Hi all.  I am newly diagnosed with apnea (17 per hour)?  I am going this afternoon for my new machine and fitting.  I am very excited about this.  However, I've read on this site of quite a few problems, too (mask too tight, bloating, wrong pressures, etc....).  I'm hoping my machine helps me of course.
They told me on the phone I'll be getting a Respironics? machine with a humidifier.  14 cm pressure.

Is Respironics good?  Is 14 cm good or bad?
I'm trying to read and learn more about apnea.  Realizing I've problaby had it for quite awhile and my quality of life has definitely been affected by it.

Here's to hoping things get better due to proper rest/sleep.

Tom

I've only been on CPAP for about a month and I have a Resmed.  But from I have read so far, it looks like all the machines are good.  The main thing is the mask.  When you are getting fitted make sure you don't leave with a mask until you lay down and get into your normal sleep position.  Your mask will not fit the same sitting up as laying down.  And don't let your DME rush you out the door until you feel you have a comfortable, well fitting mask and understand how to work your machine and also how to clean everything.  Make sure you have written instructions with pictures on how to take things apart for cleaning and how to put them back together.  Also, keep a sleep diary to take with you to your next appointment with your sleep doctor.  Even if you have software on your machine, a sleep diary gives you something in your hands that you can reference and ask questions.

Good luck!

Hi Tom,

I wish you the best of luck with your CPAP.  Having it has changed my life.  Although, and I bring this up almost every time I meet someone with Apnea and in my posts in this forum, that you can't totally rely on the machine to give you complete comfort.  One thing my doctor suggested I do is focus on my diet.  Get food allergy tested to see what foods you are allergic too, and STAY AWAY FROM THEM!  By doing this, you will allow your body to not work so hard, especially at night.  DO NOT EAT BEFORE BED!  NEVER! EVER!  This is the biggest no-no for Apnea people.  Food abuse is a common thing I find with people with Apnea.  I think you'll find that most Apnea sufferers are over weight.  Interesting commonality.  When I began to watch my weight, loose weight, watched what I ate, how much I ate, and when I ate it, that had a dramatic effect on my apnea.

Now I've met very thin people with Apnea, so weight isn't necessarily the cause, but eating the wrong foods can also agrevate your apnea, because the body has to work on getting rid of the toxic foods you just consumed, therefore taking away from allowing you a good nights rest.  With being on the CPAP for almost 5 years now, that has been the most important and noticable observation I've realized having the most dramatic effect on my apnea.

Much luck to you!

Cheers,
Richard

Richard,
Thanks for the information.

Yes, I'm overweight and my hardest time to control my eating is right before bed.  And typically it's not healthy food.  I will try and heed your advice to not eat before bed.  From experience, this will be very hard to do, but hopefully better sleep leads to more willpower/energy and less overeating???

Thanks again,
Tom

Hi Tom,

Gee, I can't wait to hear how your first nights on cpap go!  
Glad you're getting a humidifier.  A heated humidifier is a must!
The pressure setting of 14 is pretty high but there is a lot higher.  Mine is 18 and that took some getting used to.  But everyone is different.
I'm hoping it's all smooth sailing for you!!   I don't know about you, but I feel it's nice knowing we're not alone in all this.


Oh, you might consider registering here as a member.  It's not required and you can always post comments and questions whenever you like.
But registering gives you some nice extra features you can use, like private messaging and posting to all of the listed forum sections.
Registering is easy, free and safe.  But regardless, keep us posted on how you're doing!!


Linda



Last edited by Linda on Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:24 pm; edited 1 time in total

thanks, Linda.
will do.

One of the biggest problems is eating before bed.  This is not only unhealthy, but dangerous.  Why is it dangerous?  Because if you eat something that you are either allergic too, or is heavy (cheese, meat, dairy, etc.), if can cause your system to slow so much so that it increases your Apnea 10 fold!

So, I'll give you some advice Tom, STOP EATING BEFORE BED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me say that again, STOP EATING BEFORE BED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that we've established that, let's talk about some ideas of HOW to stop eating before bed.  Basically when you eat before bed, it is for comfort.  At least mentally.  You eat whatever it is you eat before bed, your body works to break down the foods, therefore causing your body to waste its energies doing so therefore making you tired.  This is a psychological condition.  Meaning, you are using food to pacify you.  Pacify you from whatever worries or cares you may have from that day, or in your life.  This is unacceptable Tom.  You need to work at allowing your MIND to relax you.  Let your MIND allow you to dream.  I used to LOVE to go to bed because of the dreams I had growing up as a child.  I loved to dream.  Now I never dream because I'm thinking about 47 things that I need to do tomorrow, next week, and by the end of the year.  So I am with you regarding this fight not to eat before bed.

What has helped me, has been having some tea before bed, along with some butterless air popped popcorn.  Popcorn breaks down very quickly, and actually has been proven to help with digestion.  That doesn't mean you can eat an entire KETTLE full before bed Tom, it just means you can have a small bowl up to 1 hour before bed.

Try to forget about everything when you go into your sleeping area.  If there is a television in your room, pick it, open your window, and throw it out!  You should NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! have a television in your bedroom!  Never!  Never ever!  It does NOTHING to promote sleep.  Make sure your sleeping area is quiet, calming, and promotes sleep.  Simple.  Anything more, is not needed.  My wife and I used to go to sleep to a CD of thunderstorm sounds.  We absolutely LOVED it!  Why, because to us, it was relaxing.  The sound of the rain, thunder in the distance, that put me right out!  This is what I mean.  Do things that promote sleep.

Sleep time is your time to rejuvenate.  It is not time to eat, play playstation, watch the news, or chat with friends on the phone.  It's time to allow your body to replenish itself with energy.  Sounds tacky doesn't it.  But that's the fact of the situation Tom.

Last point, and here is the kicker.  You deserve the break.  At the end of every day, this is YOUR time for your break.  Shut the door and enjoy it.  If I may be cavalier (and pardon me if I offend you in any way), but play with yourself if you have too.  If this relaxes you, DO IT!!!!  If that replaces your eating, then hey, do what you have to do!!!  And just think, you'll even burn caleries doing it!!!

All-in-all, as a food and environmental allergy sufferer and apnea sufferer, I've learned that there is a better way to live.  When I pay attention to my eating, when and what I eat, my body compensates with pure 100% energy.  I can not only think better during my day, but I have the energy I need to accomplish my goals.  I find most apnea sufferers are over weight, and that the worst offense is eating before bed.

I have a test for you Tom.  For 1 week, 1 week!  Granted your work and daily life schedule allows you to do this, do not eat anything after 7pm at night.  If you can't do that and it needs to be 8pm, then so be it.  Have some tea, popcorn if you like (small bowl).  But aside from that, nothing else.  If you have any anxiety, do something.  Call a friend, write, DO NOT WATCH TELEVISION!!!, go for a walk, fix something, clean something, stimulate yourself mentally with an activity.  Wash clothes, paint, wash your car, walk on the beach, anything but eat!!!!  Then when it's time to go to sleep, go into your nice dark cozy place, shut the door, and relax.  Taking a bath before bed is a good idea if you have trouble sleeping.  And there is a tea called Sleepy Time tea that is really good.

Good luck Tom

Richard