My CPAP will be delivered three days from now.  I am really looking forward to getting it and starting.

I am 36 and think I have had sleep apnea for at least ten years.  It has been helped by the fact that when I got married about 10 years ago I forced myself to start sleeping on my stomach so I wouldn't snore so much.  However, about a month and a half ago it was like somebody flipped a switch and I suddenly felt terrible all the time.  I have been having problems with anxiety and no energy.  I went to the emergency room with a racing heart and anxiousness and they checked me out and said nothing is wrong with my heart and gave me a note for Xanax.  About three years ago I had the full cardiac workup and they also said nothing was wrong.

During my followup doctor appointment the doctor asked me questions about my sleeping and ordered a overnight pulse/oxygen test and based on that sent me to a neurologist/sleep doctor.  I did the first sleep test and I have "severe" sleep apnea.  When I went for my titration they told me I had "very severe" sleep apnea.  I didn't ask what the numbers were because to tell you the truth I don't want to know until after I am being treated.  I think I would be afraid to go to bed.  

Here is the good news.  Because of advise I read here on this forum I am being treated at least three weeks earlier than I would have.  I read here that you could get put on the cancellation list and got my first appointment moved up over a full week.  When they scheduled me for the titration I also had them put me on the cancellation list and that appointment got moved up two weeks.  I also made sure to tell everyone along the whole way that I wanted to get a fully data capable CPAP and I have received confirmation that I am going to get one that is the latest top of the line reporting unit.

My sleep studies weren't too bad.  The titration test I think I only slept about three or four hours.  I didn't like that they were running behind on the second test and didn't even start hooking me up to the wires until 9:45 but other than that it wasn't too terrible.  At least they got what they needed.  I found it encouraging that the next day I didn't feel much worse on limited sleep with CPAP than I do sleeping normally at home.  I did have trouble with the mask leaking at the test if I would move.  Especially when I tried laying on my side.  The tech only spent about 30 seconds trying to fit it though so I am assuming that it just wan't fit well.  Also, the mask was very loud when I would exhale.  I am hoping the mask I get isn't that loud.  The DME told me that the same mask was ordered for me but I asked then to bring a selection so I could try some others.  They said that wouldn't be a problem.  So far my interaction with the DME has been pretty positive so am hoping that I got a good one.

Now I just have to wait until Tuesday next week for the CPAP to be delivered.  I am really looking forward to getting it.  Even if I don't sleep well at first I think I will feel much better knowing that I am no longer stopping breathing at night.  I think the next three days are going to seem like an eternity.

Thank goodness you were finally diagnosed and are starting treatment! You may have some mask and comfort issues you have to work through, hang in there and keep fighting, your long term health hinges on this. Something to consider if you are a mouth breather at all, is to get a full face mask. I see so many people struggling with this, and eventually they get a full face mask. Let us know how you are doing!

Neil

Good going, Dae! You've obviously made the most of what you have learned here so far! Continued good luck for a fully data capable CPAP and finding a comfortable good fitting mask quickly. Hang w/us and we'll help if you encounter any problems. Let us know when you get your equipment and what you get!!! Have your local DME supplier show you how to access your data when they deliver your machine BEFORE they leave your house!!!!


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Good going, Dae! You've obviously made the most of what you have learned here so far! Continued good luck for a fully data capable CPAP and finding a comfortable good fitting mask quickly. Hang w/us and we'll help if you encounter any problems. Let us know when you get your equipment and what you get!!!

Have your local DME supplier show you how to access your data on the LCD screen when they deliver your machine BEFORE they leave your house!!!! IF they can't - or won't - REFUSE to accept it! Don't sign anything. Make the call to the supplier's office IMMEDIATELY whilst their delivery person is still there. The delivery person may have made a "mistake" and "brought the wrong machine".


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Through this process it is amazing how many other people I have spoken to that have sleep apnea.  It seems like half the people I work with.  I found out that my Mom has a CPAP and just the other day found out that my older brother also does.  

My Mom told me she went through a bunch of masks and finally ended with a full face mask.  I am going to give the nose mask a shot first.  I would like to try the nasal pillows but at the test they seemed much harder to breath out against and it started to irritate my nose after only a minute.  I may have just had a cheepo set though.

