Finally! I have my machine!

[msvaleriah]

All in all, I'm a happy neophyte user. Well, except, it's a good thing people wrote advising patience. My split night study was January 11th and I didn't get my titration study until 3/8. I went through being whiny and bitchy then flat-out depressed while waiting, but thank goodness, that part is behind me now! Had my appointment with the new sleep doctor just last Wednesday, that day received my machine (basic, easy Respironics model with heated humidifier) and full mask, and I've used it all night every night since. Huzzah! I'm a real hose-head now!

Thought I was going to have a fairly easy time adapting, and compared to a lot of folks, I think I am. My experiences in the sleep lab were very encouraging. I went from thinking about CPAP as "the ugly Darth Vader machine" to I WANT IT NOW!!! The day after the split study, I was perkier than I remember being in years. Reacted the same way when I did my titration study.

Have to admit that it hasn't been as consistently wonderful since I've had my own machine, but it's been okay. I'm waking up here and there getting used to sleeping with something over my mouth and nose and dealing with the hose and all. I wake up with a few marks from the mask but they go away in an hour or so and I'm not that vain anyway. My significant other is incredibly supportive and enjoys being able to sleep in bed again without being kept awake by my truly impressive snoring. I could frighten bears away. We've already figured out how to deal with the air blowing from my exhaust port blowing on him, and having the mask making bizarre noises when the seal goes awry and wakes him up - a little strap tightening, and ...problem solved. We've laughed more than we've cussed.

What I have noticed is my energy is a little wonky. Some days it's been over the top; others, like yesterday, I had the yawns all day and no energy at all. I guess that's just part of the adjustment process and will improve with time. I'm very glad to have begun this journey.

[Tino2You]

Congratulation! You really are way ahead of the curve. Sleeping 7 hours at a stretch. Super!

If you can, could you complete the equipment section in your profile? In that way, if your machine records data, we could ask you how well you slept on those nights when you are yawning all day. Even now, as a seasoned "hoser" for all of 9 months, I still go back and "see" how I slept. Things like snoring, leaks and AHIs are recorded by my machine and I can keep track of them and how I am doing. Just me managing my own therapy.

-tino

[Pugsy]

that day received my machine (basic, easy Respironics model with heated humidifier)

What machine model did you get?
Look on the bottom of the blower unit for a 3 digit model number which may or may not have some letters in front of it..
Be sure to remove the water tank before turning it over to look for the number.

By basic...do you mean a base model with no frills and no exhale relief and no data? If so then that is up to you if you are happy with it but I just wanted to make sure that you know what your machine might or might not offer in terms of software data. So you don't have any ugly surprises later.

So tell us the model number and we will tell you if you can use some software to help evaluate your therapy or not and you can decide if you want to be able to use the software....if you can.

[purple]

Be very careful not to obstruct the vents. These allow the CO2 out.

[msvaleriah]

Thanks, everyone. I've gone into my profile and filled out the equipment now. My machine has a memory card - I wasn't shown how to access the data by my equipment provider - my tech said it was for monitoring compliance and providing information for my doctor. Probably should sit down and spend some time with the manual so I can figure out all the little bells and whistles! Tech showed me the basics of operation and went over cleaning procedures, the automatic resupply/replacements delivery schedule and stuff. I can exchange masks as often as I like 'til I'm comfortable, although for the time being, I think I'm okay with my current mask. I am wondering about something that will help with the marks in the morning. Will have to do some looking around here, too! I'm sure that's a topic that's been up for discussion before. I've been shielding my sweetie from the rush of air from my vent by putting my arm between it and him - so I'm not actually blocking the flow, just preventing it from blowing on him when I'm sleeping on that side. Eventually my arm gets cold from the arctic blast and I roll over to the other side. Was lucky enough to find a deal on a cpap pillow thru Woot. Just came yesterday.

My machine's been set to 14cc, and depending how I do over the course of the next month my doc may be adding supplemental oxygen at night to my regimen. Hope that doesn't have to happen, but I'll deal with it if it does. My nighttime saturation levels were low enough to be a concern, so whatever it takes to fix that, I'm willing to do. I trust that as I continue to progress toward a healthy weight that will improve, along with my blood pressure and a whole lot of other stuff. So it's all good.

[Pugsy]

Check your private message box. I sent you the provider/clinician manual for your machine.

Do you know about the software available?
Sleepyhead will work but if you have the 60 series machine then you need the Patch file along with SH.
I have SleepyHead links in my signature line.
Patch file discussed here with instructions and pictures on how to replace the old application exe file with the new Patch file.
viewtopic/t83551/SleepyHead-Series-60-Patch-Avail.html

Look in Uncle Bob's signature line for Encore software that will work.
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=38643
Be sure to read the Help section because it tells you how to use the software.

EncoreGuide link this will show you examples of what you will see. For a different machine than yours but the basics are the same.
http://www.healthcare.philips.com/pwc_h ... _Guide.pdf

[Drowsy Dancer]

My machine has a memory card - I wasn't shown how to access the data by my equipment provider - my tech said it was for monitoring compliance and providing information for my doctor.

Yeah, that's how a tech would think. They're not going to show you how to access the data. But there's absolutely nothing to stop you from learning on your own how to accessing that data and learn more about the effectiveness of your own treatment. They can't tell, from looking at your data, whether you are looking at it as well.