Trouble breathing

Hey I’ve been trying to use cpap and I can’t seem to get past the feeling that I can’t breathe in on the cpap especially with the new f20 quiet air. I’ve tried many masks but i’m having the same problem
I haven’t been able to fall asleep with the mask on for 2 months because of this and I have an ahi of 30 untreated so i’m losing hope
I am using a DreamStation and have my ramp at 6.5 up to 12
Please any suggestions

Dreamstation what please? There are many models.

DreamStation cpap the most basic model of the new DreamStations

Mikeadoo500 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 21, 2020 7:29 am

DreamStation cpap the most basic model of the new DreamStations

You are not telling us anything..What SPECIFIC model. It's like saying I am using a Ford. There are names and number on your machine. (DSX number). I also don't think you understand "ramp".

LSAT wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 21, 2020 8:22 am

Mikeadoo500 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 21, 2020 7:29 am

DreamStation cpap the most basic model of the new DreamStations

You are not telling us anything..What SPECIFIC model. It's like saying I am using a Ford. There are names and number on your machine. (DSX number). I also don't think you understand "ramp".

His profile points to the DreamStation CPAP model and he does say the most basic model. I am betting the DSX200xxx.
Ramp could start at 6.5 and go to 12 if they changed the starting ramp pressure from 4 to 6.5 and have it ramp up to 12 over whatever time selected.

Mikeadoo500 wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 20, 2020 6:40 pm

I am using a DreamStation and have my ramp at 6.5 up to 12
Please any suggestions

What Flex setting are you using if you are using CFlex? If you aren't using it...turn it on and try all the settings to see if it helps with your breathing issues or not.

Ok thanks all so I have been using cpap for a while (
2 years) so I am familiar with all of these settings etc and yes the most basic dreamstation model. I am used to the cflex of 2. The only variable that i can change and see a difference is actually using the heated tubing on a setting of 2 and humidity at 2-3. But I live in Ohio and it is summer here and we aren’t using the ac very much so it’s strange that adding heat and humidity is the one thing that helps.
Any input would be appreciated

Unfortunately there is no real detailed data available I don't think to evaluate your therapy or pressures or anything to help us figure out what the problem might be. The CPAP model doesn't offer much at all. Do you know if it at least offers anything on the LCD screen in terms of AHI or leak? If you go into the clinical menu setup area is there a setting choice for "Show AHI"?...if so make sure it is set to "ON" and then go look for what little data that might provide.

Some things to do...check with a manometer (you can do a home made one or buy one) to see if the pressure it says it is putting out it is really putting out.
Change all the filters.
You say this difficulty happens with other masks and not just the F20 quiet air with the new diffusing system...so that makes me think not mask related. If you said it only happens with the new F20 I would blame the mask. Some people just don't seem to do well with the new diffusing system for the venting.
Play with it during the day with different hose air temp settings to see if you can feel any difference while awake and experimenting with various settings.
Don't engage the ramp....maybe you just need more air moving than the 6.5...so experiment with that as well. I know people who say they feel like they are suffocating at any pressure less than 10 cm so maybe that's a factor.

If you've been using a CPAP for two years, why are you using ramp? If you feel like you can't breathe, why not start at a higher pressure and no ramp?

If you are having sudden panic attacks with CPAP after 2 years of therapy, it may be a change in your needs for pressure or it may be a problem with the machine itself. You can try increasing your pressure to see if it helps. Unfortunately, without meaningful data, you are flying blind to some degree.

So yeah the lack of data is frustrating but i’m having so much trouble I haven’t been able to sleep with it on anyway so not much data to look at. The other thing that I’ll add is i’m pretty sure I struggle the most with cflex off and do better with it at 2-3. My sleep doc had tried a bipap titration in the past but I asked for cpap instead. Is it possible I just need bipap? Also I have recovered from palate surgery and tonsils out, but the surgeon who did it is very subspecialized at cleveland clinic and he didn’t think I would have any trouble with cpap after. My sleep doc and I are operating under the assumption that for whatever reason I may just be intolerant now as I’ve definitely had this issue and others in the past and we are starting the process of getting me an oral appliance so I have something in case i’m not able to readjust

Yes...it is very possible that you need the pressure support that a bilevel machine can offer.
The Respironics machine with Flex pressure support/exhale relief can only go to a 2 cm drop and that's only when people breathe quite forcefully. That's the most you can get even with the setting of 3 and you get that only if you are a strong breather...the actual amount of reduction is flow based meaning its based on your own breathing.

Maybe you need 3 or 4 pressure support to be comfortable with the machine and your own breathing.

Do you have $400 laying around? LSAT has a ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet with low hours for $400 plus shipping costs.
Its EPR is a full 3 cm drop and it's a full data machine.

Ooops...I just checked his thread and it looks like he sold the 2 he had but he usually gets more.
You might send him a note and ask if he has something else in the works and put you at the top of the line.

viewtopic/t179600/FOR-SALE2-Low-Hour-Ai ... osets.html

Off the top of my head I don't know of any real bilevel machines for sale but the AirSense AutoSet can be set to function like a bilevel with pressure support of 3. I call it a poor man's bilevel.

Maybe you could get your doctor to order a bilevel trial from your DME?

Am I having trouble breathing in because in my time off cpap I have forgotten how to breathe out and empty my lungs etc? Am I focusing so much on breathing in that i’m overwhelming my lungs with inhaling ? Just a thought I am trying to more forcibly exhale to see if that helps

The whole point of Cpap apart from the obvious, is to breathe naturally, don't try to force one thing or another, don't think about breathing altogether but find something else to ponder. The machine knows what to do and if you tense up and fight it, it won't work well.

Mikeadoo500 wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 22, 2020 3:53 pm

Am I having trouble breathing in because in my time off cpap I have forgotten how to breathe out and empty my lungs etc? Am I focusing so much on breathing in that i’m overwhelming my lungs with inhaling ? Just a thought I am trying to more forcibly exhale to see if that helps

it's very much the "focusing on breathing" part. this is something that you've never paid a blind bit of attention to for your entire life. now, you got this bit of plastic strapped to your face. you are being assured that this will solve all of your problems. run along now, my good little patient.

and then your brain takes over and tries to protect you from "danger" by coming up with all kinds of tricks to make you reject the mask. strange how that works. but it does that for a lot of us.

not everyone. some strap it on and off they go to perfect adaptation. we don't see many of them here, because why would we? no we get folk like you and i who have to go through the rigamarole.

it may help if you can find some time when it's NOT bed time to practice with the mask and machine. find something like reading or web surfing to take your mind off of the breathing. just relax and let it happen. it'll become second nature soon.

you can do this. keep going. don't let it defeat you.

good luck!

eta: just reread and dawned on me you've done this before. i really should pay attention to what i read here.

but principle applies. you need to break that habit of concentrating on your breathing. pretty sure it will come back to you.