1st ok night w/ my machine!!

new-to-BiPAP · Post by **new-to-BiPAP** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:44 am

This is the first night I've been able to sleep ALL night with my machine and I didn't wake up completely exhausted (like the last almost full night)! I'm still pretty darn tired...not really better than without it...but that's ok. The DME thought I might me mouth breathing since I've been going thru humidified air pretty quick and my compliance meter is way under how much I'm using it so I tried a chin strap again last night and I got it to fit ok so it doesn't drive me absolutely bonkers (only a little bonkers)! I still think I have a few leaks (am afraid to tighten my gear any more tho). And I'm not sure if the chin strap is really tight enuf. But...All night with it...I'm excited! Oh...and my poor nose is a bit sore...hopefully I will get used to that soon!

Oh...and a question...I've been drinking a LOT more water...like at LEAST 12 glasses a day instead of 8 since starting cpap...even if I don't use it all night. Is this common?
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jdwilson16 · Post by **jdwilson16** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:50 am

The Opus 360 was a good mask for me as far as fit goes, but it hurt my nose and leaked if I slept on my side. I switched to the new ResMed Swift LT and it does not hurt my nose and the leaks were almost zero. You may want to give it a try.

Pineapple · Post by **Pineapple** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 10:27 am

New,

Sleeping will is a good sign - one therapy baby step for you! It took me a long time before I was able to wake up not feeling tired. It will come, but be prepared to wait, your body has some sleep to catch up on first.

At first blush, the humidifier useage and the drinking lots of water says to me that you are indeed mouth breathing. Have you considered taping?

It sounds like the thristiness has just started, but if it doesn't go away a thought that lurks in the back of my mind is "Always thirsty"? - this is a symptom of diabetes - it would be prudent to have your blood-sugar checked.

Keep up the good work.

new-to-BiPAP · Post by **new-to-BiPAP** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:09 am

[quote="jdwilson16"]The Opus 360 was a good mask for me as far as fit goes, but it hurt my nose and leaked if I slept on my side. I switched to the new ResMed Swift LT and it does not hurt my nose and the leaks were almost zero. You may want to give it a try.

Is that one fairly new? My DME showed me one that was really new but he had just got it in so he didn't know the pluses and minuses of it. That looks pretty good. Maybe I'll try that one for my next one I get. Thanks for the info!

new-to-BiPAP · Post by **new-to-BiPAP** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:13 am

[quote="Pineapple"]New,

Sleeping will is a good sign - one therapy baby step for you! It took me a long time before I was able to wake up not feeling tired. It will come, but be prepared to wait, your body has some sleep to catch up on first.

At first blush, the humidifier useage and the drinking lots of water says to me that you are indeed mouth breathing. Have you considered taping?

It sounds like the thristiness has just started, but if it doesn't go away a thought that lurks in the back of my mind is "Always thirsty"? - this is a symptom of diabetes - it would be prudent to have your blood-sugar checked.

Keep up the good work.

The thirst seemed to start just when I started cpap (but thanks for the reminder about diabetes...one of my dr's thinks i might have insulin resistance). I have thought about taping but haven't really considered it yet. Not sure if it would be easy for me to get used to. Plus, my skin is really sensitive so I'm not sure which tape might work. Taping sounds kind of scary to me...

Hmmm....I don't think I'm doing this quoting thing right yet...

Pineapple · Post by **Pineapple** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:25 pm

I wasn't very into the idea of taping at first either, but it served as a start to solving my mouth leak problems especially since my DME was certain that I wouldn't be able to use a full face mask. Back then, I wasn't emotionally up to dealing with mask fitting issues. Now that I'm feeling much better, I'm looking at going to a full face mask, but my small facial features may send me back to tape.

I have pretty sensitive skin too. I couldn't get the sensitive and no-hurt tapes to stay stuck. I found that if I coat my mouth area with Milk of Magnesea(sp?) I can use the Micropore tape (I think it was Birdshell's tip). Place an RG strap over the mouth to help keep the tape from blowing off, and cut down on blowfish.

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:34 pm

Congrats--you are taking those first steps toward better health! I remember those first weeks and it does take time to feel better so don't get discouraged. Let the body heal.

The thirst makes me think you ARE leaking thru the mouth. Standard recommendations apply here--try full face, chin strap and/or tape. I diligently and thoroughly tried all those things. The ff masks don't fit my face and the chin straps didn't keep me from puffing thru teeth and closed lips. The only thing that works for me is tape. My skin is sensitive and I have a lot of allergies but I have been successfully using 3M paper tape for a year now and it works very, very well for me.

Good luck and keep at it. I am healthier now than ever before in my adult life and it can only be due to cpap.

jen

cflame1 · Post by **cflame1** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:28 pm

new-to-BiPAP wrote:
Hmmm....I don't think I'm doing this quoting thing right yet...

Just remember to finish the quote with a [/quote]

new-to-BiPAP · Post by **new-to-BiPAP** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:55 am

Thanks for the tape suggestions (for sensitive face) and help on quoting!

For some reason last night (my second night with the chin strap) I woke up and felt like I was suffocating (it seemed difficult to breathe in thru my nose) so I gave up on my machine after about 2.5 hrs. I don't think it was the chin strap making me feel claustrophobic. I was told to do a saline wash for my nose (which I've been trying to avoid) so I guess I'll try that and see if that helps...

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:36 am

I bet the saline will help. I'm a big fan of the neti pot!

Jen

Pineapple · Post by **Pineapple** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:37 am

I've done saline washes for years. You won't believe the difference it makes. I like the Niel Meds bottle the best for this, just strated using it last March, but of all the saline products I've used, the bottle gives you a good wash without to much work on your part.

new-to-BiPAP · Post by **new-to-BiPAP** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:39 am

does anyone know the proportions to make your own saline solution?

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:49 am

I use 1 tsp kosher salt in 2 cups of lukewarm water. You don't want to use anything iodized or sea salt--both of those are not terribly good for you and will sting. Kosher has zero additives. Pickling salt would probably be the same but is finer.

Jen

new-to-BiPAP · Post by **new-to-BiPAP** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:19 am

I'm glad I asked. The sleep dr office lady said w/o iodine but I thought she said to use sea salt. I have some canning salt (only ingredient is salt) that I will use. They recommended 2 times a day...can you use the saline too much? My nose is already dry so hopefully this will make it less dry...and less stuffy.

thanks everyone!!!

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:25 am

I use a quarter teaspoon to a cup - that's half as concentrated as Jen's. Both are OK.

I think you'll find it very pleasant and very helpful, living in the desert as you do.
O.