Happy Anniersary to me

[brucelegs]

No April Fool am I ...

Started this journey back in January '09 , faithfully read everything here, knew the pitfalls and avoided them (first machine they tried to give me was non-data, never even plugged it in and returned it for what I wanted, first pillow mask F&P was promptly changed to a Swift LT after 7 nights of leaks and noise - never mind using the one they gave me at the titration night (Responics nasal mask that irritated the hell out of me), got my laniosh cream, my pad a cheek hose cover in a lovely leopard print, my pursleep scents, my regensis buckwheat pillow and here I am a year later - happy and awake through the day --- thanks to everyone here with their support, advice and personal stories.

I was proactive - calling my insurance company to see who was on my DME list before the titration. I was given an appt with an ENT after my titration who then called in a script to the DME - wait !!! I had not even seen the sleep doc yet, never mind letting the DME choose a machine for me. So it delayed my therapy, but on the other hand I got what I wanted in the end since I had him write the script with exactly what I wanted. My DME and I have a good understanding - they leave me alone. We read the card once just so the insurance would go ahead and buy my machine. I get my supplies on my schedule not theirs (although just today they sent along 3 hoses with my requested new Swift FX that I wanted to switch to - no big deal I have a couple of spares now)

From the first night I plugged the machine in, I have remained positive even through the nasal mask tribulations. I thought I was a bit of a mouth breather, but thanks to the tips I got here ("park your tongue on the roof of your mouth", my mouth is closed all night. Over the year I have missed just 2 nights of hosing up (stupidly left the mask at home on a short 2 over night trip). Hubby is happy, I have a quiet machine (he expected Junior Soprano-like set up and was impressed I did my homework (so was the doctor who more or less lets me do/have what I want). Looking at my machine I see that I have averaged just over 7 hours a night hosed up. It is such a part of my life now that it has become my nightly ritual - fill the humidifer chamber, smear on some laniosh, a few drops of pursleep "clear", put the mask on and I am off to lala land. I was worried about getting a cold and having a stuffy nose so I got a hybrid mask just in case and didn't need it at all - I didn't really get the kind of nasal congestion I usually get with a cold - maybe it has to do with that lovely "clear" scent I use every night or the humidity.

Thanks to everyone here on cpaptalk.com (too may fine fine folks to mention by name who are mentors to each of us) and to the newbies, hang in there, read EVERYTHING here and put it into practice. If you have everything lined up from day one - the data capable machine, the laniosh, the hose cover, etc. you can avoid some of those annoying new to CPAP things you read about. Believe that you will have successful therapy - the tools are there - invest some time in research (you are your own best advocate), work at it and it will become normal for you too.

[grandmma]

Great outcome, Mary-Ellen, and great positive story. Your outlook and determination to make this work, as well as listening, taking in and applying all you learnt here, is admirable.

I'm sure this will give inspiration and help to a lot of people just starting or started out on this track.

Congratulations, both on your anniversary and your success, and well done.

[Thunder Road]

It's wonderful to go to bed at night and know that you can be "Working on a Dream"!

Glad to hear that you have been successful!!!

Bruce would appreciate your loyalty and effort through it all.

Thunder Road

[brucelegs]

It's wonderful to go to bed at night and know that you can be "Working on a Dream"!

Glad to hear that you have been successful!!!

Bruce would appreciate your loyalty and effort through it all.

Thunder Road

thanks for the smile Thunder ... PM me sometime, I wonder if I already know you from my travels.