CPap

[Guest guest]

Hi Friends, I have been having some interesting battles lately with my

CPap, which seems to be having a domino affect to my over all condition. I

have experienced a significant weight gain of about 20 pounds which has been

just enough to require more CPap Pressure. When the CPap is on it is like

trying to suck air through a straw embedded in a very thick milk shake. I

can actually do better without the CPap than with it. I have had it check

out for working condition and it is fine. I do have an elevation setting

mine so I raised the elevation last night, and it was just enough to allow

me to sleep all night in peace. I have a doctor's appointment coming up and

plan to talk to my doctor about it, but feel between the rock and a hard

place, because if the levels are raised the, I can't reduce them as easily

as I increased them. If I successfully lose some of this weight, which is

my goal, then the added increase will be a problem. It is amazing me how

much my condition is affected when I can't sleep. My muscles are crying out

in pain, I can't stand, let alone walk for more than 15 seconds without

feeling like I am going to keel right over as my hip, thigh, and lower back

muscles are strained to breaking point when upright due to weakness. I am

shaky and dizzy. I want to eat more to gain energy, because I am so weak,

yet if I eat more, I am going to increase my weight even more. Last night I

took advantage of that elevation changeability and increased my CPap. I

slept all night, and this morning, after just one night of 12 hours of

uninterrupted sleep, my body is feeling so much better, (not good but

better). It feels like several nights of this would bring me back to my

" norm " . I will have to see what the day brings, but I feel so much relief

already. Do the rest of you experience total system breakdown just from the

lack of being able to sleep and breathe while doing so? I can just see

myself having a ping pong affect of going to the doctor with concerns about

weakness, muscle spasms, dizziness, fatigue and going through a lot of

tests, medications, etc and have everything out of control just because I

gained some weight and couldn't sleep and breathe. This is scary. I had

found such a good balance of activity/functionality that agreed with my

condition. I had gotten too busy, to tired, eating habits changed, weight

increased and as a result dominos of health are collapsing all over the

place. Looking forward to some more nights of sleep. Ruth

[Guest guest]

Ruth

Don't have an answer for you, but I think I'm going through the same

thing right now. I have been using a C-PAP for months, but lately

feel like I'm sufficating with it and can't seem to tolerate using

it.

I didn't realize that weight gain effects the settings. I had been

told that a Bi-PAP may benefit me more. Unfortunately insurance

isn't paying for either until I get a diagnosis.

In the meantime, I think I'm going to try to exercise in warm water

to see if I can reduce the pain and maybe lose a few pounds. I hope

you find some answers.

Maggie

> Hi Friends, I have been having some interesting battles lately

with my

> CPap, which seems to be having a domino affect to my over all

condition. I

> have experienced a significant weight gain of about 20 pounds

which has been

> just enough to require more CPap Pressure. When the CPap is on it

is like

> trying to suck air through a straw embedded in a very thick milk

shake. I

> can actually do better without the CPap than with it. I have had

it check

> out for working condition and it is fine. I do have an elevation

setting

> mine so I raised the elevation last night, and it was just enough

to allow

> me to sleep all night in peace. I have a doctor's appointment

coming up and

> plan to talk to my doctor about it, but feel between the rock and

a hard

> place, because if the levels are raised the, I can't reduce them

as easily

> as I increased them. If I successfully lose some of this weight,

which is

> my goal, then the added increase will be a problem. It is amazing

me how

> much my condition is affected when I can't sleep. My muscles are

crying out

> in pain, I can't stand, let alone walk for more than 15 seconds

without

> feeling like I am going to keel right over as my hip, thigh, and

lower back

> muscles are strained to breaking point when upright due to

weakness. I am

> shaky and dizzy. I want to eat more to gain energy, because I am

so weak,

> yet if I eat more, I am going to increase my weight even more.

