Deep Breathing

Hi, I am a newbie CPAP user. Last night, Sunday, was only my fourth night of using the machine, and while I know it is very very early, I had a couple of questions regarding breathing. I have been 100 percent compliant (meaning that that I have the nasal mask on all the time that I am in bed, and last night I wore it for just over 8 hours. My questions:
1. I seem to be breathing much more deeply than I used to. Inhaling deep and exhaling deep.....Is this something that others have experienced.
2. Also, sometimes I feel like I am struggling to breathe out.........My guess is that since I am exhaling against incoming airflow, this would be something that I would get used to?

I would be interested in any and all comments on this regard, thanks

No, I find myself doing exactly the same thing, especially if my nose is partially blocked - I use P10 pillows.

Are you using any exhale pressure relief (EPR - a Resmed term) or whatever the Respironics equivalent is - something FLEX I think?

Please add your equipment to your profile so we can help you better too.

My machine is a ResMed Airsense 10, and my mask is a F&P Eson.........I saw in the manual that there was some setting to allow lessened pressure during exhalation, but don't see an option to set it on my machine.

Sleepy Bubba wrote:My machine is a ResMed Airsense 10, and my mask is a F&P Eson.........I saw in the manual that there was some setting to allow lessened pressure during exhalation, but don't see an option to set it on my machine.

it's there, but your DME may have turned it off in the mistaken idea that they know better what you need than you do.

but, generally, it's just better to get used to the back pressure, many (not all, though) people start out using EPR and turn it off as they get used to the machine, (same with ramp)

OK, I am going to stick with it as is for now. I feel like I am getting enough sleep with it, have averaged 7-8 hours each night, it is just a bit uncomfortable and odd to have to work a bit to exhale through my nose like that. Almost feels like my nostrils are blocked , but slightly. I will discuss with the Dr and the DME when I get the chance.

Sleepy Bubba,

If you want access to your EPR settings, which allow for slightly reduced exhale pressure you'll have to access the clinical menu. I am including two screen shots, first one explains EPR on lower half of page and second screen shot will explain how to access clinical menu........also while you are in clinical menu be sure and locate "Essentials" .....click on that item and change it from "On" to "Plus" ......that will give you as the patient more detailed sleep report and more access to menu items in the regular settings menu.

As for the deep breathing, when I got used to the setup and quit fighting with the mask, I started noticing that I was having more diaphragmatic or abdominal breathing than shallow chest breathing. That type of breathing is better and I think that may have limited my aerophagia, sore chest wall muscles, and the air trying to exit out of my mouth.

I have noticed the abdominal breathing also.......Weird how your body makes adjustments of this sort......

Good news bad news

Good news, I was able to find the EPR setting in the clinical menu

Bad news, it was already on and set to the highest setting!! HA!!

I will just have to get used to it!!

What does your AHI look like, and what pressure are you using? That info could help you get targeted suggestions.

Sleepy Bubba wrote:I have noticed the abdominal breathing also.......Weird how your body makes adjustments of this sort......

Good news bad news

Good news, I was able to find the EPR setting in the clinical menu

Bad news, it was already on and set to the highest setting!! HA!!

I will just have to get used to it!!

You can play around with the EPR settings - - 1, 2, 3, off..........they are there for your comfort and you might find that you like a lower setting like 1 or 2, not everybody likes EPR, it's a very personal thing. So play around with the different EPR settings until you find what FEELS most comfortable to you...........since I came from a straight CPAP machine, I found that I did not like the EPR set too high........I found that setting 1 was the most comfortable for my own breathing preferences. There are also many people that like it better turned off.

Also when you have the mask and machine on.......try to relax and settle your breathing down as much as possible, at first it's hard to do, but with practice you'll be able to slow and shallow your breathing........the best state is where you are not really aware of your breathing at all, it will just feel "Natural"...........try not to focus on your breathing, practice focusing on something else and it will just become normal.

TangledHose wrote: Also when you have the mask and machine on.......try to relax and settle your breathing down as much as possible, at first it's hard to do, but with practice you'll be able to slow and shallow your breathing........the best state is where you are not really aware of your breathing at all, it will just feel "Natural"...........try not to focus on your breathing, practice focusing on something else and it will just become normal.

The OP wore the mask 8 hours and I didn't get the feeling that it was a panic feeling or that the breathing was interfering with sleep.
I agree breathing should feel natural and at a normal rate but what my reply was based on is that over time many of us have forgotten how to breath normal and resort to shallow breaths using only our chest and neck muscles. Diaphragmatic breathing or belly breathing is what babies do and is taught to singers, people with COPD, athletes, and to relieve stress. When you do it during the day it becomes natural at night.

I was just referring to the OP's comment that his breathing "felt" deeper than normal..........I would imagine that he is getting that feeling while awake and breathing on the machine before falling asleep...........I just find that if I try not to concentrate or focus on my breathing, that my breathing will settle on it's own and you will relax more quickly, then fall asleep quicker too. If I sit in bed and focus on the dynamics of how I am breathing on the machine then it just takes longer to relax and fall asleep.

I have been on CPAP for ten years now, and I still have a lot of "Sleep Latency" -- or inability to fall asleep within a normal time frame, after all these years sometimes I still find myself lying in bed trying to fall asleep, but I am concentrating on my breaths with the machine.......that just tends to keep me awake longer.......once I start focusing on something else, then I will settle down and finally fall asleep.

All I am suggesting is try to divert your attention and don't focus on your breathing pattern while awake on the machine -- try to focus on something else..........it helps.

TangledHose wrote:I was just referring to the OP's comment that his breathing "felt" deeper than normal..........I would imagine that he is getting that feeling while awake and breathing on the machine before falling asleep...........I just find that if I try not to concentrate or focus on my breathing, that my breathing will settle on it's own and you will relax more quickly, then fall asleep quicker too. If I sit in bed and focus on the dynamics of how I am breathing on the machine then it just takes longer to relax and fall asleep.

I have been on CPAP for ten years now, and I still have a lot of "Sleep Latency" -- or inability to fall asleep within a normal time frame, after all these years sometimes I still find myself lying in bed trying to fall asleep, but I am concentrating on my breaths with the machine.......that just tends to keep me awake longer.......once I start focusing on something else, then I will settle down and finally fall asleep.

All I am suggesting is try to divert your attention and don't focus on your breathing pattern while awake on the machine -- try to focus on something else..........it helps.

Agreed
I was lucky because I had insomnia problems before CPAP and would stay up till 2-3AM to fall asleep exhausted. Now the CPAP lulls me to sleep.

Didn't have a great night last night, comfort wise.............I am messing with the strap adjustments.......Two nights ago, I had the best night, but I must have had the mask to tight, cause the bridge of my nose had a mark that lasted for quite awhile.
So, last night, I loosened those straps up a bit, and while my nose was fine, I didn't get anywhere near the same nights sleep......Also, my wife said that the machine was a LOT louder than it has been, so I think I must have been leaking more than normal...........The sleep report indicated that also...................I guess there is a delicate balance to it.

It is a balance and other people who use a mask like you might be able to help. It would help if you went to the top of the page where it says user control panel click on it then find the equipment profile and choose your equipment it the Text version. That way it would be on each of your posts and people wouldn't have to look to find what you are using.