Hi, new member here!

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
User avatar
candlegirl76
Posts: 39
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2015 9:35 pm
Location: Wasilla, Alaska

Hi, new member here!

Post by candlegirl76 » Fri Apr 24, 2015 10:32 pm

Newly diagnosed with moderate obstructive sleep apnea. I have an APAP machine that I am faithfully using for naps (3-4x a week) and at night (8-9 hours). I've had a slight increase in energy (very slight) and less daytime sleepiness with a reduction in the number of migraines I get. I still have a constant feeling of fatigue and wish it would go away! I'm 38, visually not a candidate for sleep testing (per my GP), (I just found out that I have a family history of sleep apnea, all 5 of my brothers and my dad - who was undiagnosed)and the sleep study was a last ditch resort to find out why I WAS so tired, had a constant migraine, couldn't lose weight and was so depressed. I have been utterly exhausted since having my 1st child over 6 years ago. Then I had twins. They are now 3 1/2. When they were 3 and I was still exhausted I started to realize that I shouldn't still be this tired. I know I've had sleep apnea for the last 6 years at least and thinking back I have been tired and could nap easily even as a hardworking teenager (I grew up on a farm and worked hard doing chores, etc.). So my sleep deficit is probably pretty huge, so this could take awhile to get back to normal (ha ha, what's normal?), right?! Thanks for listening/reading and I'm looking forward to doing some more reading on the forum and learning more about all the amazing people here who understand what all this is about or are learning about it, too!

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ N30i Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear Starter Pack
Additional Comments: Machine: PR System One 60 series Software: OSCAR

User avatar
Pugsy
Posts: 63872
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: Hi, new member here!

Post by Pugsy » Fri Apr 24, 2015 10:42 pm

Welcome to the forum.
When you have time download and use SleepyHead software so you can evaluate the effectiveness of your therapy.
See here for more information on Sleepyhead
https://sleep.tnet.com/equipment

It's very possible that you do just need more time but you might as well make sure that the therapy is at least optimal while you are giving it time and if it is sub optimal then let's fix it now to give you a better chance of feeling better sooner.

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

User avatar
candlegirl76
Posts: 39
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2015 9:35 pm
Location: Wasilla, Alaska

Re: Hi, new member here!

Post by candlegirl76 » Fri Apr 24, 2015 10:43 pm

Thanks, Pugsy!

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ N30i Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear Starter Pack
Additional Comments: Machine: PR System One 60 series Software: OSCAR

yaconsult
Posts: 1099
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 10:43 pm
Location: "Silicon Valley", CA

Re: Hi, new member here!

Post by yaconsult » Fri Apr 24, 2015 10:51 pm

Welcome! It's terrific that you have a machine that is supported by the wonderful SleepyHead software - you'll have all the information you need to optimize your therapy. Let us know if you have any problems getting SleepyHead installed and running.

You're already over the most difficult part of getting used to the equipment. Now, it's just a matter of fine tuning.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: January 2015 Sleep Study Results: Apnea/Hypopnea Index (AHI): 80.2, Sleepyhead

User avatar
palerider
Posts: 32300
Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:43 pm
Location: Dallas(ish).

Re: Hi, new member here!

Post by palerider » Fri Apr 24, 2015 11:05 pm

also, happy cake day!

_________________
Mask: Bleep DreamPort CPAP Mask Solution
Additional Comments: S9 VPAP Auto
Get OSCAR

Accounts to put on the foe list: dataq1, clownbell, gearchange, lynninnj, mper!?, DreamDiver, Geer1, almostadoctor, sleepgeek, ajack, stom, mogy, D.H., They often post misleading, timewasting stuff.

User avatar
candlegirl76
Posts: 39
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2015 9:35 pm
Location: Wasilla, Alaska

Re: Hi, new member here!

Post by candlegirl76 » Fri Apr 24, 2015 11:16 pm

palerider wrote:also, happy cake day!
Thanks, palerider!

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ N30i Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear Starter Pack
Additional Comments: Machine: PR System One 60 series Software: OSCAR

User avatar
candlegirl76
Posts: 39
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2015 9:35 pm
Location: Wasilla, Alaska

Re: Hi, new member here!

Post by candlegirl76 » Fri Apr 24, 2015 11:27 pm

yaconsult wrote:Welcome! It's terrific that you have a machine that is supported by the wonderful SleepyHead software - you'll have all the information you need to optimize your therapy. Let us know if you have any problems getting SleepyHead installed and running.

