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Your Personal CPAP Success Story - Post Here
My Personal CPAP Success Story - Just the beginning
Had my first experience with a CPAP last night ... stage 2 of my sleep study (2 nights, about 3 weeks apart). I had researched masks (after stage 1) and liked the looks and user feedback on the Swift FX nasal pillows, so inquired and found that they were available to use, and ultimately the most comfortable of several I tried with the technician.

In short, I think last night was the first time I've experienced REM sleep in years. My diagnosis was "severe," with 45 events per hour on my back and 9 events per hour on my side. ... But the problem is, I must sleep on my back due to severe disc degeneration in my lower back, so there's no question that CPAP must become part of my lifestyle.

After getting wired and all situated it was close to 11:30, and I remember several times through the night when the tech came in to fix leaks, change nasal pillow size, add a chin strap, etc. But all in all, I was surprised by the fact that when I came home at 6 am this morning I didn't want to collapse in a chair and sleep all day (which is what happened after stage 1).

All this to say, it wasn't perfect (e.g., my mouth felt like it was glued shut), but I'm excited to get equipped and start sleeping the way I should be. So I'll be watching the forums with interest.

Thanks already for the wealth of encouragement and information I've discovered in just a couple of hours on this site. Looking forward to significant improvements as a result of my diagnosis and equipment implementation. Hoping to change much of my profile data with real information ... very soon. Can't wait. Smile
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RE: Your Personal CPAP Success Story - Post Here
Welcome to Apnea Board, SleepEZ...

Glad you're now on the road to successful treatment. When it comes time to get a CPAP machine, make sure you insist upon a data-capable one, and perhaps an auto-CPAP. See this thread on machine choices:

http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...ne_Choices

Stick with it and if you have any questions or problems, please post them in the Main Forum and folks will be glad to help as best they can.

Smile
SuperSleeper
Apnea Board Administrator
www.ApneaBoard.com


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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RE: Your Personal CPAP Success Story - Post Here
Since I discovered Sleepyhead (through this board) my AHI is trending down significantly. They say the act of observing something changes the thing being observed. That's been true for me, I am more able to correlate things with better or worse AHI, something I could only guess at when I see my pulmonologist every 6 months or so. Personally, forcing myself to learn to sleep on my stomach has been the biggest issue. Without the daily feedback through Sleepyhead I don't think I would have gotten to this point. My AHI has averaged under 1.0 for the last week and the last month. I actually had a 0.0 AHI on 7/12.
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RE: Your Personal CPAP Success Story - Post Here
That's great news, Tom. Wish I could get consistently low AHIs like that. Even with all my tweaking, I'm still getting around 2.5 AHI on average. Acceptable, but I drool at those like you who report AHI less than 1.0 or so. Thinking-about
SuperSleeper
Apnea Board Administrator
www.ApneaBoard.com


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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RE: My Personal CPAP Success Story - Just the beginning
(07-13-2013, 08:35 PM)SleepEZ Wrote: All this to say, it wasn't perfect (e.g., my mouth felt like it was glued shut), but I'm excited to get equipped and start sleeping the way I should be. So I'll be watching the forums with interest.

Some people are lucky and have no significant problems. But others, myself included, have problems adapting to CPAP therapy.

It's critical that newbies realize one simple fact: The problems go away with time.

How much time? Well, that depends. It took me about six weeks before the machine stopped pumping my intestinal tract full of air.

But it's taken about 20 months for my sleep patterns to return to what they were before I had sleep apnea. I'm not sure how long ago the symptoms started, but I can remember waking up with a pounding heart beat and complaining to doctors that I had trouble sleeping about 20 years ago.

I still wake up during the night, but less frequently. And I find it easier to get back to sleep. So the adaptation for me is a slow and gradual process. I do have nights now when I fall asleep quickly and stay asleep the entire night. I've never been happier.

Sleepster

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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RE: Your Personal CPAP Success Story - Post Here
I've been on CPAP about six weeks now . I am 68 years old and it is the best thing that has happened to me in the past 30 years. My wife has been on CPAP for about seven years and had been after me to get a sleep study done. But although I was constantly tired and woke up multiple times each night, I refused. Being a side sleeper I didn't think there was ANY way I could sleep with a mask hooked to a hose, hooked to a machine blowing air down my throat.

The events that changed me was when my wife got an oral appliance to replace CPAP. I thought, "hey, I could live with something that just fits in your mouth at night." Also, when I got my annual checkup, my blood pressure, which has always been good, was fairly high. And although it went back down, my doctor said the spikes might be apnea-related. So I went in for a sleep study. My mate was right, I had apnea. The bad news was mine was severe enough the doctor was dubious that an oral appliance would do the job -- overall apnea/hypopnea index 37/hour.

I was skeptical that I could tolerate CPAP, but when I went back to the sleep lab so they could determine my pressure needs, the technician recommended that since I was a side sleeper, nasal pillows might be the thing for me. He was correct.

The doctor originally prescribed a F&P ICON Auto+ machine and a pressure of 8. After a month I went to the doctor for a review. I told the RN who analyzed my data that although I was getting AHIs under 5 I would like to switch, if possible, to the ResMed S9 Autoset as patients give it high marks and it uses an SD data chip rather than a proprietary one. She agreed to the change. She also reduced my pressure to 6.

The pressure reduction seems to have been a positive move since most of my AHIs since the change have been less than 1. In addition, I like the EPR function on the S9. I wake up feeling rested and I actually look forward to going to bed at night. The acid reflux/indigestion I have suffered from for years is gone and I am a lot more cheerful. I've even picked up a used RemStar Pro M machine to use for traveling and in our travel trailer.

