CPAPtalk.com

In 1st year two, F & P 431 FF & Comfort Full Medium.

After 11 Years add, ComfortGel Full Medium and Comfort Nasal medium, ComfortGel Nasal Medium. Everyone needs a FF mask that works for them and many can use a Nasal Mask also, if they take care to control mouth leaking. Jim

When the pressure is low (like with the ramp being used) it is common to feel like a person is air starved or suffocating. We won't really suffocate but it sure feels like it.
It's possible that the air swallowing you experienced was related to trying to get past the suffocation feeling so it's possible that the mouth breathing might reduce (thus less chance of swallowing the air) if the starting pressure is higher and you are more comfortable.
This is especially true with the nasal pillow masks because there just not much volume of air in that pillow to move around.

You didn't say which nasal pillow mask you are using nor which size nasal pillow but you might also consider going up a size. I found that with the XSmall in the P10 nasal pillow that it tried to crawl up inside my nostrils a bit and it would collapse a bit and really caused that suffocation feeling. I have always been able to wear the XSmall in any nasal pillow mask out there but with the P10 I had to move up to the Small.
Once I did that I no longer had any suffocation feeling. So if turning off the ramp doesn't help...you might try the next size larger in your nasal pillow.

Should the air swallowing still remain a problem there are some other things that can be done to lessen the problem but we would need to know exactly which machine and mask and settings (including any exhale relief) are being used to offer more concrete ideas.

Pugsy wrote:When the pressure is low (like with the ramp being used) it is common to feel like a person is air starved or suffocating. We won't really suffocate but it sure feels like it.
It's possible that the air swallowing you experienced was related to trying to get past the suffocation feeling so it's possible that the mouth breathing might reduce (thus less chance of swallowing the air) if the starting pressure is higher and you are more comfortable.
This is especially true with the nasal pillow masks because there just not much volume of air in that pillow to move around.

You didn't say which nasal pillow mask you are using nor which size nasal pillow but you might also consider going up a size. I found that with the XSmall in the P10 nasal pillow that it tried to crawl up inside my nostrils a bit and it would collapse a bit and really caused that suffocation feeling. I have always been able to wear the XSmall in any nasal pillow mask out there but with the P10 I had to move up to the Small.
Once I did that I no longer had any suffocation feeling. So if turning off the ramp doesn't help...you might try the next size larger in your nasal pillow.

Should the air swallowing still remain a problem there are some other things that can be done to lessen the problem but we would need to know exactly which machine and mask and settings (including any exhale relief) are being used to offer more concrete ideas.

Just my Idea, We have Sleep Apnea, it causes us to not be able to get enough fresh air to keep our body O2 levels high enough to stay healthy, i dont believe using the Ramp (Feature?) is in our best interest.

You can use the Ramp and ride on the Sidewalk, limiting your results. Kind of like pulling the bandage, it can be done slow, with more pain, or fast and the pain may be a little more, but its over, you are on with your life. Jim

Goofproof wrote:i dont believe using the Ramp (Feature?) is in our best interest.

It can be our best friend when used optimally depending on the person and situation i.e the settings.
A person has to get to sleep first before the machine can work its magic and if someone simply can't handle full pressure right off the bat and get to sleep in the first place....kinda defeats the purpose to tell someone that have to go full out right from the gettin go.

For everyone:

Starting the ramp at 4 is most likely going to cause some air movement issues for most people.
Now for some people they do just fine at 4 cm and if they only need 6 or 7 cm pressure to keep the airway open then it likely would work out well for them.

I prefer to think of it as a tool to help a person get to sleep and if they do better with it then by all means use it but use it wisely and optimally.
I don't like comparing it to training wheels though. I feel it demeans a person and is sending the message that they are "childish" for needing or wanting ramp. I feel the same way about using exhale relief and the people who liken EPR to someone maybe not having the balls big enough to handle the pressure without help. "My balls are bigger than your balls because I don't need ramp or exhale relief"....not a good message to send IMHO.

Use whatever tools need to be used to get good quality sleep and that includes falling asleep.
Use them wisely with appropriate setting corrections to optimize both comfort and therapy.
It's not hard to do with just a little common sense.

If someone wants or feels the need to use ramp...use it but use it optimally based on the individuals needs. For pressure settings in apap of 5 min and 15 max...that 4 cm starting point for ramp is pretty much useless and not doing much except maybe suffocating someone and keeping them from falling asleep. Now if they need 14 cm pressure then ramp might be a viable tool for some people to help ease into that pressure but start it a little higher and reduce the time frame....that's what I mean by use it wisely and optimally.

