Hi, I'm new here.

adolson · Post by **adolson** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 9:09 am

Hello all, I'm new here. I kinda wish I had found the site before I got my equipment, just so I could have read more, but I was anxious to get it and start treatment.

So I ended up with the standard stuff from Shopper's Home Care... It's a REMstar Plus machine with a medium mask, not sure the make. I have the heated humidifier base too.

Anyhow, I'm 25 and I am about 5'11" and weigh 265lbs/120kg.

The testing I had done about 2 weeks ago, and I weighed about 5lbs more at the time. The results I got back last Friday, and the doctor said I had an average AHI of 31. My worst hour was 77, when I slept on my back.

He said that it isn't because I'm overweight, but I have some hope that if I can drop down my weight more (I used to be 305lbs about a year and a half ago) that I might not have this problem anymore. I realize that it's probably not going to happen, and that I'm basically stuck with this forever now... The thought scares me, honestly.

My wife is fine with it, but she doesn't sleep with me most nights of the week as she works overnight shift at a department store, stocking shelves. So there's only two nights per week that she really will have to deal with it. I feel so hideous wearing headgear, but I know I have to do it. I feel like crying like a big baby over it.

I am thinking of getting some kind of home-monitoring setup so that I can tell how I'm doing. I think I read something on the site yesterday about this type of thing, so I'll look into it more later on.

The thing I was thinking is that sometimes, my heart seems to skip a beat, even when I'm awake, in the middle of a day. Palpitations I guess you call it... But anyhow, I was thinking that maybe it's CSA and not OSA because of that, but the doctor would be able to tell which one I have, right? I didn't even know there were two different kinds until I had left the sleep clinic.

He prescribed me to start at a pressure of 8, and I can self-adjust up to 14.

One weird thing is last night I woke up at 4am and the machine was off and my mask was beside the bed. I vaguely remembered taking it off earlier in the night thinking it was morning and that I had to get up, but I fell back asleep on the pillow. That's weird... The first night went fine though. I've only used this 3 times so far, twice the first day (just a quick nap to test it the first time).

The one thing that bothers me right now is my mask is leaving red marks on my nose and face beside my nose... It's embarassing to go out of the house and have everyone know just by looking at me that I wear a mask at night. I don't think the mask is too tight, and I loosened it slightly last night, but the marks were worse this morning.

Anyhow, hello, this is my introduction... I talk a lot sometimes. And I ramble a lot.

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 9:53 am

adolson wrote:Hello all, I'm new here. I kinda wish I had found the site before I got my equipment, just so I could have read more, but I was anxious to get it and start treatment.

You are not alone in that, adolson! This site should be a 'requirement' before renting or purchasing any cpap equipment.

adolson wrote: So I ended up with the standard stuff from Shopper's Home Care... It's a REMstar Plus machine with a medium mask, not sure the make. I have the heated humidifier base too.

That's a fairly basic machine; I don't think it has a memory card on it...you may want to check, and LIST ALL OF YOUR EQUIPMENT so that everyone can see what you have, and better assist you.

Congratulations on having lost that weight - keep it up if you can - it will help in many ways, and eliminate that as a contributor to any problems.

adolson wrote:.... and that I'm basically stuck with this forever now... The thought scares me, honestly.

That's not unusual. Remember that this treatment will prolong your life!
It's terrific that your wife is fine with the headgear, etc. That's one potential problem solved right away. Good lady there!
Since no one is looking at you 5 nights a week when you're sleeping, don't worry so much 'how you look'. Yes, it's not as easy as taking a pill, but at least we don't have to wear it during the DAY, eh?

adolson wrote: I am thinking of getting some kind of home-monitoring setup so that I can tell how I'm doing. I think I read something on the site yesterday about this type of thing, so I'll look into it more later on.

Terrific idea, adolson! Continue reading and learning, and your wanting to self-monitor is showing the right attitude also. There are many people here who can answer any questions you have about equipment, readouts, etc. So glad you found this forum.

adolson wrote:I didn't even know there were two different kinds until I had left the sleep clinic.

