New member here trying to get some sleep

[PaoloD]

Hello all . I’ll start with a thanks to all the contributing members on this forum. I’ve been reading for a few now and believe I have a case of sleep apnea.
I’ll start with the basics. I’ve been a heavy snorer for a long time , but in this past year or so it’s so loud that my wife has to go to a spare bedroom and even with the door closed it still disturbs her.
I do have restless sleeps and for the last few months my legs have been feeling quite heavy walking up stairs etc.
I have a fairly large neck brought on by years of wrestling and rugby . I heard this is also a factor.
I’m a bit over weight at the moment but not obese by any means
As for feeling fatigue, well I wake up at 4:00 am to go to work so I’ve always thought that was the reason behind me being tired at night.
I don’t believe I’ve woken up with headache regularly
I do feel I wake up periodically at night gasping for air and the wife has committed a few times that I scare her as I stop breathing while asleep.
Now this week I’ve caught a bad head cold and now I’m really chocking and gasping for air during the night. I’m sure the head cold has made my symptoms worse as I’m plugged solid in my nose.
I’m a mouth breather and when I awake my throat is dry and sore.
So there you have it. The reason I’m thinking I have sleep apnea is all the condition above fall into place. One of my co-workers has recently been fitted with a CPAP machine so it got my head spinning and finally brought my here.
I live in Canada so with the conditions of our health care and the length of time it would take to get a doctors appointment then a specialist appointment could literally be months . So I’ve been looking at “ sell medicating” by buying a machine and mask, down loading Sleepyhead and taking it from there. I know it’s not ideal but right now I would do anything to feel better.
Sorry for the long winded thread but I needed to explain myself and ask for advice on these issues.

[Okie bipap]

Many members of the forum are self medicating. I highly recommend the Resmed autoset or autoset for her. The mask choice is a very personal thing. What works for me may not work for you. There are members of the forum that sell slightly used machines. Try sending a private message (PM) to member LSAT and grayghost4. Both of these members have sold machines in the past and are good to deal with.

[PaoloD]

Thank you for the reply. I see the Resmed auto for her is cheaper on Amazon than the regular auto 10. From my searching all I’ve found out is that the “ her” model has a different program? I was thinking that machine or a DreamStation as both are rated good and come within the same budget area.

[Dog Slobber]

The preferred machine around here seems to be Resmed over Respironics.

And of the ResMed (not including the more specialized Bi-Level) the preference is ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet for Her. It narrowly beats out theResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet, because it's functional denticle, but with an extra optional mode.

I've gotten some machines of Kijiji, FaceBook MarketPlace and LetGo. With patience you might be able to get a low-hour AirSense 10 AutoSet very inexpensively.

I would still persue getting a sleep test and prescription, then depending on your province get another machine possibly subsidized by the province and insurance elligible.

[palerider]

. I know it’s not ideal

What would be 'ideal' is to have a medical system where everybody got treated promptly, and competently, at a reasonable cost.

That doesn't exist anywhere that I'm aware of.

The best you can hope for is to not spend a lot of money, and get someone who cares about what's going on with you...

And the best way to achieve that is to buy your own machine, and learn to use it.

Most all of us are here because we were failed by the 'medical system'. (some of us are here because we didn't want to deal with the medical system in the first place).

[palerider]

Thank you for the reply. I see the Resmed auto for her is cheaper on Amazon than the regular auto 10. From my searching all I’ve found out is that the “ her” model has a different program? I was thinking that machine or a DreamStation as both are rated good and come within the same budget area.

It behooves you to learn the proper names for machines, so you don't end up buying the wrong thing.

wiki/index.php/CPAP_models

As to the resmed autoset vs the respironics dreamstation auto, this comparison of the previous models still holds true on the current models:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzCCgNLya_g

Resmed is clearly superior.

[PaoloD]

Just a quick update as my APAP was delivered yesterday and I tried it for the first sleep last night.

First off my machine is the Respironics Dreamstation auto. I’ve been reading and watching videos on how to set the machine up and have set it up with the following perimeters so far. I have the ramp set up with 4” for 1/2 hour then minimum pressure set to 5.5 and max I left at 20. Humidifier turned on and I’m using a heater hose with my Philips mask.
First nights results ended being ok. Obviously it took some time to fall asleep as all this is new to me. I ended up turning the ramp setting off as I felt it tough to breath. The 5.5 setting was better. Mask fits very good , I was quite happy with that.
I knew my minimum pressure was going to be to low but I had to start somewhere. I haven’t yet down loaded Sleepyhead yet so in no way am I asking for assistance. I took a glance at last nights results and the machine read 6 hours of therapy, and a AHI reading of 21. I understand that that will be way off as I had a restless sleep being new to wearing this while sleeping. Tonight I’ll raise the minimum pressure to 7” and try again and go from there. I’ll get Sleepyhead installed and after 7 days I’ll post and be open to any and all recommendations.
Thanks

