Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
lady j

sleep apnia

Post by lady j » Wed Jul 31, 2013 9:34 am

looking4zzzz wrote:I really liked the first link you listed. It gives an easy to understand explanation of the condition, symptoms, and complications. I know lots of folks who might benefit from seeing that link. Thanks for sharing it.

terik
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by terik » Sun Aug 25, 2013 12:58 pm

I am newly diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. I have not gotten my CPAP machine but according to the DME my physician was specific in his prescription. I have been very nervous about the whole process, from the moment of being recommended to a sleep study, to doing the first night and then getting results which did not sound at all like I would live another day. I am looking forward to a good night sleep and to feeling better in a short period of time. The machine prescribed is a ResMed S9 Elite and the Quattro full face mask. I visit the DME Tuesday afternoon.

JH-
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by JH- » Mon Sep 02, 2013 5:44 pm

terik wrote:I am newly diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. I have not gotten my CPAP machine but according to the DME my physician was specific in his prescription. I have been very nervous about the whole process, from the moment of being recommended to a sleep study, to doing the first night and then getting results which did not sound at all like I would live another day. I am looking forward to a good night sleep and to feeling better in a short period of time. The machine prescribed is a ResMed S9 Elite and the Quattro full face mask. I visit the DME Tuesday afternoon.
I just started on 8/16 myself. Same machine and started with the same mask. I did have some serious leakage problems with my mask, but that is because I am a stomach/side sleeper and a snorer and mouth breather (what a prize, I know)! I wound up going in two weeks later for a mask refit and got a ResMed Mirage Liberty which has the nasal pillows AND covers the mouth (so it's technically a full face mask). I've been doing pretty well on it. Instead of sleeping 3-6 hours I've been sleeping 8-9 hours (waking once or twice during the night).

My life hasn't miraculously changed (yet), but I'm hoping to see some improvements in the weeks to come. I think with most (if not all) masks you will have a 30 day warranty and have an option to get a mask re-fit and get a different one.

I wish you all of the best!!! Julie
Julie

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carswell
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by carswell » Thu Sep 12, 2013 9:52 am

I'm a real newbie, tonight will be my third night with the RESMED S9 Elite CPAP. I have the RESMED QUATRO full face mask. I am having issues with allergies and I am struggling to not feel like I am suffocating, tied down and quite a few other anxiety issues going on. I made it through the first night with 8 hours, but last night I couldn't manage to keep the mask on for more than an hour. Is there some technique, drug or something I can use so I don't get so anxious.

Thanks in advance for all your help

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Pugsy
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by Pugsy » Thu Sep 12, 2013 10:19 am

carswell wrote:I'm a real newbie, tonight will be my third night with the RESMED S9 Elite CPAP. I have the RESMED QUATRO full face mask. I am having issues with allergies and I am struggling to not feel like I am suffocating, tied down and quite a few other anxiety issues going on. I made it through the first night with 8 hours, but last night I couldn't manage to keep the mask on for more than an hour. Is there some technique, drug or something I can use so I don't get so anxious.

Thanks in advance for all your help
This thread doesn't get much action as it is mainly a "read only" thread now. You would be better off to start a new thread on the main body of the forum with your particular issues so that people can zero in on your problems. It's going to get totally lost here in this thread.
It would be helpful if you would add your equipment to your profile..see how I have mine added. This link explains how if you don't know.
wiki/index.php/Registering_Equipment_in_User_Profile

Also it would be helpful if we knew what your pressure settings are and if you were using the ramp function because often the much lower starting pressure for ramp can make the suffocating feeling worse because there's less air movement in general. We won't suffocate but it sure feels like it. Since you are using a ResMed S9 machine...are you using EPR and if so at what setting?

There are things that can be done to lessen the sensations that you are experiencing and yes there are med that might help but sometimes all is needed is just a little adjusting of things.
One thing you can do is just sit and watch TV or read with the mask and machine on.
For stuffy nose there are other things that can be done...might be helpful to know what you have tried...meds or nasal rinses or whatever.

So with more specific information from you will help the forum members offer more specific ideas as to what you can do to help you get through this initial adjustment phase.

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carswell
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by carswell » Thu Sep 12, 2013 12:38 pm

Thank you Pugsy!

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333sps
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by 333sps » Fri Oct 04, 2013 11:58 pm

Thank you for the first post. I am starting out with my CPAP machine, I have one month in today! (I have to send my SD card in tomorrow!) Before I had my sleep study, I was sitting with an OT and we were discussing my leg strain. He asked if there was anything else. I found myself telling him about my sleep problems. He reminded me that I DID NOT choose this. July and August were miserable, and I told him that I would be surprised if I had any friends left when all was said and done. I had just yelled at my daughter earlier that day. I felt and still feel miserable about that day. He said they would forgive me. I am getting better day by day, second shift is hard to adjust to, even after 15 years.

Some people think its a crutch or the fad, that we have to do this because it is popular. I wish it was true. I think sleep apnea is worse than insomnia. It was difficult to think of bed as a place to get rest when you know you are not going to get any or much sleep. One person told me to think positive about sleep and it would come. Unless, you have it some advise is worthless. I still have trouble falling asleep. But I no longer toss and turn for half an hour before sleep. I got my headgear squared away last week and I sleep straight through.

My advise to a newbie is give yourself time. to get used to your machine and try to get excited about it! I looked forward to my machine. It meant that we had an answer to my sleep problems, and that it was a fresh start. Yes I took a couple steps back last week, but I WANT to feel better!

jnc

Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by jnc » Wed Oct 09, 2013 5:02 pm

I was a member years ago having very hard time trying to login what should I do now.

