Got there (University Community Hospital in Tampa) at 7PM.  The tech went over everything including fitting me for a mask while I was awake!  Lights out at 9:30.  1AM he comes back in with the mask.Yea!!!!!  I have hypopnea events of sufficient number to try CPAP!!!! puts it on me and I fall asleep.  I wake up and am amazed that I can lay on my back relaxed AND breathe.  The sensation of the machine was not as bad as I imagined.  I had a "Respironics Comfort Select" mask on.  The size was medium.  A few minutes after I wake up, I feel the pressure reduce and then he calls me to tell me that we were done.  Mouth breathing was not a problem.  It seemed that the mask on my nose created  a kind of vacuum that helped me keep my mouth closed.

Anyway...I was ready to sneak that machine and mask out of the hospital and tale it home.

To all who have responded to me, thanks.  Your advice helped me to better prepare for the experience.

I have a follow upi with my doc next week.  The tech said that I would meet with their "day Tech" and go over the various machines and masks before I went to see the DME which sounded like a good thing.  I hadn't anticipated that.

So? What do you guys think?

I couldn't have had a more positive experience.


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Thomas Vaughan

Well ... here's what I think ...

Thomas, you know how to express yourself well.  I would enjoy reading how you felt when you were all wired up and you looked at yourself in the bathroom mirror.  I remember thinking the time had finally come for this old boy to mozy out to the pasture on the other side of the farm.  As it turns out, though, she was pretty happy!  Do you recall your feelings at the time?  I'm sure you'll mark that night as a watershed event in your life.


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Success Nourishes Hope

I didn't look at myself in the mirror.  I wasn't ready for that.

The most memorable feeling was being able to lay on my back relaxed and being able to breathe.  I want to get my CPAP now!  I swear I thought about lifting the one at the hospital.  :)

I don't want to get ahead of myself but I think this is going to work for me and I will finally live life out of the sleepy fog I am in.


_________________
Thomas Vaughan

Thomas P Vaughan wrote:

I didn't look at myself in the mirror.  I wasn't ready for that.

The most memorable feeling was being able to lay on my back relaxed and being able to breathe.  I want to get my CPAP now!  I swear I thought about lifting the one at the hospital.  :)

I don't want to get ahead of myself but I think this is going to work for me and I will finally live life out of the sleepy fog I am in.

Thomas,

With such a positive attitude I know it will work for you.

It's great to come out of the twilight existence.

Daniel


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

(Anon)

Daniel wrote:

Thomas P Vaughan wrote:

I didn't look at myself in the mirror.  I wasn't ready for that.

The most memorable feeling was being able to lay on my back relaxed and being able to breathe.  I want to get my CPAP now!  I swear I thought about lifting the one at the hospital.  :)

I don't want to get ahead of myself but I think this is going to work for me and I will finally live life out of the sleepy fog I am in.

Thomas,

With such a positive attitude I know it will work for you.

It's great to come out of the twilight existence.

Daniel

Thomas,

Forgot to mention, when they fit you up for the equipment, remember the mask is everything. Make sure you get the right one for you. Don't accept any excuses.

Daniel


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

(Anon)

I have learned so much from you folks.  Yes...I understand that.  I will go back to look at the available options and I am particularly encouraged that they are not selling anything.  I think that will better prepare me for my subsequent visit to the DME.

Again...thank for taking the time to respond.  This board has helped me when I had questions and fears.  I wish things were moving along more quickly but I see a lighht at the end of this dark tired tunnel.


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Thomas Vaughan