Greetings, thanks, another noob here.

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

Greetings, thanks, another noob here.

Post by AngryQuakerIfMyRegistrationEverGoesThru » Fri Aug 18, 2017 9:56 pm

Hello. After a week or two lurking (and reading voraciously), I finally read some of the "What's going on with the forum" thread and realized that there is, after all, some issue or other with new registrations? My self-worth complex almost reared its ugly head. But that certainly won't be the first, last, or worst adversity I've faced. Just wanted to pop in and say thanks for the awesome resource, mainly. I'm on night four of self-treatment after being diagnosed (yes, and I arrived post-haste at the considered opinion that sleep studies must be the work of the devil), then more or less abandoned by the doc and DME (at least feeling as such, two months on), and I'm doing about as well as can be expected, I suppose. I inherited some decent equipment, I've got everything up and running with Sleepyhead, and I'm still able to sit up and take nourishment. So I'm in good shape. Without all the reading I've done thus far, it would likely be a much different story. I hope at some point in the future, the words I have yet to add to this resource may provide a measure of solace and inspiration to some hapless wretch such as myself. I found a few posts to be quite inspiring just this evening. And there will be words. I like the words. At some point, I'll be saying things like, "Forsooth!" Just you wait...

-Russ

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kteague
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Re: Greetings, thanks, another noob here.

Post by kteague » Fri Aug 18, 2017 10:41 pm

Hello and welcome! Glad things are falling into place for you with your treatment.

_________________
Mask: TAP PAP Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Improved Stability Mouthpiece
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Bleep/DreamPort for full nights, Tap Pap for shorter sessions

AngryQuakerIfMyRegistrationEverGoesThru

Re: Greetings, thanks, another noob here.

Post by AngryQuakerIfMyRegistrationEverGoesThru » Sat Aug 19, 2017 11:41 am

At the behest of LSAT, keeping it together in one post.

---------
Let's try this, shall we? In lieu of being registered, and able to post links, images, links to images and so forth...

imgur[dot]com/a/cnaBs

Input, analysis is definitely appreciated. Or even tips on posting a link or image. I'm not sure how much additional info is needed or helpful, so asketh and ye shall receiveth.
----------

-Russ

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chunkyfrog
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Location: Nebraska--I am sworn to keep the secret of this paradise.

Re: Greetings, thanks, another noob here.

Post by chunkyfrog » Sat Aug 19, 2017 12:07 pm

Welcome, noob.
Sadly, you will have to wait to get that wonderful foe button.
It is the weekend, and nothing happens on the weak end.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Airsense 10 Autoset for Her
Last edited by chunkyfrog on Wed Aug 23, 2017 9:26 am, edited 1 time in total.

Esme
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Location: Pacific Northwest, USA

Re: Greetings, thanks, another noob here.

Post by Esme » Sat Aug 19, 2017 1:56 pm

Russ, keep trying periodically to log in with the name and password you gave when you registered. Mine was recently "approved" after waiting a couple of weeks but I got no notification of it - just happened to try to log in yesterday and lo and behold it worked!

parzad

Re: Greetings, thanks, another noob here.

Post by parzad » Sat Aug 19, 2017 2:30 pm

AngryQuakerIfMyRegistrationEverGoesThru wrote:At the behest of LSAT, keeping it together in one post.

---------
Let's try this, shall we? In lieu of being registered, and able to post links, images, links to images and so forth...

imgur[dot]com/a/cnaBs

Input, analysis is definitely appreciated. Or even tips on posting a link or image. I'm not sure how much additional info is needed or helpful, so asketh and ye shall receiveth.
----------

-Russ
If you can tolerate a pressure closer to 7, give that a go. If not just increase by 1 every other day or so until you are where you want to be.

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Sheepish
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Re: Greetings, thanks, another noob here.

Post by Sheepish » Sat Aug 19, 2017 2:34 pm

Esme wrote:Russ, keep trying periodically to log in with the name and password you gave when you registered. Mine was recently "approved" after waiting a couple of weeks but I got no notification of it - just happened to try to log in yesterday and lo and behold it worked!
Same for me. Hopefully it'll work you for you, too. Welcome!

_________________
Machine: DreamStation Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: Pico Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear - Fit Pack
Humidifier: DreamStation Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: + Nuance Pro Gel Nasal Pillow Mask + Respironics Dreamwear Nasal Mask + Resmed Airfit P10

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Pugsy
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Re: Greetings, thanks, another noob here.

Post by Pugsy » Sat Aug 19, 2017 2:38 pm

Let's see if this helps.

http://imgur.com/a/cnaBs

Until you can actually log in to your member account (once approved) you can't post links.

It is helpful if you can keep your questions and stuff in one thread for the time being so that we can see who has already said what.
It's easier for us to follow that way.
Saves us posting something that has already been said and you from having to read the same stuff from multiple people.

_________________
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.

AngryQuakerIfMyRegistrationEverGoesThru

Re: Greetings, thanks, another noob here.

Post by AngryQuakerIfMyRegistrationEverGoesThru » Tue Aug 22, 2017 11:42 am

Oy vay. Week one down, and I feel like I'm soon to follow! The first few nights of using the machine, I thought things were trending to the positive. It was tough, I was waking up in the night and such, but was able to get back to sleep. Thought I was doing OK. Now, I'm just having a devil of a time getting to sleep at all. Last night, for instance, I laid awake for about 3 hours before taking the mask off and going to sleep. Except for some odd brief period where I apparently fell into REM just long enough to dream about playing drums, trading bars with a great jazz drummer whose name now escapes me. Most peculiar. A couple nights ago, I woke up to find the mask off, and no recollection of doing that.

Anyway, I missed work yesterday because I was just totally zombie-fied, and I can't keep that up. Is it OK to take half a benadryl or something? For a couple/few years, I was undiagnosed, self-treating and basically surviving the lack of decent sleep with benadryl (up to 4 a night at one point) and unisom (up to 2-1/2 a night). I got pretty worried about that eventually, and switched to earbuds with meditation and binaural/monaural beats which seemed to help -- for a while. Now, I'm getting to be pretty miserable, and frankly discouraged. I don't really wish to get back on "the dope," but is that something I could try short-term just to get me over this bump in the road? I used valerian for quite a while, too, maybe that would be the better way to go. Melatonin doesn't seem to have the desired effect. I can post more graphs and such once I get home if that would be germane to the discussion. I'm not on any meds (not a big fan of the so-called healthcare system in general, honestly), since I see that question pop up pretty consistently.

-Russ

Soothest Sleep
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Re: Greetings, thanks, another noob here.

Post by Soothest Sleep » Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:51 pm

It sounds like you are having a normally anxious adjustment to the machine and equipment. One of the hurdles is to retrain the brain to accept the mask on the face, but the mask has to stay on the face for that retraining to work.

Have you tried wearing the mask for periods of time during the day to acclimatize yourself to it? Then it is not such a shock at bedtime. You can use the blower, too, while you read or watch tv.

Have you considered, or tried, taping your headgear to your cheeks (use medical tape)--the intent being that it would then be difficult and a little painful to take off the mask, and act as a physical reminder to leave it on. Or wake you so you can put it back on right away.

Jean
O soft embalmer of the still midnight,
Shutting, with careful fingers and benign,
Our gloom-pleas'd eyes, embower'd from the light,
Enshaded in forgetfulness divine
-- John Keats

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Sheriff Buford
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Re: Greetings, thanks, another noob here.

Post by Sheriff Buford » Wed Aug 23, 2017 7:04 am

It's gonna take you a half an hour to type your username...

Sheriff

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esel
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Re: Greetings, thanks, another noob here.

Post by esel » Wed Aug 23, 2017 9:05 am

Hi AngryQuaker ... nice name looking forward to see the avatar

I think you react very normal and your sleepyhead data look actually pretty good already. AHI of 5 is what a normal person has when sleeping.