Last night I

> took advantage of that elevation changeability and increased my

CPap. I

> slept all night, and this morning, after just one night of 12

hours of

> uninterrupted sleep, my body is feeling so much better, (not good

but

> better). It feels like several nights of this would bring me back

to my

> " norm " . I will have to see what the day brings, but I feel so

much relief

> already. Do the rest of you experience total system breakdown

just from the

> lack of being able to sleep and breathe while doing so? I can

just see

> myself having a ping pong affect of going to the doctor with

concerns about

> weakness, muscle spasms, dizziness, fatigue and going through a

lot of

> tests, medications, etc and have everything out of control just

because I

> gained some weight and couldn't sleep and breathe. This is

scary. I had

> found such a good balance of activity/functionality that agreed

with my

> condition. I had gotten too busy, to tired, eating habits

changed, weight

> increased and as a result dominos of health are collapsing all

over the

> place. Looking forward to some more nights of sleep. Ruth

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

It is not a good idea to set your own CPAP settings higher. Weight does make a

difference and can require an increase in pressure but ony a respiratory

therapist and a pulmonologist should make this decision as it could be harmful

if you have too much pressure.

Alice

[Guest guest]

Hi Alice, If you are referring to me, the only thing I can change is the

elevation level. I have an appointment with my doctor June 16 and the Sleep

Center will have to be set up after that which means I am looking at a good

month. Right now I am unable to sleep with the pressure set normally.

Without sleep, I have had a host of other very disturbing symptoms that have

basically brought me to a stand still. So for that short interim of time I

will just increase the altitude setting to the point I can breathe without

suffocating, and work hard a getting the weight down. The only other option

is to sleep without the CPap which I don't think is a good option either.

Cheers, Ruth

_____

From: justagram@...

Sent: Monday, May 24, 2004 12:50 PM

To:

Subject: Re: Re: CPap

It is not a good idea to set your own CPAP settings higher. Weight does

make a difference and can require an increase in pressure but ony a

respiratory therapist and a pulmonologist should make this decision as it

could be harmful if you have too much pressure.

Alice

Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained herein

are not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e mail

is entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of their

responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult with

their physicians regarding changes in their own treatment.

Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one is

automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack.

[Guest guest]

OK...I'm sorry. I misunderstood your message. I'm also trying to find out if

my CPAP is a problem and have an appointment on 6/4 with my pulmonologist. I

suspect he will have me go thru another sleep study as my overnight pulse ox

showed that I need oxygen which I now have supplemental with my CPAP. My

machine is about 7 years old so it's possible that it needs changing after

continuous use but I can't get anything done without going to the pulmonologist

first.

BTW.. My pulmo testing at the hospital last week was't bad at all and I don't

think it showed any problems with my lungs but will know better when I see the

doctor on 6/4. I'm really looking forward to that appointment because if this

is what has caused my difficulties all these months, it should be an easy fix.

Good luck with yours. I know how important CPAP is.

Alice

[Guest guest]

Ruth

I hope you can get some more good nights of sleep. Have you checked the

filters in your CPap? When it seems hard to breath, that is the second thing

I check. The first is to make sure the hose is in the CPap as trying to such

air through a long tube is not comfortable.

I go for my sleep study Wed. night to make sure my setting are where they

should be. The doctor is also considering a new machine, since this one is

getting old (like it's owner).

laurie

>

> Reply-To:

