can't exhale through my nose!!!!

Hi all..
I am struggling with a donated machine that I brought home yesterday. I was able to do well on the auto machine that I tested out...but my insurance does not cover it. I have a REMstar Plus Domestic 1005960 and a nasal mask...last night I tried it and I couldn't breathe OUT of my nose...What do I do? I contacted my sleep tech and she just said... "Oh, you just have to get used to it"... I didn't have the problem with the auto machine...and the donated machine was set at the lowest setting...
Please help me...
Thank you,
Casey

A lower setting may not solve your problems. What is your prescription? It should be a number between 4-20. The lowest setting may not be giving you enough air. I find a setting of 4 uncomfortable. Also what equipment are you using? We will need brand and model #. That will tell us if there are settings that can reduce the pressure the machine provides when you exhale.

If you are experiencing congestion in your nose, there are other things that can be done.

Ok.. I think I edited my settings so you can see what my equipment is...

clelake wrote: I am struggling with a donated machine that I brought home yesterday. I was able to do well on the auto machine that I tested out...but my insurance does not cover it. I have a REMstar Plus Domestic 1005960 and a nasal mask...last night I tried it and I couldn't breathe OUT of my nose...What do I do? I contacted my sleep tech and she just said... "Oh, you just have to get used to it"... I didn't have the problem with the auto machine...and the donated machine was set at the lowest setting...

Does your machine look like this?


If so, it is a genuinely ancient and obsolete machine, as in this machine is most likely around 13-15 years old. Yes, I know that it's a donated machine, but if there is any way that you could get your hands on newer machine that is only 5-7 years old?

Do you know the make and model the auto machine you were using? If it was a much more up-to-date machine, then the fact that the auto probably had a lot of "comfort features" that are missing from the REMstar Plus Domestic 1005960 might very well explain your current difficulties. One of the most important comfort features that your 1005960 may or may not have is a heated humidifier. (There was indeed an optional heated humidifer that was available for this machine; it hooks to the front of the machine.)

Does your insurance cover any CPAP machines? If you could just get a modern day CPAP through your insurance, that might make it much easier to adjust to PAP therapy.

Have you tried a nasal rinse before bed - many people use them.

Or would you need an exhalation pressure relief feature (EPR on some, C-flex on others) to help?

The following link has a picture of the machine (posted by "Lazer") and the instructions for getting into the clinical settings.

viewtopic/t110877/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7 ... 60#p892937

OK. I see robysue also posted a picture of it.

I guess the questions might be........is the pressure to high and/or are you doing nasal cleansing before bedtime to be able to breathe through your nose before you mask up?

Do you have the heated humidifier to go with the machine? And, what setting are you using?


Den

.

This is the machine I am using..

http://www.apneaboard.com/manuals51/REM ... ctions.pdf

I am on pressure 4 that ramps up to 6.

I can breathe fine prior to putting on the machine...no need for a rinse...

My insurance covers NOTHING.

Maybe get a FF mask & see if you do better with one of those. A low pressure of 6 isn't much to exhale against, maybe your machine is "haywire" and should be checked with a manometer to verify it's output. New and used APAPs are available through several outlets for bargain prices, just a thought. Good luck.

Maybe I should invest in a mask with an exhalation port that is specifically made for this machine?

clelake wrote:This is the machine I am using..

http://www.apneaboard.com/manuals51/REM ... ctions.pdf

I am on pressure 4 that ramps up to 6.

I can breathe fine prior to putting on the machine...no need for a rinse...

My insurance covers NOTHING.

That's the same machine in the thread I linked to.......which also has the instructions in text format.
And, the same machine pictured in that thread and by "robysue" in this one.

Nothing wrong with the machine other than it's not data-capable.

Again......do you or do you not have the humidifier unit for it?


Den

.

clelake wrote:Maybe I should invest in a mask with an exhalation port that is specifically made for this machine?

Or a full face mask so you can breathe through your mouth if need be.

If you're using a pressure of 6 cm., that's not very much.


Den

.

Sorry..

I do not have a humidifier... thank you for your replies..

clelake wrote:Maybe I should invest in a mask with an exhalation port that is specifically made for this machine?

all cpap masks have an exhalation port, you can feel the air blowing out of it... otherwise people would suffocate in a few minutes, and that would cut into repeat sales.

palerider wrote:

clelake wrote:Maybe I should invest in a mask with an exhalation port that is specifically made for this machine?

all cpap masks have an exhalation port, you can feel the air blowing out of it... otherwise people would suffocate in a few minutes, and that would cut into repeat sales.

Now there's Chardonnay on my keyboard, thanks. Hope it don't short out !

With all due respect... I am desperate for sleep and was brought to tears today when my sleep tech said "it is a common problem and you just have to deal with it"... so I am just asking for help... I don't need the laughs at my expense and/or questions.
I appreciate your understanding.