I have my machine - tonight's the first night at home...

onecoknower · Post by **onecoknower** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:51 pm

I picked up my machine today after the 2nd sleep study last night. The tech said I did "very well" with the swift nasal pillow system.

My pressure is 5 but she recommended auto titrating with heated humidity.

Neither the tech or the DME were very encouraging about me "watching my numbers". Both seemed surprised by the number and type of questions I asked (thanks to this board). I asked about getting an additional mask, rain out and stuff like that. The tech encouraged a full face mask as back up in case I'm congested. The DME said I shouldn't need it. Hmm.

So, tonight I get to try it without being "wired for sound". Yeah, I'm tired from the sleep lab.

Any comments on getting used to the system, maintenance, what to watch for? Any comments on the hardware they gave me?

Oneco

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:07 pm

I have two conmments:

1) 5 cm/H2O is a very low pressure. Some full-face mask's check valve
will not stay closed at that pressure. Furthermore, many hoseheads, myself included, have difficulty inhaling at that low pressure.

2) Use some type of ointment on your nares before putting on the nasal pillow mask.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:29 pm

[quote="onecoknower"]I picked up my machine today after the 2nd sleep study last night. The tech said I did "very well" with the swift nasal pillow system.

My pressure is 5 but she recommended auto titrating with heated humidity.

Neither the tech or the DME were very encouraging about me "watching my numbers". Both seemed surprised by the number and type of questions I asked (thanks to this board). I asked about getting an additional mask, rain out and stuff like that. The tech encouraged a full face mask as back up in case I'm congested. The DME said I shouldn't need it. Hmm.

So, tonight I get to try it without being "wired for sound". Yeah, I'm tired from the sleep lab.

Any comments on getting used to the system, maintenance, what to watch for? Any comments on the hardware they gave me?

Oneco

pedroski · Post by **pedroski** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:49 pm

Any comments on getting used to the system, maintenance, what to watch for?

Hi Oneco,

One thing I would say is don't get your hopes up that everything will work out straight away. Give yourself plenty of time to get used to breathing with something on your face etc etc etc. Some people notice a massive difference immediately, for some it takes months.

By participating in the forum you'll get all the answers you need.

Peter

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 4:03 pm

Hi. Sounds like you've been preparing yourself for this night. Most of us built up quite a bit of anticipation prior to our first "experience". You're taking all the right steps to make it a good one. If it's not all grand and glorious, it's just one night. But let's anticipate you will adjust quickly and sleep well.

One question - You said your pressure is 5 but they suggested auto titrating. Did they give you your machine set up in cpap or autopap mode? If in auto, what is the pressure range? The default pressure range for auto mode is usually not what is best. Or were they saying they would reset it if straight cpap at 5 didn't work out for you? Also, you should have an option to use a Ramp or Settling feature. If enabled, it starts you off at a lower pressure for a specified period of time. If yours is enabled (which wouldn't help you with an already low pressure of 5), they are often left on 4, which most find stifling. If you run into questions, maybe you could call the sleep center, especially since you were just titrated last night.

Sweet dreams!

Kathy

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:21 pm

Hmm. Your comments made me get out my sleep study copy (which, P.S., I had to ask multiple times to find someone willing to make me a copy instead of having to go through medical records).

My min pressure is 5, max is 20. If I got a CPAP instead of APAP, they would have set the pressure at 10.

17.8 AHI
83.9 lowest SpO2

I'm not sure I know how to read the rest of the report yet.

Oneco

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:45 pm

I would not leave it at 5 to 20 if they titrated you at 10.

5 would be too low for me to breath comfortably (maybe not you but me for sure) and 20 is very high.

SNORENOMORE2 · Post by **SNORENOMORE2** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:14 pm

I only been at this for about 4 months and have had some tough nites,but also some really awsome ones.Like most say here just stick with it and let your brain and body learn this new way living.I pulling and praying for ya....good luck

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:50 pm

SNORENOMORE2 wrote:I only been at this for about 4 months and have had some tough nites,but also some really awsome ones.Like most say here just stick with it and let your brain and body learn this new way living.I pulling and praying for ya....good luck

Your profile shows three uncompatable pieces of equiptment, The mask maybe right. Jim

houclay · Post by **houclay** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 11:57 pm

Looks like we'll be going through the learning curve at the same time, oneco....I just got my bipap home today after having the two studies last Thursday and Friday nights. Lucky for me, cpap.com is located around the corner about a half mile from my house.

I'm apparently at the high end of the spectrum on pressures -- IPAP 23, EPAP 19 -- so we may be learning different things.

Good luck to you! I hope the good sleep is soon to come.

I have my machine - tonight's the first night at home...

I have my machine - tonight's the first night at home...

Re: I have my machine - tonight's the first night at home...

New machine

Best wishes

Re: Best wishes