Loss of pressure

I have been using my new CPAP machine for about 2 months now. I am set to a pressure of 12. In the beginning, the pressure seemed very strong which made it difficult to sleep. Now it seems as if the pressure is not as strong? Is there a chance that the machine may be faulty? Are there tests I can do? I have a data card, but no program to read the data. Any thoughts?

I also should not I use a PR System One REMstar Pro CPAP Machine with C-Flex Plus and a full face mask.

You are probably just getting used to the pressure, so it doesn't bother you as much. You said that the pressure "used to make it difficult to sleep". Does that mean you are sleeping better? If so, then be happy instead of concerned - it means the CPAP is doing what it's supposed to be doing, and that you are adjusting well to therapy.

I should also have added: when do you have a follow-up with your doctor? After your first two months, it should soon be time to check in with him or her. Who provides your CPAP? You can call the place that rents it to you and ask for a printout of your data from the machine; that would tell you if your AHI has come down to acceptable level (the number of times you have breathing issues during your sleep).

It is, of course, technically possible there's something wrong with your machine. The first thing to check would be to look at the display on the machine when it's running and it feels to you like there is less pressure. See what pressure the machine thinks it's putting out.

If your machine is set to have a ramp function, don't forget to take that into consideration.

Then, put your hand near the exhalation vent on your mask and feel how much air is blowing out. Get a feel for how much air comes out. You can use this as a way to get a quick idea whether the machine is working, and if it's producing a good pressure. You can also stick a finger under the edge of your mask and see how much air flows out. If you had a nose mask instead of a face mask, you could simply let some air flow out your mouth and see how much air is flowing out.

When the machine is running and it feels like the pressure is low, turn the machine off and feel the pressure as it goes away and comes back on. In particular, feel how your mask "balloons up" as the pressure increases.

When you first get a CPAP, it feels a bit like you're blowing up a balloon all the time. After a while your "lung muscles" adjust to the pressure and you don't feel it nearly as much.

After using my CPAP for years, sometimes I feel like there's no pressure and I'm just breathing normally, until I open my mouth and feel the air flowing through. When I first got the machine, I definitely felt it the first few weeks.

Thanks for the replies. There is a ramp up option for my machine, but only if I hit the button next to the dial. Maybe I am just getting more used to the therapy. The mask definetely still ballons up when I turn on the machine. The biggest change is that when I exhale through my nose I no longer feel that strong pressure, as if it is hard to exhale. This changed so quickly that I thought there might be concerns with the actual pressure. Hopefully I have just become accustomed to it.

WantSomeSleep wrote:Thanks for the replies. There is a ramp up option for my machine, but only if I hit the button next to the dial. Maybe I am just getting more used to the therapy. The mask definetely still ballons up when I turn on the machine. The biggest change is that when I exhale through my nose I no longer feel that strong pressure, as if it is hard to exhale. This changed so quickly that I thought there might be concerns with the actual pressure. Hopefully I have just become accustomed to it.

I don't feel the exhale pressure at all now. It went away pretty quickly after starting CPAP. This is on a pressure of 12. As long as you're not feeling suffocated or feeling like you're having more apnea problems, I wouldn't worry.

You can buy a pressure meter. I saw one listed for $30 or so. I've been tempted to make my own U-tube manometer using water and a CPAP hose, but haven't gotten around to it. It wouldn't really be convenient and would be a good way to accidentally get water back into my machine, too.