[Sleepy tech 1235]

Hi I am a sleep technologist. You have the right approach although a high of 20 cm H2O is a little high but you never know. 5.5 is very low to start with a man of your stature men that are large like you I usually start at 7-8. A AHI of 21 is not bad I am guessing you will not need much pressure between probably 8-12cm H2O. Make sure you use your heated humidity chamber it helps. Distilled water is best because tap water can leave a film in the tray from deposits in the water. Clean the water tray and mask every two weeks with warm water, white vinegar and dial. If you cannot handle vinegar a little alcohol helps. Wipe the mask daily with a baby wipe as oil from your face will eat away at the mask and cause it to break down which will make it become looser on your face and it won’t last as long.

[PaoloD]

Thanks for the tips Sleepy. Last night I increased the pressure to 7.0” and everything felt better. Easier to breath and such. Still took longer than usual to fall asleep but I’m not to worried about that. The best thing about last night is the wife told me that it was the first time ever she hasn’t heard me snoring. My AHI reading was lower than the night before so I will steadily increase the pressure. Quite happy today

[palerider]

Hi I am a sleep technologist. You have the right approach although a high of 20 cm H2O is a little high but you never know. 5.5 is very low to start with a man of your stature men that are large like you I usually start at 7-8. A AHI of 21 is not bad I am guessing you will not need much pressure between probably 8-12cm H2O. Make sure you use your heated humidity chamber it helps. Distilled water is best because tap water can leave a film in the tray from deposits in the water. Clean the water tray and mask every two weeks with warm water, white vinegar and dial. If you cannot handle vinegar a little alcohol helps. Wipe the mask daily with a baby wipe as oil from your face will eat away at the mask and cause it to break down which will make it become looser on your face and it won’t last as long.

Facial oils do not "eat away" at silicone.

Please don't guess at pressures, we go by data.

[zonker]

Just a quick update as my APAP was delivered yesterday and I tried it for the first sleep last night.

I understand that that will be way off as I had a restless sleep being new to wearing this while sleeping. Tonight I’ll raise the minimum pressure to 7” and try again and go from there. I’ll get Sleepyhead installed and after 7 days I’ll post and be open to any and all recommendations.
Thanks

welcome to the zoo! there IS something that i can recommend right from the start. getting used to the mask(the alien on the face, as pugsy calls it!) is one of the toughest things you'll have to do. your "lizard brain" is reacting to this thing as though it's going to gobble you alive. it can't imagine why you put this on your face! are you nuts?!?!?

so, a way to calm down that lizard brain is to get it used to having the mask on your face. a way to do that is to wear the mask when you are NOT in bed. you don't have have it hooked up to the machine, but wear it while reading or watching tv; anything relaxing and normal. then it will be easier to tolerate when it's time to go to sleep.

good luck!

[PaoloD]

Thanks Zonker. Funny how your brain kinda goes into a panic mode and breathing is harder and faster. It’s an identical feeling I had the first few times I went scuba diving.
But I’ll get through it. From reading here the outcome out weighs any mild discomfort I may be going through for the first few weeks. Tonight I’ll bump up the minimum again and at 7 days post my results for the people with experience to help out

[zonker]

Thanks Zonker. Funny how your brain kinda goes into a panic mode and breathing is harder and faster. It’s an identical feeling I had the first few times I went scuba diving.
But I’ll get through it. From reading here the outcome out weighs any mild discomfort I may be going through for the first few weeks. Tonight I’ll bump up the minimum again and at 7 days post my results for the people with experience to help out

well, there you go, then. you've got that scuba experience to fall back on!

[Sleepy tech 1235]

Hi I am a sleep technologist. You have the right approach although a high of 20 cm H2O is a little high but you never know. 5.5 is very low to start with a man of your stature men that are large like you I usually start at 7-8. A AHI of 21 is not bad I am guessing you will not need much pressure between probably 8-12cm H2O. Make sure you use your heated humidity chamber it helps. Distilled water is best because tap water can leave a film in the tray from deposits in the water. Clean the water tray and mask every two weeks with warm water, white vinegar and dial. If you cannot handle vinegar a little alcohol helps. Wipe the mask daily with a baby wipe as oil from your face will eat away at the mask and cause it to break down which will make it become looser on your face and it won’t last as long.

Facial oils do not "eat away" at silicone.

Please don't guess at pressures, we go by data.

I am not suggesting to not go by data I was stating in my experiences with others that this is what I have observed as far as pressure I would not tell anyone to just go by what I say I am not his doctor nor am I studying him. Last I checked this is a discussion post and we are allowed to potour input or opinions.

[palerider]

Last I checked this is a discussion post and we are allowed to potour input or opinions.

And we're free to call you out for ill advised postings, and so far, all of yours have been.