Great sleeps!

After about 10 months (during 8 of which I didn't know of all of the options), I've finally found the right combination for me to be as close to 100% compliant as possible! I've slept between 7 and 9 hours straight most of the last 12 nights - with my CPAP on!

I got myself a Remstar Auto with CFlex and heated humidifier, alternate between the Swift nasal pillows and a Mirage Activa mask, and the final key piece (particularly as I've been visiting my parents in the Great White North) is the Aussie heated hose to prevent rainout (actually, I was getting rainout back in not-so-sunny-lately California too before the heated hose - it really does make a difference).

Before my girlfriend started complaining about my snoring, I thought I was sleeping well. And I certainly thought I had slept better before I started struggling with the CPAP - but now I know better! So, for any of you who are continuing to struggle with the CPAP and think you slept better before getting on the hose, keep trying - once you find the right setup, then you'll really sleep.

Good sleeps to all!

Scott

I get my machine Fri. That should be some night. We have to stick it out to improve our health. So glad to hear that you're doing so well.

sinemac wrote:After about 10 months (during 8 of which I didn't know of all of the options), I've finally found the right combination for me to be as close to 100% compliant as possible! I've slept between 7 and 9 hours straight most of the last 12 nights - with my CPAP on!

I got myself a Remstar Auto with CFlex and heated humidifier, alternate between the Swift nasal pillows and a Mirage Activa mask, and the final key piece (particularly as I've been visiting my parents in the Great White North) is the Aussie heated hose to prevent rainout (actually, I was getting rainout back in not-so-sunny-lately California too before the heated hose - it really does make a difference).

Before my girlfriend started complaining about my snoring, I thought I was sleeping well. And I certainly thought I had slept better before I started struggling with the CPAP - but now I know better! So, for any of you who are continuing to struggle with the CPAP and think you slept better before getting on the hose, keep trying - once you find the right setup, then you'll really sleep.

Good sleeps to all!

Scott

I agree that it takes time and trial and error with masks, machines, etc.
And the funny part is that one machine is not always the best for everyone. I THOUGHT I wanted the 402 - small, computer software you can buy to monitor, good references from the people here. But, when I finally did get one from a second DME supplier - who "special ordered" it for me, I did NOT like it!! It made a whistling noise every time I exhaled. That seemed bothersome to me.

So far, I've tried the Puritan Bennett, w/heated humidifier and liked the small size, quiet operation, but was put off by the fact you couldn't adjust the ramp pressure. It is factory set to start at 4 and I felt like I was suffocating the first 10 min, so I traded that for the Remstar Pro w/cflex w/heated humidifier. I liked that much better because the ramp could be set and the DME showed me how to set it myself if I wanted to adjust it.

What I didn't like about that was the size - larger than the puritan bennett (which I was comparing it to). So I finally decided I wanted the 420 E and got all the equipment, but when the new DME showed up with my "special order", the humidifier was separate and used it's own set of hoses to connect to the little machine which made the little machine BIGGER than the Remstar Pro and more tubes and sensors and well.... I knew right away I didn't like that. THEN when it whistled with every exhale I took it off and called the next day and said "Pick it up!"

I must say the second DME was very nice about replacing my "special order", and brought me out a new RemStar Pro II w/cflex which has a little card that fits in the side of the machine that can be downloaded. The DME told me that once a month, he'd gladly download the info and send it to me if I wanted to track it. The card is the size of a credit card.

So, now I'm very happy with my Remstar Pro II, no whistling, good ramp, good heater (although still a littler larger than I'd wish for, it still uses only one hose at least!) So I think I'll stay with this one for a while and have the DME give me the reading on the card to see what it does. If I can twist an arm or two, maybe he'd get me a copy of the program that reads it. Who knows??

Now the mask is still an ongoing thing. I'm happy with the breeze w/dreamseal (I can't stand the thought of putting something into my nostrils that block them) so I haven't tried the "Pillows". I adjusted the breeze so it leaks "less" and I like the convenience of no straps touching my face. I also got the Dr. to give me a prescrip for a full face, but the DME didn't give me a choice, so I got what they had - a Respironics Comfort Full. It's OK, and I've used it a few times, but I think I'll try the full face mask everyone talks about here the Activa next time.

I know I feel better, and as I've posted, I'm seeing results in weight loss and much less sleepyness, but it did take a good month-two, and going into three to see those "lasting" changes continue happening.

So Hang in there. Keep trying. Insist on the DME "servicing" your account. My Insurance company requires you to rent the machine for 10 months, so I figure, I can change it out as much as I want and try different ones.... I'm only "renting" it. The masks are a different thing. You have to buy those up front.... wish that was different.... some sort of disposable trial mask would be nice.

Now THERE'S a business for someone to get into!!! We all know we'd pay a reasonable fee to have a disposable version of the different masks to try out!! You'd have ready-made clients - think of all the x-pap users whew!!!

Remember - you read it FIRST here... Disposable Trial masks!

Connie

rifenbc wrote:So far, I've tried the Puritan Bennett, w/heated humidifier and liked the small size, quiet operation, but was put off by the fact you couldn't adjust the ramp pressure. It is factory set to start at 4 and I felt like I was suffocating the first 10 min,

Which Puritan Bennet? I have the GoodKnight 420G, and it wasn't factory-set, my CPAP guy set it. And when I got on this forum and noticed the posts people saying that 4 was too low, I Googled and downloaded the manual for my machine, and set the starting pressure to 5. I've found that to be better.

Oh you're right! It wasn't the puritan Bennett, it was the Fisher Pykal that was factory set. So Sorry. The Puritan Bennett was the 420. All these names... I get 'em mixed up.

You're right tho, the DME told me that he usually sets the ramp to begin at 1/2 of the pressure set. In my case, that would be 4. But 4 was too low. 5 seems to be better, that is what I've set it at on my Remstar Pro II. I hate to be too picky, but I think 4.5 would be even better. Wish there were smaller increments. It ramps up over 1/2 hour and I'm usually asleep by then. If I wake up during the night and take the mask off, I have to ramp up again to get back to sleep. Even 8cm for me seems like a wind tunnel when I'm awake.

Connie

Hi Connie,

Glad to hear your getting a lot of the pieces of the puzzle put together to have a set up that will suit you.

You're right about the confusing names of things. Another bit of info to jot down... the Activa isn't a full face mask. Activa is a wonderful nasal mask (covers the nose.) The full face mask I like is the ResMed Ultra Mirage FF.

Good luck and good sleep!

hi, cant you set your ramp for however long you want? i can set mine at 5 minuet incraments up to 45 minuets, i have the res-med s7 lightweight, its small, its quiet, & i like it. my mask is f/face fisher & paykel flexifit HC431. which again i like. i've tried several masks, that was my first & i'm sticking with it for now. the thing i like about it is, it fits just under the chin, not half way between the chin & the mouth, so it keeps your chin up to some extent, though its not restricting in anyway, just very comfortable. jean