Newbie intro and questions

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
User avatar
JasonK94Z
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2015 10:41 am

Newbie intro and questions

Post by JasonK94Z » Wed Sep 02, 2015 11:58 am

Hi everyone. I just completed my sleep study this past Monday. It was a split study, so I was woke up in the middle of the night to fit and use a cpap for the remainder of the study. I don't have the results yet from my study, but the tech said I will definitely be getting on cpap. So now I am sitting here thinking about all of this and starting to come to terms with having to rely on this machine for here on out. Sure, I'm tired of being tired all the time. I sleep my life away as things are right now,a nd I do look forward to waking up feeling well rested. The sleep study was a long and uncomfortable night. Even though the doc prescribed me two Sonata's, I still hardly slept at all. The first pill was a joke, it did not phase me. What felt like several hours later of tossing and turning, the nurse spoke over the intercom and asked if I was having a hard time. We decided I should take the second pill and try to sleep because we were running out of time. Hope to never have to go through that again

I'm having trouble coming to terms with what to do when I, for instance, go camping? No power where I camp twice a year for 3 nights. I have my truck with me, but wouldn't the machine just wear down my battery? I'm sure there are solutions to this right? Something affordable I hope.

I was fitted with a nasal pillow, and a nasal mask on my sleep study night. Different sizes of each, but it seemed like the nasal mask they had fit the best. However, I have a goatee. I keep it trimmed down pretty short, but it leaked where it makes contact with my mustache. She had to tighten it down a good bit, enough that it kinda hurt my upper lip area. I didn't care much, I just wanted to go back to sleep and get the test over with. It still leaked a little out the side of my nose on one side if I rolled over or anything. The hot air on exhale inside the thing also bothered me. Like having the plugged up nose in the winter, and feeling the hot air around your nose kinda aggravating scenario.

Are there any masks that you all suggest to try? The sleep doc says ResMed equipment is the common choice in my area. I'll be getting a phone call anytime now with my results. They will be setting me up with an equipment supplier too.

Speaking of having a cold, what do you do when you have a major headcold and your nose is stuffed up?

Oh, and 40 years old, back and left side sleeper if that matters.

Anyways, glad to have found this board, and look forward to learning about my new treatment.

User avatar
Pugsy
Posts: 63941
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: Newbie intro and questions

Post by Pugsy » Wed Sep 02, 2015 12:12 pm

Welcome to the forum.

Might want to read up on some basics if you haven't seen this already.
https://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/what- ... me-part-i/
https://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/

What do we do when we have a cold or upper respiratory infection?
Some people rely on a full face mask for the times that they can't breathe through their nose....others do what I do and just crank up the humidity on their nasal mask and do the best they can. I have been on cpap therapy now for over 6 years and I have had a few colds during that time and never had a time where I couldn't just use my nasal pillow mask. Usually the extra humidity helps (think how a hot shower helps open up the nose when we have a cold) and that along with some sort of cold meds usually gets me by. Might not be the best sleep but when we have a cold we don't often sleep so great anyway.

About camping?
There are ways to get it done using battery power. Lots of discussions here on the forum about what kinds of batteries work best and what additional equipment you might need...ResMed machines will need some special equipment.
Use the forum search feature for "camping" and you will find lots of reading material.

We have one forum member that even takes week long rafting trips....so it can be done.

In terms of facial hair and mask seal...it does affect things but again where there is a will there is a way and through trial and error you will be able to get things sorted out.
In terms of seal...the less your mask has to touch the skin the easier to get and keep a good seal so you might want to consider revisiting the nasal pillow mask. It's the easiest because there's minimal area that will be touching the skin or facial hair.

Finding the right mask IMHO is the hardest part to this therapy. Be sure to check with your DME (equipment supplier) about whatever mask swapping policy they might have available and use it to full advantage while you can.

_________________
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.

User avatar
JasonK94Z
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2015 10:41 am

Re: Newbie intro and questions

Post by JasonK94Z » Wed Sep 02, 2015 1:19 pm

Thank you Pugsy.

Your right, I bet finding the right mask is a real chore. It's too bad that someone couldn't have a custom one molded with something like replaceable seals or something. That way it would fit a persons unique contours and facial features better. It is 2015 after all!

User avatar
Pugsy
Posts: 63941
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: Newbie intro and questions

Post by Pugsy » Wed Sep 02, 2015 1:30 pm

JasonK94Z wrote: It's too bad that someone couldn't have a custom one molded with something like replaceable seals or something.
There used to be a place in Australia that would do that for the tidy sum of around $2500...then what do you do if you gain or lose weight and your face changes. Or you decide you want more or less facial hair?..

People do manage cpap therapy and even full face masks with Santa Claus quality beards....so it can be done but we never promised "easy to do".

It's still a lot better than it was say even 10 years ago in terms of the masks that are offered now.
If you normally can breathe through your nose just fine then I would suggest targeting a nasal pillow mask as it is simply the easiest to get and keep a good seal and they aren't all created equal...some are better than others.

