Another CPAP Newbie Saying Hello!

[StateRoad84]

I from "Where a CPAP Newbie Should Start" that this is how I introduce myself.

My name is Thom (StateRoad84 (Alligator Alley) is what I use everywhere to show where I am from) I am 52 and was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea 2 weeks ago. When my wife and I went into the Pulmonary Dr. to get my final results and prescription I was sure I had it based on what the sleep study tech at the hospital said. I was not prepared for how bad it was. When the Dr. says "I'm glad your still here" I would say that is an indication of severity. My results showed AHI 64/hour and my O2 Sat dropped to 74%.

I think I went through denial many years back when I was an OTR truck driver and my wife would voice her concern about my sleeping problems. She told me she worried constantly when I went out. I always thought that was just my normal sleep patterns and told her it was nothing to worry about. About 5 or 6 years ago I learned my cousin had Sleep Apnea and was sleeping with a "machine of some kind". About 4 years ago his wife came in to wake him up since he was late getting to work (he owned his own A/C business) and found him not breathing and blue. He was kept alive in a coma for a week. My Wife said you REALLY need to go get a sleep study...I don't have the time...I'll do it, just not right now...and a few other procrastinating/denial excuses. Even after loosing my cousin.

Fast forward to where I am now. My faith in Jesus Christ and support from my family has been blessing more then I can explain. My wife, son and myself are on the South Beach Diet (10 days in on phase 1). Third night on CPAP and I have more energy then I've had in a long time. I really don't know how this is going to go, I get a little, um, mad, yea that's it, mad that I have to sleep with this thing attached. But then I think of what the consequences would be.

I have been reading many posts on this site for the past few days, and I do have some questions if you are still reading. The main one is that my machine shows AHI in a percentage. Is that how it is on all machines and the percentage should be less then 5% or even 0%? I read up on AHI and see that it is based on number of apnea's per hour. I am confused. The respiratory therapist gave me a large, medium and small nasel pillows. I have switched between med and small finding that small seems the most comfortable. Is that strange for an adult to use a small? When I ramp (my min is 4.0, max is 10.0) at the lower pressure it seems a little constricted with the small. With the medium my nose gets sore.

I appreciate all of you being here, a great community for support.

[lazer]

Welcome Thom! You're off to a great start with having listed your equipment

I'm fairly new to this also, so I'll step aside a little and let the other more experienced users address your questions better.

Best of luck

[chunkyfrog]

Every nose is different; as long as you can breathe easily , you're good.
Nasal pillows, as you see, form little cone shapes.
Ideally, the small peak of the cone fits inside the nostril while the wider base is below your nose,
with your skin touching somewhere between.
I only mention this because some inexperienced techs have actually crammed the pillows UP INSIDE the nose.
This can be quite uncomfortable, but it has happened.

[StateRoad84]

Thank you chunkyfrog. Lazer, my wife is from Masury, OH.

[lazer]

Thank you chunkyfrog. Lazer, my wife is from Masury, OH.

Ah, That's just down the road and across the border from me My sister and her husband reside there.

When I ramp (my min is 4.0, max is 10.0) at the lower pressure it seems a little constricted with the small. With the medium my nose gets sore.

I did just re-read your OP and something does stand out to me that I can relate to. I had a bit of an issue regarding small vs medium pillows also. The small felt more natural but I could absolutely not breath comfortably with them. The mediums work very well for me in this regard but I do occasionally get sore nose. There is a product you can buy at Walmart (or elsewhere) called Lansinoh. It's in the "baby section" and marketed for breast feeding moms to use on their nipples. It is perfectly safe to put on/in your nose or mouth. I've found only a small amount is needed and it has helped me in using the medium pillows and prevent the soreness. I actually don't even need to use it as much as before so I think my nose has adapted. It is much better to be comfortable breathing, believe me. I would recommend trying this and revisiting the "medium" pillows.

[Pugsy]

AHI is the average number of events per hour and not a %.
The PR System One machines do report a % on the LCD screen but it is % of time in large leak. For anything to show up in this % area the leaks have to be pretty massive and prolonged. Very limited data.
It is best to use the software so you can see all the in depth details.
There is software available to use with your machine which shows much more detail as to what is going on.
Check out my signature line for your options and links for download of SleepyHead.

[Sheriff Buford]

Welcome! I share your love for Christ. The AHI should be a straight number... not percent. Anything under a 5 is great, but folks are different and can't seem to achieve it. Some do better... some do worse. I had similar sleep study numbers as you did, and I average a .3, give or take. You are blessed that have adapt to wearing the mask so quickly. Keep up the effort and don't hesitate to work all your issues thru this forum.

