Pressure equalization

[imbracer]

When I put my mask on I can feel the air rush in and a slight resistance when I breath out. Many times when I wake up I fell like the machine not working because that feeling of air rushing in and the restriction breathing out is gone. When I pull the mask away from my face air is rushing out so I know the machine is working. What is causing this? I use a Resmes S9 with a full face mask.

[justMongo]

It is slightly more difficult to breathe out against the pressure. You may find some relief by setting Pressure Support.
It lowers the exhalation pressure a few cm-H2o during exhalation.

BTW -- In infer your humidifier is an H5i, your machine is an S9 Autoset?

[trish6hundred]

Hi imbracer,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Edit: Are you using EPR (Exhale Pressure Relief,) on your machine? That might help you to breathe against the pressure easier, End edit.
Hang in there for answers to your question and best of luck to you with your CPAP therapy.

[imbracer]

Yes, Hi and autoset

[Sleepster]

When I put my mask on I can feel the air rush in and a slight resistance when I breath out. Many times when I wake up I fell like the machine not working because that feeling of air rushing in and the restriction breathing out is gone. [...] What is causing this?

That is the wonderful capability of the human body and mind to adapt!

We get used to the continuous pressure and it becomes the new normal.

This is why newbies need to be encouraged to persevere. The things that bother us about CPAP therapy are transient. We soon get used to them and are no longer aware of them. CPAP therapy becomes the new normal for us.

Personally, I feel like the CPAP mask and machine are parts of my body that the good Lord forgot to attach.

[PaytonA]

Welcome to the forum, imbracer.

I think Sleepster is right. I also think that in sleep our body relaxes and our subconcious mind takes over. When that happens we sync up better with the machine and the whole thing becomes effortless. When I go to bed, I can feel the incoming air and the switches from IPAP to EPAP. In the morning when I wake up, it feels like the machine is off. It is like when you turn your CPAP off with your mask still on after using it all night. When the machine shuts off it feels extremely difficult to take a breath. The main reason it feels so difficult is because it has been so easy when the machine was applying pressure.

Best Regards,

PaytonA

[RonWessels]

I agree. It's called "getting used to it". The next stage will be finding that your ramp (if you use it when first going to bed) feels like you are not getting enough air, so you increase the minimum ramp pressure. Then you simply stop using the ramp altogether. And eventually, you simply put on the mask and turn on the machine with little if any notice.

If I recall my initial few months, right around now you might be getting a backache right between your shoulder blades when you wake up. This is also normal, and is essentially "muscle ache" as your lungs are exercising against the increased pressure. It will eventually go away, although it did take a month or two for me.