Successful Newbie.

[Nooblakahn]

I have Mixed OSA. My untreated AHI in my polysonogram was 116. Who knows how long this was going on. I was waking up tired, and with headaches. And was also snoring loud enough that my step child could hear me through two closed doors, on the other side of an 1800 square foot home.

My first sleep study was 1/28, that is where I got the diagnosis above. This was a split study, so the second half of the night, they tried me on both cpap, and bipap. I failed miserably on both. I first got a brief rundown of the results over the phone, when the same scheduler called me again to set up another sleep study. Up until this point... I thought it was a one and done thing for the sleep studies... so I wasn't to happy. When she mentioned I had some centrals.. I wasn't sure what they were, but had a guess... And was stunned.... From here they rushed me into another study. This was on 2/4. This time they wanted to try me on bipap st, to adress the centrals. After I failed Bipap ST, I was already expecting another test, for ASV, having found this forum and getting great feedback from its members. So instead of waiting for my scheduler to call me, I was calling her to see when she got the study back, instead of waiting for her to call. This lady was very patient, and managed to get me in for my ASV study 3 days later on 2/7. This was a mere 3 days after my second study, she got me scheduled the same day the report was read by the sleep doctor.

After getting this study, I was a little concerned, as I had basically failed asv.. with an ahi around the low 20's. I had a little bit of back and forth with the sleep lab, and my PCP. My PCP didn't want to write the script.. the sleep lab could not write the script, as I hadn't yet met with the sleep doc. After going back and forth between the 2, the sleep lab faxed over the script, my pcp signed it, and I should have been off in a week....

... SHould have. The lady that was supposed to order the machine... never submitted my pre auth for the machine. So they recieved my machine in week, but since she hadn't submitted the auth.. I couldn't pick it up. To shorten the story, a week after I should have gotten the machine, on 2/25. I picked up my brand new resmed s9 vpap adapt and quattro FX medium size mask.

Now to the good part. I want to share how my 45 days of therapy have gone with this machine.

This has gone mostly smooth for me. I used the machine an average of 8 hour the first 15 days. I've been in the high 7 or low 8's most every night for the entire 45 days. I've missed 4 hours one time, and that was when I feel asleep without my mask, I put it on upon awakening and slept for 3 hours with it. I've had 2 nights were I woke up without the mask on, and lost 2 hours that way. Other than that, I haven't had many issues. I woke up ready to conquer the world the first 3 days I used the machine, then went back to how I felt before, and slowly have started to feel more rested. Those 3 nights were I've slept without the machine, I've felt like crap, so that is proof that it is working.

My quattro fx has been mostly great too. It did start sliding up into my eyes, which was annoying, I also started getting headaches around the same time. Headaches about as bad as the 02 desaturation ones I was getting before therapy. My problem ended up being leaks. I boiled my mask seal, this stopped the mask from sliding, and brought my leaks back down to where I was with the mask new, headaches went away.

I feel better during the day. It is again progressive. This week is about the best I have felt in awhile. I have more energy (not as much as the first 3 days.. but I'm getting there), tomorrow, I don't have much to do at work. I can spend the day talking to my employees, vs spending half the day doing administrative work. I've had energy back to go outside, started biking again. I even feel an improvement in my memory. I attribute all this to bipap asv.

I realize I am luckier than most. I did not have to suffer through the wrong therapy. I had a bit of difficulty getting my machine, but way less than some, and my DME never tried to stick me with a 150 or an escape. I was lucky enough to find a mask I like the first time. Unless you count the small the sleep tech tried to stick on me the first titration.

Lastly, I was lucky enough to find this forum, to help me keep my sanity through waiting for my therapy... and has provided valuable tips to help me in these early stages of therapy. Like boiling my slicone seal, using my headboard as a hose hanger, the right kind of wipes to use (damn 14.99 at my DME), how to look at my data, how to change settings on my machine... Probably countless other things that are second nature now, that I forgot I even learned here.

I don't mean to sound like a braggart by posting this... I just hope that it will help someone struggling with adjusting to this therapy, or someone who may just be going through the diagnosis phase, that this can in fact work out, it is worth sticking with.

I'll get off my soap box, and say again, thanks to everyone in this wonderful community. You've made the ride a much more peaceful journey.

Mike.

[Pugsy]

Way to go. We are doing the Happy Feet dance for you.

[kteague]

Congrats! Always good to read a success story. It would be nice if you copied it and also put it at the top of the page for ready reading by those looking for encouragement to keep working through any problems.

[Nooblakahn]

Congrats! Always good to read a success story. It would be nice if you copied it and also put it at the top of the page for ready reading by those looking for encouragement to keep working through any problems.

Oh.yeah. good idea. I will do that tonight.

Edit: Done.

