First night on APAP

txtornado · Post by **txtornado** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 2:27 pm

Last night was my first night on APAP. My recommended pressure setting was 11cm, so I set the range from 7-14 for now. I set the heated humidifier at 1 to start with. I think I got a pretty good seal on the ComfortLite 2, using the nasal pillows. I turned everything on while I read for about 30 minutes, then tried to go to sleep. But after a while I started to have soreness in my throat. It was a weird feeling, almost like a severe post-nasal drip. It got pretty uncomfortable and I was way too tired to try making any adjustments but knew I wasn't going to fall asleep any time soon like that, so I decided to turn everything off after a total of 1.5 hours.

I had hoped to make it longer on night 1, but that's OK. Tonight I'm going to use my neti pot before bed to really clear out my sinuses, and up the HH setting to 2. I'm shooting for a minimum of 3 hours on tonight and up to a full night by the end of the week. I'm not even going to look at the data until the weekend because I want to use the first week to try and work out the kinks and get accustomed to using all the equipment.

Though night 1 wasn't a major success, I'm feeling very optimistic. Thanks to everyone who gave me advice on selecting equipment, directly or through posts to others or through product reviews. And a special thanks to Rested Gal for all of your help!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 2:47 pm

Don't let it get you down. I did the same thing.
It takes some time to get used to.

The soreness is most likely a humidity issue as you have already deduced.

Since you have an Apap, I would lower the low range to 4. That should start you out at a lower pressure that is easier to fall asleep with and ramp you up later if needed. You can also set and use the ramp feature if you are not already using it. I have mine set a 4 CM with a 45 minute ramp. That way if I wake up at high pressure and cannot fall back to sleep, I hit ramp and go back down to 4 for a while. Also, are you using BiFlex?

I have also found Melatonin an invaluable aid to starting this treatment. I take the 3 mg dose about 30 minutes before my target fall asleep time.

CheezWiz · Post by **CheezWiz** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 2:48 pm

Oops, that was me.. Guested...

txtornado · Post by **txtornado** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 4:20 pm

Thanks for the suggestions.

I only had the ramp set for 10 minutes last night and am planning to increase that tonight for sure. I wasn't sure exactly what BiFLex was but then I looked at your post again and saw on your equipment listed that you have a BiPAP machine with BiFlex. I don't have that - I'm using the PB 420E APAP.

I've also seen others on here talk about using Melatonin with good results. I take a long list of supplements and meds for other health issues, so I'll have to ask my doc what she thinks about it.

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CheezWiz · Post by **CheezWiz** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:58 pm

I was typing at work and got distracted, I was thinking your machine was an Auto BiPAP rather than an Auto Cpap, so ignore that one.

Definitely crank up that ramp setting to 30+ minutes. Makes it much easier to fall asleep. Eventually you will no longer need it (so I have been told).

Definitely check with your doc about the Melatonin