Finishing Third Week

[bingo49002]

Hello all,

I am now finishing my third week on bipap. I use a S9 VPAP S machine and I have a question someone may be able to help me with.

I have a good fit with my Swift FX mask now and my AHI is slowly beginning to drop and I am feeling much better in the morning. My bipap pressures are 14 and 8. I do not use the ramp feature on my machine anymore as the pressure doesnot bother me at startup.

My main question is that lately it seems that as I wake the pressure seems to be "not there" as I inhale and exhale. If I open my mouth I will get air escape but there seems to be very little resistance as I exhale and the inhale does not seems to be as strong as when I start bipap for the night. Am i getting "acclimated" to the pressures ? or should I have the machine checked by the DME for a possible machine problem?

[BabyDoc]

As long as you AHI is looking good, I wouldn't worry about it. I would bet you are just getting acclimated to the pressure as the night goes along. I have experienced the same thing.

[bingo49002]

Thx BabyDoc, It is a very weird sensation when it feels like the pressure is not there to fight you a little. Felt like I wore the machine out already.

[312capri]

I just ended my third week and found it's easier and really best to not ramp. I always start at full pressure which in my case is 18 cmH2O/14cmH2O. This way I can check for leaks and adjust the mask before I fall asleep. A few nights ago I found a better position for my mask lower on my nose and it seems to stop my lower lip from falling out of the mask and waking me up from the gigantic air leak!

After 20+ years of progressively worsening sleep apnea I am feeling so much better... The scary part is even at the age of 75 I am going to be chained to this device the rest of life! But as the credit card used to say, "Don't leave home without it."

Everyone have a wonderful day!

[zimlich]

bingo, you are acclimated. Congratulations. I have to feel for the vented air from the mask sometimes to be sure it's working

[zonk]

Am i getting "acclimated" to the pressures ?

[trish6hundred]

Hi bingo49002, It sounds like you are getting used to your machine it's become second nature to you, great, congratulations.

[bingo49002]

Just had my first 4.83 AHI night and feel great. AHI has been falling at a dramatic pace since breathing with no effort. Looking for numbers to continue to fall.

for all of the great info:grin:

[Sleepster]

Just had my first 4.83 AHI night and feel great. AHI has been falling at a dramatic pace since breathing with no effort. Looking for numbers to continue to fall.

So, it took three weeks for your AHI to fall below 5? In my case it took only 3 days, but I had lots of other problems.

I'm glad you posted that information here. Many times people ask about this phenomenon of AHI falling after the beginning of CPAP use. It's not always an instantaneous drop in AHI, sometimes it can take awhile.

[bingo49002]

I felt that I had "acclimated" right away as the pressure didn't seem to bother me. The real proof is in the drop in AHI and feeling better. I wonder if there is a differance in adjusting time between BIPAP and CPAP?