Newbie with a CPAP! Look out!

[Sleepy1]

Okay, this is my first posting. I have mild-to-moderate sleep apnea/hypopnea sydrome - ? I'm trying a CPAP for a two week trial and I hope I can tolerate it (this time). I tried one last year but I gave it back because my insurance wouldn't pay for it - something about the sleep study not being performed at an accredited sleep lab. This time I had an "accredited" one and the result was the same - CPAP therapy. The last time I didn't do so well, I felt like I was suffocating with a pressure of 8 and could only feel comfortable exhaling without the mask. This time I asked for C-Flex after much research. They gave me an APAP with C-Flex from Respironics and told me to use it with a pressure range of 9 to 12 for two weeks. After that time, they're going to analyze the SmartCard and figure out what pressure I need to be titrated to. Then I'll get a new machine. I told the doctor I wanted C-Flex no matter what. Trying it out this afternoon at the Durable Medical Equipment company, it seemed to be easier to exhale against the pressure. I'm using Breeze SleepGear with it because my husband used one for years and loved it. Since I'm a newbie and don't really know what to expect, does anyone have any advice for my first night with a "sleep machine".

[threewheelweave]

Relax Relax Relax !!!

Hi & welcome

You have joined the weird and wonderful world of OSA nice to have you with us!

The key to the first night is to relax and breath "normally" - you are very fortunate to get C- Flex straight away and this should make it easier to adjust to the machine.

Hope it all goes well this time around!

Keep us posted and let us know your progress - Cheers!

TWW
UK

[sleepster]

I was lucky my doc ordered the c-flex straight away and with a hunidifier..Makes the biggest difference!!..Good luck..Relax..Just breathe!! Felt weird with the head gear and hose..I remember rolling over one night and the machine nearly ended up in the bed with me!!.Take your time..make a few adjustments and it will all get right after a while..Some get used to it immediately..others mebbe not..A whole lot depends on the attitude you take..

[Chipman]

About the mask, try as many as you can. Just because hubby likes one doesn't mean it works for you.

About that pressure of 8. Mine is set at 20 which is as far as it goes but I want to have if beefed up a bit so it can go to 21. I don't know why! Sorry, that was an attempt at a joke from the movie Spinal Tap.
Anyway, my mask will almost levitate from the pressure so stay calm and let it happen. Your mind hates the mask but it will get used to it being there.

Gather strength from the rest of us, you are going to get mad, You are going to figure it out and then you will know nothing. Then you will figure it out again, etc. Stay calm and read as much as you can

Go to bed a little early each night for man and wife time without the masks unless you are into the masks. There is nothing wrong with a little Darth Vader nookie.

[tallishbloke]

Hi
The Respironics unit is a good unit and the Cflex feature is helpful in making it easier to exhale without affecting the pressure to keep the airway open at the end of exhalation. What would make it easier still would be to lower the starting pressure - starting at 9cm is quite unusual and seems rather high specially if you cannot use the RAMP feature on it. My thought is that if you have swuch a good auto-titrating unit which can respond very well to your requirements why not be allowed to make use of this. A good way of using the auto unit to have the pressure range as wide as possible - so have it set say 5-20cm. This means when you are awake trying to just settle off to sleep you tend not to require pressure so its easier and more comfortable to fall asleep. Then as you are falling asleep and your airways are narrowing, the unit will sense this and will alter its pressure accordingly as required to keep your airways open. 12 cm may not be enough to prevent all your airway closures so it is useful to have the upper pressure being able to go above 12 if required. Have a chat about this with your healthcare provider.

[taswulf]

I'm using an F & P HC405 nasal mask.
I've got into the habit after a few minutes to let the pressure build up of just lightly lifting the mask off my face. I can actually feel the silicon skirt fill with air and rest back on my face. I just let it go gently and I'm right for the night. It's a bit like a hovercraft when you think about it. Fill the skirt with air and watch it float.
No sorry that's a different fantasy entirely.

Paul