There's a time and place for all the tools we have at our disposal and I am not going to demean someone who wants/needs to use those tools. Instead I prefer to educate on how to use them optimally. Explain their options and let them make a grown up decision on how and why they use those tools.
We don't make fun of people using mask liners...why make fun of people using ramp or exhale relief?
I never could understand it. Actually I never have been able to understand why we make fun of anyone just because they are different from us.

I haven't taken the time to read all of the posts, but please fill in your profile with the exact equipment AND settings you're using. If you're using a range of pressures and your mask isn't adjusted to the highest pressure you may encounter, you may experience some negative effects......leaks. And, some people are sensitive to the pressure changes.

With regard to the question of masks......I'm using the same mask I started with. It turned out to be the best one I've tried.
I did try a few other full face masks over the years, but none worked as well as my first one (listed in my profile). I had done quite a bit of "research" prior to ordering it and it has proved to be a "winner".


Den

.

I was lucky, the first mask I tried worked. Yea. Then I have tried 3 others that did not work. I am now ordering a new one to try. (all this in 20 months).

Pugsy wrote:When the pressure is low (like with the ramp being used) it is common to feel like a person is air starved or suffocating. We won't really suffocate but it sure feels like it.
It's possible that the air swallowing you experienced was related to trying to get past the suffocation feeling so it's possible that the mouth breathing might reduce (thus less chance of swallowing the air) if the starting pressure is higher and you are more comfortable.
This is especially true with the nasal pillow masks because there just not much volume of air in that pillow to move around.

You didn't say which nasal pillow mask you are using nor which size nasal pillow but you might also consider going up a size. I found that with the XSmall in the P10 nasal pillow that it tried to crawl up inside my nostrils a bit and it would collapse a bit and really caused that suffocation feeling. I have always been able to wear the XSmall in any nasal pillow mask out there but with the P10 I had to move up to the Small.
Once I did that I no longer had any suffocation feeling. So if turning off the ramp doesn't help...you might try the next size larger in your nasal pillow.

Should the air swallowing still remain a problem there are some other things that can be done to lessen the problem but we would need to know exactly which machine and mask and settings (including any exhale relief) are being used to offer more concrete ideas.

I am in fact using the P10, small. I like your idea, I'll go up a size and see if that is better. I'll also turn the ramp off. If nothing helps I'll have to go and change masks

I agree about the ramp. My pressure is 11.5, so if I try to use the ramp I feel like I am suffocating. You really start to notice that after the first few nights. I think I gave it up after a week.

I went through months of misery until I tried DreamWear by Phillips Respironics with my DreamStation cpap. The hose comes from the top of the head, instead of the hose, and the facial parts are soft silicone. Good luck!

About five different masks over my first two years: pillows, nasal and FFM. 1.5 years ago I settled on the ResMed F10 full face mask... I've never looked back. I do have to use mask liners to cut down on sweat, leaks and irritation.

Update. I've been using the Amara View the past few weeks. I seem to be adjusting ok. Had some air leaks but readjusted the mask and fell back asleep. I also found out that I met my annual out of pocket with the last sleep study so my insurance is now paying everything in network at 100%. That makes a huge difference. I can't believe what the DME charges my insurance. It's outrageous! I know the DME needs to make a profit. My insurance pays way less. If I hadn't met my out of pocket it's still less than buying on the open market.

chunkyfrog wrote:Over the first two years, I tried over 20 masks,
:

Wow, you've tried even more masks than I've tried putters. Hopefully though with a better result - my putting still stinks. Seriously though, I still wonder if I'm using the right mask. Maybe there's one out there that will get my AHI below 1.0 consistently. Maybe I'll try some of the full face masks recommended on this forum.

Guest wrote:Update. I've been using the Amara View the past few weeks. I seem to be adjusting ok. Had some air leaks but readjusted the mask and fell back asleep. I also found out that I met my annual out of pocket with the last sleep study so my insurance is now paying everything in network at 100%. That makes a huge difference. I can't believe what the DME charges my insurance. It's outrageous! I know the DME needs to make a profit. My insurance pays way less. If I hadn't met my out of pocket it's still less than buying on the open market.

The DME charges the Insurance the Manufacturers Suggested Retail price.....The Insurance pays the pre-negotiated amount. It's that way for all insurance claims.

I have noticed that our hosts' prices are fairly close to insurance allowables, including Medicare.
With that in mind, I chose to buy everything online in any year my insurance was not paying for a machine.
I was able to try a lot more masks than either DME or BCBSNE would have permitted.
PERMITTED! How do they get that power over my treatment? Because we LET THEM!
Enough of that crap!

Hear hear!

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The ramp never did anything for me. YMMV