Anyone ...starved... for air while trying the CPAP test?

I started the titration thingie a couple months back and had to quit due to an emergency surgery.
So I only got 2 days on the blower.

I now have a BRAND NEW titration machine to mess with and it seems that THIS ONE does not give me ...enough.... air.
Some comes out the vent but not like the first one.

With this one, I got a larger mask which I can tell will be an improvement, but I sure have a hard time GETTING air at the start of the sleep period. I'm not using alcohol or a sleep aid.

The FIRST "test" machine gave me leakage but at least enough air to not feel like someone is sitting on my chest.

Last night was first with this thing.

I called today to ask if there were variations (it IS a machine) and was rudely told that THEY ARE ALL THE SAME.

Oh. Goody.

I tolerated it for about 2 hours and then had to quit. Very miserable. Depressed, too as I expect many newbies are.

Whoever took my call told me that it would take a DOCTOR to order a new machine.

Jeez, I don't want a DIFFERENT TYPE of blower..... I just think this one blows less pressure than the first one.

Cutting to chase: I can see how EXHALING can be a chore against pressure, but why would I have trouble GETTING air while inhaling?

I have upper moderat apnea and if I can't adjust to CPAP, I don't see an alternative to just forgetting all about this stuff.

Most likely your starting pressure is low and causing the air starved feeling.
If you can post exactly which model machine you are using and what settings are being used we may be able to help.
Might be something as simple as turning off or not using the ramp feature....if you are using it.
If unsure as to exactly which model (it's really important) look for a model number and tell us the model number.

Resmed IP21

This is NOT my CPAP machine. This is the one they TRY you with (titration machine)
They say it is for the first week so they know what machine I...will.... need.

There are no adjustments on it.
It is s upposed to start at 4 PSI and go up as needed but there are NO adjustment controls.

The rude receptionist insisted that it would be impossible to have one of these tester machines that was not EXACTLY calibrated to EXACTLY 4 PSI which I find hard to believe.

I could feel the FIRST titration machine blowing air into the mask and it felt available.

This one does not. There IS some air coming from the overflow (?) as there was with the old one but it is MUCH weaker. Yet supposedly impossible to have a machine with any variation.

There are definitely adjustment options. Right above the Start/Stop button on the top of the machine does it say "Autoset" like in the photo?


IP21 is just a code that refers to "Protection against insertion of fingers and against vertically dripping water" (from the S9 Autoset/Elite user manual).

Check out the video tutorial that I've linked to at the bottom of my post in my signature box. Watch the video for the S9 machines. It's short and it will familiarize you with the options you have, and how to access them.

Napnea wrote:Resmed IP21

This is NOT my CPAP machine. This is the one they TRY you with (titration machine)
They say it is for the first week so they know what machine I...will.... need.

There are no adjustments on it.
It is s upposed to start at 4 PSI and go up as needed but there are NO adjustment controls.

The rude receptionist insisted that it would be impossible to have one of these tester machines that was not EXACTLY calibrated to EXACTLY 4 PSI which I find hard to believe.

I could feel the FIRST titration machine blowing air into the mask and it felt available.

This one does not. There IS some air coming from the overflow (?) as there was with the old one but it is MUCH weaker. Yet supposedly impossible to have a machine with any variation.

1) ip21 is not a model number, it stands for Intrusion Protection and is an international standard rating on the resistance of the device against fingers, and water getting inside. the model number is on the bottom left of the label following the letters REF.

2) there are *plenty* of adjustments on it, you just don't know how to get to them yet.

3) the recepionist is either ignorant of the facts, or lying... or both.

Is this test supposed to determine if you have apnea, or to determine what pressure you need?
I would suffocate on only 4 cm, as would most others on this forum.
Please let us know what it says on the BOTTOM of your machine--the blower half, not the humidifier.

chunkyfrog wrote:Is this test supposed to determine if you have apnea, or to determine what pressure you need?
I would suffocate on only 4 cm, as would most others on this forum.
Please let us know what it says on the BOTTOM of your machine--the blower half, not the humidifier.

it's a resmed, the label's on the back...

we want the REF number.

