Let me tell you about my first night on the Flex PAP.  I set up the machine on the second shelf of my night stand, hooked up the hose, put the Quatro head gear on, and crawled into bed. Beside my new routine for my XPAP (I assume that’s the term for a flexible CPAP), I have a few other bed time rituals as well. I’m a type I diabetic who uses an insulin pump. So I tuck the pump under my pillow and make sure the cord is tucked under the top sheet because my cat as been known to chew on it. I then put wrist guards on both hands because of carpal tunnel.  

Then I laid back and tried to relax, at which point, my husband who had been watching somewhat amused asked if it was too late to ask for a good night kiss. So I unhooked the mask, gave him a kiss, reattached the mask and hit the on button. My husband questioned whether it was on because it was so quiet. I laid back again and tried to get use to the mask, suddenly I realized that I forgot to put water in the humidifier. So up I got… unhooked the mask, pulled the pump from under the pillow, took off the wrist guards and off to the bathroom I went to fill the tank with distilled water.  Once that was done, it was back to bed… pump goes under the pillow, wrist guards go back on, mask gets put back over my head, I hit the on button and lay back down to relax and fall asleep.

Overall my night was not too bad. I woke up a couple of times. I had to tighten the mask because when it started forcing more air pressure, it was leaking. It is set to start at a pressure of 5 and then build up as needed all the way to 16. It has a computer chips which lets it determine how much air pressure I need to keep my air way open. But other than that, I think overall I had a good night. I looked at the stats on the machine and it said I had 7.1 hours of therapy (or something to that effect. I still need to learn how to read the machine.

But thanks again for the encouragement and tips. I’m really looking forward to happy nights of restful sleep.  

Congratulations on a good (and amusing) first night!  

You might consider putting a supply of the distilled water somewhere near your bed or nightstand.  Those jugs are cumbersome, I know.  But you might find some medium sized squirt bottle that can be filled easily yet squirt easily into your water chamber.  I keep a squirt bottle and the jug near my bed.  Saves trips.  lol  

Again, congrats.  It's nice to see your husband is pretty supportive.  You sound like someone used to routines.  Once you settle on this one, it will be just part of the whole routine.  But your description was funny!


Linda


_________________
The info provided on this site is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use info on this website to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider.

Thanks Linda. I like to chuckle at my challenges. I figure they make for good stories and lessons learned.

I like the idea of putting the distilled water in a squirt bottle next to the bed. I've also decided to move the machine to the top shelf of my night stand instead of the middle shelf where I had it last night, so that I can see the display easier and can get to the on off button easier.

Tomorrow I have to clean the bedroom up because we are having the extended family over for 4th of July celebrations and I suspect that they will be curious about my new contraption.  

Lucrenda You might want to consider putting your machine a little lower than what you are in bed, that way if you have any condensation in your hose from your humidifier it will run back down into the humidifier and not into your mask or face. Just a thought? I have mine about a foot above the floor, and I have never had any problems with that and I can just look down and see the read out. Good luck to you and I am glad you are having a good experience so far!


_________________
White Beard with a White Beard
Resmed VPAP Adapt SV Enhanced, HumidAire 2i, ResLink with Model 8000 Flex sensor Pulse Oximeter, and ResScan 3.5 software. Respironic EverFlo OPI Oxygen Concentrator 3 lpm
EEP 9.0, min PS 6.0, max PS 16.0

I've had three nights with my unit. Unfortunately, my mask was leaking at the bottom so I tried to tighten it. Now my right cheek as a sore on it. Obviously, I tighten it too much. I guess it's time to pull out the mask directions for fine tuning the fit.

White Beard, after your suggestion about the condensation, I will be moving the CPAP machine back to the second shelf of my night stand. Thanks for the advice. I hadn't thought about the condensation problem.

I highly recommend using one of the Comfort Gel masks, they can be quite tight without hurting.  The gel does seem to soften over time (the "rental" mask I used before I got my own didn't seal nearly as well as the new one I got).  Also, you can warm the gel mask and mold it to your face, quite neat.