There are a LOT of things they don't tell you!
I only learned the difference a short time ago!
You can get help here on that also.

adolson wrote:He prescribed me to start at a pressure of 8, and I can self-adjust up to 14.

Do you have a copy of your sleep study? It can be an advantage that your Dr. is letting you self-adjust the pressure. Or maybe it's already set in that range.

adolson wrote:The one thing that bothers me right now is my mask is leaving red marks on my nose and face beside my nose... It's embarassing to go out of the house and have everyone know just by looking at me that I wear a mask at night. I don't think the mask is too tight, and I loosened it slightly last night, but the marks were worse this morning.

Again, please list which mask you have...there is always some 'tweaking' that can be done with masks, or maybe it's not the right one for you. The masks are the most critical thing in getting good numbers and compliance.
You don't have to go through life with mask marks.
I started out with them, and they were a result of an ill-fitting mask. It will get better! I even had one night with my favorite mask that resulted in red marks - but they do go away.

adolson wrote:Anyhow, hello, this is my introduction... I talk a lot sometimes. And I ramble a lot.

Guess what! I'm your female counterpart in the "Rambling" department .
Don't ever worry about that! You are providing information, and that's what is important. Besides, the Rambler was a mighty fine car, hee hee.

So happy for you that you found this terrific forum, adolson!
Sounds like you're off to a good start, and you sound determined also.that determination is what will get you through all these rough spots in the beginning.

Welcome aboard! I wish you well, and keep asking questions as they arise.

adolson · Post by **adolson** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:21 am

Offerocker wrote:
adolson wrote:Hello all, I'm new here. I kinda wish I had found the site before I got my equipment, just so I could have read more, but I was anxious to get it and start treatment.
You are not alone in that, adolson! This site should be a 'requirement' before renting or purchasing any cpap equipment.

adolson wrote: So I ended up with the standard stuff from Shopper's Home Care... It's a REMstar Plus machine with a medium mask, not sure the make. I have the heated humidifier base too.
That's a fairly basic machine; I don't think it has a memory card on it...you may want to check, and LIST ALL OF YOUR EQUIPMENT so that everyone can see what you have, and better assist you.

Yeah, I am just at work so I can't list it right now. I'll have to have a peek tonight.

Offerocker wrote:Congratulations on having lost that weight - keep it up if you can - it will help in many ways, and eliminate that as a contributor to any problems.

adolson wrote:.... and that I'm basically stuck with this forever now... The thought scares me, honestly.
That's not unusual. Remember that this treatment will prolong your life!
It's terrific that your wife is fine with the headgear, etc. That's one potential problem solved right away. Good lady there!

I do believe that she is honestly ok with it right now, but as I saw yesterday, someone here posted that she is not fine with her husband's CPAP machine, and she hasn't told him. So I will always have some fear in me now that she is just hiding her disgust from me.

Offerocker wrote: Since no one is looking at you 5 nights a week when you're sleeping, don't worry so much 'how you look'. Yes, it's not as easy as taking a pill, but at least we don't have to wear it during the DAY, eh?

Touche. Mostly I am worried about how I look to her, because her opinion is really the only one that matters to me.

Offerocker wrote:
adolson wrote: I am thinking of getting some kind of home-monitoring setup so that I can tell how I'm doing. I think I read something on the site yesterday about this type of thing, so I'll look into it more later on.
Terrific idea, adolson! Continue reading and learning, and your wanting to self-monitor is showing the right attitude also. There are many people here who can answer any questions you have about equipment, readouts, etc. So glad you found this forum.

adolson wrote:I didn't even know there were two different kinds until I had left the sleep clinic.
There are a LOT of things they don't tell you!
I only learned the difference a short time ago!
You can get help here on that also.

To correct myself, there are three kinds, really, the third being a mixture of both OSA and CSA.. Heh. I did feel the doctor told me a lot, but he may have just left out the CSA thing because he could tell it was OSA that I had? I don't know for sure though.

Offerocker wrote:
adolson wrote:He prescribed me to start at a pressure of 8, and I can self-adjust up to 14.
Do you have a copy of your sleep study? It can be an advantage that your Dr. is letting you self-adjust the pressure. Or maybe it's already set in that range.

