What a difference!

I am new to CPAPs and new to this board, so bear with me if this isn't the right place for this post. I wish I had heard about this forum and this technology years ago.

I have been a big snorer all my adult life. It has gotten progressively worse over the years and has evolved into pretty severe apnea. I haven't slept well in a long time, but I never thought I could do much about it. I don't like going to the doctor and I've never had a proper physical, so I always figured it's just something I have to deal with.

This year, my company switched to a new health insurance provider with better benefits for certain services, so I decided to see some doctors for some issues that have been nagging me for a while. I went to see an ENT doctor about persistent nasal congestion--it turns out a have a badly deviated septum--but when I told him about my apnea, he was much more worried about that than than my sinuses. He insisted that I go for a sleep study right away, which I did last night.

It was a "split" study where I "slept normally" for a couple hours and then, based on the level of apnea during that time, the technician gave me a CPAP device for the rest of the night. Apparently, according to the technician, I had 92 apneas or an apnea index of 92 or something like that during the initial phase of the study. I haven't seen the actual report yet, so I'm not sure.

Any way, after two hours, the tech gave me the CPAP. I'm not sure of the model, but it was the kind that presses against the bottom of your nostrils rather than a mask that covers your nose. When I first put it on, it was one of the weirdest and most annoying things I have ever experienced. I lay there in bed for a half hour thinking there's no way I can sleep at all with this thing. But eventually I started to relax and figure out how to breath with it, and I ended up falling asleep.

Next thing I know, it is 7:00 a.m. and the tech is waking me up! I couldn't believe what a difference it made. I slept like a baby the whole rest of the night. This was the best sleep I had in years! Truly unbelievable.

I ordered one of my own before I left the lab. I can't wait for it to come. This thing is going to change my life.

So that's my story so far. I look forward to exploring these forums to read about others' experiences.

Oh, I forgot to mention that the tech told me that with the CPAP on, I didn't snore or have any apneas the whole rest of the night.

Congratulations, Dogface!
It sound like your process was a lot easier than many of us have. Good for you to take the first step, and good luck as you start to live out this therapy on a nightly basis.

Click on the yellow lightbulb at the top of this page for some great information to get you started.

I'm still waiting for my equipment to arrive, but I can tell you that this group of people is both well informed and supportive. Ask and share as much as you like!

Jeff

Way to go, Dogface!

Loved your description about your first experience on titration night with a cpap mask:

"When I first put it on, it was one of the weirdest and most annoying things I have ever experienced. I lay there in bed for a half hour thinking there's no way I can sleep at all with this thing. But eventually I started to relax and figure out how to breath with it, and I ended up falling asleep."

You're gonna take to this well. Welcome to a new world of restful sleep! Of course, it helps that you woke up feeling so much better after your very first night on cpap. It was the same overnight "wow" for me.

For many, it takes a lot of time (and a lot of struggle to find the right mask) before they start feeling small improvements. You were lucky, and I'm glad for you!!

DogFace wrote:I couldn't believe what a difference it made. I slept like a baby the whole rest of the night. This was the best sleep I had in years! Truly unbelievable... This thing is going to change my life.

I love hearing good success stories like this. Congrats!

I hope you ordered a CPAP with data storage capabilities so that you can monitor your own progress? If not I recommend you try to change it. Make sure you get one that can record detailed data and not just compliance info. You may want to ask on here for some recommendations. ( My current personal favorite is the Resperonics REMstar Auto M-Series)

Here is an example of the types of things you can monitor with a data recording machine http://james.istop.com/EncoreProAnalyzer/charts/

-james

jskinner wrote: I hope you ordered a CPAP with data storage capabilities so that you can monitor your own progress?

That sounds great. I didn't know about that. I develop financial trading models by profession, so I love data! I'm going to call the clinic in the morning and ask about that.

hayeswildrick wrote: Click on the yellow lightbulb at the top of this page for some great information to get you started.

Thanks Jeff and everyone else for your kind wishes. I'm going through the yellow light bulb information now. I never had any idea that my annoying problem was so widespread or so widely studied. The information on this site is fascinating. These last two days have been a major eye-opener--or, hopefully, eye-closer.

