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New CPAP user
Hello Everyone
I've been on cpap for 3 weeks now and my sleeping patterns haven't changed much. I continue to wake up tired although I have to admit I'm not tossing and turning as much and I don't snore.
My machine is set at 12 but most times I feel that I'm not getting enough air.
Should I give it more time ?
Your input would be appreciated.
Dan
Views: 55
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Walt Service on
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Hi Dan,
Glad you're sticking with it. First off, I'm not a MD. With that out of the way...are you using a humidifer? Warm moist air will often help in folks adjust to treatment and help keep their mouth's shut during the night. If this EDS continues, you might want to talk to you MD to see if your pressure can be raised a cm or two. Sometimes patient's pressures need a little tweeking. Please give it more time, the fact that you state you're not tossing and turning as much and your snoring has gone means you're on the right path. Keep us informed.
Walt
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Permalink Reply by Dan Lyons on
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Dan, It may take months to repay the sleep debt your body has established over time. Patience! You yourself "admit" to a noticeable change, so you know that the therapy is working, just not as fast as you desire.
The "experts" here can help you stay the course and achieve success, but they will need some more information. Some of the solutions can be in the details, i.e., therapy type (CPAP, APAP, BiPAP), machine type & model, humidified(?), settings, mask type, etc.. Is your machine "data" capable or just compliance capable? Do you know how to retrieve your nightly data and have you been keeping a "data" log? I have seen the solution to a person’s sleep therapy success being found in their diet. What caused you to seek sleep testing? Details - the clues are in the details.
The folks here can help you with the journey, but the details are important.
Don’t know, just ask.
Good luck and never give up.
Dan
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Permalink Reply by Judy on
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Yes, give it more time by sticking w/the PAP therapy - BUT - you state most times you feel like you are not getting enough air. THAT is the clue that you need to contact the RRT at your local DME supplier's to discuss this. Often the RRT can get thru to your sleep doctor and get faster results for you.
Exactly what brand and model PAP are you using? That can tell us whether your PAP is fully data capable or not. If you are fortunate to have a fully data capable PAP that data can be downloaded by your DME provider's RRT or your sleep doctor and may well be able to provide the clue to the cause of your feeling like you are not getting enough air so that your sleep doctor doesn't have to respond w/a "by guess and by gosh" approach to alleviating the problem.
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Permalink Reply by Daniel on
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I'm so glad that I joined Sleep Guide and especially the words of encouragement and suggestions from Walt, Dan and Judy.
I certainly don't get this support from my Home care agency nor the Doctors office, I still haven't seen my Doctor yet and it's been nearly 3 months, His NP is the only person I'm in contact with.
I use a ResMed H4i (Elite II) Heated Humidifier cpap machine and I wear a Mirage Liberty Full Face Mask. The machine came with a Data Card which I have to place the card in the machine to collect data and bring the card to my Doctors appointment in 2 weeks.
I will most definitely give it more time, and perhaps the doctor might increase the cpap from 12 to 13 or 14 who knows, I don't know how detailed the Data card is, maybe it just checks hours used or is more detailed.
I'll find out later.
Again, Thank you.
Dan
Judy said:Yes, give it more time by sticking w/the PAP therapy - BUT - you state most times you feel like you are not getting enough air. THAT is the clue that you need to contact the RRT at your local DME supplier's to discuss this. Often the RRT can get thru to your sleep doctor and get faster results for you.
Exactly what brand and model PAP are you using? That can tell us whether your PAP is fully data capable or not. If you are fortunate to have a fully data capable PAP that data can be downloaded by your DME provider's RRT or your sleep doctor and may well be able to provide the clue to the cause of your feeling like you are not getting enough air so that your sleep doctor doesn't have to respond w/a "by guess and by gosh" approach to alleviating the problem.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on
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I definitely agree with Judy here. The 'PAP splints open the airway, does not actually give you air. Sounds like a consultation with your doc, or her nurse, or the Respiratory Therapist at the Medical Provider is in order. If you feel like your not getting enough air some tweaking could be needed. If not you could end up getting disolutioned with your therapy.
Judy said:Yes, give it more time by sticking w/the PAP therapy - BUT - you state most times you feel like you are not getting enough air. THAT is the clue that you need to contact the RRT at your local DME supplier's to discuss this
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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Hi Dan,
I guess I should say Dans. Welcome back Mr. Lyons.
I am also not an MD. I am glad to hear that you are fighting through this. Your courage is inspiring. I believe that your problem may be one of anxiety. I tell my patients even if you do not normally have anxiety you will once you strap a mask on that blows air directly into your face. Many times I will have pts tell me that 4cmwp is to much when I first put the mask on them. Later when the pressure is at 12 they tell me that it feels like they are not getting enough air. This is because your system gets used to the pressure. You might try wearing the mask while watching tv or doing a crossword so that it becomes more normal to you. If the problem continues I woud follow the above advice. Good luck!
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Ha! You have the Resmed S8 Elite II. Good! That is an EXCLLENT fully data capable CPAP. Try this: press the Left and Right buttons and hold for 4-5 seconds. Hopefully, Efficacy Data will appear in the LED screen. If it does, from then on in, Left button to Enter, Right button to Exit, Up button to Return to the previous screen and Down button to Proceed to the next screen. In this detailed or advanced patient menu you can access your therapy results data w/o being able to accidentally or intentionally change your therapy settings. If you can't access the Efficacy data then that access hasn't been turned on by your provider.
The Efficacy data consists of 95th Percentile Pressure and Leak, AHI and HI for the previous night. And when you've been using it long enough, for the previous week, month, six months and one year total averages. But you do have to check before noon as these devices have an internal, 24 hour, noon-to-noon clock and at noon the previous night's data is rolled over into the total averages.
Rock Hinkle has made an EXCELLENT suggestion: take your Elite into your living or family room, put your mask on, turn your Elite on, and read a book or magazine, work and jigsaw or crossword puzzle, watch TV, whatever, just so you are keeping your mind busy w/something else other than "I've got to get to sleep".
Just don't forget to take it back into the bedroom w/you and making sure to use it when you go to bed for the night!!!
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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on
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Stick with it. With the help of many of the forum users you will soon be wondering how you slept before.
I know in my experience I still have days when I am really fatigued. Don't know why as my numbers look really good. I wonder if part of it isn't my meds. Several of my meds are supposed to be ones that make you sleepy and am thinking when I go back to the doctor to bring this issue up with her. Oh the meds are not ones to help you sleep, but are allergy and blood pressure meds.
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