Perez Turner
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by Perez Turner » Sat Oct 12, 2013 12:07 am

Thank you so much for guiding to newbies. This topic is useful with worthy knowledge and guidelines for me regarding CPAP at initial stage.

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russellms76
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by russellms76 » Tue Oct 22, 2013 8:53 am

I've been using my CPAP now for a couple years. Wish I had started 5 years ago. I've gotten to know my machine inside and out including software, programming and tweaking it, and maintaining it. Take the time to research and learn. you'll be glad you did.

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Mehitabelle
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by Mehitabelle » Mon Oct 28, 2013 3:37 pm

Hello! I'm completely new here, and new to using CPAP (almost 1 week!). I started on this journey about a year ago, trying to find out why I've been gaining weight in recent years (not related to diet or activity level), and why I'm having more and more health issues than in years past. A visit to my general doctor led to a visit with an allergist who diagnosed me with both food (soy, nuts, corn) and environmental (pollen/mold) allergies. I had hoped that adjusting my diet and treating my environmental allergies would help solve my weight gain problem - no dice. My allergist diagnosed me with asthma as well, so I began treating that with an inhaler. Still, my weight went up. General doc sent me to various specialists, including a pulmonologist, who suggested I wear a pulse oximeter while sleeping to see if my O2 levels were dropping at night. He said that sleep apnea could be related to my other health issues (blood pressure, blood sugar). Did my oxygen levels drop at night? Oh, yes they did - pulmonologist called in a Rx for supplemental oxygen - 2 L - at night, and wanted me to do a sleep study asap. Now, there was a huge delay in getting the sleep study scheduled, and I had to tussle with the hospital, insurance company, and the insurance company's 3rd party authorization company in order to get it. Originally, I was approved for an in-home sleep study, even though my pulmonologist had ordered an in-lab study. Finally got scheduled, got the sleep study, and had to wait to get in for pressure titration (same rigamarole as with getting initial sleep study approval - had to go through a number of checks to make sure it was absolutely necessary), did that and back to waiting, this time for the insurance company's 3rd party to approve the Rx for CPAP. It took me about 2 months from the initial order for supplemental oxygen and sleep study until I finally picked up my CPAP, with a great deal of that time spent pushing the wind, trying to get things done in a timely manner (for me, it felt urgent, especially after reading about sleep apnea and the very real dangers it poses). After a battle well-fought, I go my CPAP machine and could hardly wait to try it out. Now, this is the point where I admit to feeling like a freak - I've read a number of other forum posts from folks who had difficulty getting used to the mask. I had no problems at all, and have slept comfortably with the mask for a full 8 hours each night. Maybe because I wanted this so much (I'm all about solutions, not problems), maybe because Spouse uses a CPAP so I wasn't wigged out by it, maybe I adapt easier, I don't know. It feels comfortable to me. I'm still learning how to make sense of the data from my machine, and am trying to find little adjustments to make my overall sleep a lot better. For me, the changes I expected from the CPAP were almost immediate, starting with the pressure titration study - that was technically the first night I used the CPAP all through the night, and that morning I felt a tremendous difference in my energy level and mental clarity. I joined this group because I'd like to learn more about using a CPAP - not sure exactly what I want to learn, but I'm sure I'll find plenty of interesting information in the forums. Any general advice from anybody?
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Pugsy
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by Pugsy » Mon Oct 28, 2013 6:28 pm

Mehitabelle wrote: I joined this group because I'd like to learn more about using a CPAP - not sure exactly what I want to learn, but I'm sure I'll find plenty of interesting information in the forums. Any general advice from anybody?
Welcome to the forum. The CPAP Wiki at the top of the forum page is a good place to start for basic information.
This thread here is in the announcements section of the forum and it doesn't get much activity as it is mainly a read only thread now.
For more specific answers to any questions you may come up with the bottom section or main page of the forum would be the better place to post. Start a new Topic thread so that your questions don't get lost in a thread like this one and will get the attention of all the forum members. Most of us don't even bother to look up at this top section and will miss any questions you might have.

I have a thread at the top of this announcements section where I talked about software you can use and how to understand what you might see on the reports..when you have time you might glance at it.


Your S9 ELite is a full efficacy data machine...software is easy to get and use when you are ready to tackle that little job.

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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.

Luvdawgs
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by Luvdawgs » Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:32 pm

I am new on the forum and am wondering where I can find the basic "female" avatar to use in my profile?

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Pugsy
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by Pugsy » Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:38 pm

Luvdawgs wrote:I am new on the forum and am wondering where I can find the basic "female" avatar to use in my profile?
Go to your profile
On the left click on "edit avatar"
at the bottom next to the submit button click on "display gallery"....
Then from the local gallery open the "category" menu and you will see "female" as a choice to show different female heads.
I think the default is to show "animals"

_________________
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.

sleepy711

Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by sleepy711 » Sun Feb 02, 2014 6:56 pm

Any person new or old to CPAP could use as much information as possible to sort out why CPAP can work, how to negotiate your life with it and what to expect from it. There is a book on iTunes (very reasonably priced) that answers many, many questions related to costs, companies, masks, special circumstances such as PTSD and anxiety attacks and more. It will soon be published to Kindle to make it accessible to all. I am a Respiratory Therapist, Sleep Technician and have worked years helping people with their CPAP at home. Many of the problems I heard from people were noted and addressed in this book. The sleep industry has its problems and proper support is hard to come by. Please feel free to comment on the book. I would be more than happy to address further questions and update the book.