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+--- Thread: Can't adjust to the CPAP (/Thread-Can-t-adjust-to-the-CPAP)
RE: Can't adjust to the CPAP - Sleepster - 04-01-2015
Do not raise the pressure because you feel resistance when inhaling. When you inhale without the mask the pressure is zero. When you inhale with the mask the pressure is 6.
The resistance you feel is psychological, not physical.
After you get used to the machine it will feel normal. Do not sleep without the machine as that will simply make it harder for your body and mind to adjust to it.
RE: Can't adjust to the CPAP - theroefam - 04-05-2015
Made it to the Dr. He was pretty resistant to the suggestion of going to the Autoset. He said it wasn't needed. He wants to increase the pressure to 7, I mentioned I did for the last four nights and it was better but was still waking up a lot. He also gave me a prescription of Trazodone.
I went to the DME after and switched my A10 CPAP for the Elite.
So now my pressure is at 7 and I've been using the P10 pillows. I'm mixed between the sizes the medium size fits better but the large is a little quieter. So I've been switching a little between sizes.
So far one night was a little better one night was not. I've been looking at the SH data. What should I be looking for, now that I have the data (or which graphs should I attach to be looked at)?
RE: Can't adjust to the CPAP - retired_guy - 04-05-2015
I don't understand docs that choose instead of treating apnea with the machine you've got in your bedroom, to prescribe drugs instead. I know lots of folks around here use various meds. But to me, that should be a last resort sort of thing, not the first thing reached for.
I would much prefer you were using an autoset machine and narrowing in on treatment that can resolve your apnea without drugs. But even with the Elite, along with the Sleepyhead system, you can do this yourself.
What do the Sleepyhead reports show so far? The things of primary interest right now are AHI, and the breakdown into OA's, CA's, Hypops.... Then the leak rate is looked at just to know you're staying under the red line.
Also, when you make changes, just change one thing at a time. Then watch the results for a few days until you get a good picture of where you're at.
RE: Can't adjust to the CPAP - theroefam - 04-05-2015
Understand. I asked but didn't want to press to hard.
All my numbers look good - AHI right around 1.0 on average. Leak rate is usually less than 8L/min at 95% and max less than 16L/min.
My problem is once I fall asleep I just can't stay asleep.
(Every toss and turn, the slightest leakage, etc)
I never really had this issue before CPAP. I think that's why the dr gave me the drugs. I told him I wasn't a fan to take drugs long term. That if I take something I only want it for a short time.
RE: Can't adjust to the CPAP - retired_guy - 04-05-2015
(04-05-2015, 06:46 PM)theroefam Wrote: My problem is once I fall asleep I just can't stay asleep.
(Every toss and turn, the slightest leakage, etc)
Yes, I did that as well in the beginning. What's happening is you are finally getting good, restorative sleep. And your body's not used to that. So every once in awhile, it has to wake up and make sure everything in it's cave is ok.
As you proceed, this will smooth out and you won't wake up as much.
In the meantime, when you do wake up, rather than tell yourself "oh drat, I'm not getting sleep," stretch out really good and tell yourself "Self, great job getting that nice hour or so of quality, restful sleep."
RE: Can't adjust to the CPAP - OMyMyOHellYes - 04-05-2015
Drat?
OMM
RE: Can't adjust to the CPAP - Sleepster - 04-05-2015
(04-05-2015, 05:21 PM)theroefam Wrote: Made it to the Dr. He was pretty resistant to the suggestion of going to the Autoset. He said it wasn't needed. He wants to increase the pressure to 7, I mentioned I did for the last four nights and it was better but was still waking up a lot. He also gave me a prescription of Trazodone.
The Trazodone will help you sleep. I have a prescription for it but use only when I really need it.
With a tolerated pressure as low as 7 there really is no advantage to having an auto-adjusting machine. It certainly won't help you sleep any better.
RE: Can't adjust to the CPAP - vsheline - 04-07-2015
(04-05-2015, 09:28 PM)Sleepster Wrote: With a tolerated pressure as low as 7 there really is no advantage to having an auto-adjusting machine. It certainly won't help you sleep any better.
Hi theroefam - Like retired_guy, I think it is likely you are still experiencing the discomfort which can occur when our pressure is set too low.
I suggest raising the pressure to 8 to see if it will be more comfortable for you.
Hi Sleepster - a higher pressure really does make it easier for some of us to inhale with less effort. I think it depends on the speed at which we start our inhalation. I think it is not merely psychological.
If we start our inhalations slowly and evenly I think we could learn to sleep with a low pressure setting. But, if our long-accustomed habit is to start our inhalation a little more forcefully/sharply, a higher pressure setting would help alleviate the transitory drop in pressure which occurs when we breathe in sharply.
Also, although it is true that one of the recognized benefits of having an APAP machine is that the average pressure will tend to be lower (because typically the machine in Auto mode will raise the pressure only when needed), in my view a lower average pressure is not the main benefit of having an APAP machine.
In my view the main benefit of having an APAP machine is that we can change to auto-titration mode for a few days and view the results, to see what pressures the machine sets itself to. Armed with the knowledge provided by the recent auto-titration, we can then set our machine to our 90 percentile pressure or whatever pressure would likely best optimize the comfort and efficacy of our therapy.
RE: Can't adjust to the CPAP - theroefam - 04-07-2015
Thanks for the replies. Vsheline- I think your spot on. I've read some breathing books (buteyko method) and it talks a lot about shallow even breathes are best (no mouth beathing)
I think I've learned I was a big mouth breather before CPAP.
- I think I could keep trying to adjust(i.e. Using medicne in the mean time) or
- Slowly increase the pressure as you mention.
I assume if I do the later, after I stabilize - then I can slowly bring the pressure back down as adjust to the breathing.
Hopefully my next couple nights, with a little higher pressure, will go smoothly.
RE: Can't adjust to the CPAP - theroefam - 04-12-2015
Finally, my last three nights have been good.
I decided to try a Full Face Mask. Once I put it on in the store, I knew that was going to fix my problem.
My last three nights I can definitely say I've sleep better that any day since getting the CPAP.
So why I decided to go Full Face -
Last week I increased the pressure again to 8. This time I didn't feel any better during my sleep. So I went ahead and reduced it back down.
When I tried to look at everything. I realized I was having bad nights and really bad nights. On my really bad nights - I just couldn't stop mouth breathing (chin straps - I tried tightening, then went to tape. That seemed to help at first, but on the really bad nights, I breathed hard enough to open the tape). My really bad nights seemed to be linked to being over tired (getting to bed a little late, or have a couple beers that evening). Since I have been unable to teach myself to stop mouth breathing, I decided to try to the Full Mask.
So now I have the pressure set to 7, and I'm trying out the Resmed F10. My AHI has gone up some - but it is probably giving me a more realistic number now that I'm actually sleeping instead of just lying there. Hopefully it will stabilize and start to go down. But I'm not to worried about that right now.
Thanks for everyone's help. This forum has provided a great asset for me to help me get through this. There were a couple times I almost called it quits, but the words here helped out a lot.