This is my first night with cpap. pressure set at 14 and full face mask. It is diffficult to exhale. Will I get used to it or is there somthing I can do to help?


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carpetone

A lot of folks have this problem in the beginning, have you tried the ramp feature?  If this doesn't help, you might try talking to your doc/provider about a machine with exhalation relief.  There are a few, Cflex, Softx and Resmed has a new one also.

carpetone,

I'd ask the doctor to prescribe one of these machines, if he insists on keeping you on a straight cpap machine:

Respironics REMstar Pro 2 with C-Flex (with C-flex set on "3" for the maximum c-flex reduction of pressure when you exhale.)
or
ResMed S8 Elite with EPR (with EPR set on "3" for an exact 3 cm H2O reduction of pressure when you exhale.)

If the machine you are using has a blue sticker on top that says "C-Flex", ask your DME to check it to be sure C-Flex is turned on and that the C-Flex setting is on "3".

Better yet, what I'd really try to get the doctor to prescribe, if he's willing (some doctors are knee-jerk "no" to autopaps) is a trial on the Respironics REMstar Auto with C-Flex.

It might be that you don't really need a straight 14 blowing steadily at you all night long to keep your throat open.  An autopap can be set for a range of pressure (perhaps 9  - 16 for you) and will sense from your airflow when your throat is beginning to collapse.  The autopap will deliver only the pressure you need, when you need it, to prevent most apneas and hypopneas.

Possibly your throat can be kept open perfectly fine most of the night with a pressure of, say 10; and the 14 you were prescribed is needed only occasionally, perhaps only when you are on your back and/or are in REM.  If that's the case for you, you can see how an autopap using varying pressure as needed could deliver more comfortable treatment.  The lower the pressure a person has to use most of the night, the easier it is to breathe out against the pressure, the less apt a mask is to spring leaks, and the less apt the person is to experience aerophagia (inadvertently swallowing air that can cause painful abdominal bloating.)

It would be worth a try to get at least a couple of weeks trial on autopap, imho.  If your doctor is willing to let you do that, I'd ask him to specifically prescribe the Respironics REMstar Auto with C-Flex.  To date, it's the only autopap that has an exhalation pressure reduction feature that can be used while the machine is being operated in auto mode.

Well, there is one other very new machine that can give exhalation relief while in Auto mode...the new Respironics BiPAP-Auto, but that one is considerably more expensive.  You'll be lucky if you can get the doctor to let you try the Auto with C-Flex.

We have to be our own advocates in so many of the comfort issues of this kind of treatment.  And comfort can make all the difference in the world as to whether someone is able to stick with this or has to give up.  Keep pushing for what you need to make it more comfortable!  Good luck!

it was my experience with older CPAPs that different brands could behave quite differently on the same pressure setting
one required almost no effort to breathe in but a big effort to breathe out, others were more even
it can help in getting used to a CPAP to lie down and use it when awake for a few hours
the more advanced machines can be quite expensive if you have to pay for them yourself as some do

carpetone,
  It does take some practice, mostly learning to relax.  I would say give it at least a week or two, to see if you adapt to the fixed pressure....I bet you do!!
  Some new users find wearing the cpap and mask while doing a distracting activity, like reading or watching tv, helps acclimate to the mask and machine.  It is natural to focus too much attention to all the equipment and breathing patterns in the first weeks.
  Good luck with it all, patience and persistance overcome many problems.

I have been on CPAP for about a month now. In the beginning it seemed rather difficult to exhale against the pressure (my pressure setting is 10). Each night, after a certain time period on the machine, I noticed that I was breathing freely. By the morning I couldn't tell I was exhaling under pressure! Now, after about a month, I adapt much more quickly to the pressure. Within a few minutes I'm fine.

-Marty

I just got my machine Wednesday, and the respiratory therapist told me not to expect to be able to use the machine more than 4-5 hours the first few nights.  The fact that no one expected me to use it an entire 8 hours right away was very comforting to me.  She also suggested using the machine during the day a couple of times, sitting up & watching TV, to simply let your body get used to it.  I did that the first day for close to an hour, and was amazed that I actually forgot I was wearing it from time to time.  That feeling of not being able to fully exhale is alarming; almost like you're being suffocated.  Hang in there!  After only being able to use my machine about 5 hours the first two nights, I have been able to go 7-8 these last two nights--last night I got more sleep at one time than I've probably had in close to a decade! Hopefully you will get the pressure worked out and get accustomed to using it and have great success!