Night One down and I have some questions

[DottyG]

1) How do we get one of these wonderful machines into every home in the world?!

2) My brain, heart and courage (hee hee! I'm a Wizard of Oz fan - couldn't you tell by the username?!) have actually had OXYGEN last night. What are they supposed to do now that they've had air and can work properly?! They're used to being deprived and gasping for air by now!

3) Does this mean I actually have to WORK today instead of trying to think of ways to sneak a nap in somewhere?! DARN!

4) WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO DO THIS?!!!!


Ok, I actually have some real questions, too! Obviously, one night of sleep isn't enough to fix everything I've broken all this time. I'm not that naive to think that. I have a huge sleep deficit that I've got to catch up on. How long does it take to get the deficit down? How long do my organs (that truly have been deprived of air for so long) need to get back to being healthy? I've probably damaged them over the years, so how long will it take to get them healthy?

I was amazed by how relaxing the whole thing was. After only about 15 or 20 minutes, I was dozing off and had forgotten about having this thing on my face. I wasn't expecting to feel so comfortable. And, I actually was able to sleep on my stomach at one point. I was thinking those days were over, but I could do it.

Ok, so my 4th question stands. WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO DO THIS?!!!!

[ozij]

Congratulations, Dotty!

[rise&shiner]

Leaps are taken by small steps. So glad that night one was positive after all you went through to get this far.

[Autopapdude]

Congratulations Dotty! That is wonderful that you had such a strong positive right away! Just keep with it, and compliance is the key. The more you use it, the better you feel.

[Pugsy]

How long does it take to get the deficit down? How long do my organs (that truly have been deprived of air for so long) need to get back to being healthy? I've probably damaged them over the years, so how long will it take to get them healthy?

I don't think that there is any magic formula to tell us an answer to these questions. There are simply too many variables. We seem to want definitive numbers to validate things in our mind. We "want" that magic AHI number. We "want" to know when we will see major changes. We don't always get what we want... I have been on this thing for nearly 5 months now. With the exception of the first week I consistently get very decent less than 5 AHI. My leak rate is usually very well within acceptable limits. I personally seem to feel the very best with an AHI of 1 or less. Those nights are sporadic for me. I also have other issues that impact how I feel. Number of hours of sleep is one of my major problems. Fragmented sleep for reasons other than OSA is another. So I still have things to work on.

Question number 4, why so long to get this started? Hmmm. You tell us.. How long from the time you suspected you had OSA till the time you decided to get something done about it? Why did you wait (not counting the time you waited for sleep study or equipment because that time was out of your control). I waited because I doubted that I really had it despite my husband reporting that I stopped breathing when I slept. I waited because I thought the expense of the cpap stuff would be beyond my means. I waited probably 3 years before accepting that I likely had a problem. I didn't wait because of fear of the inconvenience of the therapy though.

I am glad your first night went well. Let's hope that you continue to have a smooth road to travel. Let's hope that you are one of the lucky ones where the improvements are like an on/off light switch. Again, your positive attitude will really help you. Keep up the good thoughts.

[REMDeprived]

I am SO happy for you, DottyG!!! I've read some of your other posts, so I know what a struggle it's been for you even getting to this point.

I'm a newbie too. I haven't started xPAP therapy yet (I'm ordering the equipment today!). I hope that I have similar pleasant results right from the start. Despite going in with an optimistic attitude, my titration study night was a little rough.

May you continue to have sweet dreams and wake up refreshed....

~ REMDeprived

[KatieW]

That is a wonderful 1st night Dotty G. It's life changing isn't it?

[SleepyT]

Now, THAT sounds a whole lot better, Texas! Congrats...and continued success to you!

[DottyG]

Ok, I'm a little sleepy right now (I could go take a nap, if my job would let me!), but I know that that's going to improve as time goes on.

What I really noticed was how I felt this morning. I didn't spend nearly as long getting ready for work. Usually, I would drag and sit on the bed before putting on my shoes. And, then sit down after doing my hair. And, just stare off into space a while. Now, don't get me wrong! I'm not a morning person - and I never will be! So, I'm NOT saying I hopped out of bed fresh as a daisy this morning! Heck, God made coffee for a REASON, you know! But, I did feel a little bit more clear-headed and not quite as groggy. I'm going to take that as an improvement.

Sometime during the night (I think about 4:30 or 5:00), I took my mask off. I remember doing it. And, I remember thinking it was for a good reason. But, I don't know what that reason was! I figure, though, that I still got about 4 or so good hours of sleep in before I did that. And, I'll work up to leaving it on all night.

