A Newbie Update after 32 nights on the machine

JimmyKSenior · Post by **JimmyKSenior** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 9:28 am

My DME is BMI and Bonnie has been grrrrreat in getting me started. She just asked for an update, I thought others might be interested:

Hi Bonnie,

Thanks for following up on me! The news is mostly good and I think I am making good progress. I just finished 32 nights and all but one I kept the mask on mostly all night, albeit with wake-ups every night due to me moving and then mask moving. Everything I hear I will get more and more used to it as time goes by.

After 16 nights on Activa I tried the Swift and it is much better. I had a lot of trouble with congestion or a congested feeling with Activa (both lg and std) and one night had to remove as I couldn't breathe at all through nose. I had a lot of claustrohobic and suffocating feelings. Swift seems much better for me, although I didn't really think I'd like it at all from looking at it. Current settings are HH = 3, c-flex = 2, press = 8 to 15 (my Rx = 10). I started at press = 5 to 15 and 5 was too low. I also have tried HH settngs of 1, 2, 3 and c-flex of 1, 2, 3 and as many combinations I could think of. I have not tried HH off or c-flex off.

I have tried small and medium on Swift and medium seems to work best. I am learning the difference between being fatigued and sleepy. I can still be sleepy if I don't get enough hours of sleep but thanks to the treatment, the fatigue seems to be going away and I am functional as a human being, worker, father, etc. again. Right now I'm pretty much settling in with the Swift and still tweaking the straps for best comfort versus minimal leaks. I got Pad-A Cheeks from Karen and they are super. I understand they are now available through CPAP.com (shameless plug). I seem to take the Swift off less during the night, but still occasionally awake with it off. Oddly enough there seems to be a time or two each night I remove it but I can't seem to identify what is happening or why just yet.

I go see the doc next Monday. One thing we've observed is my wife says I don't give off heat anymore and she doesn't like that. I also notice I don't wake up sweaty. Seems to be a correlation between the OSA, lack of oxygen, and the body over heating. Interesting. Must be something to do with metabolism, I'll discuss with the doc.

I also struggle with bed pillows. I got one of those PAPillows, boy this is an expensive hobby, but unlike other folks, I seem to struggle with it. In fact I have to turn it upside down (top at bottom) to sleep but the pillow upside down seems to work best for me. Also I got a hose cover which helps reduce moisture and I run the hose up over the headboard and put the hose on the right side of my head and this keeps it out of the way and I can move without waking up as much. I can almost sleep on my right side, but am pretty much restricted to one side only and back. With the Activa, and the Swift at first, running the hose down across my chest, or to the side, made it difficult to move and seemed to pull the mask down, which caused a lot of the awakenings.

I have had the card reader and software for a couple weeks but have not found the time to get it loaded so I don't have any feedback other than how I feel each day. Still keeping daily log and that helps a lot. I also have a battery now and the DC cords and recharger so I'm all set for power failures or camping next year.

All in all I am very happy so far and looking forward to seeing the doctor. Thank you for everything, you rock!

Jim

Titrator · Post by **Titrator** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 7:52 pm

Hi Jim,

Wow, I have really enjoyed your post. It sounds like everything is going well and your life is changing for the better.

You have learned all the good tricks about using the cpap. It took me months to figure out what you have learned in 4 weeks.

Impressive...

Regards,

Ted the Titrator

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 10:48 pm

JTS,

Can I suggest trying the large size on your Swift. Looking at your picture and the fact you are a man, I find that most use the large. The larger size you tolerate the better the seal. IMHO but I would try it. Good luck and it's great you are having the success you are having. One day you will wake up and just feel better. It takes time but worth it.

Ted,

Long time no see, great to see you!

JimmyKSenior · Post by **JimmyKSenior** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 8:27 am

Ted and R&R,

Thanks for the good words! In my NOT so humble opinion - all progress, and everything that is and was good about this treatment, is due ONLY to this forum and its contributors and all the fine folks at BMI and CPAP.com. To say I couldn't have done it without you is indeed an understatement! Thanks to everyone!

I will try the large pillows and I will continue to seek the best sleep possible even though I am on a new high everyday even after staying till 1:30 last night due to a damn PC virus, that I didn't have but was getting attacked by.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Best Regards,
Jim

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 10:44 am

I understand, I switched to a Mac so don't have those worries

ufo13 · Post by **ufo13** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 11:21 am

JimmyK:

Have been on the road for a few weeks and this is the first chance i have had to really check out what's been going on and WOW so glad you are doing so great and i can't beleive it's been over a month since first reading your first post! Well continued success and i agree with what ROCK says about trying the large-that also works great for me, and as TED says yes you are progressing very well!

Best to you and HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

steve,
ufo13

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 1:32 pm

Jim,

Excellent news and very well written post. You managed to get all that information in there in a concise and to the point manner. Glad to hear you are doing well. You fought for this and you are succeeding.

Have a very happy holiday. Eat lots of turkey (makes you sleepy).

ProfessorSleep · Post by **ProfessorSleep** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 1:52 pm

Great post, and congratulations! You mean, though, that your DME actually lets you have software and cares what it says? Wow - can she be cloned? Does she have family we might convince to relocate?

Great to hear your therapy is going so well!

kmoffat · Post by **kmoffat** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 1:24 pm

rock and roll wrote:I understand, I switched to a Mac so don't have those worries

It's Linux all the way for me. If you like OS/X you'll love linux, and you can get it free for pc's.

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 1:48 pm

Yeh but then I would have to get a pc, no comparing it to Apple products.

And have you gone and looked at Tiger? Linux does not even compete in the same league. I agree that Linux is much better than Windows though. But if you want to drive a Ferrarri, it must be a Mac!

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 2:34 pm

R&R,

My son is looking into some new Mac that he said will cost him 16 hundred, but he is so into this. He has been a Windows user all his years, but now wants to switch to Mac. I guess you'd say it was a good move, eh?

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 4:12 pm

Smart boy indeed. He won't regret it! I do suggest he get a book entitled "The Missing Manual, From Windows to Mac". I read it over a weekend and made the switch with no probelm. This book series is the best I have ever found for learning computers. There is no book called "From Mac to Windows" so that should tell you something

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 5:04 pm

rock and roll wrote:There is no book called "From Mac to Windows" so that should tell you something

LOL!