Few questions after my sleep test... I'm (almost) a newbie

[wallster]

I've been lurking this community for a few weeks now. Last week I finally had an official sleep study performed via my request to my primary Doctor. For years, I've been a big time snorer. My wife and I sleep in different rooms and vacations were tough on my kids and my wife because of this. Lately, I've been thinking that some of my "tiredness" may be a result of poor sleeping and it's been difficult to regularly go to the gym to work out. The theory is that if I wasn't quite as tired, I would work out and it could make losing a few pounds easier in the long run.
My test began on Friday night at approx. 10pm. I was wired (they had started the wiring procedure at 8pm) to all the electrodes and gizmos used to monitor various vitals. Once I fell asleep 9maybe 30 minutes later), I was awakened by the respiratory nurse at 2am and asked to try a cpap mask (she said I was snoring). What the heck, why not since I was not quite awake anyway. She measured my nose and placed the mask over my nose so my mouth was still exposed and turned the machine on. I was surprised how weird it felt when I opened my mouth (like a large rush of air flowing out of it). I asked her to please turn the air flow up a few times because it felt like I wasn't getting enough air at first. Once i relaxed again, I dozed on and off until 3am. At this point I asked her if she could turn it down because I felt like my mouth wanted to "pop" open and I also felt like I was swallowing a lot of air. She said it was at "7" (cfm, psi, ??? whatever) and that she would turn it down to "5". I resumed my sleep on and off with the mask until 5am (which was the ending time of the diagnostic test) I had explained to my nurse that it seemed to help but because I have sinus problems (I take sudafed before I sleep to keep my sinuses open) it felt like maybe my nasal openings were getting restricted which made it harder to breathe through my nose. She explained that a warming device (humidifier?) is also available but this particular machine did not use one.
Here are my two questions (since my appointment with the Doctor isn't until October). 1. Would a water "warmer" help keep my nasal passages open based on anyone elses experiences, and 2, Do they make a machine that also covers your mouth? This would seem like another way of breathing since with just the nasal apparatus it appeared impossible to breath through my mouth.
Thank in advance, I actually feel pretty good about the idea and believe this may work for me since I did almost get some sleep and I had the mask on for three hours during the test.

[Pugsy]

Yes.. Heated humidifier. Used and prescribed more often than not. Definitely helps with the nasal passages..if they dry out we feel congested.

Yes..Full Face mask..covers the nasal interface and the mouth at the same time in some fashion. Many, many models to choose from.

1. Would a water "warmer" help keep my nasal passages open based on anyone elses experiences, and 2, Do they make a machine that also covers your mouth? This would seem like another way of breathing since with just the nasal apparatus it appeared impossible to breath through my mouth.

[apneawho]

1. Would a water "warmer" help keep my nasal passages open based on anyone elses experiences, and 2, Do they make a machine that also covers your mouth? This would seem like another way of breathing since with just the nasal apparatus it appeared impossible to breath through my mouth.

Hi there. I think a humidifier does help most people. I have never used cpap without a humidifier, so I am not sure what it is like without it. I suggest you do get a humidifier if the doctor prescribes cpap for you. There are many different kinds of masks. It was the not the actual machine that did not cover your mouth, that was the mask. We can all use different type masks with the same type machine. Good luck on your quest. Finding the right mask is the most important factor in effective therapy.

[ameriken]

Yep, you went through the typical routine that we've all been through. I agree with the others, you definitely want a humidifier. And if you're a mouth breather, a full face mask will probably work best. I'm a mouth breather and the full face mask combined with the heated humidifier is a must for me. If I forget to turn on the humidifier, I wake up with an extremely dry mouth, drier than I've ever experienced and the humidity and heat help tremendously.

I hope you stick around, once you get started you may run into some problems, issues, or difficulties, and are going to want to have the expertise and moral support. Good luck!