[pandatx]

what a wonderful thing to read this morning! So happy things are going so well for you

[Nooblakahn]

Oh.. I forgot to add two great members into this. Squid 13 gave me a mask and only wanted payment of the postage in return. Catnap did the same with remzzs for my mask. Im back and forth on the remzzs on if I really like them or not. The squid gave me is not for me. I plan to offer that one up in the same fashion once I get a suitable backup... hopefully tonight if the mirrage quattro I should be getting today works out.

[msvaleriah]

Congrats, Nooblikahn! I'm a fellow newbie who has had similar luck starting cpap therapy - after a longer wait than I was hoping for. That part was the toughest. I was also like you lucky enough to land the right mask right away, and have found the support/encouragement found here on this forum to be invaluable. Have also been fortunate being able to tolerate 100% compliance right off the git go. My energy has been up and down too, but is getting progressively more "up" now. My nocturnia has almost become a thing of the past, and it used to be pretty awful. 2-3 times a night was a GOOD night, and now I'm pulling "all-nighters" pretty consistently, all in the course of 3 short weeks. I'm not getting nearly as drowzy during the day as before, either. I don't wake up all achey any more either and the dark circles under my eyes are going away. I like this new world! A lot.

Did my first follow up on Wednesday with my RT. Went from 47 events an hour the night of my titration study all the way down to less than 4, and a lot of nights 2 or less. I don't want to brag either, I'm just very, very happy with the way things are going and excited to share. I hope all of our collective positive experiences as beginners encourage our fellow newbies to hang in there - better times are indeed in store!

XPAP ROCKS! Darth Vader mask and all.

[tbinbny]

Congratulations! That gives me hope! Things have been going well for me but slow. Awesome that it has worked out for you!

Everyone here is so helpful.

[DJD52]

Congratulations!! and THANK YOU!!
I'm so glad you all posted this success! Just reading about how much better one can feel after
"hanging in there" is so helpful to newbie's in a tired fog.
Happy for your success!

[caffeinatedcfo]

This is awesome! This forum has been very helpful my first week ++

I'm looking forward to looking back 45 days.

[Deenie-deen]

I am new too. I have been using my machine for just over a month and I am doing really well. I didn't want to post how well I was doing in case I upset someone who was just having a rotten time of it. Now I see everyone is seeing it as an encouragement, I will share. I live 5 mins from a full service sleep place. I had 1 overnight and a week later the result showed apnea in the severe range. 1 week later I was in for the 2nd sleep study. I got to try all different masks and had a good hour just putting different ones on. I picked a nasal pillow and they hooked me up and I fell asleep after about 1/2 hour. I only woke once and that was to visit the bathroom. I did really well with the mask and machine and about a week after that I went in for results and left with my machine. They sell all the equipment too, this sleep place does everything.
I have been using for 8 hours or more each night with hardly any problems. I had my mask to tight and the forum helped me with that. I have had some moisture issue and the forum helped with that too. The sleep place called me two weeks after I got the cpap and was surprised they had not heard from me and how was I doing. I guess they are used to people having to contact them with one issue or another. So I guess I took to it like a duck to water and with the help of this forum I am quickly dealing with any small problem I run into. I hope this gives someone some encouragement.

[Nooblakahn]

I am new too. I have been using my machine for just over a month and I am doing really well. I didn't want to post how well I was doing in case I upset someone who was just having a rotten time of it. Now I see everyone is seeing it as an encouragement, I will share. I live 5 mins from a full service sleep place. I had 1 overnight and a week later the result showed apnea in the severe range. 1 week later I was in for the 2nd sleep study. I got to try all different masks and had a good hour just putting different ones on. I picked a nasal pillow and they hooked me up and I fell asleep after about 1/2 hour. I only woke once and that was to visit the bathroom. I did really well with the mask and machine and about a week after that I went in for results and left with my machine. They sell all the equipment too, this sleep place does everything.
I have been using for 8 hours or more each night with hardly any problems. I had my mask to tight and the forum helped me with that. I have had some moisture issue and the forum helped with that too. The sleep place called me two weeks after I got the cpap and was surprised they had not heard from me and how was I doing. I guess they are used to people having to contact them with one issue or another. So I guess I took to it like a duck to water and with the help of this forum I am quickly dealing with any small problem I run into. I hope this gives someone some encouragement.

I had the same thought not to post for those reasons. I forum member in chat encouraged me to post as it helps promote hope. If nothing else, post it in the success stories link up top.

[DEXSUZ]

Way to go!

Last night I had a wacko time sleeping but it was better than most during the last few DECADES. I felt cold, I felt hot, I felt the mask riding up and then I felt it sinking.

Still, at 9:42 p.m. CDT I'm more energetic than I was for years at this late time in the day.

Stats are great but it's your overall gut reaction as to how well you seem to progress through the day that really counts.