First 5 days on my CPAP machine! I love it!

[muirwoodsue]

I just completed my first 5 nights on my Remstar Pro M Series (with humidifier). My AHI is set to 10.

Off my little screen I got the following information:
Therapy Usage Avg 8.30
5 Sessions
System Leak 30.6
AHI 2.4
50.1 Therapy hours

I have no idea if these numbers are good or bad. I think maybe I had leaks because I would fool with my mask, or I talk and forget that I'm not supposed to open my mouth. Any ideas here would be helpful. I'm not sure what numbers I should be "shooting for".

I need to peel off about 20 pounds and have already lost 8 on Weight watchers this month. I went to donate blood today and my blood pressure was 140/90 - I was shocked! Does sleep apnea effect blood pressure?
Will the CPAP help in this area?

It keeps getting easier each night. I started out waking up more often and last night I would have slept all night but the darn phone rang at 3am and I ripped my mask off thinking bad news. Wrong number - UGH.

My husband says that I don't even move at night. He says I look like a corpse! I really had no problems adjusting to the machine and I check to see if it's even working - it's that easy for me. I do have the C-Flex set on 2 (if that makes sense) out of 3. Already I see a difference in my energy. I have not napped all week! I love my machine. My nose is a bit tender. I'm using the swift pillows. I thought I read somewhere to use nipple cream. Is that right?

I really enjoy reading the forums and a special thanks to Georgio for all his help.

Thanks!
Sue

[RipVW]

Wow, muirwoodsue, sounds like your initial experience has been very successful, and that's certainly atypical. So glad to read that your CPAP therapy is working so well for you from the get go! May your success continue!

[plr66]

Great inspirational story, Sue!! Your numbers look wonderful, and so glad you're off to a good start! It really is amazing that we no longer thrash about when the therapy is working well. And then the issue becomes one of our body adjusting to laying in one position for so long in restful sleep, that we end up with soreness! Easily resolved, and a good trade, IMO. Can't help with the lanolin idea since I never used it. I found that I only needed to use Aloe hand cream on my nares for about a week or so during the days to get through the nasal pillow soreness. Stay with it!

[tattooyu]

That's awesome. Welcome to the board!

[Gerald]

Sue......

Get some Lansenoh Lanolin for nursing moms....at your local drug store. Highly recommended....it works great!

Helps the seal.....and makes for a soft nose.

Do it!

[JoyD.]

WELCOME to a fun and very informative Forum . . . I don't know what I would have done without the continuing help of all these new friends!

So CONGRATS for finding cpaptalk . . . and especially for your early success with CPAP. Your leak rate sounds quite normal, and your Apnea/Hypopnea Index (AHI) is nicely low. So far, so good!! Way to go

Joy