I'm new . . .

Hi;
I was diagnosed last week with "severe obstructive sleep apnea" and told my oxygen saturation was dropping into the low 70's. I've been dealing with what I thought was simple insomnia for a couple of decades now after a couple of sleep studies over 20 years ago shower no apnea, but "restless legs". We've tried 5 different mattresses and I myself have tried the floor, couches, a recliner (which was relatively successful) and most recently have been sleeping in a hammock, which has dramatically increased the length of time I "sleep", but obviously not the quality (up from 4-5 hours to 7-8 hours, according to Fibit).
Back in 2009 I managed to drop 85 pounds (from a high of 290), but as with most people who dump a bunch of weight, couldn't keep it off, and I'm right at about 300 now. Of course, the apnea is tied to my obesity, and likely the obesity to apnea. I have a few other issues likely tied to the sleep and weight problems including hypertension (high blood pressure), and just on the edge of type 2 diabetes, and the beginnings NAFLD. I've modified my diet, and began to get moving more (exercise), but since last week's diagnosis am most looking forward to CPAP. while I've heard and read about people not sticking with it, my quest for relief from the insomnia has been going on too long to not jump at any possible chance for some real restful sleep. I'm tired of yawning all day and falling asleep unexpectedly so often (trying to read of get through a tv program, for example). And mostly I'm tired of being tired. I'm sure my dog would enjoy more activity, and I miss being more active, but for a long time now just haven't had the energy.

What is NAFLD?

Do you know what machine (specifically, not just brand name) you'll have? It's important to get the right one(s) because you want more data collection ability than just 'compliance' which only keeps the insurance co's happy, and you want an autopap vs plain cpap because the autos can be used as cpaps, but not the other way around (and the billing code's the same for both so don't let them tell you it costs more). Plus with an autopap you can use software (we'll get to that later) to learn lots of info about your overnight sleeps and if necessary how to tweak e.g. pressures, to improve things. Please try to stick to this thread when you come back so we can follow your story along.

Julie wrote:What is NAFLD?

https://www.google.com/search?client=ub ... 8&oe=utf-8

Merci

If your doctor has not prescribed glucose testing, I would urge you to ask.
Even an occasional test will help give you an idea when your diet, etc. needs changing.
"Borderline" is a danger zone, and you can do more about it BEFORE it goes over that edge.

I don't know what machine I will have. Was told by the Dr. that they are expediting insurance approval and that the local medical supply place would be contacting me to set me up. After reading some posts here and elsewhere, obviously I have more homework to do.
As for glucose levels, yes, that was one of the many tests that were done.
NAFLD is fatty liver disease. Common, and often undiagnosed, from what I've been told.

Loghouse, I am about one month further along in the process. So glad to be on the mend at last!
It may be your natural inclination is to just wait patiently for the doctor/DME provider/etc. to inform you of what they think you should know, when you should know it. I would recommend instead that you ask as many questions about the process to whomever you have available as you can (after you've done your homework.) You're not being pushy: you're a customer. You are the one who cares the most about making this a success.
The doctor probably knows what you'll get based on the prescription, your insurance, and the DME provider, so why not ask for a guess?
I was highly motivated (severe apnea like yours) and even visited the DME provider before they received my prescription, just to make sure I could find it When they called for an appointment, I asked if they had any openings the same day (they did). That saved me at least a weekend of waiting. I followed the advice of the nurse consultant on masks after I told her I was a stuffy nose person. She also had sleep apnea and could really relate.
The output from Sleepyhead (or even myAir) is so much more meaningful than the FitBit that, if you are gadgety at all, it will be really interesting and probably a motivator.
Good luck!

Well, I'm still a few days out from my appointment, but I was able to find out the medical supply place is already setting me up with what I would have chosen for myself (just based on what I have learned since my diagnosis), the Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset with humidifier. I take back all the negative things I was thinking they were going to try to pull on me (based on some of the experiences others have shared on these boards). Now I can get back to studying masks/nose pillows/etc. . . . I have a beard, and may or may not be a mouth breather (my wife says "sometimes"). Maybe it wouldn't be an issue with air pumping in.