Well, the prescription said 8-14, and I haven't adjusted up from 8 yet, but the ramp is set to start at 4. I don't even use the ramp though, I find it harder to breathe with the pressure that low for some reason. I can program the pressure up to at least 14, but I don't know if they locked it down or not.

Offerocker wrote:
adolson wrote:The one thing that bothers me right now is my mask is leaving red marks on my nose and face beside my nose... It's embarassing to go out of the house and have everyone know just by looking at me that I wear a mask at night. I don't think the mask is too tight, and I loosened it slightly last night, but the marks were worse this morning.
Again, please list which mask you have...there is always some 'tweaking' that can be done with masks, or maybe it's not the right one for you. The masks are the most critical thing in getting good numbers and compliance.
You don't have to go through life with mask marks.
I started out with them, and they were a result of an ill-fitting mask. It will get better! I even had one night with my favorite mask that resulted in red marks - but they do go away.

That's great news. I was worried about that. I will figure out the mask I have tonight.

Offerocker wrote:
adolson wrote:Anyhow, hello, this is my introduction... I talk a lot sometimes. And I ramble a lot.
Guess what! I'm your female counterpart in the "Rambling" department .
Don't ever worry about that! You are providing information, and that's what is important. Besides, the Rambler was a mighty fine car, hee hee.

So happy for you that you found this terrific forum, adolson!
Sounds like you're off to a good start, and you sound determined also.that determination is what will get you through all these rough spots in the beginning.

Welcome aboard! I wish you well, and keep asking questions as they arise.

Thank you. You all seemed like a friendly bunch.

The thing that I wonder about is how many people get this at my age? And I am still going to hold out hope that it will go away, eventually, maybe, some day. If nothing else, it has motivated me to try working out more than I have been, and to eat better, even if it won't ultimately 'cure' me.

Sleepy Dog Lover · Post by **Sleepy Dog Lover** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:53 am

Did your DME give you a chance to try on different masks at pressure? Getting the right mask for you is the key to compliance for CPAP treatment, if the mask is uncomfortable and has too many leaks, you either aren't going to be compliant with your treatmet or you won't be getting the treatment you need. The mask is an individual thing, I absolutely love my Aura (twilight NP), very few leaks, very comfortable, and no marks. Many of the pillow masks will give you similar results. There are probably as many that would agree with my opinion of the Aura as would disagree, thats just the nature of the mask. One thing that I like about the Aura is that it vents straight up towards the headboard instead of out at your partner.

For most of us, it has taken several tries to get the right mask for us, and some have unused mask drawers. First step is to call your DME and talk to him or her about letting you try on different masks at pressure so you can find the best mask for you. You can also try a mask from CPAP.com with return insurance, so you can return the mask if it doesn't work for you. Keep up the good work.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 11:10 am

Another thing is that if you tend to sleep 'on your face' that will cause marking, but if you had a Pap Pillow that's made with a cutout for the mask, it might help get rid of the problem.

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 11:17 am

Excellent advice from Sleepydoglover.
The two masks I'm currently using are the Activa, which virtually 'sucks' itself to your face (keep straps loose), and I get no marks. The second is the Comfort Lite 2 simple cushion, but I find that I don't get as much pressure delivered with that mask at times. As already stated, there's as many who love those masks as hate them - you need to try on as many as possible...and check for leaks in a SLEEPING position! What may fit OK sitting up may not when your head is on the pillow.

Your sleeping position is also a factor.

I commend you on your concern of your wife's feelings. That is easily solved: talk about it. That's the key to a successful marriage anyway.
She may be truly 'OK' with it, and just happy to be able to sleep with you for those two nights a week.

Take care, and keep up the good work!
Kathleen

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 4:12 pm

Welcome to the forum! Just wanted to let you know that my husband said he hasn't slept as well in years as he has since I started treatment. He doesn't care if I look strange when I sleep. He even LIKES when the exhaust from the mask blows on him! (OK...so he is a bit strange) He knows I have to do this and it's OK with him.

