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Mask comfort suggestions & ramp settings


Posted by Andrea on February05, 2000 at 16:02:10:

Hi everybody,
I'm new to the CPAP, so far I'm still in the rental stage.
I was having two problems with the CPAP. First, the mask discomfort and second difficultly getting to sleep because I felt like I was fighting to exhale. The mask problem I sloved by putting TWO spacers on the mask. I had to push the spacers down a little to reattach the headgear straps, but it works great for the bridge of my nose! I was also positioning the headgear incorrectly. The lower strap was up on my head. After I readjusted it to my neck, the mask seems to be tilted more correctly. Hope this helps some of you. Oops, guess I better tell you them kind of mask I use. I had a "gel" type with my sleep study which was a lot more comfortable than what I was given, but my insurance apparently won't pay for anything but to cheapest kind. They don't care about our comfort or compliance (if you can't handle it..they don't have to pay!). I intend to purchase a better one on my own.
As for the exhalation problem, I called my medical equipment supplier and got a differnt RT than the one who set up and reviewed how to use the equipment. This person walked me through the proceedure to check the "RAMP TIME" setting. The "setup" RT had only set the ramp time for 5 minutes (what a jerk!), so it increase to the full pressure in just 5 minutes. I don't go to sleep THAT fast. We reset it to 20 minutes. (It can be set up to 45 minutes) and I was able to get to sleep OK. I have a REMstar Plus LX machine. If you are having a problem fighting to exhale and it it keeping you awake, check on the ramp time. Again hope this help some of you.

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