DogFace wrote:.................These last two days have been a major eye-opener--or, hopefully, eye-closer.

Congratulations and welcome to the hose head club. Sounds like you are coming in successful. Eye-opener, eye-closer and more importantly, airway-opener.

By the way, a college buddy is here working with me on a project on the computer. He read this thread and says for some reason he suddenly had a rush of memories about the girls I used to date in college. Yeah, he is a real funny guy.

rooster

I thought I'd post an update.

I finally got my mask and machine nearly two weeks after my study. Why I couldn't just log onto some Web site and have them overnight it to me, I don't know. But any way, a tech brought it to my house and gave me a lesson on Saturday.

I have used it for three nights now and so far so good. I ordered the same mask setup, the swift nasal pillow, that I used in the sleep study and--knock on wood--it is working for me. So far I have had three nights of vastly improved sleep. I toss and turn a little, but overall I am quite happy. It's a huge improvement.

My only complaint is that with the Swift mask the tube comes out the side of the mask, which makes it hard to sleep on that side. I am used to switching sides every so often when I sleep. I understand that my insurance company says I am eligible for a new mask every month, so next time I will try one where the hose comes out the front of the mask.

I had almost forgotten what a good night's sleep was. I wish I had done this years ago!

If you get a chance to look at one or try it out you might want to check out the Optilife. It allows me to sleep on either side and by back. It is also nasal pillows so if you like the swift you might like it.

Thanks for responding. That's probably the one I'll try. Let me ask you, does the chin strap keep ypu from opening your mouth? Would the mask stay on without the chinstrap? It looks uncomfortable.

The chin strap is not a chin strap but a chin support. It does not hold the mouth closed, it only helps to support the nasal pillows and keep the mask on your face. With out the chin support the mask has no stability and slides off(yep, I tried it). I tape my mouth shut every night. If you decide to tape here are instructions;
viewtopic.php?t=9653&start=0

I find that the wings of the optilife dig into my face when I sleep on my side, leaving deep marks that last just about all day. The CL2, Breeze, Twilight NP, do not have anything that touches the side of the face. You might want to check them out.

Brenda

Oddly enough I barely notice the chin strap but others say they do. It does not keep your mouth tightly shut though so if you are a mouth breather you will need a chin strap.
I also do not get bad strap marks on my face. In fact I have been able to wear this mask fairly loose because of the way it fits. Sleeping on your side might leave strap marks but I do have a couple of homemade pads that I put around the two straps that are near my cheeks and by the time I get up and go to work an hour later the marks are gone if I had any.
The other mask I would love to try is the Comfort Curve and it again has people that either love it or hate it, but I want to TRY it.

Thanks for the suggestions. So far I haven't needed to tape my mouth. I thought I might because before the CPAP I mostly breathed--snored? gasped?--from my mouth when I slept. But with the nasal pillow my mouth has been staying shut. I'd prefer not to have anything on my chin, but if it works, it works.

I may just stick with the Swift. I'll give it a week or two and see how I feel. So far, so good.

I still love my Aura twilight NP. The exhaust vents towards the headboard instead of out at a sleep partner, and the hose goes over your head. It isn't the mask for everybody, but for some it is the perfect mask.

Welcome Dog Face..Glad to hear you are having such great success. If you haven't needed the chin strap so far you probably won't. I too thought I had become a mouth breather, snoring, gasping, snorting and coughing, dry mouth etc., but once on CPAP and getting the air I needed all that stuff just disappeared. Its part of the OSA cycle. Now that cycle is broken and no need for the mouth to fly open, so to speak. May I recommend the CL2 mask. You can get it with both the pillows and the simple cushion (like a minnie nose mask) The mask comes with 2 of the 3 interfaces it makes. Its one of the best for side sleeping, with no tubes or straps on the sides of you face. I switched from the Swift to the Comfort Lite 2 because of the side tube.
I was one after much persistence and fiddling had to give up on the comfort curve. Leaked while on my side and had to wear so tight to get seal to maintain. Its back in the drawer.
Best of luck with your slumber
Carol