The pressure seems to go away

dieselgal · Post by **dieselgal** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:36 pm

It really is odd that if I just put my mask on at the set pressure of 10 it seems impossible for a few moments to breathe and yet when I wake up in the middle of the night my body has gotten so acclimated to the pressure that I many times wonder if the machine is still working. There have been many nights that I actually pull the mask loose just to hear the noise and feel the air because I thought it wasn't blowing anymore.
Just goes to show what you can get use to.

stages3n4 · Post by **stages3n4** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:40 pm

I go through the same thing, it is weird how that works.

SleepySandy · Post by **SleepySandy** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:19 pm

I also go through this. In fact I woke up this morning and pulled my mask away from my face to see if my machine was still running. I really thought my machine was turned off.

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:00 pm

Rather than pulling the mask from your face just put your had in front of the vent and feel the air blowing out. Less trouble getting your mask to seal again!!

But yes, this is completely normal. Freeky isn't it?

GoofyUT · Post by **GoofyUT** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:30 am

Yeah, ain't it a HOOT???!!!!!

Chuck

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:36 am

Even more fun, suddenly disconnect the hose and notice how your lungs feel like they've deflated or something... like it's hard to inhale at "only" room pressure. It only lasts one breath or so, but it's interesting. The effect is negligible at lower pressures, but at my 14cm, it's quite noticeable and kind of cool to do.

Yes, I too get so used to the thing I can't tell if it's on.... or some mornings, if I'm even WEARING the thing! I bring my hand up to feel for it. Now THAT'S acclimation!

Speaking of this, remember to tell any friends or family new to CPAP or going for a sleep study, or considering evaluation initially, that the mask can be VERY alien and foreign and in some cases intolerable at first, but that the transformation that occurs after "getting used to it" is truly amazing. Tell them that some people go from "I can never wear this while sleeping, I'd sooner die early of OSA, I can't possibly EVER tolerate this, arrgggh!" to "Is it on?" in only a couple of weeks, or months. It's very important for newbies to hear and understand this, so if they encounter seemingly-insurmountable problems tolerating the mask, they'll remember that you said that the "powers of acclimation" can be amazing, and they soon might get along fine with the mask, even though it seems horrible *now*. That might keep them going, whereas without that knowledge they might quit instead.

lpady · Post by **lpady** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:51 am

Just chiming in here with a "Me too." Last couple days I woke up a couple times before the alarm went off wondering if the machine was on, to find out that not only was it on, it was at the high range of my APAP setting!!!!

Extremely wierd, but comforting to know that in 6 days I can get so acclimated to the pressure...

I agree with "Guest" - it's an important thing to share. I'm still trying to get my ex-DH and my boss to go for their studies!!!

ScottH · Post by **ScottH** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:09 am

Day 5 of therapy and I'm already noticing this. When I hit the Ramp button it feels like I'm fighting to exhale, and I seem to be taking deep breaths for a few minutes as I acclimate to the pressure, but I've woken a few times in the night and already noticed the phenomenon described above. I keep wondering if the machine is on, the mask is sealed, etc. because I seem to be breathing normal sea-level air pressure...

brackstone · Post by **brackstone** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:51 am

Ditto here I often wonder if the machine is working.

This is around day 10 of my therapy I believe and I've racked up 100 points! err hours!

What rank of CPAP user does that make me? A Squire?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 11:08 am

Another "me too" reply. I've been on CPAP since late last year and even from day one I would wake up thinking the thing was off. Very odd to say the least, but it must be pretty common.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 12:00 pm

ScottH wrote:Day 5 of therapy and I'm already noticing this. When I hit the Ramp button it feels like I'm fighting to exhale, and I seem to be taking deep breaths for a few minutes as I acclimate to the pressure, but I've woken a few times in the night and already noticed the phenomenon described above. I keep wondering if the machine is on, the mask is sealed, etc. because I seem to be breathing normal sea-level air pressure...

You might want to stop using Ramp. You probably don't need it anymore.

I'm on CPAP at a fairly high pressure (14), meaning no nice lower pressure to start, and I never *once* used Ramp. First night, I put the mask on, turned the machine on, tightened the straps as necessary to kill the leaks, and by the time I had that done (a few minutes), I was already getting used to the 14cm pressure. Never had a need to use Ramp. In fact, I don't even know if it WORKS on my machine!

Many other people have said the same, that they never used Ramp even once. Even if they did initially though, few still use it once they're "CPAP veterans".

Seems to be a feature that can help -some- people early on, but I doubt many folks continue to use it long-term.

oceanpearl · Post by **oceanpearl** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:22 am

SleepySandy wrote:I also go through this. In fact I woke up this morning and pulled my mask away from my face to see if my machine was still running. I really thought my machine was turned off.

Woke p at 6 this morning AND the machine was off. Weird!

Mask

Additional Comments: RLS, EDS, Depression (which will hopefully go away after xPAP??? )

Mask	Humidifier

The pressure seems to go away

The pressure seems to go away

Adaptation