = EPR , Philips = Flex

It is on. Do I want it to be on? I just edited my post (I had no clue my equipment wasn't showing before I went to bed). I have the Airsense Autoset 10.

Yes..You want it on. It can be set to 1, 2, or 3 depending on the amount of pressure reduction you want on exhale.

It would be great if you could get yourself set up with Oscar (see link below). You'll need a laptop or desktop, an SD card in your machine, and a way to read the card. (If there isn't an SD slot in your computer, you can get a cheap card-reader to plug in. If you don't have an SD card, get whatever is cheapest.)

The data displayed via Oscar can be a tremendous help in offering advice to people like you who suspect their settings should be revised. Give it a try and post a Daily chart, would you? Include the side panel with the calendar turned off, and include just these graphs:

Events
Flow rate
Pressure
Leaks
Snores
Flow limitations.

If the pressure is 12 when you inhale, setting EPR to 3 will mean that the machine will drop the pressure to 9 when you exhale. For me, 9 would be difficult to exhale. Therefore, I second the recommendation to use OSCAR as identified above.