How hard should...

[keeper]

A cpap machine blow air...My wife just recieved a cpap machine, she tried to use it but couldnt breath...I tried it on, & I was struggling to breath out against it. is that normal ?.

We have phoned the NHS sleep clinic & they said just to ramp it for 30 mins rather than the 5mins that she was doing. Is it something you need to get used to?

We are going to phone clinic again, but we were just wondering if anyone else had similar experience?

[Joe McManus]

Yes, it's definitely something that takes getting used to but there's indeed a few ways to make it easier.

Ramp time is one of them. Set it to the max. Or at least match it with however long it normally takes to fall asleep.

Most modern machines have some form of exhalation relief. It's either called C-Flex or EPR, Flexline or something else entirely. The manual will tell you what it is and how to enable it. If you let us know the model, we can help too.

Another thing to look out for is whether the pressure has been set properly. If she had a sleep study with titration done, her optimal (and comfortable) pressure should have been put in. If she has been given an Auto without a pressure, this could indeed lead to uncomfortable pressures. Asking them to initially set it to something you can get used to might help.

[Lawrence Nash]

A different mask may help

When I picked up my CPAP machine from the hospital, I was concered that I wouldn't get on with the nasal mask, luckily I persuaded the technician / nurse to let me take away a nasal mask and a face mask. Once I had messed about with the straps & forehead support the face mask was brilliant. Initially a different story with the nasal - for the first 2 or 3 nights, I found it difficult to exhale against the CPAP air pressure, but soon got used to it. I am now comfortable with either, but still prefer the face mask.

Lawrence

[mart9012]

My experience was a bit easier. However, with a nasal mask the moment my mouth opens its like sticking your head out of a car window and finding the air is too strong to breathe. It definately is something that takes a bit of getting used to, but I rather like the feeling of the mask working now. Coughing and sneezing are really annoying, but i have learned to get the mask out of the way quick!

Persevere is all I can suggest once you are sure things are on and fitting comfortably.

M.

[puffin]

It does take a like time to get used to the pressure. Now if something wakes me up, it feels like the machine is not working. The only way to check is to lift the mask. Sneezing is not funny, especially if you are quick enough getting the mask out of the way.

[Kipper]

My only problem, with lowering the initial airflow, is that it appears to be too low. I sometimes find it hard to actually take in enough air to survive! Something to get used too, I expect, with more experience of my machine.

[puffin]

Hi Kipper, I had to up the lower setting from 4 to 5 because I was hyper venting. Not enough air flow. It did help with breathing when first putting ramp on.

[mart9012]

Well, I use a full mask now, I find it much better and more comfortable to use especially as like one of the better named posters here... I often breathe though my mouth at night. I have tried a nasal spray but it doesn't really help much. I don't like the ramping feature, I like to feel the pressure straight away and when my daughter turns it off in the mornings as she does sometimes before I am awake it is a quick way of waking me up.. I can breathe fine without the machine being on, as the mask has lots of little holes in it, but the air seems stale.

I don't have a clue about how well my mask fits or if it leaks badly at night, nor to I have any figures about my night breathing or number of apnoea episodes. I was moderate at my first testing ages ago.... One day i will upgrade to a higher range automatic pressure machine with all the bells and whistles but that is far far out of my financial reach at the moment!

My rather basic Resmed S6 is fine, it works and it was free along with my mask so i am grateful to be honest.

M.