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Interesting..
#11
RE: Interesting..
(12-21-2015, 11:27 AM)CHanlon Wrote:
(12-20-2015, 11:23 PM)GTOdude Wrote:
(12-20-2015, 11:13 PM)Crimson Nape Wrote: The rule-of-thumb for P10 pillow sizing seems to be: Find the one that fits, then go up one size. Be careful about the Ambien, your body will adjust to it very rapidly. Give it time. . . resistance is futile! Coffee
Amen on the one size up. Im taking really a tiny dose of the ambien, hopefully ill get over the damned anxiety soon..

You will... and then the reverse case will set in - you wont be able to sleep *without* the mask and machine. I know I can't - I hear the first snore, wake up fully at the first apnea event...
Didnt work. I laid down and start hearing and feeling my heartbeat on my side. Couldnt fall asleep. Damn adrenaline rushes. Needed the Ambien again. Woke once, fell asleep again. Got up this AM feeling terrible. Now my chest is just tight. Disregard the graph until after 00:30 or so. I think thats where I started sleeping. My breathing is really erratic. I like forget to breath then remember and take a breath..

Almost two weeks is and still not feeling really any better. Just cant beat that damn anxiety, and damned if I want to medicate myself. Its a long tunnel. Waiting for a light..

Mark


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#12
RE: Interesting..
Your anxiety could be caused by a feeling of suffocation based on your low starting pressure. You might try upping the lower pressure to 8-9cm and see if this doesn't help. Also, Ambien will cause an increase in apneas. . . Big Time! Ambien effects the part of the brain that also controls your breathing. Let's work on your apprehension and see if that doesn't help everything else.
-Red
Crimson Nape
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INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#13
RE: Interesting..
What about having a fan on at night for white noise. I do this and it helps. Also how about playing some soothing music until you fall asleep. They say music soothes, it might be worth a try.

Take a look at the DreamWear mask. It is kind of like a nasal pillow system, but it's one 'pillow' that just rests under the nose, so nothing is inside your nose. Might be more comfortable for you. It has the added bonus of the hose connection at the top of the head.

Hope you find something that helps!
APNEABOARD - A great place to be if you're a hosehead!!  Rolleyes  

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EVERY ACCOMPLISHMENT BEGINS WITH THE DECISION TO TRY!
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#14
RE: Interesting..
GTO,
A lot of people don't understand that trying to inhale at a pressure of 6 or below is going to feel like your are suffocating and cause you anxiety.

You are spending 50% of your time around 7, so why not up your pressure to start at 7 and see if this helps. It should certainly help reduce some of the hypopneas too.

OpalRose
Apnea Board Administrator
www.apneaboard.com

_______________________
OSCAR Chart Organization
How to Attach Images and Files.
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Mask Primer



INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE.  ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA.  INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#15
RE: Interesting..
(12-21-2015, 12:30 PM)Crimson Nape Wrote: Your anxiety could be caused by a feeling of suffocation based on your low starting pressure. You might try upping the lower pressure to 8-9cm and see if this doesn't help. Also, Ambien will cause an increase in apneas. . . Big Time! Ambien effects the part of the brain that also controls your breathing. Let's work on your apprehension and see if that doesn't help everything else.
-Red

(12-21-2015, 01:09 PM)cate1898 Wrote: What about having a fan on at night for white noise. I do this and it helps. Also how about playing some soothing music until you fall asleep. They say music soothes, it might be worth a try.

Take a look at the DreamWear mask. It is kind of like a nasal pillow system, but it's one 'pillow' that just rests under the nose, so nothing is inside your nose. Might be more comfortable for you. It has the added bonus of the hose connection at the top of the head.

Hope you find something that helps!

(12-21-2015, 02:08 PM)OpalRose Wrote: GTO,
A lot of people don't understand that trying to inhale at a pressure of 6 or below is going to feel like your are suffocating and cause you anxiety.

You are spending 50% of your time around 7, so why not up your pressure to start at 7 and see if this helps. It should certainly help reduce some of the hypopneas too.
Thank you folks for the responses. I have my sound system on at night playing instrumentals and try to concentrate on that. I also raised the pressure for tonight.

