Well, I have logged almost 300 hours on the cpap, and I have not noticed consistent improvements as of yet.  Most days I still wake up tired and remain foggy throughout the day, but I now occasionally get that one good day.

So in the interest of giving the cpap a fair shake before I throw it out the window, I would like to make sure I am using it correctly.  A few questions then:

1)  Is it better to sleep on your side than on your back, even with the cpap?

2)  My machine is set on 7, but it just doesn't feel like enough pressure now, and it seems like even less so when I use the humidfier (non-heated).  Are there any potentially detrimental effects to altering the pressure myself?  The technician said I need my doctor to change my prescription in order for him to alter the pressure, but that seems like a pain.

3)  I'm getting a lot of moisture in my nose mask by the middle of the night, and I thought it was the humidifier, so I bypassed it last night but still got the same results.  Any solutions to this?

NoSleepTilBrooklyn wrote:

Well, I have logged almost 300 hours on the cpap, and I have not noticed consistent improvements as of yet.  Most days I still wake up tired and remain foggy throughout the day, but I now occasionally get that one good day.

So in the interest of giving the cpap a fair shake before I throw it out the window, I would like to make sure I am using it correctly.  A few questions then:

1)  Is it better to sleep on your side than on your back, even with the cpap?

2)  My machine is set on 7, but it just doesn't feel like enough pressure now, and it seems like even less so when I use the humidfier (non-heated).  Are there any potentially detrimental effects to altering the pressure myself?  The technician said I need my doctor to change my prescription in order for him to alter the pressure, but that seems like a pain.

3)  I'm getting a lot of moisture in my nose mask by the middle of the night, and I thought it was the humidifier, so I bypassed it last night but still got the same results.  Any solutions to this?

Hi,

I really don't know which is best. Personally I sleep on both my back and on my side at different stages throughout the night. I suppose if cpap is working, then it shouldn't matter.

Best advice is not to tamper with pressure settings, without contacting your doctor. Too little pressure means no benefit, too much pressure can bring about central apnoeas........and you don't want them. The prescription you get for cpap from your doctor is related to the pressure setting and the prescription is a legal requirement. When the pressure setting was determined for you by way of titration study it was probably set at 95% of the pressure required to clear your apnoea events, to allow for comfort. It is a fairly exact science.

In some cases sleep doctors will authorize a pressure setting change of up to 2 cms without the need to visit them. I think you should phone your sleep doctor and explain your situation.

The fact that you are getting a lot of moisture is not good, a heated humidifier might be a better idea. On the subject of humidification there is a strong possibility that as you are using a non heated humidifier water may be lodging in the U bend of your air hose. This would have a detrimental effect on air pressure. The fact that you bypassed the humidifier and still got wet kind of backs this theory up........check your hose for a water build up. This might be your problem.

Kind regards,

Daniel


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)