New User I Feel Your Pain

[Apnearon]

Found out in APRIL 2019 that I have sleep apnea, okay now what do I do, before the Sleep study I was allowed to choose a DME ( Medical Supplier).

I’ll keep it short, if I had went with Medicare paying for it,  if I wasn’t in compliance, Medicare would stop paying for it and I would end up paying for it, and I know the leased CPAP machine would be a already used machine that would wear out about the time it was payed for.

Of all people, my eye doctor who also has sleep apnea told me about the place he BOUGHT his CPAP machine from, so that is where I bought mine from, going with a leasing DME I probably would have had  more knowledge sleep apnea support, but I was surprised at how the the place I bought mine from has worked with me.

Okay, I’ve got the machine, what and how do I use it, led to a Google search on Sleep Apnea which led me to this site, there is knowledgeable people here bending over backwards to help me, but I feel that my mind is so clouded that it can’t comprehend the information given to me.

Then there is software, Oscar, Sleephead, Resscan, and my brain fog, won’t let me understand the meaning of the charts, so I’m totally lost about the software.

the knowledgeable people here are able to read the charts and try their best to make me understand what they are telling me. They keeping driving through the fog of my brain and they  are telling me, Mask leaks, I think it has finally set in and now I’ve tried a Full Face Mask, which I hate, a Nasal Cushion Mask, which is a whole lot better than the full mask, a Nasal Pillow Mask which is the most comfortable mask BUT I’m a mouth breather too, and that creates another problem.

So anyone new to Sleep Apnea hang in there with me, Maybe we will master it one day.

[Gideon]

That's the point. ALL of us "Experts" were once new at this. So been there, done that and we feel your pain.

[Apnearon]

That's the point.  ALL of us "Experts" were once new at this.  So been there, done that and we feel your pain.

bonjour
You guys are great because you didn’t say to yourself, I figured it out, let other people figure it out.
I greatly appreciate that you guys cared enough to share your knowledge of Sleep Apnea with the rest of us.

[Sleep2Snore]

Apnoearon, you are off to a good start with the machine.  I wouldn't worry to much about trying to get supper low numbers, just put the machine on auto APAP and for anyone starting out, put it on about 6 to 8 low and leave it on 20 and start using it.  The machine should only go as high as it needs to to keep you breathing.  Humidifier mid range and turn up if you feel to dry when breathing, turn down if you get moisture in mask or rainout (lots of water in hose or mask).  Try your best to stop leaks, but that comes with trial and error.
Most of what you learn is by trial and error and a few tips from others.  None of us are doctors (unless someone is not admitting to it) but we have an advantage over doctors, we use our equipment every night.
There is no one magic formula to using a CPAP/APAP machine and mask other than use it and persist with it.
After you have got used to the machine and got your numbers to the lowest (or to the numbers you feel best with) then if you want to know what is going on, you can get Sleepyhead or some other software to see how you are doing.  That is a steep learning curve on its own, for a lot of users, it may not be necessary to have it.  If you use the machine and feel a lot better with reasonable low numbers, then for most users that is all that is required.  However, if  symptoms return, you may want to have a look to see what is going on, however, if you post your charts here, others will have a look for you.  However, there is nothing to stop you learning how to read your data charts, but this does take time to learn, so quickest thing to do is ask here.
I would say the same to everyone starting out on the CPAP/APAP journey.
We all had to start somewhere, even the users here that give the most advice started off like a rabbit in the headlights.
I know I did, when they spoke about Sleep Apnea, CPAP machines and masks, I was like most people.  I didn't even know what questions I should be asking them!
So, for anyone starting out on their journey into the world of Sleep Apnea and CPAP, just ask what come into your head, there is no such thing as a stupid question, we all started not knowing very much about what was happening.
When I was diagnosed, it was not even heard off outside specialist clinics, there was not even a specialised clinic, it was just a professor in a chest clinic in a hospital almost a days travel from me.  You can well imagine how much fun it was driving there with Sleep Apnea!

So, anyone that is new here, do not be afraid to ask any question, not matter how stupid it may be to you, you will not know until you ask it.
It may be the mast important question you have ever asked.

[WhyMe]

Regarding masks, you may want to look at hybrids like the Resmed F30 - depending on why you hate FFM, one of those might work better for you.

[Apnearon]

Apnoearon, you are off to a good start with the machine.  I wouldn't worry to much about trying to get supper low numbers, just put the machine on auto APAP and for anyone starting out, put it on about 6 to 8 low and leave it on 20 and start using it.  The machine should only go as high as it needs to to keep you breathing.  Humidifier mid range and turn up if you feel to dry when breathing, turn down if you get moisture in mask or rainout (lots of water in hose or mask).  Try your best to stop leaks, but that comes with trial and error.
Most of what you learn is by trial and error and a few tips from others.  None of us are doctors (unless someone is not admitting to it) but we have an advantage over doctors, we use our equipment every night.
There is no one magic formula to using a CPAP/APAP machine and mask other than use it and persist with it.
After you have got used to the machine and got your numbers to the lowest (or to the numbers you feel best with) then if you want to know what is going on, you can get Sleepyhead or some other software to see how you are doing.  That is a steep learning curve on its own, for a lot of users, it may not be necessary to have it.  If you use the machine and feel a lot better with reasonable low numbers, then for most users that is all that is required.  However, if  symptoms return, you may want to have a look to see what is going on, however, if you post your charts here, others will have a look for you.  However, there is nothing to stop you learning how to read your data charts, but this does take time to learn, so quickest thing to do is ask here.
I would say the same to everyone starting out on the CPAP/APAP journey.
We all had to start somewhere, even the users here that give the most advice started off like a rabbit in the headlights.
I know I did, when they spoke about Sleep Apnea, CPAP machines and masks, I was like most people.  I didn't even know what questions I should be asking them!
So, for anyone starting out on their journey into the world of Sleep Apnea and CPAP, just ask what come into your head, there is no such thing as a stupid question, we all started not knowing very much about what was happening.
When I was diagnosed, it was not even heard off outside specialist clinics, there was not even a specialised clinic, it was just a professor in a chest clinic in a hospital almost a days travel from me.  You can well imagine how much fun it was driving there with Sleep Apnea!

So, anyone that is new here, do not be afraid to ask any question, not matter how stupid it may be to you, you will not know until you ask it.
It may be the mast important question you have ever asked.

  
Well said Sleep2Snore

[Apnearon]

Regarding masks, you may want to look at hybrids like the Resmed F30 - depending on why you hate FFM, one of those might work better for you.

  whyMe I’ll look into the F30