Elevation or just coincidence?

[PaulaO2]

I know we've discussed elevation before but I have a personal experience I am curious about.

I live at about 2500-2800ft and have for 20yrs. My family live in NJ which is barely above sea level. I just spent a week in Minneapolis which is about 800ft.

I got home early this morning, hooked back up the CPAP, and put on the mask. First thing I notice is I have trouble breathing out against the pressure. It was very noticeable. Then I realize that I never experienced that while in Minneapolis. BUT, I slept very poorly, waking up many times (as in about 6 - 10 times) each night which is very unlike me. I woke up with my chest pounding and generally just not feeling well. I wish I had taken my oximeter!

The only other difference is I was using a brand new mask (I use the Breeze and the DME had sent me a new one just prior to me leaving) and had not put on the side straps to the headgear. Not that it really does anything that I am aware of but it is a variable. Might have caused leaks but each time I woke up, the mask was not noticeably leaking. Since the headgear for the Breeze is very rigid, I don't think it would have pushed off the nose and I would not have noticed the pressure as much. But, like I said, it is a variable.

When I visit my brother in NJ, I don't sleep as well there, either, but certainly don't wake up ten or more times each night.

So I was wondering if elevation or possibly location had anything to do with it. I don't see how but the pressure difference was very noticeable. I actually had to take off the mask for a second and readjust to it. That's not something I've had to do in a very long time.

[SuperSleeper]

I'm interesting in seeing folks' opinion on this. This is one of those times where having a data-capable machine that works with ResScan or SleepyHead would have been invaluable.

I'm pretty sure that the S9 Escape has an auto-altitude adjustment on it that should compensate for changes in elevation levels.



EDIT: did you experience better sleep upon arriving back home? (using the same mask with similar variables?

[mjbearit]

Well unless you took your bed and pillows with you, strike one!
My machine, being the old thing it is, has an elevation setting. Since I live at sea level pretty much and I don't get out much unless it is on a cruise ship, again sea level, I've never messed with it. This tells me that yes, elevation does in fact make a difference. I'm guessing your pressure was too low for sea level. The higher you go in elevation, the less oxygen so the more pressure you need, therefore the lower you go the more oxygen the less pressure you need.....or maybe I have that backwards! At least you are home now and will get some good sleep! Welcome back, we missed you!

[BabyDoc]

I would doubt that your going to an elevation, lower by only 2000 ft, would cause you breathing problems. On the contrary, I would think if you were acclimated to a higher elevation, you should have LESS trouble at a lower elevation. In any case, I don't think an elevation difference of 2000 ft is very significant.

[PaulaO2]

Yeah, I wouldn't think it would matter at all. But it was so weird when I put on the mask last night and realized I hadn't felt that the whole time I was away. If the difference had been greater than the, what, 1800ft, then I would definitely say it was an elevation thing.

And yes, I slept a solid ten hours. It was hot, humid, with very little air movement and yet I slept like a log. At the hotel, the room was just the way I like it: cool, quiet, no dogs, plenty of room on the bed. sigh, i miss it already.

If it were just the bad sleep, I'd chalk it up to just being in a different place, which is what I thought it was. And it still could be. Based on this experience, my savings for another machine just increased in priority.

[zonk]

Welcome back Paula - Leak first thing come to mind or something blocking those tiny vents holes
If its one off may be aliens

[PaulaO2]

LOL With the group of folks I was hanging out with, I'd go with the aliens.