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a DME?

DME durable Medical Equipment

Your local bricks and mortar supply house.

loghouse wrote:... no apnea, but "restless legs"

If periodic limb movements accompanied your restless legs (it's not unusual), there's a possibility your legs were too restless to allow you to sleep enough for apneas to manifest. It took years for my OSA to be able to be captured on sleep studies. Do you take any meds for your restless legs, or did that problem resolve? At any rate, get settled in to your CPAP treatment. Sometimes that's all the legs need to calm down. If you continue to have sleep problems that you think may be in relation to your legs, stop back in to talk about it. Mention your legs in the title so I don't miss it.

I will keep an eye on the restless leg thing as treatment commences. I don't take meds, as the only one that was tried caused some pretty frightening hallucination like dreams. Don't ask what the stuff was, it was too long ago to remember. Though I do notice my legs still have that crawly feeling late at night when I'm supposed to be sleeping, my hope it that CPAP will help as you mentioned.

One other question after reading all kinds of excellent information on this forum: I think I understand what SleepyHead is and what it allows the user to see. From what I can tell, SleepyHead is not an app, but software that requires one to have either a PC or a laptop. Is this correct?

If this is true, I may have to make do without access to that information. My PC died several years ago, I don't own a laptop, and do all me web surfing from my phone.

loghouse wrote:From what I can tell, SleepyHead is not an app, but software that requires one to have either a PC or a laptop. Is this correct?

That is correct. It's software and requires a computer of some sort...desktop PC, Mac, laptop and works with various operating systems but you have to be able to use the software fully for it to work. No app for it yet and don't know if there ever will be. If Mark ever comes up with a Sleepyhead app it won't be for free though.

There's still a good bit of information on the cpap machine itself and ResMed does have the MyAir thing you can use (which is really nothing more than what you see on the LCD screen of the machine) and there's a good chance that the information available will be sufficient for your needs. It's a bit more limited but if you do well and sleep well and feel good and the data available looks good...then the data from the software probably would be rather boring anyway.
Cross that bridge when/if you come to it about maybe needing to see more details.

If it becomes critical that you need to see the data on the SD card for some reason and you don't know anyone you could use their computer for the software or SD card slot...
Just get a second SD card (generic works fine) and use it for a few days and then send it to me via snail mail.
Just send me a private message and I will get you my address. I can run the card through my software and get you some reports and mail the card back to you when I am done with it.
I don't want to risk the first and only SD card getting lost in the snail mail system is why I suggest a second card.

Well, I'm 2 nights in to treatment and so far, so good. I opted for the nose pillows and am pleased that seems to be working well (good fit, though I might try the small vs the medium size, and my mouth stays shut ! ) and hasn't moved or come off at all, and myAir shows only 1 leak last night. Finally got my test data - the DME gave me a copy - and my average AHI for the 2 nights was 44 (56 on the worst night). MyAir shows and AHI of 2.1 last night and a total score of 81.

While I'm sleeping, things seem to be going great. I've struggled a bit both nights with breathing when I fire up the machine. Feels like an asthma attack. Inhaling is (of course) no problem, but exhaling through my nose with the gale-force winds blowing up my nostrils is tough. And opening my mouth is quite amusing, but not helping treatment. Anyway, I will get used to it, I'm sure, and have set an alarm on my phone now for 10pm to make sure I get in bed on time every night (last night was 12:30 because I fell asleep on the couch watching a horror movie). Now that I know I can sleep and that it will be good, quality, effective sleep, I don't want to miss any of it. It's been too long . . . . .

What pressure are you using to start the night with and having problems?
Are you using the ramp?
Are you using EPR ..Exhale Pressure Relief?
What is your prescribed pressure setting?
There are likely some things you can do to lessen the exhale issue depending on the answers to the questions above?

I'm not sure what pressure it starts up with. According to my report, the Dr. prescribed 8-18. The person at the DME set it to "Auto" with no ramp time (said I should just try it like that for a while). EPR ? I have no idea if I am or how to find out.
I do very much appreciate the help and advice.
Thank you.