Some nights I just can't use the cpap

So I am about 6 months into my therapy. I used the nose pillow mask. I find that some nights I will put the mask on and not be able to fall asleep. It's like it is harder to breathe with the mask on and is extremely uncomfortable. I have the button on my machine that gradually increases pressure but that does not really help. Then other nights when I am really tired no problem at all. Just put it on and I am out. I can't explain the sensation it's like it almost makes me out of breath.

Anyone else have this type of experience and what can I do about it?

The nose pillows might be upside down - make sure of that, because if they are you will feel stuffy-nosed.

Also, when you put the mask on, pull out so that the nose pillows pop out in case they got squished.

Also, adjust the nose pillows that are in your nose up and downward because i have breathed differently depending on the position these are in.

Mask might be too tight - loosten the straps and move them around on your head - it makes a difference.

Go to bed when you are tired, not too early, or else if your not tired, you wont be able to fall asleep, with or without cpap.

Make sure your hose and mask are clean. Sometimes after cleaning, I still detect the scent of the soap - and i breathe that in, and its kinda refreshing. Stale air is less appealing to inhale - somehow before I clean the stuff, the air is not as "fresh" smelling, but afterward, its a nice scent still there. I use Ivory liquid soap.

stop using the ramp. just set it to your regular pressure. many people have problems with the low pressures the ramp starts with.

What pressure(s) are you using?

Also, please take a minute and go to the User Control Panel (upper left of screen) and use the drop down menus to enter your equipment in word form. Your machine/mask/humidifier will show up at the bottom of every post. It makes it easier for people to give suggestions on what you might try.

It's possible the sensations are always there, but when you are not as tired are more aware of the sensations. My first thought was as BlackSpinners, as I had issues with the ramp, and testing if it's an issue for you is going to be just a matter of a pushing a button. If you happen to need to ease into it, raising your ramp pressure may be enough to make a difference. I'm curious to hear if ramp changes make a difference for you.

I had to stop using the ramp, because it made me feel out of breath. My pressure is 10, and the ramp was set at 4, which was just too low.

Hope everything gets settled soon.

My pressure is 10.6. I use the ramp and have it set for 15 minutes. The first 5 minutes are to warm the water in my humidifier. My starting ramp pressure is 8. 4 seemed too low, 5 was better but still low, 6 was good unless I had been running around the house before jumping into bed, it then seemed a little low, from there I jumped to 8 and that works great for me. I have idea where it is when I hook my mask up, but am sure that I am asleep before it get to full pressure.

HoseCrusher wrote:My pressure is 10.6. I use the ramp and have it set for 15 minutes. The first 5 minutes are to warm the water in my humidifier. My starting ramp pressure is 8. 4 seemed too low, 5 was better but still low, 6 was good unless I had been running around the house before jumping into bed, it then seemed a little low, from there I jumped to 8 and that works great for me. I have idea where it is when I hook my mask up, but am sure that I am asleep before it get to full pressure.

Have you tried to replace the S8 Escape II CPAP to a data capable machine so that you could check your AI and AHI?

I just updated my equipment. I am not sure of the pressure but I think it is set for 7.0.
Not sure how to tell or how to check it. I will try to not use the ramp up today and see how it works.

Right above the LED window it should say what model you have. Please check that and write down exactly what it says.

The photo icon you've posted is for the RemStar CPAP Plus and I'm really hoping that's NOT the machine you have because if so you have been suckered into a machine that is not data capable and that will limit our ability to help you with your problems with CPAP. With data we could see what's going on--whether your AHI's are too high or your mask is leaking when you reach the set pressure, for example. Without data, it's taking stabs in the dark.

Turning off the ramp may help, but if not, it's going to be hard to figure out what the real problem is without data.

It just says Remstar above the led and on the bottom it says 150P. I do not think this is a data collecting model.

I did not have a choice the insurance company just brought me that one.

I did not have a choice the insurance company just brought me that one.

Unless you have an HMO you DID have a choice, and the insurance company could care less if you got a data capable machine or not. (They pay the same amount to the DME no matter what machine you get). The DME suckered you into the lowest end of that model machine because they make more money that way. You are paying the price by not having enough data to see what is bothering you, and you are not using the machine enough to get any advantage from it.

You may think your insurance company bought this machine, but YOU bought the insurance (whether privately, through an employer, or working at least 40 quarters to be entitled to Medicare) and you are the one who really paid--one way or the other.

Unfortunately, after 6 months, it's too late to complain (if it is a rental, you could try, though).

Sorry to sound harsh about this, but your DME took advantage of your ignorance. You need to be educated from this point on--nobody cares about your therapy as much as you do.

I wish I would have known at the time. I wonder how long until my insurance company will let me upgrade?

It's not even a PLUS model... as a PLUS would at least have CFLEX (exhale relief)... the DS150... is a completely bare bones model.

to get a CPAP model with full data and CFLEX you'd need to get a PRO, or you could go with an AUTO (with CFLEX or AFLEX, which also has CFLEX).

I wish I would have known at the time. I wonder how long until my insurance company will let me upgrade?

I don't think you are getting the message here, Ben. Your insurance company DOESN'T CARE. The insurance company is not the bad guy here. Your rotten, scheming DME is.

The insurer paid for a machine and that's all you're going to get. You could probably have gotten the top of the line bells and whistles machine and they would have paid the same amount for that one too. They aren't going to pay any more or any less no matter what you do. Either your insurance company already paid for an outright purchase (in which case you are screwed) or they are paying a monthly capped rental (meaning a monthly rental amount for a period of time, after which you own the machine).

UNLESS you have an HMO. An HMO is a different animal altogether. If you have an HMO, they are the ones who may have decided which machine you get. But in most cases, your insurer doesn't care. They pay a fixed amount, no matter what the cost. You pay a percentage of the insurer's allowable charge, no matter what the machine really costs.

Medicare always does a capped rental basis, many private insurers do too. But if the insurance company made an outright purchase, it's bought and paid for and you are not likely to be able to talk the DME into replacing it with a better machine--why would they want to make less profit on you???? Your insurance company will NOT pay for another machine for at least 5 years, most likely.

If you are on a capped rental, you might be able to persuade the DME to switch this machine out for a better one, but don't hold your breath. They like making lots of money off your ignorance. And switching DME's at this point is unlikely to work, because no other DME would want to supply you a more expensive machine and lose out on 6 months of rental fees.

If you want a better, data capable machine at this point, you're probably going to have to buy it yourself. Whatever you do, do NOT buy it from your rotten, scheming DME. They will charge you twice or three times the online price. Look for much better prices online (if you stick with a data capable PR S1 you will not have to buy a new humidifier), Craig's list, secondwind.com, or cpapauction.com. Make sure (by checking with us here) that whatever you buy has the data capability you need.