Do I need to set my pressure higher?

idahogal · Post by **idahogal** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 9:44 pm

I am set a 12cm right now and it has been great for about 5 weeks. The last week or so I have not been sleeping as well and seem to be very agitated by my mask in the night and wake up feeling somewhat pre-cpap. If I take Ambien, which is once a month or so, I seem to sleep deeper and don't notice the mask at all. I wake up feeling like I did when I first started cpap. Is it possible that I need an increase in my pressure setting?

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 11:19 pm

It would only be a unedcutated guess without using software, if your eqiuptment supports it. If someone could tell if you are snoring going up 1 cm probably wouldn't hurt, but without being able to see what's going on, it's hard to guess correctly. Jim

sleepyred · Post by **sleepyred** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 7:15 am

And for those of us with no software, how on earth would we know if we need a higher pressure. I'm beginning to feel "pre-cpap" as well. But on the other hand, my hubby says I've never "slept so deep" in 19 years!

I do have UARS and no SA. And don't really know if that matters!

idahogal · Post by **idahogal** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 7:32 am

Jim, thanks and I am not snoring at all I just feel tired again in the morning. Should I alert my dme (yeah I know, dme) or should I talk to the pulmonologist? I am just not sure who to even talk to.

Handgunner45 · Post by **Handgunner45** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 12:14 pm

I work in a Hospital and the director of our Respiratory Therapy department has been a great help to me. He has informed me that, for someone that went for a long time with undiagnosed OSA, at the 1-2 month point you may start to feel like you did pre-CPAP. He says that this is due to your body really enjoying that good sleep and it is making you believe you are tired so that you will give it some more of that good sleep. I am only 4 nights into my treatment so I have a while to go before I will know if this will happen to me. He did say that it will not happen to all,but it does happen.

Is he right? I don't know, but he does seem to be quite knowledgeable on the subject. We are also in the process of setting up a sleep lab in the Hospital, So he has been doing a lot of studying.

I guess until he is proven wrong on something I will follow his advice. I do not have ready access to a pulmonologist. As a matter of fact I saw my pulmonologist only once for about 15 minutes, just enough time so that he could say "yes, i believe you do need a sleep study". And I had to drive 5 hours each way to hear that.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 12:19 pm

[quote="idahogal"]Jim, thanks and I am not snoring at all I just feel tired again in the morning. Should I alert my dme (yeah I know, dme) or should I talk to the pulmonologist? I am just not sure who to even talk to.

idahogal · Post by **idahogal** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 5:49 pm

Ok, here is the wierd part. I do loose pressure through my mouth but not when I am on the Ambien. So I guess my next question is do I loose pressure because I am not getting into a deep enough sleep or do I not get into a deep enough sleep because I am loosing pressure? I think for a while I will just go back to my FFM and see if that helps. It will take a few nights of Ambien to get adusted after using the Aura (I am going to miss that Aura) and then I will try it without the Ambien and see how that works. My only problem with the FFM is that I have so many leaks because my jaw drops after I fall asleep..geeze what a mess..LOL

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 6:22 pm

I'll bet you still lose presure with the Ambien, but you speep so much better you don't notice it. I'll bet the FF Mask will improve how you feel after you get used to it again. I know we all would like to find a easyier way, but somestimes we just have to do what works best for us.

Last night I just went from my new F&P431 to the ratty Comfortfull FF, The 431 doubled my AHI's and leaked bad when I was on my back, lucky I sidesleep 90% of the time. So it's back to the old groove. Good Luck, Jim

idahogal · Post by **idahogal** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 7:10 pm

Jim, Thanks again. I bet you are right about the Ambien. I am just going to go to the FFM and see if that works. I guess if I have to I can use moleskin like some of the others on here have been doing. I just need so badly to get back to some energy.

Mask

Additional Comments: Aussie Heated hose for rain out/PapCap Headgear and chin strap