Good luck!

Lucrenda It might take you awhile to get your mask adjusted just right, heck you might find you might need a different mask! I can't tell you the number of masks I tried from my DME before I found one that I could finally live with. It isn't uncommon to have problems especially with those pesky leaks around the sides, and just when you think you have it fixed it pop up some where else! But you'll get it figured out, we all do! Good Luck to You!


_________________
White Beard with a White Beard
Resmed VPAP Adapt SV Enhanced, HumidAire 2i, ResLink with Model 8000 Flex sensor Pulse Oximeter, and ResScan 3.5 software. Respironic EverFlo OPI Oxygen Concentrator 3 lpm
EEP 9.0, min PS 6.0, max PS 16.0

Tomorrow I see my doctor for the first time since going on the CPAP. My provider is getting me a print off today from my card so that I can take it with me.

Overall, I'm doing very well on the machine but every night I seem to wake up between 2 and 4 and I'm not sure why. In most cases it seems that I develop a leak in my mask about that time. I have adjusted the mask so that it has stopped rubbing my nose and cheek raw and for the most part I think I have a good fit but maybe I will check into your suggestion Pungo regarding the gel mask. I was going to talk to my provider today about it when I dropped my card off but she was out of the office.  Maybe I will see her tonight when I pick up the printout after work.

I'm looking foward to seeing what the print out looks like and says.

I met with the doctor for the first time since going on the Auto-CPAP and got my summary for the last 9 days of useage. I'm still learning what all the data means but the doctor thought I was doing very well.

Here is the summary of my results:

Day sof Device usage: 9 days
Days without Device usage: 0 days
Percent Days with Device Usage: 100%
Cumulative Usage: 63 hrs 14 mins
Total Blower Hours: 63 hrs. 14 mins

REMstart Auto Statistics
Auto-CPAP Mean Pressure: 14.5 cm H2O
Auto-CPAP Peak Average Pressure: 15.1 cm H2O
Average Device Pressure <= 90% of Time: 16.0 cm H2O
Average Time in Apnea Per Day: 1.0 mins
Average Time in Large Leak Per Day: 13.3 secs
Average AHI: 2.1

That just means you got an A+ . Keep up the good work! Virginia


_________________
Resmed elite , 17, mirage quattro ff . 25 + years of untreated OSA

Thanks Virginia. I am feeling better too I think which is a good thing because I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with my work load at work and if I was still exhausted from lack of sleep, this mountain of projects would seem even more overwhelming.

I'm glad you're feeling the results so quickly.  Sleep deprivation can be "h*&^". actually I think you deserve a gold star for that report! Virginia


_________________
Resmed elite , 17, mirage quattro ff . 25 + years of untreated OSA

Not just an A+...you get a star too!


_________________

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.

and a big ole high five, too  


_________________
Blue Skies smiling at me....nothing but Blue Skies do I see.

Thanks for the encouragement. :)

My adventure continues...

Wednesday at bedtime, my cat decided that he wanted to play with my hose. I scolded him and send him away and thought all was well. The next morning my hubby tells me that he heard a loud pitched sound and thought my mask had a leak. I've usually been waking up when I've shifted in my sleep to cause a leak so I was surprised that I hadn't woke up. At that time, I didn't invest any future but told my husband if that happens again, he should just wake me up so that I can adjust the mask. No need for him to lose sleep because of a noise that I could fix.

Well, last night I woke up about 2 am with air blowing on my arm. After investigating, I discovered 4 puncher wounds in the hose. :( Dang cat. I'm assuming that on Wednesday night when the pressure reached a certain point, the holes that the cat made were opened which is the sound my husband heard and what finally woke me up last night.

So needless to say, I will be contacting my provider today to see about getting a new hose. I hope they aren't too expensive. If they are, my husband say that the cat it going to have to get a job.