Titration study musings

I kept my (first) titration study app't, and have just returned. Here are some thoughts on this:

1. My sleep tech asked me what the dr's recommended settings were for my machine. I told her 5-8--that he wanted me to get used to the mask before getting therapeutic pressure. But I told her that I felt like I was suffocating on 5-8, and that I needed a higher pressure in order to not feel that way. She told me that she needed to start it at 5 if that's what the dr. wanted. I again told her that I felt almost suffocated and that I like a higher pressure, like at least 9. She asked me what my machine was set at, and I told her 11-15.

As you might imagine, she about hit the roof with "righteous" indignation. HOW did my machine get set to that if the dr. didn't prescribe that setting??? I fessed up that I set it myself. I could practically see the veins pop out of her head as she told me that I should NEVER tinker with the machine, it could damage my lungs, etc. I calmly told her that I was studying it, that I was paying attention to my ahi's from the data. "How did you get the data?" I told her (again) that my machine is data capable and that it could register my ahi's, my ai's, my hi's, etc. Her veins receded a bit, and she began to realize that I wasn't completely mentally deficient, lol. Wow. So I'm wondering: Have you ever mentioned setting your machine yourself to a sleep tech? I'm guessing that I should have kept that little secret to myself. (Don't worry, I did not utter one word about reading anything on any forum, lol.)

2. What is the deal with those skin cleaning wipes they use before putting on the electrodes? Is it me, or does everyone feel like their skin is being ripped off by the tech when he/she is prepping you? I'm a very clean person, and I took a shower right before leaving for my titration study. But the tech whipped out these cleaning wipes that are very scratchy, and scrubbed my skin almost bare. The area where she sandpapered--uh--I mean wiped was totally inflamed when she was done. Then she gleefully, sadistically asked, "Oh, is your skin always sensitive?" (Yeah, especially when it's torn off.) This is my question 2: Anybody else get the rough treatment? (Or was this pay-back/punishment for changing my machine settings without dr. permission?)

3. Heated hose. I asked the one sleep tech if they have a heated hose. I explained that I cannot sleep with coldish air blowing on me. She told me that they did. Then Sadistic Sleep tech entered the pic, and I mentioned the heated hose to her, too. She told me that yes, the air is heated, but heat comes from a HUMIDIFIER not a hose. I told her that, I have a heated humidifier with my cpap machine, but I prefer a heated hose in addition as well. She said, no, just a HUMIDIFIER heats the cpap air, a hose doesn't. In other words, she did NOT KNOW THAT A HEATED HOSE exists!!!!

C'mon, this is a professional sleep clinic. She didn't even know that there is such a thing as a heated hose?

I told her I packed a heated hose, and she kind of looked at me with disbelief, like I was going to hand her just any old hose that my simple little old mind just believed would be heated by the very virtue that I was the one who touched it or something. You know, like I thought I had special magical powers or something. Well, her ol' veins began a'poppin' again when she saw that the hose plugged in and--get this--generated a bit of heat. "Oh, my, look at this, it plugs in!"

4. My original sleep study was done by the same hospital, but at the main location. This one was done at a different, closer to home location. The sleep techs were much less customer-service oriented. As soon as I began to awaken, one of them blared over the room loudspeaker that the study is now done. The sadistic sleep tech barged into the room, instantaneously flipped on all the lights (it was 6 a.m.), and seemed like she couldn't wait to get rid of me. (Wonder why?) Man, I'm surprised she didn't just fling the covers off the bed and yank me out by both arms.

5. Wow.

What I learned: If you had a nice experience with kind sleep techs the first time around, continue to go back to that exact location. Don't mess with a good thing. Point 2: If you don't want to be burned on a stake, do not discuss doing anything with your machine other than turning it on and off and wiping your mask clean. Point 3: If there's something you desire for comfort, i.e. a heated hose, don't assume that the sleep techs will have it or even know about its very existence.

All in Knots

LOL, All in Knots!! What an interesting story to read!!

Good thing you've taken control of your own treatment so well. And that you have a good sense of humor.