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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on May 21, 2009 at 10:08am

Titration is an art as we have said before. I have seen it in the lab many times. A pt is on a pressure of 11 snoring and having apneas. We bump it to 12 and everything stops. It is just a matter of finding the right force to negate the obstruction.

I am assuming that you are using a nasal mask. Have you put on any weight? Have you been stuffy? Allergies? If you do have sinus problems of any kind I would suggest having a FFM jsut for use at these times. It is also possible that you may have an obstruction in your nasal cavity that is causing the snoring.

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Permalink Reply by Belinda Haman on May 21, 2009 at 11:14am

Hello Amott:

I am having the same problems since I changed to straight cpap from autoset cpap....my level was increased to 10, I read my data and sure enough I am having more apnea episodes so we will be increasing my levels to 11 or 12 depends what the doc says.....I am having some leaks--still awaiting a good quality chin strap...

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Permalink Reply by amott1973 on May 21, 2009 at 8:36pm

I admit I'm kind of hoping I get the opportunity to get one of these newer machines that can give me some data. As it is I just have to go by how I feel and whether I wake myself up from snoring or gasping for air. Or if my husband notices. Poor guy is a very light sleeper.

I have gained weight, probably about 20 lbs since my first titration (I got pregnant with my first child in the month between my titration and getting my own machine) and so my pressure needs may indeed have increased too.

I do have allergies, and before having my cpap I always slept with my mouth open. I still breathe thru my mouth most of the time during the day too. I thought for sure I would need a chinstrap to help keep my mouth closed, but ever since that first titration they found that I keep my mouth closed just fine using the mask. I think I have kind of a chronic sinusitis so that my breathing passages are restricted all the time, but with the pressure from the nasal pillows of the swift I seem to finally get enough air to just breathe thru my nose.

There was one night that I actually couldn't use my machine at all because my nose was so stuffed (that was after a crying jag while pregnant. Darn hormones!) but other than that, if I do have a stuffy nose I try my neti pot, saline, and then if that doesn't work I resort to afrin. (Evil stuff! I usually only do a 1/2 dose of it) I've often thought about getting a FF mask though for a backup.

I was still falling asleep at work today, but I don't think it was as bad as before. I'm going to try 12 tonight and see if that goes well. If it's uncomfortable though I'll bump it back down. Normally I am not too into self-medicating (or self-titrating in this case) but as long as it can't really hurt me I'm happy to have the opportunity to try to sleep better until my titration appointment. two weeks to go!

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Permalink Reply by Mike on May 23, 2009 at 12:25am

Amott1973, please let us know about last night!

amott1973 said:

I admit I'm kind of hoping I get the opportunity to get one of these newer machines that can give me some data. As it is I just have to go by how I feel and whether I wake myself up from snoring or gasping for air. Or if my husband notices. Poor guy is a very light sleeper.

I have gained weight, probably about 20 lbs since my first titration (I got pregnant with my first child in the month between my titration and getting my own machine) and so my pressure needs may indeed have increased too.

I do have allergies, and before having my cpap I always slept with my mouth open. I still breathe thru my mouth most of the time during the day too. I thought for sure I would need a chinstrap to help keep my mouth closed, but ever since that first titration they found that I keep my mouth closed just fine using the mask. I think I have kind of a chronic sinusitis so that my breathing passages are restricted all the time, but with the pressure from the nasal pillows of the swift I seem to finally get enough air to just breathe thru my nose.

There was one night that I actually couldn't use my machine at all because my nose was so stuffed (that was after a crying jag while pregnant. Darn hormones!) but other than that, if I do have a stuffy nose I try my neti pot, saline, and then if that doesn't work I resort to afrin. (Evil stuff! I usually only do a 1/2 dose of it) I've often thought about getting a FF mask though for a backup.

I was still falling asleep at work today, but I don't think it was as bad as before. I'm going to try 12 tonight and see if that goes well. If it's uncomfortable though I'll bump it back down. Normally I am not too into self-medicating (or self-titrating in this case) but as long as it can't really hurt me I'm happy to have the opportunity to try to sleep better until my titration appointment. two weeks to go!

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Permalink Reply by amott1973 on May 29, 2009 at 2:53am

Well, I've done a few nights now on 12 and I think it's going pretty well. We've had a raging bug going around for the last week here that includes stomach flu and now laryngitis. Nice. But I don't think I'm snoring anymore! Next week I get to go for my second sleep study for the real titration, so it will be interesting to see the results of that. This time I'll ask to see the report too. I never saw the first one, so don't even know my numbers other than the pressure I'm on. I'll keep you posted!

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Permalink Reply by Marie Davis on May 29, 2009 at 11:18pm

Lucky you guys for being able to adjust your pressure. I guess my machine is really new to the market and I can't find a book to change it. I had to go through 4 weeks of goofing off to get it bump down a notch on pressure(guess sleep institute wanted the money for the office visits) Now that I have finally did that I am sleeping great. Anyone have ideas for getting books for a DEVilbiss IntelliPap so when allergy season comes I won't have this same problem???

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Permalink Reply by Mike on May 31, 2009 at 8:19am

Marie, this link on DeVilbiss User manuals from Sleepy Carol might be helpful.

Marie Davis said:

Lucky you guys for being able to adjust your pressure. I guess my machine is really new to the market and I can't find a book to change it. I had to go through 4 weeks of goofing off to get it bump down a notch on pressure(guess sleep institute wanted the money for the office visits) Now that I have finally did that I am sleeping great. Anyone have ideas for getting books for a DEVilbiss IntelliPap so when allergy season comes I won't have this same problem???

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