Sheriff

[StateRoad84]

I'm not gonna use the qoutes. Thanks to all. Pugsy, just downloaded the SleepyHead version for Mac, cool stuff. Sheriff & lazer, I want to have more than just 3 nights of data to see how I am doing. I am far from adjusted to the mask Sheriff, I'll let ya know in a week or so. The average AHI in SleepyHead for the 3 nights was 13.20, 9.37 and 9.55 respectively. When I look at the daily that is a little disconcerting, but good considering a 64 untreated. Yesterday I helped friend move and was beat at the end of the day. It seems to spike just after I fall asleep. the low average was using the small pillow.

Thanks again all.

[zoocrewphoto]

Welcome to the forum!

I am new also, only 2 months now. And while I had a great sleep study and doctor, which helped me off to a good start; I am so grateful for this group. They have helped with mask fitting issues, humidifier issues, etc. And getting the software and seeing my own data is awesome. That helps give me incentive and gives me some control over my treatment.

Because of this group, my mom is getting an upgrade in her own treatment. She has seen my positive improvement right away compared to her mild improvement and stagnation over 15 years. She asked for a new sleep study, but her last one is too recent, even though it was useless. So, armed with my new machine and software to view data, we did a couple partial nights with her using my machine. Her data showed a low AHI, but long apneas (one over 62 seconds with her current treatment setting). So, she called my sleep doctor and has an appointment for next Friday. He likes data and specifically writes prescriptions for data capable machines. So, at the very least, she should be able to get a new machine with her own data, which will allow for checking and updating the pressure settings as needed.

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[zoocrewphoto]

The average AHI in SleepyHead for the 3 nights was 13.20, 9.37 and 9.55 respectively. When I look at the daily that is a little disconcerting, but good considering a 64 untreated.

If the events are right at the beginning, you could be still awake. The machine doesn't know the difference, so it scores anything that meets the criteria. But when we are awake, we will hold our breath as my move around, sigh, etc. So, if they are likely when you are really awake, I would ignore those and know that your real AHI is actually lower.

Also, as we are getting used to the machine, we may breathe differently. I know as I started, I felt like I needed to keep up with the machine. Then I realized that it was designed to keep up with me. So, I was able to relax and ignore it.

[StateRoad84]

If the events are right at the beginning, you could be still awake. The machine doesn't know the difference, so it scores anything that meets the criteria. But when we are awake, we will hold our breath as my move around, sigh, etc. So, if they are likely when you are really awake, I would ignore those and know that your real AHI is actually lower.

Also, as we are getting used to the machine, we may breathe differently. I know as I started, I felt like I needed to keep up with the machine. Then I realized that it was designed to keep up with me. So, I was able to relax and ignore it.

I did notice in the daily long periods where I know I was sleeping and the graph showed between 6 and 8. I am finding myself trying to "keep up" with the machine, especially before I fall asleep. I will take your advice and try to just breathe normally.

[Sheriff Buford]

If the events are right at the beginning, you could be still awake. The machine doesn't know the difference, so it scores anything that meets the criteria. But when we are awake, we will hold our breath as my move around, sigh, etc. So, if they are likely when you are really awake, I would ignore those and know that your real AHI is actually lower.

Note: the S9 (in the autoset mode) will wait for ten seconds before treating a "suspected apnea". This delay is for temporary periods of holding your breath, yawning or possibly a sneeze. These "suspected apneas" are not recorded. Without this delay, the autoset will be ramping up for every little time our breathing or breathing rhythm is interrupted.

Sheriff

[BigJohnCA]

I from "Where a CPAP Newbie Should Start" that this is how I introduce myself.
I really don't know how this is going to go, I get a little, um, mad, yea that's it, mad that I have to sleep with this thing attached. But then I think of what the consequences would be.

Thom, I've been on CPAP for about 4 months. The first couple weeks were brutal for me. I slept sitting on the couch for about 4 weeks. I simply could not lie down in bed with the 'darn' machine. I had anxiety about sleeping - it was horrible. and YES I GOT MAD about it. The thought of being on the machine was very aggravating. Overtime it got better - much better in fact. I finally went to sleep, in bed, with CPAP and have been there for about 2 months. I literally look forward to putting CPAP on now each night because I sleep sooooo much better. The results of sleeping with the machine encourages me. I check my stats via Sleepyhead software about every other week and my AHI is down below 1.0 now....My initial sleep study indicated 112 apneas per hour ! Hang in there - things get better - and there is this group which has help educate me and helped me realize that its all good.