Cpap suddenly not working?

After 8 months on Cpap, all of a sudden I am experiencing symptoms of before I started on the machine. I am tired and end up sleeping half the day away if no one wakes me up, and I have the serious drowsies even after coffee. Does your body get "used to" cpap and you have to ramp the settings up occasionally? I am on 7cm pressure right now. Do I have to go through another sleep study or do I call my primary doc, or do I call the respiratory therapist? How do you know what the new air level needs to be? How often does this normally occur? I am frustrated because I am finally getting used to sleeping with the mask on my face and then all of a sudden I am feeling horrible and tired again. Any advice would be helpful!

According to your profile you have the correct machine, how come you haven't got the software and reader so you can monitor your treatment???

You are using a nasal mask, you might do better with a FF Mask, unless you seal your mouth shut. Without the software you are running blind. Jim

millertunes wrote:Does your body get "used to" cpap and you have to ramp the settings up occasionally?

The answer to the first part of your question is basically no. In the normal course of events, your body does not build up any sort of "tolerance" for CPAP and therefore need more of it, as can be the case with some types of drug treatment.

However, if there has been some significant change in your body, such as significantly gaining or losing weight, then the required flow rate for successful OSA treament may change.

If your body hasn't changed and your circumstances haven't changed, then it would be unusual for you to suddenly start experiencing pre-treatment symptoms again.

millertunes wrote:do I call my primary doc

Under the circumstances, that would seem like a good starting point.

Cheers,

Bill

This has happened to me a number of times over the years. I did not use software so I used trial and error to figure out the problem. Check everything carefully for leaks. Take the straps off your mask and start over. Use a pressure gage and verify the machine pressure preferably at the mask. See if your mask is coming apart. Change your mask. Buy a new type of mask. Tighten your chin strap. Tape your mouth. Make sure you are not mouth breathing somehow. Ask your spouse to observe your sleep for problems. Are you snoring. If you cannot find a problem bump the pressure slightly to see if it helps. If not set it back, if so you may want to talk to your DME or doctor. Get a new machine. Keep trying things one at a time until you find the problem and get results. I have always been lucky enough to find the problem. It takes time.

Better yet use software to analyze your sleep and make adjustments accordingly. If you do not have software and have a machine that will record data, buy a card and find someone to read it for you.

GeneS

You have a Remstar Auto machine, what mode is it in?

IF it were in Auto mode it should be increasing pressure automatically if set up in that mode and set correctly.

What is your Minimum & Maximum pressure set at?

You should not have to go back for a retitration if your machine is setup correctly.