You're already over the most difficult part of getting used to the equipment. Now, it's just a matter of fine tuning.
Thanks. And I just realized I can see a small amount of data on the screen on the machine. I love data.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ N30i Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear Starter Pack
Additional Comments: Machine: PR System One 60 series Software: OSCAR

yaconsult
Posts: 1099
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 10:43 pm
Location: "Silicon Valley", CA

Re: Hi, new member here!

Post by yaconsult » Fri Apr 24, 2015 11:56 pm

Oh, you're going to LOVE SleepyHead! viewtopic/t88983/Pugsys-PointersSleepyH ... Hints.html

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: January 2015 Sleep Study Results: Apnea/Hypopnea Index (AHI): 80.2, Sleepyhead

User avatar
candlegirl76
Posts: 39
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2015 9:35 pm
Location: Wasilla, Alaska

Re: Hi, new member here!

Post by candlegirl76 » Sat Apr 25, 2015 12:16 am

It was totally awesome and shocking to me when I saw what's been happening while I've been "sleeping" this past month! But so cool!

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ N30i Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear Starter Pack
Additional Comments: Machine: PR System One 60 series Software: OSCAR

User avatar
candlegirl76
Posts: 39
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2015 9:35 pm
Location: Wasilla, Alaska

Re: Hi, new member here!

Post by candlegirl76 » Sat Apr 25, 2015 1:36 am

I LOVE SH. It's awesome to see how I've been sleeping since I started using my APAP machine. I was diagnosed with an elevated AHI of 17 and an oxygen desat nadir of 85%. Auto setting is at 5-18cmH2O and my average pressure is 6.8 but I have gotten up to 15. My AHI ranges from 1.17-2.80 with a spike to 4.40 now and then. My High Blood Pressure has starting dropping (doing home monitoring) and I've been able to drop from 150mg of Metoprolol XL to 100mg daily per my doctor's instructions.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ N30i Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear Starter Pack
Additional Comments: Machine: PR System One 60 series Software: OSCAR

User avatar
Sheriff Buford
Posts: 4080
Joined: Mon Aug 09, 2010 8:01 am
Location: Kingwood, Texas

Re: Hi, new member here!

Post by Sheriff Buford » Sat Apr 25, 2015 5:03 am

Welcome to the forum! Give it more time. You have some sleep debt to repay. Hope it works for you. Work all your issues here.

Sheriff

User avatar
Nick Danger
Posts: 621
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2014 3:13 pm

Re: Hi, new member here!

Post by Nick Danger » Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:27 am

Great job, Candle Girl! If you post the graphs from a night's sleep, some forum members may have some insight into tweaks that might improve things a bit. Some of us didn't have the exhaustion disappear... well... overnight For some of us it improved gradually over a period of weeks until one day, we happened to realize that we couldn't remember the last time we took a nap.

_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: APAP mode, minimum pressure = 9. No ramp, EPR = 3, medium. Soft cervical collar. Sleepyhead software.

User avatar
chunkyfrog
Posts: 34369
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:10 pm
Location: Nebraska--I am sworn to keep the secret of this paradise.

Re: Hi, new member here!

Post by chunkyfrog » Sat Apr 25, 2015 11:17 am

I found that I have the most restful sleep when my pressures are set
at 2 cm. below and 2 cm. above my 95% pressure, as reported by the machine.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Airsense 10 Autoset for Her

User avatar
candlegirl76
Posts: 39
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2015 9:35 pm
Location: Wasilla, Alaska

Re: Hi, new member here!

Post by candlegirl76 » Sat Apr 25, 2015 1:30 pm

Here it is. This is from two nights ago. Last night was an awful night and I haven't looked at it yet. Thanks so much for all the helpful tips and the warm welcome I've received! I feel like such a fish out of water. I was just explaining to my husband that I won't be tired forever (finger crossed)!

Image
Image

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ N30i Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear Starter Pack
Additional Comments: Machine: PR System One 60 series Software: OSCAR

User avatar
Nick Danger
Posts: 621
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2014 3:13 pm

Re: Hi, new member here!

Post by Nick Danger » Sat Apr 25, 2015 1:59 pm

Pugsy's a lot better at this - and she's probably going to want to see the flow limitation graph, but it looks like a slight increase in your minimum pressure from 5 to 6 might help.

_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: APAP mode, minimum pressure = 9. No ramp, EPR = 3, medium. Soft cervical collar. Sleepyhead software.