Newbie

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

Newbie

Post by Guest » Tue Jul 28, 2015 6:47 am

Hey y'all, I'm newly diagnosed with severe OSA (AHI 45) and I've got to say, even as an RN who helps patients with SA on a regular basis, it has been quite overwhelming being diagnosed with it myself. I work two jobs and have three kids, two dogs, one cat, and one husband to support so words like "heart attack," "stroke," and "suffocation," being thrown at me during my follow up to my sleep study was a bit unsettling. I haven't met with my DME company yet as they are notorious for being a PITA to deal with but my husband is going to get on the horn with them today and use his famous "insurance company" voice to get things moving since my doc pretty much told me I need to be using a machine immediately. Not really sure where to go from here. Guess I just wanted to say hi!

RestlessRN
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Jul 28, 2015 2:50 am

Re: Newbie

Post by RestlessRN » Tue Jul 28, 2015 6:49 am

So...I don't know why that posted under Guest, but it was my post. Sorry!

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Julie
Posts: 19898
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:58 pm

Re: Newbie

Post by Julie » Tue Jul 28, 2015 7:01 am

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/

Somewhere to start... it's a bit out of date re new models, etc., but the ideas are not.

Welcome!

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ChicagoGranny
Posts: 14409
Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:43 pm
Location: USA

Re: Newbie

Post by ChicagoGranny » Tue Jul 28, 2015 7:06 am

Guest wrote:my doc pretty much told me I need to be using a machine immediately. Not really sure where to go from here.
1. Make sure you don't sleep on your back until you get your CPAP working. On the back, gravity directly pulls the soft palate and tongue into the airway. On your sides or stomach, you may get some relief.

2. Make sure you do not accept delivery of a "brick". Get a machine that has been recommended by some of the experienced forum members.

PoolQ
Posts: 498
Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2015 10:41 am
Location: Silicon Valley

Re: Newbie

Post by PoolQ » Tue Jul 28, 2015 11:25 am

Well your in the right place. You are in the business so you know what to do and not to do with a treatment situation. You understand medical suppliers and insurance. Your way ahead of the game.
My DME told me 7-10 days for a machine. I called the insurance company and I got the machine that day and after hours , work the issue. The DME has them on the shelf in the back.

It's going to take you a while to process everything, read and reread everything. You are not going to have any experiences to relate this "alien sitting on your face breathing up your nose" to, get ready for your brain telling you it's one thing and have to figure out what it really is.

Once the machine takes care of the big stuff, get ready for all the littler comfort things to kick in and dealing with them also. There are may things you can adjust to your personal liking. The med staff cannot know this stuff, you have to do it.

Did I say read, yah do lots of that. When you do this right, you will get to love CPAP. Good sleep is a very wonderful thing, when as the last time you got up in the morning and sang on the way to the coffee machine?

Download and install sleepyhead free software to get ready. Most things are going to be happening when you are asleep and this lets you peek into your sleep and tells you what was going on.

look at the sleepyhead tutorial on this site so you get to know what you will be looking at.

read reviews of the different equipment, CPAP's and masks, hose holders, purified water for the humidifier, find a memory card reader when you know your machine type. start finding where you can get stuff to make your use easier. This sponsors site, amazon, ebay...where can you get what and what should you get.

Using CPAP IS NOT NORMAL, get ready to fight for your wellbeing, you will need to get used to it. There are settings that will make it easier, find them.

Keep in touch, it's very worth it.
Sleeping MUCH better now