I've looked at the bottom, there's nothing that interests anybody but avi.

I certainly have trouble with a starting pressure of just 4. As soon as I lie down I become congested with or without CPAP on. I have had to set the starting pressure on 7 before I can breath when I'm lying down or I can't breath.

Like others here, I experience the exact same feeling when at a pressure below 6 or 7 cm H2O. The last sleep study I had to endure, they of course started titration at 4. I felt like I was about to die. Eventually during my study, the pressure increased and I was OK.

Unlike a CPAP that you intend to use over a long period, I would NOT recommend changing any settings on this machine without speaking to the prescribing doctor. Call them, describe to them what you are experiencing and ask them about increasing the starting pressure. If they don't want to just bump it to 6 or so, you could bring the equipment into their office and have them adjust it in small increments while you tried each one lying on their table.

let's put it this way, if the entire titration process determines that you only need 4 cm H2O, then you will NEVER feel comfortable, and never use it. So ask the doctor to eliminate 4 (and likely 5) from the possibility.

Wow... I can't even lie down without using my BiPAP and I don't even sleep on my back. 4cm would be like a fan on me, my base is 16cm. I have a sleep study coming up with my last one being 8 years ago and I can't imagine how the first part is going to work without the machine.

You guys know your stuff.

I finally got mad and WENT IN (without an appointment..... )
I told that receptionist that I wanted to talk to someone who KNEW something.

A respiratory tech came out of the back (secret room maybe) and took my machine to the mysterious OUT OF SIGHT place.
A ...doctor ... was there.

yay

They cranked that pup up to 8 and I spent a .....LOVELY... night. (well, as lovely as such could be)
Slept well. Only had to mess with mask when it started HONKING ...due to position change...simple fix.

But ....damn..... I could BREATHE!

The darn thing even felt like it was providing air like I ....assume..... CPAP is supposed to.

Slept 6 hours and only removed the mask cuz I was tired of it and wanted some "normal" feeling when sleeping.
Funny thing is that I...noticed... the difference with and without.

I think I (we) got the problem fixed.

Thanks folks. You're the best.
When I was dealing with lymphoma, I joined a specific forum and found NEEDED help there too..

Ya gotta take care of your OWN health. Too bad, but it's reality.

Thanks again.

Napnea wrote:You guys know your stuff.
Slept well. Only had to mess with mask when it started HONKING ...due to position change...simple fix.

But ....damn..... I could BREATHE!

Congrats! Consider this your first step. Please keep us up to date when the "titration" is over. We do "know our stuff" as you say, but that is because we all view it as OUR stuff. We take ownership of OUR bodies, OUR condition, and OUR treatment. Some on here certainly know more than others. Certainly a LOT know more than I do. But I have been spending the last several years learning every single night.

Sleep Apnea is not a great thing to deal with, it can be a pain, etc. But if you say to yourself that you won't let it be a handicap, it certainly won't. And this forum is an incredible wealth of knowledge and a great community of helpful people. (and of course a few trolls).
Wish you didn't have to be, but, glad you're here. It won't be long and you'll see a post by someone new and say to yourself 'I remember going through that!'

Take care of yourself (no one else will do as good of a job.)

Thanks also for the polite correction of my 4 "PSI" statement.

Guess centimeters of h2o does make more sense.

Also know that I can't use it to pump up my bike tires.

Napnea wrote: Slept 6 hours and only removed the mask cuz I was tired of it and wanted some "normal" feeling when sleeping.

Funny but after a while 'normal' will be with the mask and you'll feel wierd without it.

Napnea wrote:Thanks also for the polite correction of my 4 "PSI" statement.

HAHAHA.. Honestly, I didn't even notice the "psi"; I didn't intend to correct (politely or otherwise). I'm merely an Engineer and unconsciously added the units to my post. (I don't always, but apparently this time I must have been in the mood to be a touch more precise.)

-craig