The nasal pillows are quite popular w/many apneans. They do take a little toughening up of the nasal passages due to the more direct air pressure but Ayr Saline Nasal Gel and a good heated humidifier usually take care of that in no time. The Aieomed Headrest ?? (they've changed the name so many time I've lost track) and the new Swift LT (vs the original Swift or Swift II) seem to be very popular nasal pillows style masks.

The Resmed Mirage Micro seems to be gaining in popularity amongst nasal cushion users. And the Resmed Mirago Quattro amongst the full face users. I think it is the older Resmed Mirage Activa that has been a popular full face mask as well.

(Yup, I prefer the Resmed xPAPs, but when it comes to masks, altho many say Resmed makes the best and sturdiest masks I prefer one of Respironics' oldest nasal cushion masks, the Simplicity simple nasal cushion. But I'm in the minority on that one).


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Just another note on what I have been going through.

My doctor gave me nasonex a few weeks ago for congestion so that when I start CPAP I would not have congestion problems.  This week I have been having headaches and occasional heart palpitations.  Today I have been having palpitations more often so I googled nasonex side affects and sure enough there are hundreds of reports of nasonex causing headaches, sleeplessness, anxiety, and heart palpitations.     

That is the last thing I need right now.  I am discontinuing the nasonex.  Hopefully it won't take too long for this to clear up.  

Only two more nights until I get the CPAP.  

dae3dae3 wrote:

Just another note on what I have been going through.

My doctor gave me nasonex a few weeks ago for congestion so that when I start CPAP I would not have congestion problems.  This week I have been having headaches and occasional heart palpitations.  Today I have been having palpitations more often so I googled nasonex side affects and sure enough there are hundreds of reports of nasonex causing headaches, sleeplessness, anxiety, and heart palpitations.     

That is the last thing I need right now.  I am discontinuing the nasonex.  Hopefully it won't take too long for this to clear up.  

Only two more nights until I get the CPAP.  

Dae3Dae3, Nasonex absolutely causes the anxiety and sleepiness.  

By the way, I tried the nasal pillows for 6 nights and have now been using the mask for 4 nights now.  The nasal pillows really irritated my nostrils and had them raw and such.  However, even though I sleep on my back, I did like the option of being able to roll on my side, but with the mask it's start to leak.

Only a couple of more days for ya.....

Aarondawg

I just got the CPAP.  

The machine is a Respironics REMstarPro M Series with heated humidifier.  Everything is unlocked so I can look at all the info available on the LCD screen and can change the ramp and C-flex settings.  Funnily enough, after all I read on this forum about people having trouble getting data capable machines the tech who delivered mine said that almost every machine they give out is the data capable version.  They only give out the cheapies to people with bad or no insurance to save them money.  He also told me that if I want the card read I can mail it to them and they will read it and send back the report with the card.  I didn't think to ask him if there is a fee for this since I plan to eventually get a reader for myself.

The mask is a Respironics OptiLife Nasal Interface.  My pressure is 15 so I am hoping that works out with the nasal interface.  It just felt so much more comfortable than the nose masks that I want to give it a shot.  All the nose masks also all seemed to blow air into my right eye if I even thought about moving.  

I slept terribly last night so hopefully I will be nice and tired at bedtime to help out with my new adventure.

Best of luck to you!!!!  Don't wait until bed to try it out...hook up and watch some TV this evening!

I think a lot of the DME's are starting to get the picture..but there are still many out there that will automatically set you up with a basic machine..and will only back off if the patient questions it.


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CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO~ http://tinyurl.com/69q52a

BiPAP Auto M 13/8 Mirage Nasal Swift. 20 years+ undx'd. RLS/PLMD, Hypersomnia & more.

I had a pretty bad night.  

I didn't sleep a whole lot.  My leak rate was twice what the mask's manual said it should be and my AHI was 11.1.  I am wondering if since my AHI was 11.1 and I spent a lot of the night awake and not having events how bad did it have to be during the times that I was asleep to average out that high.  