Brenda

cflame1 · Post by **cflame1** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:21 pm

check out http://www.padacheek.com for help with strap marks.

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 6:21 pm

A couple comments from me

I am not surprised that you fine 4 (ramp) hard to breath. Most of use do. I like at least 7, and some here are ok with 6. So if you want ramp, reset to 6 and try again. But with a pressure of 8 a ramp may indeed not be that critical.

You have a basic machine with no useful data collection capability. You apparently just got the machine. Is it a rental? If so go back and get one that collect data. Get the doc to prescribe it. Great to be told to tweak your own pressure, but even better to do it intelligently with data.

You can buy the card and card reader or get the DME to read it. Many on this site can help interpret the data so you can get the very best pressure for you.

I second the suggestion on trying different masks if possible.

Since we don't know what you were given, we can't really help much at this point.

adolson · Post by **adolson** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 8:22 am

Here's the mask I have:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/comfor ... onics.html

Here's the machine I have:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage-advanced.php?PNum=3

With the optional humidifier:
https://www.cpap.com/viewImage.php?Bund ... difier.jpg

That's my stuff.

As far as the marks I mentioned, they are where the mask touches my face, not the straps. It could be an allergic reaction.

The problem with buying a bigger better machine is that right now I can't afford anything at all, but I can ask.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 8:42 am

Offerocker wrote: Yes, it's not as easy as taking a pill, but at least we don't have to wear it during the DAY, eh?

So that's why everyone steps aside and gawks at me whenever I pass them in walking.

Just kidding.

Everyone has already given great advice and a great welcome. The only thing I will add is that you concentrate on getting a comfortable mask that will seal properly. Also, loose some of your vanity and not worry about what others think (or gawk at).

adolson · Post by **adolson** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 12:58 pm

Hey DreamStalker, the only person whose opinion really matters to me is my wife. In reality, if I didn't have her, I'd probably take my chances without the CPAP machine. But I want to be around to be here for her and with her.

The mask I have is comfortable, but it's like a rash that I have on my face. I'll see how long it takes before it goes away, if it does. If it doesn't, I'll have to find out about something else because, like it or not, I work in a public setting all day long.

Anyhow, I realize that my gear is pretty much bottom of the line, but I can always upgrade in the future, right? I have the rest of my life ahead of me now.. The mask thing I can change at any time easy enough.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:13 pm

Hi Adolson, and welcome.

If you will go into your Profile (at the top of the page), and go down to Optional (the equipment section), you can fill in the equipment and that way it will always be there every time you post. If you don't find your equipment listed, you can always type it in the Signature section.

If your insurance is buying your equipment, the DME can very easily switch it out NOW. There shouldn't be any additional expense to you because the DME is going to get the same amount of money from the insurance company no matter what machine you get. So tell him you want a Remstar Pro 2 or Auto with clfex. Or a new M series Pro or Auto.

Remember the Plus won't ever give you additional info, so why wait to upgrade? There's no time like the present.

Hopefully you are not buying your machine out of pocket through a DME.

The rash on your face is probably from the silicone -- it might go away. Or it might be caused by your heated humidifier. Or a combination of both. Lower the temp on your humidifier to see if that helps.

Good Luck.

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 8:23 pm

adolson wrote:and that I'm basically stuck with this forever now... The thought scares me, honestly... I feel so hideous wearing headgear, but I know I have to do it. I feel like crying like a big baby over it.

Just so you know your not alone. I think we are all upset at first that we have this illness. If it helps any it gets easier with time as you grow to accept it.

adolson · Post by **adolson** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:13 pm

Alrighty, I called them today, and they said that when my month trial is over, I will be getting one that has a SmartCard. So that's good.

Apparently, I can choose from several REMstar models, or the S8 Elite or S8 Compact.

I'll read up on these when it gets closer to the date.

They will also let me bring in my SmartCard every couple months and get a printout of my stats.

I'm glad you guys talked me into calling... I'm so nervous because I don't like to bother people. The only reason I did it is because this IS my health, and I haven't purchased the machine yet.

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