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Question about UARS and gasping - Printable Version

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Question about UARS and gasping - tarah - 11-15-2017

Hi,
I'm trying to understand more about the condition that I have.  When I go to sleep, just as I am drifting off, I gasp and wake completely up. This has been happening on/off for 3 years.  It can happen repeatedly for hours.  Once I get to sleep, I sleep o.k., not good, but at least the gasping stops.

My machine is set to provide EPR, starts out at 4. Will this low pressure help to address the gasping? Even running the mask fit makes me feel like i just cant exhale, like I'm using stomach muscles to force air out.  Right now I am simply trying to tolerate the mask, running at 5, during the day.

Thanks for the help.


RE: Question about UARS and gasping - Sleeprider - 11-15-2017

The lowest pressure your machine can provide is 4-cm, so when you are at that pressure there is no EPR, and most of us feel pretty air-starved at that very low pressure. I recommend you turn off ramp because it may be part of the reason you are gasping. Once you get to 5-cm, you are getting an exhale of 4-cm, and that might actually feel better than the straight low pressure. I know you feel anxious about CPAP, but it actually gets more comfortable at the pressure that works for you.

The gasping may be sleep-onset apnea, and is pretty common as the voluntary respiration you have during the day, hands off to the autonomic breathing at night. Take a look at this article. https://www.e-jsm.org/journal/view.php?number=91


RE: Question about UARS and gasping - tarah - 11-15-2017

I laid down with my baby while he was napping. And I fell asleep for a minute with the machine on!!! I can't believe It!
I will adjust the pressure as you recommended.


RE: Question about UARS and gasping - Sleeprider - 11-15-2017

Nothing like some baby nap-time. That's great, and the right attitude towards the machine. It's just sleep.


RE: Question about UARS and gasping - HalfAsleep - 11-15-2017

Way to go!

And your baby might even like the swooshy sounds that comes from the APAP set up.

I too, have that gasping thing that wakes me up as I'm about to drift off. Actually, mine is more like a choke. Pain in the butt. Before APAP, I got it every night, and then proceed to deeper sleep. Now that I've been on CPAP for 6 weeks, I don't get it every night.


RE: Question about UARS and gasping - tarah - 11-15-2017

I don't see how to turn off the ramp. I'm in the clinical menu but the Ramp Time is not letting me change it. It's on Auto.


RE: Question about UARS and gasping - HalfAsleep - 11-15-2017

(11-15-2017, 09:17 PM)tarah Wrote: I don't see how to turn off the ramp. I'm in the clinical menu but the Ramp Time is not letting me change it. It's on Auto.

Turn off: Go to clinician's menu (Home and round button for a few seconds simultaneously), scroll down to ramp time. Use the round button to turn it off or on. Click the round button to firm up the settings.


RE: Question about UARS and gasping - tarah - 11-15-2017

Thank you!