1st Weekend, semi success

[Dive Apnea]

My Model I use: [*]PR System One REMstar Plus CPAP Machine with C-Flex (model #DS250S). No efficacy data, but does have the basic C-Flex.[/b]

Well, I used my CPAP, (still want to trade for the S9) Anyway.. I think I may have been waking up more refreshed, not sure if this is psychological, or real.

Last night, my wife after having to spend a couple years in the spare room, said I did not snore 1 time... It was a miracle for her. My snoring used to start, from the second my head hits the pillow.

If only my snoring is cured, so my wife can get some sleep, then it is worth it to me. I also drank a few beers, which hightens my snoring 10-fold.. but nada! (I know we are all supposed to give up drinking, due to apnea, and CPAP)

It has been a little awkward, and I have been sleeping on my side towards the CPAP, because if I dont it kind of jars the nose mask, and I dont want to lose air. Also, sleeping on my back, I notice my jaw comes loose and I gasp.

I wake up periodically.. kind of hard to get back to sleep, but I think before with apnea, I'd wake up, be super tired, fall back asleep quick, then back up again, and again, etc.

Some things I noticed.. Clenched teeth.. this stinks. The first couple of nights I had cotton mouth, but last night I didnt. I adjusted the straps for the nose piece to fit better.

Going to the restroom... What does everyone do? Turn off your machine, pull off the mask?? I was trying to do the most quiet thing, as to not wake my wife.. My CPAP, beeps when I turn it off, and on, I tried to go into set up, to shut off the beeping, but it didnt appear to have that option.

Also, I need to call my DME, other than asking for the s9, but also, my card in my CPAP, did not record Sat, and Sun nights therapy hours for compliance. Anyone have this trouble?

One other note, I have been having very detailed strange dreams... I mean I have had those before the CPAP, and again, not sure if this is psychosomatic, but they appear more intense.

I am sure I am leaving out some detail, or something, I can add it here later.

[apneawho]

Hi. I have found a chin strap is a must. I use Swift Fx nasal pillows. Teeth clenching and soreness are an issue for me. I started CPAP July 20 and find the teeth clenching and soreness is much, much less today. Must be process of getting acclimated to therapy?
I am having obnoxious and nightmarish dreams some nights, but hope that will calm down eventually, as I was not dreaming at all before. I have read other posts where people say this is the case for them.
Going to bathroom- I have the S9 Elite and it does not make a sound when I turn off and on, so I turn mine off and unplug at the first mask and tubing connection near my chest. If you are like me, you will find you get up far less to go to the bathroom during the night with CPAP, something to do with physiology and hormones once body is working better during the night. I have the climate control tubing, not super long, just standard size, but I find I have plenty of give to turn in all directions with my machine on nightstand. I love the S9 Elite. Does not make a sound, lights go off within seconds of setting myself up and my husband loves the S9 Elite even more than I do, if you know what I mean. The detailed data I can get is amazing and my hope is it will help me to manage my therapy along with my doctors.

[dwynne]

My machine beeps when I have a bad leak, so i pull off the mark it would set that off (and make a loud air rush sound). I just turn it off and back on.

Like apneawho I have found my nightly pottty breaks have decreased in frequency and urgency since starting PAP (1 1/2 weeks now).

Most dreams occur in REM sleep which is the 5th stage of sleep and most folks with sleep disorders rarely sleep long enough at one time to reach REM. When you finally do, you get "REM rebound" when you have more frequent and longer REM periods (to make up for what you have been missing). I had a split sleep study and once they started treatment I had a LOT of REM that first night. Once you are "caught up" on REM this should return to normal. Note that apnea can be worse during REM sleep which increase the likelihood of waking up during REM or during a dream - thus making you more likely to remember the dream. Starting out your pressure make not be ideally set, so you suppress most of the sleep interruptions so you reach REM, have REM rebound, then have a more severe event and wake during the dream. Once you are dialed in (everyone hopes) the interruptions go away and so will remembering the dreams.

[Culby]

I'm still pretty new to this too, and my first weekend was a lot like yours. Felt better, sore jaw, dreamed like mad.

Sounds like you were snoring like I was. I'm guessing the sore jaw is because you're consciously trying to keep your mouth shut. It went away for me. If the cotton mouth gets worse, turn up your humidity. The docs told me if I have to get up in the night (I'm on call 24/7, so I may have to field a phone call at 2:30am), just turn off the machine, and turn it back on when you're strapped back in. It may help if you learn to undo just one strap to take the mask off.

That's interesting to read about the REM rebound. I had some bizzonkers dreams in my first few days. They've tapered off, but what I do remember is still pretty vivid. I don't know why I was searching for Patrick Troughton last night, I've never even seen his episodes of Doctor Who.

[ultimatestrap]

Hey...First thing, have you ever heard of a pee jar...you can make your own...you buy a routine hospital type at your local "special" medical supply place...this way you don't have to get out of bed to sleep....you don't disturb the wife or yourself. as for dry mouth, open mouth have you considered a chin strap...there are many out there...really inexpensive ones all the way to ridiculous...the only one that works is the ultimate chin strap for sleep apnea....check out website...this may help in that area...and you should be able to sleep even longer and more deeply with the chin strap....let me know if his helps at all....