My time in cpap land

[deesnider]

Its been almost 4 years since i've started Cpap therapy. And I would like to share what i have been through. It Started when Iwent to the Dr. because i was tired all the time. So it was suggested tat I go in for a sleep study. It was found that i would stop breathing something like 80 times an hour. Some were short some were much longer.

And this is where my learning curve started. I had the original sleep study mid December, and went in blind. Then in mid January I had the next study to get the machine set up. I should have stayed on the Sleep Dr because I got hit hard with 2 sleep study bills. After much reading on this Forum, I learned that i was in for a major fight with the DME. I had to fight to get the machine i wanted, Resmed S8 Elite. It was many many calls to the supplier before i even made the first visit to them before i got this machine. Durning the initial start up, the only mast i wanted to try was the Liberty and was advised that i would hate that mask and would be unhappy. So i went through all the full face masks in the Resmed line. I like a few of them but they just started wearing holes in my skin.

I went in for a 6 month check up and i was feeling better but not great. All this Dr wanted to do was to process me, get me in a nasel only mask and get me out. didnt care to answer any questions just in and out. It was an act of congress just to get a copy of the sleep study.

I finely switched to a different therapist, and got ahold of the Liberty. I went from leaking at .2 to .5 every night down to 0 to.1, and now im at 0 99% of the time. I have been with this mask since the 6 month review. I have had no issue with this and I can tell when I cant stop the leaks its time for replacement rubbers. I usually get 2 months per oral cussion and go through 2 nasal cussions each month. I am on my second performance Resperonics hose (just a light weight hose). I have come to vastly enjoy the Pad-A-Cheek hose cover.

I do alright on the machine. There are nights where I have no idea that i take the mask off, and wake up like what did i do!? Or my wife pokes me and just says "PUT VADER ON!" I know I can not sleep with out the mask. Ijust cant. I wear this even when we travel. I still have yet to get the well rested feeling everyday. I get it every now and them, but not every day. So i made the decision to find a new sleep Dr, in my new city. He is a great dr. We worked together fopor over 6 months before we decided that i needed a new sleep study to get re-titrated. I went last Friday and what an experiance!!!

They did all the same things as the previous ones 4 years ago, but they actually answered questions for me. They had me try on a new "Halo" chin strat instead of trhe white band. And i like the new one a great deal. I have also been interduced to the Resmed swit I think it is. Its the nasal mask that looks like a tube on the bottom with pillows resting on it. I like this new mask almost better then the Liberty. I have also learned that i need a slightly higher pressure. I was at 12cm and am now going to go to 13 cm.

This was a much better time then before. Went to sleep around 12 am and woke up at 6 am. they went over what they saw and found. told me what reccomendations they will make to the Dr. I will also likely be getting a new machine as my current one is starting to act up. But ill share that a bit later as well as my other experances with my current DME that i want to get away from.

[chunkyfrog]

With experience, knowledge, and especially confidence, we tend to get treated better--or go someplace where we are.

[jweeks]

I have also been interduced to the Resmed swit I think it is. Its the nasal mask that looks like a tube on the bottom with pillows resting on it. I like this new mask almost better then the Liberty.

Hi,

Thanks for sharing the story. I think you mean the "Swift". They make a few different types. I use the Swift LT. The Swift FX is a lot smaller and lighter, but I just cannot get it to work on my face. The nasal pillows on the swift can vary from batch to batch. Some folks get them to last for 90 days, other have issues getting them to last 2 weeks. It is a good idea to always keep a few extras on hand. I order mine off of E-bay. Just make sure you get ones in the original packaging from someone who sells them in bulk (to avoid getting a one off pillow that might have been used).

BTW, you might want to check out the Puresom Ruby chin strap. It is more like a piece of headgear than any other chin strap that I have seen. It is very comfortable, it stays in place, and most important--it actually works.

-john-

[deesnider]

My current DME supplier is a pain in the rear to work with. They go off of the Medicare guidelines for when I should get new supplies. After repeated calls from to my Insurance company, I have been advised that if i have a need for it, I can get it and it will be covered. I can have a new Machine a year if necissary. But my supplier said i can get one only every 5 years. And with the issues im having with my machine I think its coming to be time for a new one and keet this as a back up.

When I go to turn the machine on, I get very low pressure untill i turn it off and then on again. I know its not the hose as its new. And I cant feel any kinks in it.

I only stay with my current supplier because the RT is such a nice and knowledgeable person. I only have 2 other options of suppliers in Columbus, In and they are Lincare and Apria. So they may be the new suppliers after awhile.

I find that I enjoy sleeping with my mask. It takes time to get used to sleeping with it. And to find the right snugness of the head gear. But that takes a day or two, in my oppinion, so you can make sure your not going to rub your nose raw. And i use the Citrus wipes every other day to clean my mask. I tied every night and it just had an adverse effect for me.

[deesnider]

I have also been interduced to the Resmed swit I think it is. Its the nasal mask that looks like a tube on the bottom with pillows resting on it. I like this new mask almost better then the Liberty.

Hi,

Thanks for sharing the story. I think you mean the "Swift". They make a few different types. I use the Swift LT. The Swift FX is a lot smaller and lighter, but I just cannot get it to work on my face. The nasal pillows on the swift can vary from batch to batch. Some folks get them to last for 90 days, other have issues getting them to last 2 weeks. It is a good idea to always keep a few extras on hand. I order mine off of E-bay. Just make sure you get ones in the original packaging from someone who sells them in bulk (to avoid getting a one off pillow that might have been used).

BTW, you might want to check out the Puresom Ruby chin strap. It is more like a piece of headgear than any other chin strap that I have seen. It is very comfortable, it stays in place, and most important--it actually works.

-john-

It would appear that the mask I have is a Mirage Swift II. And the past 3 nights ive used it, I like it much much better then the Liberty, I never thought id say that! And Ill have to find the wrapper for the new chin strap, but the person at the sleep center called it a "Halo". So far it works MUCH better then the white band. But the Puresom Chin star looks good too. Ill have to get ane anf try it out.

[Sloop]

But that takes a day or two, in my oppinion, so you can make sure your not going to rub your nose raw. And i use the Citrus wipes every other day to clean my mask. I tied every night and it just had an adverse effect for me.

I am baffled why ANYONE today would be suffering with irritations with rubbing noses raw, etc. This is what used to be the norm 20 years ago. But today, there are so many good choices with HUGE advancements in technology -- I wonder why I keep hearing these complaints?

Three words .......... ResMed Mirage SoftGel