Greetings everyone,

  I was recently diagnosed with OSA, and got my CPAP machine and a full face mask that I've been using for two days.  Of course, I was hoping so much that I'd be one of those overnight success stories, but to no avail.  The last two days have been the most miserable days I've ever had.  The weird thing is that I am actually "sleeping" just as long as before.  I wear the mask the whole night (7-8 full hours) and only remove it to scratch/rub my nose in the middle of the night.  It takes me a few minutes to settle down after getting "strapped in", but other than that I feel comfortable at night... and it's not like I have a high pressure setting.

  However, I think the problem is the pressure level.  I have only had one split night study where they hooked me up for a few hours after they identified the problem.  They started at 5cm, then 7, then 9, then back to 7.  Throughout the whole thing, my AHI (24 with peaks near 90) only improved by 4 at 7cm, but that's what I am set to (I think it's because I actually had a 17 minute strech of REM sleep at that pressure).  I was also told to wait a month then speak to my doctor about having another study (titration?) done to determine optimal pressure.  This will be my third night, and I really want this treatment to work, but I can't take a month of this.  I don't think I've ever felt this run down (while remembering the previous night, anyway).  What's a guy to do?


  Another note:  The reason I have a full mask is because I had trouble inhaling through my nose during the study.  This resulting in my doctor ordering a CT scan with followup to an ENT specialist.  I figured the scan would show a deviated septum (broken nose at age 12), which it did show.  It also showed a large nasal polyp.  My doctor doesn't believe that removing the polyp (surgical or non) will help my apnea (then again, it may), but it should make it easier to breathe through my nose.  Has anyone had this type of experience?  Could removal of the polyp help enough to allow me to wear a nasal mask instead of full face?

  I would type and/or explain more, but it's already taken my 30 minutes to type this up in a way that makes a little sense.

  Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated... and thanks for "listening".

v/r

Jeromy

Hi Jeromy,

There is no reason why you should wait a month before getting titered to the correct pressure.  Call your doc and insist on having the study sooner.  Any time I have had trouble getting the treatment I need, I mention "withholding medical care" and "you'd better hope I don't get fired or have an apnea related car accident" and my level of care miraculously improves.

I've had severe nasal polyps and have had my sinues roto routed (twice, but it's a long story).  If you were using a nasal mask, I would think that the polyp would only interfer if it were in your sinus passages (in line with the air flow) and not in a sinus.  Do you know exactly where it is?  Try to avoid having it scrapped out (that is what they do).  The scar tissue that grows back is not ciliated and you get to spend the rest of your life irrigating your nose everyday.  Rather, see an allergist and see if antihistamines and topical steriods (such as Flonase, Rhinocort, Nasonex, etc.) will shrink it.

Vicki

jeromy wrote:

Greetings everyone,

  I was recently diagnosed with OSA, and got my CPAP machine and a full face mask that I've been using for two days.  Of course, I was hoping so much that I'd be one of those overnight success stories, but to no avail.  The last two days have been the most miserable days I've ever had.  The weird thing is that I am actually "sleeping" just as long as before.  I wear the mask the whole night (7-8 full hours) and only remove it to scratch/rub my nose in the middle of the night.  It takes me a few minutes to settle down after getting "strapped in", but other than that I feel comfortable at night... and it's not like I have a high pressure setting.

  However, I think the problem is the pressure level.  I have only had one split night study where they hooked me up for a few hours after they identified the problem.  They started at 5cm, then 7, then 9, then back to 7.  Throughout the whole thing, my AHI (24 with peaks near 90) only improved by 4 at 7cm, but that's what I am set to (I think it's because I actually had a 17 minute strech of REM sleep at that pressure).  I was also told to wait a month then speak to my doctor about having another study (titration?) done to determine optimal pressure.  This will be my third night, and I really want this treatment to work, but I can't take a month of this.  I don't think I've ever felt this run down (while remembering the previous night, anyway).  What's a guy to do?


  Another note:  The reason I have a full mask is because I had trouble inhaling through my nose during the study.  This resulting in my doctor ordering a CT scan with followup to an ENT specialist.  I figured the scan would show a deviated septum (broken nose at age 12), which it did show.  It also showed a large nasal polyp.  My doctor doesn't believe that removing the polyp (surgical or non) will help my apnea (then again, it may), but it should make it easier to breathe through my nose.  Has anyone had this type of experience?  Could removal of the polyp help enough to allow me to wear a nasal mask instead of full face?

  I would type and/or explain more, but it's already taken my 30 minutes to type this up in a way that makes a little sense.

  Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated... and thanks for "listening".

v/r

Jeromy

Hi Jeromy,

I think you should push your doctor for the titration study, or possibly even to get an auto titrating machine for a week or so on loan.

Nasal Polyps........I had them removed in 1994. Needed a lot of packing as there is a lot of bleeding. My ENT removed them to allow me to breath easier. I believe that they can grow again.

FWIW I think you should have them removed. Anything that opens up the airway should be good.

Daniel


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)