If you still prefer an over the nose cushion type of mask I suggest that you look at the ResMed Swift FX Nano cushion mask.

_________________
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.

yaconsult
Posts: 1099
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 10:43 pm
Location: "Silicon Valley", CA

Re: Newbie intro and questions

Post by yaconsult » Wed Sep 02, 2015 1:38 pm

Don't overthink it! Sleeping in your own bed with your machine is nothing like the hell of a sleep test. The hardest part of finding the mask that works best for you. Many people find it easier to get a good seal with nasal pillows than with a nasal or full face mask. But we are all different and you will need to try them to find out. Hopefully, you have a good DME that will take the time to let you try different masks and then exchange them if they don't work out.

When I am congested, I look forward to sleeping with my nasal pillows as the pressure and humidity keeps me nice and clear.

Again, don't think of things to worry about. Just get your equipment ASAP and start using it. Post your questions and issues as they arise and people will be able to give advice.

Make sure you get a good data-capable machine. It will probably be a Resmed AirSense 10 AutoSet. Make sure it's an AutoSet or AutoSet For Her. The "auto" refers to the machines ability to adjust the pressure by itself when necessary depending on your breathing. You do not want the Resmed AirSense 10 CPAP as this machine does not have the automatic adjustment feature. The names are intentionally very similar and confusing.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: January 2015 Sleep Study Results: Apnea/Hypopnea Index (AHI): 80.2, Sleepyhead

User avatar
JasonK94Z
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2015 10:41 am

Re: Newbie intro and questions

Post by JasonK94Z » Fri Sep 04, 2015 1:32 pm

Looks like I'll be getting a Philips Dreamstation tomorrow afternoon. It hasn't been released yet, but limited DME's are distributing them early. I'm anxious to find out more about this machine.

User avatar
gasp
Posts: 2095
Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2007 4:20 pm
Location: U. S.

Re: Newbie intro and questions

Post by gasp » Sun Sep 06, 2015 12:24 am

Welcome!

The most helpful (besides this forum) when I started in achieving great therapy, was being able to read my own reports daily. I don't know about the machine you mentioned, but if it doesn't allow you to do this I'd ask doc to prescribe one that does.

I have a Resmed S9 ... see my profile below.

_________________
MaskHumidifier
Additional Comments: Pursleep, Padacheek, Regenesis™ Pillow, Neti Pot, Travel Buddy hose hanger

User avatar
CapnLoki
Posts: 1162
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2013 6:26 pm
Location: North East

Re: Newbie intro and questions

Post by CapnLoki » Sun Sep 06, 2015 4:03 pm

JasonK94Z wrote:...I'm having trouble coming to terms with what to do when I, for instance, go camping? No power where I camp twice a year for 3 nights. I have my truck with me, but wouldn't the machine just wear down my battery? I'm sure there are solutions to this right? Something affordable I hope.
Congratulations on your new machine. I noticed it runs on 12V so we can hope that they will offer a 12V cord that can be connected to a cigarette lighter socket. (It may use one of the older versions). Until we learn more about the new pump we can only guess that is uses about the same amount of power as the earlier versions.

You're correct that using the truck battery would not be advisable, but its easy to get a small scooter-style AGM battery the will probably cover three night if you don't use the humidifier or heated hose. Most campers don't bother with the "comfort" features unless its a dry climate.

Check out the last post in this thread for an example of a system that might work for you:
viewtopic.php?t=102775

_________________
Machine: DreamStation Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: Quattro™ Air Full Face Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: DreamStation Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Pressure 9-20, average ~9.5; often use battery power while off-grid
Hark, how hard he fetches breath . . .  Act II, Scene IV, King Henry IV Part I, William Shakespeare
Choosing a Battery thread: http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic/t1140 ... ttery.html

User avatar
JasonK94Z
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2015 10:41 am

Newbie intro and questions

Post by JasonK94Z » Sun Sep 06, 2015 4:17 pm

CapnLoki wrote:
JasonK94Z wrote:...I'm having trouble coming to terms with what to do when I, for instance, go camping? No power where I camp twice a year for 3 nights. I have my truck with me, but wouldn't the machine just wear down my battery? I'm sure there are solutions to this right? Something affordable I hope.
Congratulations on your new machine. I noticed it runs on 12V so we can hope that they will offer a 12V cord that can be connected to a cigarette lighter socket. (It may use one of the older versions). Until we learn more about the new pump we can only guess that is uses about the same amount of power as the earlier versions.

You're correct that using the truck battery would not be advisable, but its easy to get a small scooter-style AGM battery the will probably cover three night if you don't use the humidifier or heated hose. Most campers don't bother with the "comfort" features unless its a dry climate.

Check out the last post in this thread for an example of a system that might work for you:
viewtopic.php?t=102775
The manual does in fact state it uses a 12 volt car power cord. I assume it's the same as the last version, but I will be calling customer service Tuesday to find out for sure. I ended up with a new respironics dreamstation.