Announcement

**GrumpyBiker** · 5 February 2009, 10:26

The best advice I had was to relax and try not to think about the mask. The machine detects your breathing and will react to its ebb and flow. If you are tense you will tend to 'fight' the airflow which makes things worse.

Also, drop James a PM and get some of his helpfull vapour rub.

Andy

**James @ Intus** · 5 February 2009, 11:53

Hi and welcome!

It can be a bit daunting at first indeed. However, keep in mind every night over a million people word-wide go to sleep happily with their CPAP on so you can do it too.

To first get used to the mask, you can wear the mask only for an hour or so before bedtime, just wathcing TV, listening to the radio etc. May seem funny but it helps with "accepting" this foreign object into your space.

Next indeed maske sure Ramp is working and set to a sufficiently low starting pressure.

Indeed, if you PM me your address, I will send you some freebie aromatherapy "CPAP desensitisation" scents which help calm you down and put your mind at ease, focussing on nice things instead of the new kit.

And don't feel bad if you only wear it for 3 hours in the first few nights. Slowly does it, just keep at it.

On the topic of tinnitus, if I remember correctly this can in some people be due to allergies in the Eustachian tube. Have a look at the SinuPulse for ENT allergy relief. With saline water having a healing capacity, this can help remove inflammation and both enable you to breathe to your full capacity as well as hopefully taking care of the ear ringing. CPAP specific nasal irrigation info here.

**leswaller** · 5 February 2009, 15:26

Hi Mr Stefan
Welcome to the group, my advice is start the ramp low and slow so that you try to be asleep before it ramps to full pressure. James' free smellies are very good and I highly recommend them as an aid to relaxation. You may well have all sorts of other problems with mask leaks, condensation, etc., but dont worry some of us have been around here a long time (too long some might say

) and if you tell us your problems someone usually has the right answer for you. There is no 'one size fits all' either literally or figuratively, but the end result is certainly worth the effort

**Mr Stefan** · 6 February 2009, 08:19

Cracked it, I hope

I was attempting to beath in through the mask (fitted over the nose) and breathe out through the mouth, which was creating an imbalance in the air flow.
Managed to keep on all night last night, although I had to make several adjustments to prevent leaks but even refitted after a trip to you know where, that was better as I had been going 4/5 times.
Feel a bit light headed and woosy this morning, but at least I feel like I been to bed and slept.
Thanks to all the posts made and the positive remaks I will persue the recommendations
Mr Stefan

**Mr Stefan** · 14 February 2009, 19:11

Update

I am still waking up tiired and it takes while to get going but I do not feel like I want to doze off durng the day, I have managed to go all through the night which is also a bonus.
I have only a nose mask which does seam to fit well although some times I do feel leaks on my cheek, May have a look at the pillow that James has discussed in others threads.
I have had a couple of nights with condensation problems which may be due to weather being very cold at present.
Do not know when the sleep clinic will want to see me again and if the machine pressure is set right, they do it by calculation on your neck size, which I am sceptical about.
On the whole I seam to have adjusted quite well to wearing the mask but sometimes I have to take a deep breath when I initially put it on as I could quite easily rip it off.
I have been prescribed Amiltriptyline tablets by my doctor to help get used to things but I do not take these every night as I do not want to become dependant on them and I do have emphathy for all of you out there who are having problems because I know I am so near myself on a lot of the issues raised, but hoping with the passage of time it will seam natural ( if wearing a CPAP machine could be classed as natural).
A question for the old timers ....What is an APAP machine?
Mr Stefan

**allium** · 14 February 2009, 19:43

Hi,
CPap device is always set up at constant pressure, anything between 4 to 20 cmH2O. The optimal pressure is usually set up following overnight study in the hospital or after using APAP. Apap is a very similar device to CPAP. The only difference is that the pressure varies and changes as a response to the obstraction in your airways. For example if breathing remains "normal" the pressure is low, whereas when there is cessation of airflow,APAP blows highly pressuraised air in order to open narrowed airway.
Hope this explains a bil,
Good luck with the treatment...

**GrumpyBiker** · 14 February 2009, 19:50

Mr Stephan,
an APAP machine is a self-adjusting version of a CPAP. It has sensors built in that detect your breathing patterns and it auto-adjusts the pressure of the air to suit. Some NHS clinics give these on temporary loan to determine the 'correct' pressure setting for a CPAP machine. If like me, you are lucky enough to live in an area served by an enlightened NHS trust, they have started to issue them on a permanent basis.

Andy

**Mr Stefan** · 15 February 2009, 17:18

Thank You

Thanks for the information, it's all still a little new to me, and I still not sure I am getting the optimised air flow, as it has been set at 11.5 based on my neck size.
I have found I do not like the ramp I prefer to have the full air flow, but my main problem at present is condensation, I had to remove the mask last night and shake out the water, tried to set the hose with a low point in an attempt to have somewhere to drain the water, and I have the equipment set lower than the bed height. Set the humidifier to it's lowest setting in an attempt to get back off to sleep which I did at ap 05:30.
In desperation I am going to ring the sleep centre Monday am, just to check all is ok. I think at least they should provide a monitor to check the vital signs which they did for the diagnosis,just to confirm the balance, but regarding the condensation I think I will have to buy some kind of insulation cover for the hose, as I do not think they will provide any 'extras'.
Thanks again for the advice, it is reasuring to have guys like you on hand to offer positive help.
Stefan

**leswaller** · 16 February 2009, 09:51

A heated hose is the answer, available from James. I, and several others, have used them now for about six months and they totally cure the rain problem

**Mr Stefan** · 16 February 2009, 15:51

Heated Hose

Thanks for the advice, but I am unable to find a heated hose on the web site even using the search function, I have seen the wrap for a hose, which I quoted in my earlier post.

I have found that my machine is an MPAP is this the same as CPAP?
Stefan

**Tigers Fan** · 16 February 2009, 17:40

Are you sure?

Don't know what an MPAP is in PAP therapy terms and neither does Google - but he knows lots of other MPAPs, of course.

I wonder if you mean Remstar 'M' Series APAP? If you do, it says so on the top.

Heated hoses are not yet available from James. You'll need to go to Down Under Don at Sleepzone, Australia. Use import code from the Anybody bought in US thread in Machines. Read Heated Hoses thread for details of the hoses.

Tigers Fan

**Mr Stefan** · 18 February 2009, 17:56

News

I was at the sleep clinic yesterday and they have provided me with a smaller mask which is a better fit, less leaks etc, they say heated hoses may soon be available to problem users. The clinitian advised, a short term fix is to slip the hose under the duvet and yes it worked.
My machine is a RemstarPro M Series, which I presume is a basic CPAP machine but on the card from the sleep clinic it states type of machine prescribed MPAP.
Stefan

Announcement

New User

New User

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment