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So, I've been using my CPAP for 2 nights. I'm very excited to make this work since I'm tired all the time, falling asleep at red lights is not good. But my first 2 nights have not been good. I breath thru my nose and mouth at night, so I have a full mask. The last 2 nights, I've woken up multiple times gasping for air. I believe that the waking was caused by an apnea, but then, because I feel like I can't exhale, I panic. I did 1 hours and 15 minutes the first night and about 2 hours the 2nd night. If this is what I need to do to get used to it, then I'll push thru and keep hoping for the best, but want advice if maybe I should get a different mask and use one of the other methods to try to stop the mouth breathing. I breath thru my nose during the day, and both nose and mouth at night. I've attached the reports I'm able to get from the app I have downloaded, DreamMapper.
DreamMapper doesn’t really show us a whole lot except that your not using the machine much.
Also, your minimum pressure at 4 is too low, most would feel air starved, or gasping for air as you stated. I would change that to start at 6cm.
If you can breath through your nose only during the day, then you should be able to do the same at night. If your using a full face mask, and breathing through your mouth, you will end up with very dry mouth. Many use either a chin strap or a soft cervical collar to help keep the mouth closed.
Download the #SleepyHead software. This will tell us much more about your therapy.
Follow the directions in my signature line to post data here.
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.
I am far from an expert in this, but in my time on this forum I would agree that a low setting of "4" is almost never useful across users and members who come here for help. That aside, why did your machine get set to that low setting? Who prescribed it, and why, based on what objective assessment of your needs? This is something you should get squared away very soon, especially if you have a compliance requirement to contend with before being reimbursed for the expense of the device.
It's good to see you here asking. It's a great first step toward getting yourself armed with good information.
I'm also curious about your machine's settings, and it makes me wonder if you were prescribed the machine and if so, did you have a sleep study or did your doctor prescribe it because of health issues?
As OpalRose suggested, upload a {some} SleepyHead chart{s} and the gurus can help you refine your therapy for better effect/results.
Also, it might help us if you updated your profile to indicate which DreamStation you have.
I'm set to auto increase from 4 to 20. the apneas are happening at all those pressures, but the times I've woken up and taken it off due to panic it was at 20, not 4. I still might need to up it, but even at 20, I'm still having just as many apneas as without it. Is that a sign I need to increase pressure?
Membership in the Advisory Members group does not imply medical expertise or qualification for advising Sleep Apnea patients concerning their treatment.
(06-13-2018, 02:20 PM)jteetie Wrote: Thanks, Shaun. Glad I found you guys. Can you tell me how to get that app? I looked for it on my Android phone, but didn't see SleepyHead.
Check my signature for a link to sleepyhead. but you will need a PC/Laptop, Mac or Linux to run it, and a SD card in the machine.
(06-13-2018, 02:14 PM)jteetie Wrote: I'm set to auto increase from 4 to 20. the apneas are happening at all those pressures, but the times I've woken up and taken it off due to panic it was at 20, not 4. I still might need to up it, but even at 20, I'm still having just as many apneas as without it. Is that a sign I need to increase pressure?
20 is maybe the max the machine can go to, though there are a few can go a bit higher.
If it is in fact going to 20, I am wondering why? Do you have big leaks?
You might need to turn on EPR Expiry Pressure Relief as it would be difficult to breathe out against the high pressure, this will also air starve you if you can't breathe. However, having said that it may also be CAs Central Apneas, often high pressure will trigger them in some people, this is when your brain forgets to tell your body to breathe.
Welcome to the ApneaBoard.
I am NOT a doctor. I try to help, but do not take what I say as medical advice.
Every journey, however large or small starts with the first step.
There's no doubt you probably need to raise the minimum. Once you post a chart it will be easier to advise on a pressure. I'm guessing that you have flow limitations that are pushing your pressure to the limit and will probably need to be restricted. So the minimum will need to come up and the maximum will need to come down based on what the chart reveals. To start I'd raise your minimum up to 6cm so you can breath easier.
Membership in the Advisory Members group does not imply medical expertise or qualification for advising Sleep Apnea patients concerning their treatment.
