Question:
I just got my CPAP equipment from home health care and I haven't been able

to talk to my doctor yet (he is in another city) My question is that my setting is 18 - does that seem high? Does that mean that my apnea is more severe than someone with a 12?And what does it mean that I "deoxygenate" when I sleep? Any experts out there?    — susan N. (posted on January 25, 2002)

January 25, 2002
My setting is also 18 and it is high. When they say you deoxygenate, they probably mean that your oxygen saturation levels go down severely. Normally, your oxygen sats should be almost 100%. Yours are probably going down to 60 or 70 which is very hard on your body. Sleep apnea can actually lead to heart attack and death. It may not be easy to get used to, but keep trying. If you've been feeling tired all the time, even though it seems like you're sleeping all night, this will help enormously. If you want more info, feel free to email me. I've been using mine for several years and don't plan to give it up until after my surgery.
   — garw

January 25, 2002
The CPAP is a life saver I used to deoxygenate to 45% saturation and my Dr. told me he had seen people in Emergency rooms dead of a heart attack that had higher saturation than that!! Also if you have trouble with keeping the mask on at night, ask the Home Health care Rep. for nose pillows instead of the mask the dont cover your face, they just sit at your nostril openings. GOOD LUCK!!! and email me if you have any questions
   — Blase K.

January 25, 2002
The CPAP pressure that you are prescribed is what the sleep study showed that kept you out of arousals from apnea and oxygen deprivation. Everyone is different, and usually as you lose weight you will need less pressure. 18 is not too high of a pressure. You will sleep much better. Your mood will be better, and you will have more energy. Just keep trying, it takes a little time to get used to it. If you were prescribed 18, that is what you need. During sleep studies, you are watched very closely on the oxygen and arousal times, and they try their best to give you the least pressure possible as they want you to be comfortable.
   — Mary J.

January 26, 2002
Hi, and Yes 18 is high. and it is hard to get use to the machine too, first my name is Jay, and I (had) servre Sleep Apnea and my setting was at 18. I would stop breathing 67 times per hour. This is not a typo error 67 was the correct #. No wonder I was alway sleeping onthe job, or when I drove a car I would drift off and find it difficult to focus to drive, thank God I never had an accident, However I could not get use to the mask that fits over the nose and mouth and i had to get the Adams Circuit headgear and it was like a snorkle type that was a hose that had pillows that just fit in the nose holes, this way I didnt feel traped withthe mask and it was easier to remove if I had to go to the bathroom. However for me the air pressure was so high that i started to have teeth problems, the force of keep my mouth close with all this air inside me cause me to gritt my teeth, my front teeth started to get loose, went to the dentist and he wanted to make me a bit block which was over 400.00 and insurance wouldnt pay I said no way because I dont plan on using this for life. So I delt with it. But the bright side of it is I no longer need my C-Pap machine since I have now lost 127 lbs my Sleep Apnea is gone. this is cool to let go of that darn machine, I had a hard time dealing with it, i also felt like an Alien at night time, dear hubby was so support thou, I wish you the best and hope you are able to adjust to the machine but soon you probably want need it, just in there it will get better honestly. REMEMBER DREAMS DO COME TRUE FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVES JAY
   — jay B.