The ease of my transition to CPAP has surprised me. I think it is due primarily to the fact that I immediately felt better and kept an open mind. I also am fortunate in that I have always been relatively healthy and don't have to deal with a lot of other health issues besides apnea.

Incidentally, although my wife uses her mouth appliance, she still goes back to her CPAP machine whenever she has a cold and/or cough.
"Sometimes the magic works . . . and sometimes it doesn't" -- Chief Dan George in the movie Little Big Man
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RE: My Personal CPAP Success Story - Just the beginning
Update: Finally got a copy of my sleep study report. Turns out my AHI is 46.7, with 62 events per hour on my back and 8.8 per hour on my side. Problem is, I have to sleep on my back most of the time because of chronic low back problems.

Still anxiously waiting results from my titration so we can get equipment ordered.
____________________________________________

(07-13-2013, 08:35 PM)SleepEZ Wrote: Had my first experience with a CPAP last night ... stage 2 of my sleep study (2 nights, about 3 weeks apart). I had researched masks (after stage 1) and liked the looks and user feedback on the Swift FX nasal pillows, so inquired and found that they were available to use, and ultimately the most comfortable of several I tried with the technician.

In short, I think last night was the first time I've experienced REM sleep in years. My diagnosis was "severe," with 45 events per hour on my back and 9 events per hour on my side. ... But the problem is, I must sleep on my back due to severe disc degeneration in my lower back, so there's no question that CPAP must become part of my lifestyle.

After getting wired and all situated it was close to 11:30, and I remember several times through the night when the tech came in to fix leaks, change nasal pillow size, add a chin strap, etc. But all in all, I was surprised by the fact that when I came home at 6 am this morning I didn't want to collapse in a chair and sleep all day (which is what happened after stage 1).

All this to say, it wasn't perfect (e.g., my mouth felt like it was glued shut), but I'm excited to get equipped and start sleeping the way I should be. So I'll be watching the forums with interest.

Thanks already for the wealth of encouragement and information I've discovered in just a couple of hours on this site. Looking forward to significant improvements as a result of my diagnosis and equipment implementation. Hoping to change much of my profile data with real information ... very soon. Can't wait. Smile

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RE: Your Personal CPAP Success Story - Post Here
That wait is the worst! Some people manage to have to wait no time at all, where we hear about others having to wait several weeks.
Sleepster

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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RE: Your Personal CPAP Success Story - Post Here
my sweetie is a cpap user, and told me that I was having apneic episodes at night.
Needless to say, I went to a sleep doc., and had a sleep study. I ended up having two before I got my machine. I was so eager to get it that I got it in December which meant I spent about $700 more after my insurance deductible, than if I had gotten it in January.

I was just so tired of being tired, yawning and sleepy at work. I wanted to feel better............

I work in surgery so adapting to something on my face wasn't a problem for me at all. After all, I spend eight hours a day with a mask on. Grin

I'm using nasal pillows and the only issue I have had so far is when the inner lining of one of my pillows inverted, so I was leaking. Once I realized what the issue was, it was easily fixed.

I really haven't had any major problems - I consider myself very lucky.

and now my sweetie found this board for me to monitor my numbers. Still learning what they all mean, but I feel absolutely wonderful now . I don't need 10 or 11 hours of sleep any more, I have more energy, and just LOVE my machine.
I took it with me when I went to New Zealand, and even though I received a lot of teasing, I slept wonderfully. Though when the power went out one night, my sister moved to the couch because of the snoring. Of course, that was the pot calling the kettle black! lol.

Me and my machine are best buds!
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RE: Your Personal CPAP Success Story - Post Here
I have been using CPAP for about 9 years.
I would never sleep. I would lay in bed and watch the ceiling. I would never have dreams anymore. My mind would race and think about work. When I would finally sleep due to exhaustion, my wife would say I was snoring so loud it would wake her up, and my leg would always twitch severely and kick her. She also said I would stop breathing at night, and sometimes sound as if I was gasping for air. I noticed I was waking up more tired then when I went to bed, I also had regular headaches that would not go away. I was always sore in the morning. I could not drive in the car for long periods with out getting out and walking, and a 4 hour drive would exhaust me.
My brother-in-law was using CPAP, so I called him and he recommended I get a sleep study. My family doctor recommended me to a specialist, and two sleep studied were performed.
The specialist told me that I had obstructive sleep apnea and "restless leg syndrome" which I always thought of as a scam type of thing, or made up diagnosis before my own experience. He recommended CPAP. He said he would not be surprised if I noticed a grat change in my sleep habbits if I used the machine. He said give it time.

I went on CPAP and was one of those lucky people who took right to it.
I remember going to bed and actually falling asleep. I woke and no headache, and I actually remembered a dream.
After about a month, I was not sore in the morning, and I stopped kicking my wife at night.
I reported back to the specialist twice where he scanned the card that was in my machine. He said all looked good. I have not been back to him in over 8 years.

I am happy to report I still have the same machine, set at 10cm and I can drive for long hours again withour having to stop all the time. No I only stop for the kids and wife. (I like to drive at night so I don't have to stop)
The best thing is, I feel like doing things again and I feel it has helped me more then I can say here. I think my 9 and 10 year old boys are benefitting from a dad who wants to do things with them, and has the energy to do it.
I take my CPAP wherever I go.
I went camping in March without my CPAP and felt horrible.
We just returned from camping again, where I rigged up my CPAP, and we all had a great time and I felt great in the morning!

I think this is a great board and I also hope anyone new to CPAP will stick with it.
I am amaized to read of the new technology some of you use incorporated in your CPAP, and I realize how old my machine is (somewhere around 18,000 hours) but for now I think I will stay with "My Breathing Machine" as my boys call it.
I hope everyone gets the positive results I have gotten.
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