Hi, I'm new.

Welcome and good luck with your treatment.

Sablerose wrote:I also underwent a sleep study and the doctor classified my apnea as severe, saying I woke up 100 times in 4.5 hours with apneas of up to 30 seconds and 50% blood oxygen levels. The same day they got me my machine.

Hi,

Yikes. With a 50% O2 level, they got to you just in time. That is sort of like putting a plastic bag over your head and letting your brain suffocate. I am not surprised that you got a machine the same day--I don't think I would want to ever see you sleep without some kind of CPAP machine.

Sablerose wrote:I've been on the machine now for a very, very short time -- less than a week. I have a Respironics System One with humidifier and full face mask at 15.0 cm/H20. It's definitely taking some getting used to. It feels like gale force winds when I first try to settle in for the night.

A pressure of 15 is pretty high for a CPAP or APAP machine. Pressures above 14 are typically considered to be in Bi-PAP territory. Some insurance plans will not let you get a Bi-PAP until after you fail at CPAP or APAP. That is kind of sucky since comfort is a key factor in people sticking with the machine. In your case, you appear to have CFLEX or AFLEX, so try using it on its highest setting (usually a setting of 3).

People report that different kind of masks can help eliminate the sensation of the blast of air. In my case, I really felt the air when using a full face mask, but I cannot even feel the air when using my Swift LT nasal pillow mask. Other folks report just the opposite, that they don't feel it as much when using a full face mask. It gets expensive experimenting with different masks, but, at least for me, it really helped when I found a mask that felt comfortable.

In case no one else has said it yet, with a 50% O2 level, don't ever, ever attempt to sleep without the machine. Not even for a nap. Not even for a minute. We cannot afford to lose you.

-john-

Thanks again everyone. Okay, I phoned the medical supply folks today and got some questions answered so let's see if I can clear some things up.

My machine is a REMstar A-flex and not a C-flex, but there was no option for A-flex when I was picking my equipment. I am flexing at a "2" right now. I haven't had any issues with breathing against the pressure, and actually the mornings I wake up after sleeping through the night, I can't even tell the pressure is there or that the mask is on my face which I guess is a good thing. This morning in particular I had to doublecheck because I thought it wasn't blowing, but when I tweaked it, WHOOSH!

15 I understand is a pretty good pressure, but it's what's working for me. As I lose weight maybe I'll be able to change that pressure some, but for now I'm just happy to have whatever works. I'm 40 years old, 290 pounds and 5'6" so I probably have a lot of neck to push out of the way.

My machine has settings to show me the AHI's and all that, but it's been turned off I guess by the technicians. My manual says I should be able to see those things but they must be toggled somewhere. I asked about it this morning and he said they'd prefer that at least in this first month of use before I meet again with my sleep doctor that I just focus on mask fitment, how I feel when I wake up, whether my symptoms are diminished and whether or not I'm sleeping through the night.

Emilia wrote: If you don't have the clinician's manual for your machine to get under the hood to change things, you can go to the link below and scroll down to the bottom where you will see your machine listed. You will need to ask the admin via email to send you the link to download the manual. http://www.apneaboard.com/CPAP%20Adjustment.htm

If you get the software, you will be able to monitor your therapy much more efficiently. You can purchase the software for your machine at our host's site: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... eader.html

If you have problems changing settings, just ask and someone will be by to answer your questions.....

Bumping what I posted the other day for you.... How nice of 'them' to tell you to focus on your mask for a month. Honestly, it is not they who has to sleep with the machine, it is you!! You need to get the clinician's manual at the link above so you can control your own therapy and adjust things as YOU need to, not them! Being able to see YOUR data is of the utmost importance so YOU know how you did the night before. What use is it if you have a high AHI but don't know it? You've then wasted a lot of nights of therapy waiting for THEM to reset things when you can do it for yourself! Opening up those data on the machine is up to you.... it is your machine and your therapy. Getting the software (and I would NOT even mention that to THEM) is the key to knowing the detailed information on your events and leaks.

Knowledge is Power.... Pro-Active involvement is key to being in control of YOUR health!!

Sablerose wrote: ... although I'm trying to come to terms with the fact that I'm gonna be on the machine forever...I just want to be okay. If I were being really honest I'd say when I stop in the middle of the day and think about having to sleep with the machine it makes me cry. But I feel better with it than without it. At least I can tell I'm sleeping.

-Rose

All normal feelings, Rose. This, too, shall pass! I agree with Elena on this. It is just air. Think of it as an air stent....which it is...and there are worse things....which doesn't diminish it much, I know...but all in all...when you start feeling down...remind yourself..."It's only air!"