New User

Hi, new user here. Went for sleep study a week ago. Had 112 "episodes" in the first two hours so they put me on c-pap for rest of evening. O2 sat went up from dangerously low to low so also hooked up oxygen. Yesterday had delivered to me a Resmed S9 Elite Cpap with H51 humidifier heat and an O2 concentrator. During the sleep study, had no problems sleeping or adjusting to the mask or air.

Last night I had a heck of a time. I really don't know how long I actually kept it on at any one time. I kept waking up and finding the mask/headgear laying next to me in the bed, not remembering pulling it off. The only thing I can figure is that with the sleep study, he didn't use the "ramp" just turned it on. The RT who brought up the equipment to me yesterday set a 12 minute ramp on mine. I remember having a feeling of not getting another air even though the oxygen is hooked up to it (doesn't help that I do have a cold right now). I'm thinking I must have pulled it off after falling asleep because of the not feeling I had enough air. I'm wondering if I eliminate the ramp time, will I adjust better? I think I pulled it off a total of 5 times and the last time I did,I even pulled the hose out of the back of the cpap and thats not a real easy task!

Thanks so much for any suggestions,

Lyn

Hi Lyn,
Any idea what your starting pressure is? Many cannot handle 6 or less, they feel like they can't get enough air. For myself, I feel that way with less than 8. Low pressure can feel just as you are describing. However, if your ramp is only 12 min then it should get to the set pressure pretty quick. If you just sit with it on, as the pressure increases does it feel easier to breathe? Do you know what your post-ramp pressure is?

Welcome to the forum.. You are in a good place to get the support you need. Lots of helpful people here. I have been on Bi-Level CPAP therapy since April 30. I had 140 "episodes"
per hour during my first sleep study. Which is severe rating.

I ended up turning the ramp off completely on my machine. I could not adjust to it. Lots of people take off mask during the night it is common issue. It is mostly suggested that
you teach your brain that it is OK to wear the mask. The main suggestion is to wear the mask during the day while watching movie or reading a book.

I wish you good luck and good health

I just checked the machine. It is set at a 20 minute ramp, min is 5, max is 12

Thanks for the suggestion Bill. I know it will take time to adjust just trying to make sure I meet the "insurance" requirements. Have to prove to them that I use it for a minimum of 4 hours per night and I'm scheduled to go back to my regular doctor the 5th of Feb I think so trying to make sure its all done by then so she document it in her notes and can fax it to the RT who then will fax to insurance company along with the data they get from my machine every day.

5 is very low, not surprised you don't like it. What everyone here will suggest is to have a look at your data that your machine records while you sleep. You can do this using something called Sleepyhead software, or Resscan. The SD card in the machine can be copied to your PC, then using the software you can see what is going on with your sleep when at 12. Do you know anything about that? If not, just let us know here and a sleepyhead expert is bound to post with some help, I am just learning myself. I think bill is right, though, you need to think about either upping the start pressure to something like 7 or 8 or try straight 12 if the pressure is not bothering you too much. The ramp is for comfort only, and does not benefit therapy unless it is helping you keep the mask on, which it may not be. If your DME let you turn ramp on and off or adjust it you should be able to, if you cannot figure out how your dme may have locked the ramp settings from you and you will either need to get them to change it or get the info on accessing the clinician menu on your machine. Best thing at this point would probably be to have your DME remove the ramp or up the starting pressure.

Lyn1959 wrote:I just checked the machine. It is set at a 20 minute ramp, min is 5, max is 12

5 is very low setting.. You should call your DME and let them know you need it bumped up to about 7 or so..