[DottyG]

Ok, another question.

In June, my sweet, sweet kitty, Toto, died. I had him for almost 19 years, so he was a part of my life and my heart. And, I have to say that grief does not help a sleeping issue. Losing him tore me up inside (I'm tearing up right now. I miss my little boy so, so much, y'all ). I wasn't ready to lose him. He was such a special, wonderful part of my life.

Because of my loneliness, I got two kittens. They're about 5 months old now. Ones that eat EVERYTHING they can put in their mouths. Ones that play with ANYTHING they can find to play with! They're named Elphaba and Galinda - after the characters from "Wicked" - so if I refer to my "witches", that's who I'm talking about.

Last night, I put them in the bathroom for the night. I didn't need them trying to investigate the whole process; I needed to sleep without the witches getting involved.

But, I can't leave them in the bathroom from now on. So, how can I protect things from them during the night? They're going to be curious about this BiPap thing and the hose and the mask and everything. Is there something that I can do - maybe put something around the hose, at least - that might help? What do y'all's animals do?

(Anyone who's had a cat knows that "just train them not to mess with things" is not the advice I need, by the way! )

[KatieW]

DottyG, I have 2 curious cats. I set up the cpap, hose, etc. well before bedtime, and let them sniff, but if they started touching, I sprayed them in the face (I have the spray bottle of just plain water right next to the equipment). It seemed to work.

I've done the same thing with my sewing machine, and they've learned to stay away from it.

[elg5cats]

Ok, another question.

I got two kittens. They're about 5 months old now. So, how can I protect things from them during the night? They're going to be curious about this BiPap thing and the hose and the mask and everything. Is there something that I can do - maybe put something around the hose, at least - that might help? (Anyone who's had a cat knows that "just train them not to mess with things" is not the advice I need, by the way! )

Dotty, my cats don't bother my APAP, hose, etc.........other than to occassional sniff my mask. Since you have energetic kittens which they are suppose to be....get a stringed type of cat toy and play with them every night about 30 minutes before bedtime......they will be tired or asleep by the time you go to bed. Have a toy nearby and if they get in bed with you, play with them with the string toy so they learn to associate bedtime with play then sleep. Put away stringed toys after use, when unsupervised if the kittens swallow the string, this is life threatening.

Enjoy the kittens, be safe and sleep well.

elg5cats

[Kiralynx]

What do y'all's animals do? (Anyone who's had a cat knows that "just train them not to mess with things" is not the advice I need, by the way! )

Well, at one point, I had seven cats in residence. I now have two standard long-hair dachshunds.

I was kind of worried about what the Duo was likely to do over my Bipap. 'cause they're very protective. I set things up, and just left it there. They bounced up on the bed, sniffed, and ignored the mask and hose.

I put on the mask and turned on the machine. They ignored it.

The one time I have a problem with them is in the morning when my husband gets up and gives them their breakfast. They go outside, and then come racing back to tell me about the new smells outside. The mask is in the way of puppy slurpings and kisses. I've learned to put my hand up in front of my face and let them lick the palm instead of trying to reach my face. It works... most of the time.

Oh, and I take back the "one time". I woke with the air in my mask really hot. Seems I had my great galoot wrapped around the hose, with it under his chest and tummy fur, using my hose as an under-fur air conditioner.

Sometimes, Mistress Sunny wraps herself around my head, and then tucks her chin over the top of my head and the mask. (I say she is channeling Starblaze when she does it.)

And there was the time I rolled over and the mask's exhaust jetted right in one dachshund's face. He lifted his head, and laid his chin over the exhaust port, which was quite clever, but which had, for obvious reasons, to be discouraged.

If my Starblaze, my bicolor Maine Coon were still alive (she was 19 when she passed in May of 2001) I might be doomed. She used to wrap herself around my head and drop her chin on my forehead. She did not like anything to come between her and her chosen position on me. I used to use a water squirter on the cats when they were mischievous. But I'm not sure how I'd squirt a cat messing with my mask without squirting myself!

Seriously, though, treating the mask as if it's just one of those strange things which humans do and which cats will just have to tolerate in their pets, is probably your best way to proceed.

[DottyG]

Kiralynx, you just made me laugh with all that!

[Julie]

You could just disconnect the hose and mask in one piece and put them out of the way until the kits are older. Another tactic is to let them come close, hold up the mask and turn on the pressure... that should help some!