The mask was close to a disaster.  I think the pressure is too high for a nasal pillow since it seems to be inflating my nose like a balloon and making it feel like it is being stretched.  I am going to try the large pillows tonight and see if the leaking is better.  I also think I had the humidity too low so I got terribly congested towards the morning and have been terribly congested all day.  I used my neti pot when I got home from work and the sinuses seem to be quite a bit better.  

I also could not get comfortable on my pillow with the mask.  I have a Japanese style pillow with buckweat hulls inside of it and it was just too hard with the head gear.  I ended up sleeping flat on my back with no pillow which wasn't comfortable but was better that everything else I tried.  I bought a new pillow on the way home from work today.

To top it all off I decided to order a comfort gel nasal mask from cpap.com and paid for overnight shipping and I am pretty sure that they are overnighting me the return insurance and sending the mask UPS ground.  I called and they said the second tracking number is for the insurance and is just inside the box but the label that is overnight is only .8 pounds and the ground package is 2 pounds.  I think they switched which label is supposed to be overnight but I won't know for sure until one of the items gets scanned by UPS.  If the overnight package gets scanned all is well and if the ground is scanned I am going to be all kinds of angry.  Only one should get scanned since according to them the second label is inside the first box.

Hopefully tonight and tomorrow will be better.

dae3dae3 wrote:

I had a pretty bad night.  

I didn't sleep a whole lot.  My leak rate was twice what the mask's manual said it should be and my AHI was 11.1.  I am wondering if since my AHI was 11.1 and I spent a lot of the night awake and not having events how bad did it have to be during the times that I was asleep to average out that high.  

The mask was close to a disaster.  I think the pressure is too high for a nasal pillow since it seems to be inflating my nose like a balloon and making it feel like it is being stretched.  I am going to try the large pillows tonight and see if the leaking is better.  I also think I had the humidity too low so I got terribly congested towards the morning and have been terribly congested all day.  I used my neti pot when I got home from work and the sinuses seem to be quite a bit better.  

I also could not get comfortable on my pillow with the mask.  I have a Japanese style pillow with buckweat hulls inside of it and it was just too hard with the head gear.  I ended up sleeping flat on my back with no pillow which wasn't comfortable but was better that everything else I tried.  I bought a new pillow on the way home from work today.

To top it all off I decided to order a comfort gel nasal mask from cpap.com and paid for overnight shipping and I am pretty sure that they are overnighting me the return insurance and sending the mask UPS ground.  I called and they said the second tracking number is for the insurance and is just inside the box but the label that is overnight is only .8 pounds and the ground package is 2 pounds.  I think they switched which label is supposed to be overnight but I won't know for sure until one of the items gets scanned by UPS.  If the overnight package gets scanned all is well and if the ground is scanned I am going to be all kinds of angry.  Only one should get scanned since according to them the second label is inside the first box.

Hopefully tonight and tomorrow will be better.

Dae3Dae3, I am sorry that you had a bad night.  We have all been there and we will support each other.  I had to switch from the pillows to a mask 4 nights ago.  The air leaks are normal until the correct position is found.  I am still adjusting and I am approaching my 2nd week of treatment.   I still take my Ristoril to sleep as I adjust to wearing a the CPAP.  I hope to start to reduce taking them in the near future.  

Hang in there with the rest of us newbies... We empathize with you...

Aarondawg

Last night was much better.  I actually slept most of the night.     My AHI the first night was 11.1 and was 2.1 last night.  I don't quite know how that worked out so well considering my leak rate is about triple what the mask manual said it should be.  

Switching to the larger nasal pillows made a huge difference as well as buying a new pillow and turning down the air conditioning.  

Here is the bad news.  I got the comfort gel mask today and spent two hours trying to keep it from blowing into my right eye.  I am going to send it back.  I am sure glad I bought the return insurance.  I even did the boil and custom fit routine and it didn't get any better.  It is a real shame because it was much easier to breath out against than the nasal pillows.

Figured out the leak thing.  I was reading the graph wrong.  

Third night was even better.  My AHI last night was 1.2.  

I still don't especially like my mask but if I am sleeping and getting such good numbers I guess I shouldn't mess with it.  

Sorry if I am sort of treating this thread as my sleep apnea blog but it makes me feel better to post these things with people going through the same process.