Recently Diagnosed - DreamStation Queries

Hello

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea recently and got a DreamStation 2 days ago. I've tried for 2 nights but I am still getting used to the mask and the machine. I have a few queries and I am hoping someone can help me. The doctor at the hospital was excellent but now I'm home and have tried it I think there are things I'd like to change. I have a follow up appointment in 5 weeks time. I am overweight, snore loudly and my wife suspected I had sleep apnea. The doctor told me I was experiencing 43 interruptions per hour during my test and anything over 30 is severe.

The model is DreamStationAutoCPAP GB and I have the humidifier attachment and a full face mask.


The doctor told me to get the mask comfortable and turn it on - it starts at 4 and has a 30 minute ramp. He told me if I wake up and the pressure is too high to press the ramp button.

Both nights I find I can get over to sleep OK and I can feel the pressure gently creeping up. I've checked it and I can see it at 8 or 9 which feels comfortable and I'm OK. Then later on I am waking up and the pressure is very high. I can't tell what woke me but I noticed 3 times it was 16.5 when I checked. I press the ramp button and I can get over again. It just feels like the 16.5 is a lot of pressure and the mask was leaking air at that point - it felt like it was lifting off my face. Maybe I need that because I am sleeping, snoring and not breathing properly but I don't know what to do next. Should I limit the max pressure to 16 and see how I get on? Should I turn on the smart ramp? Should I have a higher low pressure.

I've found the clinician menu but didn't change anything yet. I can see the max pressure is 20 but I don't understand what the machine is actually doing. Will it attempt to rise to 20 and always wake me at 16.5 or does it try and stop at a reasonable point.

I need this and I want it to work but I can't say the last 2 nights were wildly comfortable.

Thanks!

Hi,

I think you will get used to it. I'm new to this game myself (it's only been three weeks with a machine) and I too have severe sleep apnea. My machine ramps up to a pressure of 18 after half an hour. It was like blasting a leaf blower up my nose at first, but I barely notice now. Just take it one day at a time. You'll get it.

The machine will only go as high as it thinks you need to control your obstructive apneas and hypopneas.

KC1977 wrote: It just feels like the 16.5 is a lot of pressure and the mask was leaking air at that point - it felt like it was lifting off my face.

The machine tries to compensate for leaks by raising the pressure. Find out where/why you're leaking. Could be the mask isn't fitted properly, or you're mouth breathing.

Many thanks folks, I appreciate you taking the time to reply - as long as I know the machine is try to guess that's fine.

Night 3 felt better all round and I woke up less than the previous nights.

Most people take a few days to get used to having that alien thing on their face while trying to sleep. It took me over a month before I was really comfortable with that thing on my face while sleeping.