Announcement

**tonybrentwood** · 11 June 2009, 17:49

HI Clare, and Welcome to this great site. Loads of knowledgable people on here to help, I'm sure they'll be replying soon.
I think your CPAP machine can be adjusted so that breathing out is easier, I'm not experienced enough to advise how to do it, but others will tell you how. I have found that a fan on my face helps me to breathe with the mask on- don't know why but it just does, the other thing which helps me is to use nose strips, they are sort of spring loaded sticking plaster strips that go accross the bridge of your nose and open the nasal passages, seems to stop the 'suffocating' feelings I sometimes get.
Hope this helps,
Regards,
Tony.

**clareT** · 11 June 2009, 19:52

Thanks for your help Tony. The hopsital said that they would give me a face mask to try if I still haven't got the hang of it by tomorrow. Not sure whether that will help at all.

**Tired Jack** · 11 June 2009, 20:47

Hi ClareT, Your problem sound the same as mine when I started. Have you spoken to the hospital about reducing the pressure, as it made mine more bearable after the pressure was reduced.

**REMGOD** · 11 June 2009, 21:14

What you need to do is increase the Expiratory relief setting on your machine. Just contact your Dr. or the vendor that gave you the machine and they can help. Expiratory relief lowers the presure during exhailation. Also make sure you are using the Max setting for your ramp (settling) feature. It will offer you the opertunity to get settled before the machine reaches the prescribed pressure. PS-please use decresing the pressure as the last resort, as these other features are designed to help your comfort level. Decresing the presure will help in the short term, but you will eventually have to return to the prescribed pressure. Sleep Well!

**MrsDanvers** · 13 June 2009, 15:17

Can use activate the ramp on your Resmed?

Hi Clare,

Were you shown how to adjust the initial pressure on your machine when you got it?

I find being blasted with the maximum pressure a bit much when I first put on the mask, so I use the ramp option so that the pressure increases as I fall asleep.

I've just had my 6 week check-up and my life has changed enormously since I was diagnosed and got my CPAP, so stick with it. I still have to fiddle with my mask, but I'm trying a full face now.

**clareT** · 15 June 2009, 17:56

Thanks everyone for your help and advice. I was given no instructions by the hospital, just to turn it on! I think I might be getting used to the pressure at long last (either that or I've accidentally altered the pressure). Still takes me a long time to get to sleep though whereas normally I'm off within in a few minutes. I'm also waking up every hour with a very dry throat/mouth so the hospital are giving me a humidifier tomorrow. I've only been able to cope with the machine for about 3-4 hours so far. I do hope it gets easier!

**redkez** · 16 June 2009, 07:27

Hi ClareT
The first three weeks I lay awake for hours too. It wasn't the pressure as mine starts low enough, I guess it was the whole getting used to it thing. The last 2 weeks I've been sleeping much better, getting off to sleep OK only waking a few times, so things do improve. Stick with it!
I'm at the hospital on Friday, I hope they give me a humidifier - I woke to a whistling sound last night and it was the sound of air going down my parched throat!

**clareT** · 17 June 2009, 12:35

Hi Redkez

Thanks for your reply. We have to stick with it really, don't we? There doesn't seem to be too many other options available to us although I have just received a DVD about playing the didjeridoo! I can't afford to lose my driving licence as I have a daughter with a serious chronic health condition that needs a great deal of support. I managed 5 hours on the cpap last night but can't say I actually feel any less tired. I really hope it improves soon.

**MrsDanvers** · 18 June 2009, 12:49

Getting used to it

Hi Clare,

Like you the hospital didn't tell me much, the nurse was too busy with an elderly patient on the ward,- although at least they told me about the ramp setting , so the pressure starts of low while you relax and start to drop off.
A humidifier will help you enormously, so get one soon.

The other thing they didn't do is measure my face for the mask. Things started OK, but as I had problems with not being able to get the mask right and gettign a sore under my nose I looked here and on the American fora. There's lots of advice and I found that my mask was the wrong size and really, as a mouth-breather( I get a blocked nose a lot) I need a full face.

At my 6 month check the doc measured my face and instead of a Medium Small I should have had a medium nasal mask. But he gave me a full-face as we decided that was right with the mouth breathing.

If you haven't notified the DVLA yet then now you've got the kit it's a good idea to do so. I wrote to them just before I went into get kitted out. Then they wrote back with the forms to fill out. You have 21 days to reply, which is really 21 days to get used to the kit - because if you can fill out the questionnaire saying that you are using the kit and don't feel sleepy in the daytime you are unlikely to lose your licence. That's what happened to me anyway. I was using the kit over 4 hours per night( check with the hospital techs as to what they consider to be compliant), not feeling sleepy anymore and I got the letter last week to say that the DVLA accepts that I'm safe to drive. Which is brilliant, becasue like you I need the car to deal with two elderly parents who need ferrying about.

Good luck and persevere. It takes a while to get used t but makes sucha difference to your life.

Announcement

Newbie

Newbie

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment