One Month Down, Rest of My Life to Go

Hi, everyone! This will probably be my last regular (or semi-regular) report for a while. I will keep following the forum and helping whenever I can. Thanks so much for all the information and support here! You all are GREAT!!

I was one of the lucky folks here who have had wonderful results in a fairly short period. Things are going very well.

For those of you who don't know me, or those of you who have forgotten (and even for those who don't care!! LOLOL), I've been using a 420E with heated humidifier and an Ultra Mirage FF mask for right at a month now. My initial sleep study showed an AHI of 105.5 with 98 arousals/hr, O2 sat betwen 70 and 87%. The sleep Dr. recommended CPAP at 16 cm.

I got my Silverware software last week and up and running late last week. According to it, my AHI is now running (a 3 week average) at about 3.3!! My pressures are 4.5 cm to 13 cm with a 90% efficient pressure of 11cm, well below the recommended setting of 16! APAP is awesome! I spent a week with a CPAP set on 16 and it was like trying to breathe in a hurricane. The APAP seems to have solved that problem.

Like almost everyone else, I went through the usual Primary Physician/sleep lab/sleep Dr/insurance/DME nightmare. But, with a bunch of effort, finally was provided with, IMHO, the best equipment to fit my needs and to help me. RG, I know you're a ResMed proponent, but I find the 420E to be an outstanding machine. I guess it's to each his own....and I managed to get lucky my first time out.

My energy levels have soared, especially in the last week and a half or so. I found that turning off the IFL made a world of difference. It used to be, I'd get home from work, cook a bit of dinner for the family, watch Emeril Live and be ready for bed at 8PM. Then, I'd wake at 5:30AM for work, wondering how the heck I could be more tired than when I went to bed. For the last year of so, Sweetie had taken to sleeping in the living room on the recliner due to my horrendous snoring!

APAP has taken care of that. I now go to bed about 10PM, read for 1/2 hour or so while the humidifier warms up, then drop off to sleep with Sweetie by my side. I still get up at 5:30AM, but I'm rested and althought not exactly rarin' to go, I feel good. No more falling asleep at the computer at work 2 or 3 X a day. No more falling asleep in the middle of Emeril Live at 6:30PM. No more wishing I could just get a little bit, heck a LOT more rest. No more sleeping all day Saturday and Sunday, trying to get caught up on sleep. And almost no more crankiness toward Sweetie and the Bunny! But, best of all, I now have enough energy to play with the Bunny (our 8 year old son) after work, take him fishing (like yesterday, for 5 hours and didn't yell at him or even get upset with him even once!!), enough energy to work in the yard for a couple of hours, even after a full day at work, and work in the yard and on the house (minor repairs only....I know my limits!! LOL) on the weekends and even feeling good enough to fire up the Harley and take a ride or 3.

Folks, this therapy WORKS! Please, keep trying until you find a combination of masks/machines/humidifiers that work for you (my heart goes out to you, Liam. If it was possible, I'd give you some of my fortunate compliance). And ask questions here on the forum, keep after your Dr and DME and insurance company. But, most of all, keep the faith! Like I said, this therapy works......and has given me back my life, my wife and my son.

God bless each and everyone of us.....and may He see us through the trying times.

Thanks once again to ALL who post here.

TXKajun, you write the "bestest" posts! I'm sure other new people who wonder if this kind of treatment really can work have been inspired by your accounts. Hope you'll drop in from time to time to give us updates!

Moi? A proponent of any one manufacturer's machines? heheh.

Well, yeah, I'll admit I'm a big fan of ResMed masks - and Aeiomed's Aura, and Puritan Bennett's Breeze.

But when it comes to the machines, I liked all 3 of the major brand autopaps I've tried-- PB's 420E auto, Respironics's REMstar Auto (have two, one without and the other with C-Flex), and ResMed's Autoset Spirit. In case anyone wonders where I have the space to keep all of those, I have only one of them here right now - the Remstar Auto with C-flex. The others went "visiting".

Truly, all three are excellent machines and each of them had features I liked over the others. I use the Remstar Auto with C-flex. It's made by Respironics, not by ResMed....gosh all these R names get confusing, don't they? I like it because it gives me auto-titrating treatment with C-Flex at the same time.

I don't really need C-Flex in my autopap treatment. But I do like it for a leeeetle bit more comfort factor. That's why I recommend the Respironics REMstar with C-Flex for most people trying to decide on a first autopap to buy. Some of them probably do need the exhalation relief of C-Flex, whereas I like C-Flex, but I don't actually need it.

But, if someone suddenly took that machine away and put a 420E auto in its place on my nightstand, I'd be just as happy using the 420E again. Absolutely. The 420E is a super machine that I used for over a year with great results and great comfort. The 420E's SilverLining software is definitely my favorite of the three major brands' software programs.

I think a lot of people with difficulty exhaling against pressure will benefit from auto with C-Flex, otherwise, I'd be recommending the autopap that is my "other" absolute favorite - that good little 420E auto that's doing such a great job for you, TXKajun!

T. Kajuun, first off I'd like to thank you for your support during the start of my therapy. I'm glad to hear that you have found something that is working for you and you are seeing benefits from your therapy. It is results and reports and encouragement like that that helps us newcomers keep on trying. Good Health to You and Keep It Up!

Aw, shucks, ya'll. Such nice words!

I'll still be here, reading on a daily basis and posting when/if I think there's something I can add that's helpful. Just that the daily/weekly/monthly posts will go away.

I got a whopping 6 hours sleep last nite (stayed up late reading), had my morning ciggie, coffee, shower, shave, brush teeth, dressed and then, heading to work, realized how good I felt! I feel like I have my "eye of the tiger" self back. And this is after only a month. I still am paying off some sleep debt, but that's ok. If things can stay like this, well, it's all I could ask for........and more.

Hang in there, ya'll. This therapy WORKS!!