Hello folks, new here and new to using CPAP
Hello folks,
This is my very first post here. I'm male, early 50's, not overweight. I've had sleep apnea for 20 years. I was tested in 2005 and test came back as "mild" 3.4 AHI. They fitted me with a mask, but I declined any further treatment because the apnea didn't bother me enough. As long as I didn't eat things that aggravated my apnea such as chocolate I was pretty much fine.
About a year ago, my apnea ramped up and I was tested again. After waiting for the lab results for months they finally got back to me and stated my apnea was rated as "mild" at REM 12AHI and NonREM 9AHI. No centrals. This is probably tested on a good night because I ate a bland dinner, worked out at the gym that evening and soaked in the hot tub, then went to my sleep study. The recommendation was either a CPAP, oral device, EPAP device or tongue retaining device.
My doctor suggested getting a titration study, then things fell apart. The sleep center sat on it for a while and frankly I didn't pursue it either. I recently called them and they said they needed to check with the insurance and never got back to me. At this point I figured they would probably want to do the sleep study again since it's been over a year. I also figured it would just be easier and less costly just buying a AirSense 10 off Craigslist, which I did this morning. It's a Her's Auto Set model, it has about 1400 hours on it, I paid $300. I bought this from some dude who met me in a parking lot, but I had him turn it on and everything checked out. I will admit, I felt like Kramer on Seinfeld buying a shower head. It came with a full face mask and a nasal masked in a sealed bag. The full face mask was not in a sealed bag, but was sparkleling clean. I washed them out with hot water and soap anyways. The water reservoir wasn't sealed either but looked brand new. The tube was sealed with heating element.
I sorta did a trial run, not by sleeping but pretending to go to sleep, I'm not sure about the nasal mask, every time I open my mouth air comes rushing out and I tend to breath through my mouth at night. So the whole face mask seemed better, but I have a feeling this is going to take me a while to get used to. I will do a small trial run tonight. I reset to the machine to default and auto everything. It seems weird going around my doctor, but I doubt they would do anything different except maybe offer me a new machine that I would have to "rent" at first and then pay the co-insurance and deductible for another study, etc etc. So I felt buying a used one would just go quicker and cheaper.
So my question is, I assume it will be a lot of trial and error figuring out which mask is best? How do I go about getting started in this. Do I just put the mask on and try and fall asleep? In back of my mind, I keep thinking maybe I won't wake up or something strange will happen.
I appreciate any feedback.
This is my very first post here. I'm male, early 50's, not overweight. I've had sleep apnea for 20 years. I was tested in 2005 and test came back as "mild" 3.4 AHI. They fitted me with a mask, but I declined any further treatment because the apnea didn't bother me enough. As long as I didn't eat things that aggravated my apnea such as chocolate I was pretty much fine.
About a year ago, my apnea ramped up and I was tested again. After waiting for the lab results for months they finally got back to me and stated my apnea was rated as "mild" at REM 12AHI and NonREM 9AHI. No centrals. This is probably tested on a good night because I ate a bland dinner, worked out at the gym that evening and soaked in the hot tub, then went to my sleep study. The recommendation was either a CPAP, oral device, EPAP device or tongue retaining device.
My doctor suggested getting a titration study, then things fell apart. The sleep center sat on it for a while and frankly I didn't pursue it either. I recently called them and they said they needed to check with the insurance and never got back to me. At this point I figured they would probably want to do the sleep study again since it's been over a year. I also figured it would just be easier and less costly just buying a AirSense 10 off Craigslist, which I did this morning. It's a Her's Auto Set model, it has about 1400 hours on it, I paid $300. I bought this from some dude who met me in a parking lot, but I had him turn it on and everything checked out. I will admit, I felt like Kramer on Seinfeld buying a shower head. It came with a full face mask and a nasal masked in a sealed bag. The full face mask was not in a sealed bag, but was sparkleling clean. I washed them out with hot water and soap anyways. The water reservoir wasn't sealed either but looked brand new. The tube was sealed with heating element.
I sorta did a trial run, not by sleeping but pretending to go to sleep, I'm not sure about the nasal mask, every time I open my mouth air comes rushing out and I tend to breath through my mouth at night. So the whole face mask seemed better, but I have a feeling this is going to take me a while to get used to. I will do a small trial run tonight. I reset to the machine to default and auto everything. It seems weird going around my doctor, but I doubt they would do anything different except maybe offer me a new machine that I would have to "rent" at first and then pay the co-insurance and deductible for another study, etc etc. So I felt buying a used one would just go quicker and cheaper.
So my question is, I assume it will be a lot of trial and error figuring out which mask is best? How do I go about getting started in this. Do I just put the mask on and try and fall asleep? In back of my mind, I keep thinking maybe I won't wake up or something strange will happen.
I appreciate any feedback.
