Depressed about my new condition

[Animalrooster41]

Well, wife said i was choking and going very long periods without breathing so i went and got tested. A lot of things make sense now. All the years of being tired in the middle of the day, lack of attention, lack of energy and so on. My AHI is a 47, blood oxygen dropping to 70 and 350 events each night for 2 nights in a row and i got a little scared. All 3 apneas and in my early 50's. Sort of been having a pity party for the last 2 days since my test. Im in great shape physically and fortunate enough to be retired but now i get to join your club. Lucky to be alive i guess. I have no insurance and just pay out of pocket so when they told me prices and i needed a prescription i decided to go ebay. Knee jerk and bought a Respironics REMstar Plus for $150. Should be here in 6 or 7 days. Where do i start? Whats my pressure needed, avg about a 7 i guess? Well anywhere will be better than waking up dead on my feet again. Suggestions welcome.

[Pugsy]

Unfortunately your knee jerk reaction got you with a machine that has zero way to report whether whatever pressure you use is effective or not.. It doesn't offer any useful data beyond hours of use.
You need a machine that offers full efficacy data.
https://sleep.tnet.com/cmd.mfg

https://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/

I know of one forum member with a full data machine that is much newer than the one you likely found for less.
viewtopic/t110647/Philips-Respironics-A ... ories.html
Actually 2 machines there...one for $100 and almost brand new.

We can help you but we need the data available to know if the machine is doing a good job or not...or if you are leaking excessively or not...

Welcome to the forum.

Any Respironics machine with "Plus" as part of the model name is a machine that doesn't offer efficacy data.
The exception is if the Plus comes at the end of CFlex or AFlex wording. The word Plus is in a different place and that's what makes it important. No way you would have known this.
And if you got the machine I think you got...it was discontinued back in 2007.

I would try to cancel the deal.

[bombayone]

Sleep apnea is a very common condition that is well treated by CPAP. Did you have a titration study that would have recommended a device and pressures? If not, you should consider buying an auto cpap machine that is compatible with SleepyHead software. Using that type of cpap machine will allow you to do your own titration. Good luck. I am sure that more knowledgeable members will provide soon provide you additional advice.

[D.H.]

If you cancel the order, I suggested ordering something that's automatic, fairly recent, and data capable. In general, if it's automatic, it will be data capable.

Assuming that you get an automatic, you can start by setting a min of 4 and a max of 20. This will probably not be your final settings, but it's a starting place.

If you get the machine you order, you'll just have to go by how you feel. If you feel like there's not enough air you can raise the pressure. If you feel like there's too much, you'll have to determine if it's just a matter of adjusting or if you need a lower pressure. If that happens, try the ramp first and see if that helps.

Also, your choice of mask is very important. It must be comfortable and it should not leak. Most machines will compensate for minor leaks, but they can be quite annoying.

[StuDogg]

AnimalRooster,
Don't look at this as a bad thing. You know what's causing your fatigue and other symptoms. You did nothing to cause this - it's the way you were made! I've been on APAP about two months now and am seeing a difference in my life. I haven't fallen asleep once in the middle of a conversation with my wife. She's getting good sleep because she doesn't have to listen to me snore and gasp for air. My blood pressure is going down. My attention span is much better. I'm less irritable. These are all good things and you can look forward to them as well. Work on changing your mindset and realize you have an opportunity to improve your life!

Best of luck and welcome! There are some great people here.

[chunkyfrog]

Don't feel bad about buying the Plus.
Everybody should have a backup/travel machine.
You just started with one.
Cheers. Here's to a wonderful REST of your life.

[Animalrooster41]

That helped, thx. Trying to get the one with chip recording now

[SusanWink]

I can relate to your pity party. Did the same for awhile. Even dragged my feet on going to get the machine. I got lucky with the right mask and started sleeping through the night right away. After hanging out here I got my settings tweaked and get good sleep every night. I wish the same for you.

[D.H.]

When I was diagnosed, I was happy to have an explanation for my symptoms, and even more important, a remedy.

[jamesbond007]

Look at it this way. People much younger than you are getting diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. I am 35 and was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea last month. I am on my Day 6 with my CPAP treatment and I already feel better. Actually, I got a doubt that I may have Sleep Apnea 7 years ago. Looking back, it all makes sense. So yeah I have been living with it for at least 7 years and finally got confirmation when I turned 35. Having said that, CPAP will change your life for the better. You just follow the regimen. Just logging on to this forum motivates me every day. I am one of the lucky ones that can fall asleep in any condition so the mask fit etc, didn't bother me and I am sleeping with mine for 8 hrs a day straight without any interruptions. Look at the bright side.

PS: I know age is not a factor when diagnosing Sleep Apnea. Just wanted to make the OP feel slightly better.

[ChicagoGranny]

People much younger than you are getting diagnosed with Sleep Apnea.

Oh, his didn't develop overnight. He's probably had it for years if not decades. "New" in his subject line is a mischaracterization.

[dreamingofdreaming]

Before therapy I use to leave 10-12 hours a night to “try and sleep”. Out of that 10-12, it was probably only 5-6 hours of broken sleep. It’s hard to get use to waking up after only 8 hours and feeling rested. It’s nice. Hope you feel better soon.

[zonker]

Don't feel bad about buying the Plus.
Everybody should have a backup/travel machine.
You just started with one.
Cheers. Here's to a wonderful REST of your life.

chunkyfrog! that must be the MOST optimistic spin i've ever seen anyone do.

and it's quite true!

<applause>

[Chrisdanb]

As you start sleeping better your "depression" will resolve itself. Imagine waking up feeling rested, or looking forward to going to sleep at night, or not jarring yourself awake in a coughing fit from snoring. I started with a CPAP at 55 and am grateful to this day. You may have a few difficulties or adjustments at first but keep asking for help. I remember having some problems with the mask fitting (too big) and swallowing air (not sure how that resolved itself). But the misery you've gradually grown accustomed to will be replaced by something so much better!

[Fetou]

Not going to lie, I wish there was some other great revelation to be had of something wrong with me that could give me an opportunity for drastic improvement, the way sleep apnea/CPAP has. It would really suck if I had to put up with the machine at night and it was just to stop things from getting worse, that would really be a downer. But that's not the way it is. You get massive lifestyle improvements when you have oxygen in your body at night!