New Guy - CPAP first week questions

cmsmws · Post by **cmsmws** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:12 pm

Sounds like you are doing great. I have been at this for two months. First month, nasal mask/full mask = 11.0 hrs of treatment. Second month nasal pillows swift mask, no panic attacks, 130 hours of treatment. Some nights I dance with the hose but it is getting easier. 17 cm IPAP 10 cm EPAP on Bi-Flex and loving it. Starting to feel better, nothing immediate but a nice slow improvement.

JohnnySouth · Post by **JohnnySouth** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:30 pm

rested gal - thanks so much for your comments. You are so helpful and it is greatly appreciated.....I plan to watch for the mouth breathing and have already placed an order for a chinstrap if needed - I'm still running from the taping solution since I have a beard and mustache - and I guess it is EARLY in the process stilll - but I will tweak away until it works the way it should and until it gets comfortable.

cmsnws - sounds to me like YOU need the congrats for staying with it - good for you! I know the masks were hard for me and the nasal pillows feel so much better. I tip my hat to you.

JohnnySouth · Post by **JohnnySouth** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 3:30 pm

Third night last night and big success as far as wearing it from 10:30 pm to 5:30 am - that's the whole enchilada for me so that's great . But I did awaken many times - and am SURE I was mouth breathing at least two of the times...the chinstrap I ordered yesterday from cpap.com was just delivered - wow! Guess I will give that a try tonight....then move on from there...
I am getting more and more comfortable in the gear but look forward to the uninterrupted night of sleep I have heard about.....

JohnnySouth · Post by **JohnnySouth** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 10:55 am

Me again!
Last night - number 4 - this time with the chinstrap which I seemed to tolerate pretty well...awoke only once an hour or so in to use the restroom and then - total uninterrupted sleep 'til the alarm went off. No outward evidence of leaks...no reported sounds or arousals from my bedmate....
I consider it a minor victory....

Brent Hutto · Post by **Brent Hutto** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 11:55 am

JohnnySouth wrote:...awoke only once an hour or so in to use the restroom and then - total uninterrupted sleep 'til the alarm went off. No outward evidence of leaks...no reported sounds or arousals from my bedmate....
I consider it a minor victory....

If I could do that tonight I'd hang a big old Mission Accomplished banner over the table at breakfast tomorrow. Sounds like you've zeroed right in on a way to make it work. Outstanding.

Jim Eads · Post by **Jim Eads** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 1:48 pm

Johnny, you are doing great. It takes some people months to get where you are.

I wouldn't worry about an occasional mouth breathing. I think most of us do that once in awhile. You'll actually learn to stop.

One of my problems is that when I do wake up I tend to fool around with the mask and machine and wind up being more awake. Now if I wake up I do my best to get right back to sleep.

My record so far is 9.2 hours with only getting up once. Before CPAP i would be up 3 to 4 times.

Jim

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 2:07 pm

Thanks for the encouragment - I certainly hope this weekend marks my re-entry into the world of good sleep but I can tell from what I read that my good luck may not last so it is great to know what to expect and ways to troubleshoot - a realist not a pessimist.
I can't imagine trying to do this based only on my experience at the sleep lab/gen practitioner/ DME....thank goodness this resource - and others like it - exist.

JohnnySouth · Post by **JohnnySouth** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 2:08 pm

^ oops that's me