I have been on the c-pap & nasal pillow for about a month,  & am adjusting great.  I have found this forum to answer many of my questions just by reading various posts.  Thank goodness for kind people helping out newbies with something  we never knew exsisted until it hit us.  . When I had my initial sleep study I was told I had 100+ events per hour and my oxygen sat. dropped to 78.  I am still waiting for the hospital to send me the printed results.  I couldn't tolerate the mask during the sleep study, (panic attacks and clostrophobia).  My doctor wanted to get me on a c-pap asap and set me up with a machine with a pressure setting at 7.  He wanted me to get accustomed to it and then do another study.  I have improved tremendously and feel like a new person.  Due to finances and insurance I can't do another study and he said the next best thing would be using the auto c-pap at home for a week and then have the info downloaded and he'd get a better idea as to what my pressure should be at.   Does this sound ok?  Using the auto c-pap the last three nights has been great, I've increased my sleep by 1 -1 1/2 hours.  I feel very rested.   I would like to talk with my insurance company about an auto c-pap with my paying the difference.

Now to a current problem I have with both my machine and the hospital rental.  When I put the pillow on for the night and turn on the machine I get a funny smell, it's hard to discribe but it is not a terribly disgusting smell but one that I find unpleasant.   I clean the humidifier & nose piece daily with warm water and ivory soap and do the tubing about every 3 days.   I think the smell maybe has something to do with the material the nasal pillow or hosing is made from.  Is there anything I can do to get rid of it or use anything like  aromatherapy with this equipment?  

Sorry for the long post, I appreciate anything you can suggest to keep this new life stlye continuing in a positive way.
Bonnie

Bonnie wrote:

I have been on the c-pap & nasal pillow for about a month,  & am adjusting great.  I have found this forum to answer many of my questions just by reading various posts.  Thank goodness for kind people helping out newbies with something  we never knew exsisted until it hit us.  . When I had my initial sleep study I was told I had 100+ events per hour and my oxygen sat. dropped to 78.  I am still waiting for the hospital to send me the printed results.  I couldn't tolerate the mask during the sleep study, (panic attacks and clostrophobia).  My doctor wanted to get me on a c-pap asap and set me up with a machine with a pressure setting at 7.  He wanted me to get accustomed to it and then do another study.  I have improved tremendously and feel like a new person.  Due to finances and insurance I can't do another study and he said the next best thing would be using the auto c-pap at home for a week and then have the info downloaded and he'd get a better idea as to what my pressure should be at.   Does this sound ok?  Using the auto c-pap the last three nights has been great, I've increased my sleep by 1 -1 1/2 hours.  I feel very rested.   I would like to talk with my insurance company about an auto c-pap with my paying the difference.

Now to a current problem I have with both my machine and the hospital rental.  When I put the pillow on for the night and turn on the machine I get a funny smell, it's hard to discribe but it is not a terribly disgusting smell but one that I find unpleasant.   I clean the humidifier & nose piece daily with warm water and ivory soap and do the tubing about every 3 days.   I think the smell maybe has something to do with the material the nasal pillow or hosing is made from.  Is there anything I can do to get rid of it or use anything like  aromatherapy with this equipment?  

Sorry for the long post, I appreciate anything you can suggest to keep this new life stlye continuing in a positive way.
Bonnie

Hi Bonnie,

The auto adjusting machine is a good idea. With the data card it will give as good a result as a titration study.
For your own information it would be a good idea to get the full report of the sleep study. It will show you exactly where you stand.

I'm not up to speed with US insurance companies, but the impression that I get is that everything costs a fortune with them. It might be a good idea to discuss the auto machine with them and see exactly what the cost to you would be. Post details here and I'm sure you will get good advice.

As regards the smell/odour, I can't help you except to say that aromatherapy oils are not a good idea. Most humidifier manufacturers mention this in their maintenence brochures. It is to do with the effects of long term inhalation of them, as they are not manufactured for that purpose.

Best of luck.

Daniel


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

(Anon)

Thank you for the response, I have requested my results and am waiting for them.  When I get them I hope to post so it can be explained to me what the readings mean.

Hi Bonnie,

There is another poster who has an extreme chemical sensitivity and has to let all of her equipment "out gas" for three months before she can use it.  It is probably just as you thought, the materials involved.  I think the smell will dissipate as time passes.

Vicki


_________________
That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.