I have an appt tomorrow with my DME resp therapist to try and get a Dreamware mask. So they call me a few minutes ago and tell me to bring my machine and everything with me. What? Says the therapist likes to see how you're doing everything. So what I gotta do, set everything back to my original script? My Dr told me to change things and knows I know how to do it.

Do they have any sway over you? Pisses me off actually..

Mark

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#16
RE: Interesting..
Since your high pressure limit is 14, see if you can bump up your lower pressure to 8 go for a week or two and bump up to 9.
keep going till you are 4-5 cm below 14. That should keep your airway from collapsing into an apnea event but still feel like you're getting plenty of air.
You might need to sit on the bed and breathe deep for a few minutes when you first start up the machine.
(if your AHI numbers are ok at that stage)
Keep checking for leaks and fix them. (ask about this if problems come up)
You might need a different mask too, Keep an open mind on this and try anything that will keep a good seal without
tearing your nose bridge up or needing to be strapped down super tight.

Hang in there and persist! That's how you will get dialed in and flying right.
(all of us had to do it in some form )
Cheers & best of luck!
"With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable." - Thomas Foxwell Buxton

Cool
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#17
RE: Interesting..
No, they have no say over you, especially if your have doctors approval.
They are probably looking at compliance.
OpalRose
Apnea Board Administrator
www.apneaboard.com

_______________________
OSCAR Chart Organization
How to Attach Images and Files.
OSCAR - The Guide
Soft Cervical Collar
Optimizing therapy
OSCAR supported machines
Mask Primer



INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE.  ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA.  INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#18
RE: Interesting..
(12-21-2015, 04:32 PM)OpalRose Wrote: No, they have no say over you, especially if your have doctors approval.
They are probably looking at compliance.
I have compliance, Miss OpalRose. I sit with the thing on most every evening while im watching tv or ipadding, originally to try and get used to it. Tonight im just gonna put it on when I crash out. I have been wearing it at least four hours "sleeping" anyhoo.

I'll set it back to the Dr settings before i take it in with me tomorrow (ridiculous). BTW, I had seen my Dr and he told me to hit 6-12 instead of my original script of 5-8.

Mark
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#19
RE: Interesting..
You don't mention what dose of Ambien you're taking. It is effective in initiating sleep for about a week. After that, it is mostly a placebo effect. It is only prescribed for short-term insomnia, although I've read elsewhere that some people have been taking it for years, and they say it works great. I think they're deluding themselves, as the pharmacology does not support long term efficacy. I finally tapered off it using a schedule I found on this forum. It was a very slooooow process, but it worked. I no longer take it. If I find I can't get to sleep, I take 0.25mg of Xanax (the lowest prescribed dose). Like Ambien, most patients develop a tolerance to Xanax over a relatively short period.
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#20
RE: Interesting..
(12-21-2015, 08:51 PM)Jim Bronson Wrote: You don't mention what dose of Ambien you're taking. It is effective in initiating sleep for about a week. After that, it is mostly a placebo effect. It is only prescribed for short-term insomnia, although I've read elsewhere that some people have been taking it for years, and they say it works great. I think they're deluding themselves, as the pharmacology does not support long term efficacy. I finally tapered off it using a schedule I found on this forum. It was a very slooooow process, but it worked. I no longer take it. If I find I can't get to sleep, I take 0.25mg of Xanax (the lowest prescribed dose). Like Ambien, most patients develop a tolerance to Xanax over a relatively short period.
Jim, A few years ago, my dr put me on .25mg Xanax for sleep. I got hooked on them right quick. Took me a while to get off. I wont touch a benzo with a 10 ft pole. I have some Ativans but am loathe to use one. I take mostly half a 10mg tab of Ambien. Have had to use the other half only twice.

I have a sneaking suspicion my adrenals are all fatigued cuz of the rushes I get when im trying to fall asleep. Ive been reading about that. Plus my sleep Dr diagnosed me hypothyroid (even tho my labs were "in limits"). Ive been on Armour now about 5 or 6 days and it takes a while for effect. Im gonna try and see my GP tomorrow and get my adrenals/cortisol checked. If I can ditch the rushes, I wont need the Ambien!

Mark

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