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RE: How much effort should be really going into each breath?
Hey, you actually slept with the machine -- that's really encouraging. I can see how you struggled to breathe with the ramp pressure of 4; once you turn the ramp off that won't be a problem for you any more.
Do consider the idea of using the machine during the day or evening; it can't hurt, and it could really help.
You might want to try a different FF mask. Sometimes it takes trying several masks to find the one that works best for your particular facial contours. But before you do that, you might want to find a video about fitting for your current mask and re-fit it.
RE: How much effort should be really going into each breath?
On the request for the VAuto Sleeprider mentioned, it may only take telling the prescribing physician the CPAP is less comfortable than you need. Maybe things like disruptive or similar, hard to tolerate something or other, etc. Worth a shot.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEBSITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
12-15-2024, 09:59 PM (This post was last modified: 12-15-2024, 10:01 PM by DiabolikalDeux.)
RE: How much effort should be really going into each breath?
re Dormeo, I have not used it during the day, because I wear glasses, and no face mask so far has been able to give enough of a seal while also being able to hold up my glasses.
Regarding the other machine, I am not sure, as my insurance likely would not cover it.
RE: How much effort should be really going into each breath?
(12-15-2024, 12:15 PM)Sleeprider Wrote: If you feel CPAP is not delivering air in a way that makes breathing easier, and you have maximized EPR at 3 at a pressure that resolves most obstruction, then you should try a bilevel machine like the Resmed Aircurve 10 Vauto. It is not much different than CPAP but can provide pressure support during inspiration that makes breathing effortless. With your current settings of 7-12 cm with EPR 3, your realized pressures are 7/4 to 12/9 (inhale/exhale). With the bilevel you can add pressure support as needed to supplement the physical effort of inspiration. For example, with PS 4.0 your pressures would be 8/4 to 12/8, or with PS 5.0, 9/4 to 12/7. As PS rises, respiratory effort and inspiration time diminishes and ventilation (tidal volume) increases. As it is, you don't appear to tolerate CPAP leaving you mostly untreated. This may be sufficient to justify moving to bilevel.
So, I contacted my doctor about this, because last night I just, I am not sure what happened, it's a large F40 mask but something happened. (This will be the last one, I don't want to run out of server room allotted).
Problems staying asleep, at a loss and getting poor sleep
So I have an AirSense 11 with a large F20 foam cushion mask, last week I tried altering the settings to minimum 7, maximum 12, no ramp, EPR 3, all that, because I was having problems falling asleep with it on at 4. I've been able to fall asleep, but, I still have the problems, like I constantly have to breath deep for air, none gets into my nose without deep breathing due to a deviated septum and inflamed turbinates, sometimes it feels like I can get more air and can feel it when I'm just laying in bed, versus when I am wearing the mask. And even at the higher pressures like 10, because of the constant deep breathing, I still feel like I'm not getting any air, and almost suffocating. I'm not sure how I even fall asleep, but I don't last long. I just feel worse than before, and my sleep clinic is phone only and just suggest stuff like a different mask, but stuff like the F40 push my nose up in pain. I am really at a loss here.
2 hours ago (This post was last modified: 2 hours ago by SarcasticDave94. Edited 2 times in total.)
RE: Problems staying asleep, at a loss and getting poor sleep
It appears there's some moderate Positional Apnea with the clustering of events. You'll have to check things like your pillow, is it thick or a stack of several? This can force a chin tuck, kinking off the airway externally. More pressure cannot fix this. Either get a thinner pillow or you'll need to look into a soft cervical collar.
Next is mask leaks. There's some occasional rather large leaks. You mention nose pain with the mask, this is almost always a sign it's not working for you in either cushion size or general shape. It also indicates you're going over tight on the straps. You'll either need a different size cushion or a completely different mask.
If you've not done so, use the links below to read up on these subjects in our wiki.
On the other thread, it seemed like you'll be turning up get a Bilevel soon. That may help. And yes insurance should cover it, if/when the doctor issues a script for the ResMed AirCurve VAuto.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEBSITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
DiabolikalDeux - Your 3 threads were related to your therapy. For this reason, I have merged them. This provides the reader a history of your past settings and results. Having the ability to see past attempts and their results will help to form better recommendations. Please use this thread for all your therapy related posts. I have changed the thread title to, "DiabolikalDeux - Therapy Assistance" to be more inclusive.
- Red
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