You may want to play a little with the parameters. One at a time and record 3 nights. Some people will jump in to what values would be a good bet.

Have fun and enjoy the hoseland...

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: Forma Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: AirCurve 10 CS PaceWave, Full Mask, sleepyhead, ASV Min EPAP 5 Max IPAP 10.4 PS 0.4-5.4
Only ME... - :) - Some days sooo slow, some days just running off track ...

AngryQuakerIfMyRegistrationEverGoesThru

Re: Greetings, thanks, another noob here.

Post by AngryQuakerIfMyRegistrationEverGoesThru » Sun Aug 27, 2017 1:18 pm

http://imgur[dot]com/Ogjblyz <-- Friday night

http://imgur[dot]com/gGgONHM <-- Saturday night

Here are another couple images for reference, analysis, speculation, etc.

For the first week or so of my journey, I was alternating between a PR Nuance gel pillow and a F&P Pilairo. Both have their pros and cons. I really want to like the Pilairo, but it doesn't seem as effective for me. The other day, I discovered that I also have a ResMed Swift FX, so I've given that a go these past couple nights. I haven't flung it off in my sleep, so there's that. I haven't really found a shocking difference between any of the three, at least not to the point of a "eureka" moment where one is obviously far superior in comfort and/or efficacy. I may eventually try a full nasal mask, but I don't seem to have the right hose(s) for the ones to which I currently have access.

On Friday, I tried increasing the pressure settings a bit, and found myself waking up a couple times feeling as though I was drowning. Really, like flapping my arms and the whole thing. Can't say I much enjoyed that.

Saturday night, I had played a show, which I do most weekends. In addition to my normal 9-5 office gig, I'm a performing drummer which serves to supplement my income and helps me maintain some semblance of sanity. It also represents the vast majority of exercise I get -- which I know I should change, but with my schedule, commute, general chronic exhaustion, and life such as it is, it just isn't happening at present.

On another note, I still find myself waking up in the middle of the night pretty much every night, usually with a sinusy headache and congestion. I've been gradually increasing humidity to try and stave that off. I started at a 3, and I'm up to 5 now. I'm going to go the other way with that to see if it helps. I use a neti pot almost every day, and while it seems to help a lot, the effect doesn't last as long as I'd like. I may pick up some Afrin or similar today to see how that goes. I saw an ENT guy some months ago who commented that I have a slightly deviated setpum, minus 2 I think he said, and he indicated that it's no big deal. FWIW. Also FWIW, I went thru a period some years ago where I would wake up with absolutely crushing, intense headaches. In the morning, middle of the night, you name it. I resorted to taking an Excedrin every night along with the Benadryl or Unisom or Nyquil. I'm not doing that anymore. This post-therapy development isn't near as intense, but of course, also not the ideal situation.

I've also woken up a few times with the entire Sahara Desert and all its flora, fauna, and other inhabitants in my mouth, but I remain confident that I can train myself away from the mouth breathing thing if I can get the aforementioned nasal congestion thing under control.

There are likely other thoughts I wanted to share in this post which have slipped my mind. I think I'm going to go try and get a little nap in now. I know I have many years of sleep debt to work off.

-Russ

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Julie
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Re: Greetings, thanks, another noob here.

Post by Julie » Sun Aug 27, 2017 1:43 pm

Make sure your machine's located at least a few inches lower than your bed so humidifier water runs back there and not to the mask (or is your drowing analogy not about water?).

AngryQuakerIfMyRegistrationEverGoesThru

Re: Greetings, thanks, another noob here.

Post by AngryQuakerIfMyRegistrationEverGoesThru » Sun Aug 27, 2017 1:56 pm

Thanks, Julie. No, the drowning thing didn't involve water, rain-out, or anything like that. Just felt like I couldn't breathe. I don't recall dreaming about swimming or drowning, but perhaps I was. Machine is situated well below bed level.

-Russ