Various newbie questions

[Ecosoph]

Greetings hoseheads,

I have been reading posts and searching out answers since my initial sleep test. I can't believe how helpful this forum has already been to me! I've been on the hose for less than a week but when the elbow of my quattro starting hissing at me on the third night I knew just how to fix it with some plumbers tape. I've also taken advice on fitting my mask and am having reasonable success.

Ok, the questions: I've read lots of previous posts and FAQs, but still would like some input.

1. Does CPAP treatment cause stuffiness? Since I started treatment I've felt stuffy. I turned down the humidifier, thinking I was getting too much, but now I have stuffiness and a sore throat.

2. My s8 elite doesn't tell me anything on the info screen other than hours of operation. If I get the software do I need to have the RME do anything to provide more info on the smartcard?

3. My laptop has a multicard reader that includes smart card, will this work for the smartcard that came with my machine?

4. Is there any reason I couldn't get my wife to help me make a cover for my hose? It seems like it would just be a strip of fleece sewn into a tube, is that right?

5. Two mornings ago I woke up and felt something I don't ever remember feeling in the morning: happy. I literally sang and danced in the shower. This morning I felt Ok, but not great. My question is this: is there any tweak or trick to adjust my mask so that my 9 month old won't wake up at 2 in the morning?

Thank you all for what you've already done and what I know you will do to keep me breathing through the nights to come!

Ecosoph

[bigk]

2. My s8 elite doesn't tell me anything on the info screen other than hours of operation. If I get the software do I need to have the RME do anything to provide more info on the smartcard?

I don't believe so. If you press the left and right buttons together for 3 seconds you will see all the other data (Pressure, AHI etc)

3. My laptop has a multicard reader that includes smart card, will this work for the smartcard that came with my machine?

I believe you need the Resmed Card reader - no other one will work.

4. Is there any reason I couldn't get my wife to help me make a cover for my hose? It seems like it would just be a strip of fleece sewn into a tube, is that right?

I haven't done this but as they say you can put the hose under the blankets, I'm sure there is no reason why you couldn't do as you suggest.

5. Two mornings ago I woke up and felt something I don't ever remember feeling in the morning: happy. I literally sang and danced in the shower. This morning I felt Ok, but not great. My question is this: is there any tweak or trick to adjust my mask so that my 9 month old won't wake up at 2 in the morning?

I'd sugest your 9 month old sleeping in his own crib for the good of your marriage but that's just me!

[Slinky]

Welcome to the forum, Eco! Nope, there "ain't" no "miracle mask" or "mask fix" that will keep your 9 month old sleeping when he/she decides its time to wake daddy up.

Yep, it can take some of us and our sinuses time to adjust to all the air pressure blowing into them and playing w/the humidity level as needed helps. Needs can vary from night to night. Others will be along w/some sinus "remedies".

Have you read and tried the button combination posted here in the past for accessing the Efficacy and Usage data on your Elite? We might have to tell you how to get into the Clinician's Menu to turn on the Smart Data if you have tried and it doesn't work. Press the Left and Right buttons and hold them for 3-4 seconds until Efficacy Data appears in the LED screen. From then on in the button presses are pretty self-explanatory: Left to Enter, Right to Exit, Up to return to the previous screen, Down to go to the next screen.

If you get the software and cable reader you don't need the DME to access any data or info.

Nope, your 'puter's multicard reader won't be able to utilize the Resmed smart card. You'll need the proprietary reader cable. Well, I think someone here has figured out how to make a "form" for the Resmed smart card to use it w/some card reader he has but it was all beyond this old broad's comprehension. Simpler to buy the Resmed cable reader.

Hey, its up to your wife whether she wants to make a hose sleeve out of fleece for you. They are nice and not that hard to make. Do something special for her, hire a baby sitter and take her out to dinner or something and then ask her if she will. Bribery can work wonders.

[Guest]

Try Neilmed sinus rinse - morning and night. I prefer the squeeze bottle.

unimedprod.com/products.shtml

Pseudophed helps me stay clear. It's a fine line when you take it so you don't end up with insomnia. I take it early in the AM with a 24 hour time release dose, so it doesn't keep me up at night.

I am also a big fan of Mucinex at night.

Cheers,
Babette

[mindy]

Welcome, Eco!

It sounds like you're off to a great start!

I have tried a neti pot for sinus rinse but find I prefer the NeilMed system -- very fast and easy! I only need it in the winter. The way I discovered I needed it was waking up in the middle of the night with my Quattro panicking and unable to breathe ... got up and got sinuses cleared up and went back to sleep in jig time.

Now I do the rinse 30-60 minutes before bed and haven't had any trouble.

Mindy

[Ecosoph]

Great advice. I'll try looking at the machine's info after work today--thanks!
I've used a netti pot in the past for sinus issues, and I'll look into the other system too. I'm wondering, though, is the stuffiness directly related to the level of humidity I'm using? (as in, more humidity = more stuffiness) or is the stuffiness more likely the usual cold/allergy kind?

Last night I had minimal leakage and slept pretty well. The offspring (who is in her own crib in another room) is starting to take to the sleep training. For some reason, though, my dogs had a random outburst of barking at 4am. I think the universe is conspiring against my getting a full night's sleep.

[Slinky]

... I'm wondering, though, is the stuffiness directly related to the level of humidity I'm using? (as in, more humidity = more stuffiness) or is the stuffiness more likely the usual cold/allergy kind?

Last night I had minimal leakage and slept pretty well. The offspring (who is in her own crib in another room) is starting to take to the sleep training. For some reason, though, my dogs had a random outburst of barking at 4am. I think the universe is conspiring against my getting a full night's sleep.

Nope, nope. The kid had a talk w/the dogs and told them it was THEIR turn, she was gonna sleep in a few mornings.

As far as the stuffiness: my own experience was that when I first started CPAP I tended to get the sneezey, drippy nose during the day and a bit stuffy at first in the evening. But I also found that when I donned my mask and turned my CPAP on w/in just a minute or so the stuffiness started clearing just from the humidity from my CPAP air. I can't stand the CPAP blowing cold, but neither can I breathe well in heat and humidity so can't stand the humidifier too high either. So I just turn it up or down as needed for that particular night. Most of the time I don't have to adjust it and can leave it on one setting.

One time I was stuffed so bad when I laid down that I was sure I wouldn't be able to use my CPAP that night (had a doozy of a respiratory flu starting). However, being a bull-headed ole broad I just laid there, on my back, and every now and then gasped for air by opening my mouth to inhale and altho it took a few minutes and I was just about ready to give up I'll be darned if that CPAP humid air didn't open the ole nasal passages up and I was breathing wonderfully well and better than I had been most of the evening prior to donning my CPAP.

[rested gal]

Great advice. I'll try looking at the machine's info after work today--thanks!

You have to look at that info before 12 noon. It disappears after 12 noon, resetting itself for the upcoming night of gathering new data.