Advice

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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apw5746
Posts: 194
Joined: Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:06 pm
Location: Security, CO

Advice

Post by apw5746 » Tue Mar 03, 2015 11:34 am

Lately, (past month or so) I've been having difficulty sleeping with my mask on. I felt it inhibited my being able to get a deep breath of fresh air. Either taking it off after after about 5 minutes, or finding it laying in bed after I''ve managed to fall asleep with it. I'm taking steps to lay in bed with mask on (Air Fit P10) and read a hour or so to get tired, should I decide not to watch TV. My back up, S8 VPAP ST, is in the closet gathering dust. Sometimes I will watch TV in the family room, often times falling asleep on the couch or in the recliner. Getting up late or in the early morning.

My question is if I use the S8, in VPAP Auto mode, while I'm watching TV, and after falling asleep, waking, going upstairs to sleep, wouldn't it make using the S9 VPAP Auto much easier. I.E. not taking off the mask. Only difference I see is that the data card for the S8, isn't compatible with the S9.

Before someone chimes in to wear a FFM, I'm extremely claustrophobic. I was a habitual mouth breather, but thanks to Pugsy and others, I've finally mastered the technique of keep my tongue just behind my upper teeth, thereby keeping air from leaking out should I open my mouth.

I do find that when I get a good nights sleep with the mask on, my AHI in way below 5. .55 - 3.1

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: SleepyHead software v0.9.2, ResScan 3.7, & U-Sleep. Back up - ResMed S8 VPAP ST with card reader
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ChicagoGranny
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Location: USA

Re: Advice

Post by ChicagoGranny » Tue Mar 03, 2015 12:41 pm

apw5746 wrote:I'm taking steps to lay in bed with mask on (Air Fit P10) and read a hour or so to get tired, should I decide not to watch TV.

I know it has been posted in here many times to wear the mask before going to bed in order to "get used to it". And maybe for some people, when first starting out, that is a good idea.

But is it a good idea for you? You have already slept some nights with the mask on, so do you really need to see what it feels like while awake??

Whether they are CPAPers or not, standard advice for people who have trouble falling asleep is to wait until you are very sleepy to get into bed. So why not read in a room, other than the bedroom, until you are very sleepy, then put the mask on and get into bed?

Before you start reading lay everything out, turn the bed back and have all your nightly routine completed. Then when you get very sleepy, you can slip gently into the mask and bed without arousing yourself very much.

JDS74
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Joined: Sun Jan 23, 2011 2:57 pm
Location: South Carolina

Re: Advice

Post by JDS74 » Tue Mar 03, 2015 4:42 pm

Right on. For CPAP users, the bed is for sleeping (mostly) not for reading, watching TV, etc.
If you can't get to sleep in 20-30 minutes, get up and go to another room and do something boring until sleepy then go back to bed.

_________________
Mask: Oracle HC452 Oral CPAP Mask
Humidifier: DreamStation Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: EverFlo Q 3.0 Liters O2 PR DSX900 ASV
Oracle 452 Lessons Learned Updated
DSX900 AutoSV with HC150 extra humidifier and Hibernite heated hose
Settings: EPAP Min-10.0, EPAP Max-17, PS Min-3, PS Max-10, Max Pressure-20, Rate-Auto, Biflex-1.
Sleepyhead and Encore Pro 2.21.