> Date: Mon, 24 May 2004 08:53:28 -0400

> To: >

> Subject: CPap

>

> Hi Friends, I have been having some interesting battles lately with my

> CPap, which seems to be having a domino affect to my over all condition. I

> have experienced a significant weight gain of about 20 pounds which has been

> just enough to require more CPap Pressure. When the CPap is on it is like

> trying to suck air through a straw embedded in a very thick milk shake. I

> can actually do better without the CPap than with it. I have had it check

> out for working condition and it is fine. I do have an elevation setting

> mine so I raised the elevation last night, and it was just enough to allow

> me to sleep all night in peace. I have a doctor's appointment coming up and

> plan to talk to my doctor about it, but feel between the rock and a hard

> place, because if the levels are raised the, I can't reduce them as easily

> as I increased them. If I successfully lose some of this weight, which is

> my goal, then the added increase will be a problem. It is amazing me how

> much my condition is affected when I can't sleep. My muscles are crying out

> in pain, I can't stand, let alone walk for more than 15 seconds without

> feeling like I am going to keel right over as my hip, thigh, and lower back

> muscles are strained to breaking point when upright due to weakness. I am

> shaky and dizzy. I want to eat more to gain energy, because I am so weak,

> yet if I eat more, I am going to increase my weight even more. Last night I

> took advantage of that elevation changeability and increased my CPap. I

> slept all night, and this morning, after just one night of 12 hours of

> uninterrupted sleep, my body is feeling so much better, (not good but

> better). It feels like several nights of this would bring me back to my

> " norm " . I will have to see what the day brings, but I feel so much relief

> already. Do the rest of you experience total system breakdown just from the

> lack of being able to sleep and breathe while doing so? I can just see

> myself having a ping pong affect of going to the doctor with concerns about

> weakness, muscle spasms, dizziness, fatigue and going through a lot of

> tests, medications, etc and have everything out of control just because I

> gained some weight and couldn't sleep and breathe. This is scary. I had

> found such a good balance of activity/functionality that agreed with my

> condition. I had gotten too busy, to tired, eating habits changed, weight

> increased and as a result dominos of health are collapsing all over the

> place. Looking forward to some more nights of sleep. Ruth

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Also.. sometimes the hose can have a hole you are not aware of and that can

really make it difficult to breathe. I forgot all about that. Check for air

leaks. Your insurance should allow you new hoses at least once a year.

Alice

[Guest guest]

Hi Laurie, We checked everything and took the machine into the vendor to

measure the output too. I need to work on my weight and be patient while I

jump through the medical hoops to get another sleep evaluation. Cheers,

Ruth

_____

From: Laureta Fitzgerald

Sent: Monday, May 24, 2004 8:06 PM

To:

Subject: Re: CPap

Ruth

I hope you can get some more good nights of sleep. Have you checked the

filters in your CPap? When it seems hard to breath, that is the second thing

I check. The first is to make sure the hose is in the CPap as trying to such

air through a long tube is not comfortable.

I go for my sleep study Wed. night to make sure my setting are where they

should be. The doctor is also considering a new machine, since this one is

getting old (like it's owner).

laurie

>

> Reply-To:

> Date: Mon, 24 May 2004 08:53:28 -0400

> To: >

> Subject: CPap

>

> Hi Friends, I have been having some interesting battles lately with my

> CPap, which seems to be having a domino affect to my over all condition.

I

> have experienced a significant weight gain of about 20 pounds which has

been

> just enough to require more CPap Pressure. When the CPap is on it is like

> trying to suck air through a straw embedded in a very thick milk shake. I

> can actually do better without the CPap than with it. I have had it check

> out for working condition and it is fine. I do have an elevation setting

> mine so I raised the elevation last night, and it was just enough to allow

> me to sleep all night in peace. I have a doctor's appointment coming up

and

> plan to talk to my doctor about it, but feel between the rock and a hard

> place, because if the levels are raised the, I can't reduce them as easily

> as I increased them. If I successfully lose some of this weight, which is

> my goal, then the added increase will be a problem. It is amazing me how

> much my condition is affected when I can't sleep. My muscles are crying

out

> in pain, I can't stand, let alone walk for more than 15 seconds without

> feeling like I am going to keel right over as my hip, thigh, and lower

back

> muscles are strained to breaking point when upright due to weakness. I am

> shaky and dizzy. I want to eat more to gain energy, because I am so weak,

> yet if I eat more, I am going to increase my weight even more. Last night

I

> took advantage of that elevation changeability and increased my CPap. I

> slept all night, and this morning, after just one night of 12 hours of

> uninterrupted sleep, my body is feeling so much better, (not good but

> better). It feels like several nights of this would bring me back to my

> " norm " . I will have to see what the day brings, but I feel so much

relief

> already. Do the rest of you experience total system breakdown just from

the

> lack of being able to sleep and breathe while doing so? I can just see

> myself having a ping pong affect of going to the doctor with concerns

about

> weakness, muscle spasms, dizziness, fatigue and going through a lot of

> tests, medications, etc and have everything out of control just because I

> gained some weight and couldn't sleep and breathe. This is scary. I had

> found such a good balance of activity/functionality that agreed with my

> condition. I had gotten too busy, to tired, eating habits changed, weight

> increased and as a result dominos of health are collapsing all over the

> place. Looking forward to some more nights of sleep. Ruth

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

New hoses every six months. I also have two CPaps and have the same

problem with both of them. Cheers, Ruth

_____

From: justagram@...

Sent: Monday, May 24, 2004 9:30 PM

To:

Subject: Re: CPap

Also.. sometimes the hose can have a hole you are not aware of and that can

really make it difficult to breathe. I forgot all about that. Check for

air leaks. Your insurance should allow you new hoses at least once a year.

Alice

Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained herein

are not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e mail

is entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of their

responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult with

their physicians regarding changes in their own treatment.

Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one is

automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack.