Hello, CPAP Forum!

[SleepyJohn43]

So last night, I had my second sleep study, the one where they put you on the CPAP machine.

I was a bit nervous going into the test, but some advance reading that I did on this forum helped me out quite a bit. Thanks to all of you!

My first test went horribly. I couldn't get to sleep. My heart and thoughts were racing. The leads were pulling at my body hair. Even still, they were able to measure several events that were enough to diagnose me with mild sleep apnea. The sleep doc said that it was probably underreported since I never actually got to sleep, but what they did see was pretty clear. This may sound strange, but I was excited to have a medical professional find something wrong with me, something that might help explain the way I've been feeling for the past several years.

For this latest test, I took the advice of taking my comfort into my own hands (which I should have done to begin with). I brought my own pillow and body pillow, something comfortable and familiar to help me relax. I also chose to go to a different facility to do it as the place I went to the first time was, to put it kindly, sub-par.

For the test, they put me on a nasal mask. I was able to use it without my mouth coming open, so we never even tried the larger mask. I found it to be surprisingly comfortable. There was no substantial sensation of air pressure that I could detect. I could tell that my tongue was pushed forward a bit, but that was about it. I think that the tube is going to take a bit of getting used to, as I was having to tug on it when I rolled over (I'm a side sleeper).

The technician woke me up at 5:30am to end the test. I felt more refreshed and alert than I have that early in the morning than I have in a very long time. It was kind of amazing, and I was smiling on the way home just at the thought that I could feel that good.

Is it unusual for CPAP to make a significant impact on the way you feel after one night? If it is the case, I don't want to wait 60-90 days for the insurance to approve the machine, I want to get on this ASAP. Any advice on how to fast track this? I'd be willing to buy that machine outright, if necessary, but I'm just ready to start feeling good again.

Anyway, glad that this forum exists and there are so many people willing to help!

[zoocrewphoto]

I was surprised at how well I felt after the sleep study. The next night, at home, I actually had a dream that I had to wait 6 months to get my machine, and I was angry. My brain was telling me it wanted a machine NOW. I had to wait 2 weeks for my sleep doctor appointment and then 3 more days for the machine. I was so excited I went home and took a nap to try it out. That, after dreading a sleep study and machine for about 10 years.

I will tell you that it's a little harder at home to figure it all out and get the hang of it. I have mostly good nights with a few awesome nights and a few bad nights. I spent several weeks at the beginning fighting with mask leaks even though I ordered the same mask that fit perfectly at the sleep study. It just took me awhile to master it without a sleep tech.

It does help to have a great titration as you now have a taste of how a good night feels. That helped me a lot as struggled in the beginning. I just kept reminding myself that I knew it was possible because I had already experienced it.

[Julie]

You can use different tricks to deal with the hose - one is to attach it loosely to a headboard if you have a tallish one. Another is to get a Hose Buddy - it looks a bit like an IV pole to which you hook the hose (beside your bed) loosely and it keeps it high enough so that if you turn over, the hose swivels without tangling in bedding. Some people have a ceiling hook and use a longer hose (10' is about the longest you'd want to use before air delivery is compromised).

[HerbM]

It's also possible to just become accustomed to dealing with the hose without having to pay much conscious attention to it.

(I used to be a commercial diver in my youth, so dealing with the hose was something we were required to do constantly while working so perhaps this is easier for me, though anyone COULD learn it.)

For my hose, when sleeping facing away, I let the short very flexible pigtail hose of my Airfit P10 run straight down to about my stomach, where it joins to the ClimateLine (thicker) hose of the S9 Autoset. This thick hose runs under my arm just under my ribcage in the recess just below the ribs so even my arm or side seldom feels the hose there.

It's actually easier to deal with in THIS position than when facing the machine since in the latter case the weight of the larger hose falling off the bed can tug on the mask pigtail hose and my nose etc.

For facing the machine, I therefore tuck the connector between hoses under a pillow corner so their will always be some slack in the light mask hose. It's not a big deal, but actually not as easy as facing away with the hose under the arm.

Done this way the hose is "no deal" to me.

Experiment and see if you can find some similar methods that work for you.

[Pugsy]

What kind of insurance do you have?
It shouldn't take long to get approval for the machine as they pretty much have the sleep apnea diagnosis from the initial diagnostic sleep study...that's how come you got to have the titration study.

Who told you 60 to 90 days?

Welcome to the forum. I am glad you had a good titration study and felt some benefits. You may duplicate it at home...may not...initially anyway. Remember the tech was watching everything and able to make adjustments as needed.

Have your read this? Information on what to expect from DMEs and information on full efficacy data machines.
Slightly outdated as Respironics now has a line of PR System One 60 series machines with a heated hose option.
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/what-y ... me-part-i/
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/

[PartlyCloudy]

Hi SleepyJohn. Yes, I had the same experience. I felt wonderfully refreshed after my cpap study and ran for 3 days on that one decent night's sleep. I've hung onto to that as I've struggled here at home to adjust and I'm finally beginning to feel the benefits after a week.

I too was delighted to find out I had apnea and had an explanation for why I felt so horrible for so long. I don't know how common that reaction is as my doc/nurse seemed taken aback by my enthusiasm.

[SleepyJohn43]

I too was delighted to find out I had apnea and had an explanation for why I felt so horrible for so long. I don't know how common that reaction is as my doc/nurse seemed taken aback by my enthusiasm.

Seriously! I was ecstatic when they told me that they found something! Something I could target. Something I could fight.

5 visits to the ER over the past 2 years with dianoses of GERD, Heart Problems, Asthma, and Generalized Anxiety. A new pill after every visit, but no relief. On one visit, my GP told me to ask my girlfriend if I snored or stopped breathing at night. Long story short, she confirmed, he ordered the sleep study, I had a plausible answer.

What kind of insurance do you have?
It shouldn't take long to get approval for the machine as they pretty much have the sleep apnea diagnosis from the initial diagnostic sleep study...that's how come you got to have the titration study.

Who told you 60 to 90 days?

Insurance is United Healthcare.

I could be wrong about the 60-90 days. I am going to follow up on Monday to get the straight scoop.

Have your read this? Information on what to expect from DMEs and information on full efficacy data machines.
Slightly outdated as Respironics now has a line of PR System One 60 series machines with a heated hose option.

I had not, but it was a great read! I'm going to be armed and dangerous when I get with the DME folks!

For my hose, when sleeping facing away, I let the short very flexible pigtail hose of my Airfit P10 run straight down to about my stomach, where it joins to the ClimateLine (thicker) hose of the S9 Autoset. This thick hose runs under my arm just under my ribcage in the recess just below the ribs so even my arm or side seldom feels the hose there.

Ya know what's funny? I was doing this very thing during my night at the sleep lab. It was only mildly annoying. I've been SCUBA diving for about 20 years, so breathing through and managing hoses is only a minor nuisance. You're absolutely right, though, and it felt like second nature to have the hose coming under my right arm just like my regulator.

You can use different tricks to deal with the hose - one is to attach it loosely to a headboard if you have a tallish one.

Yes! I sense an opportunity to use my secret MacGuyver super powers!!!

It does help to have a great titration as you now have a taste of how a good night feels. That helped me a lot as struggled in the beginning. I just kept reminding myself that I knew it was possible because I had already experienced it.

Isn't it amazing how exhilarating 'normal' can be?

Thank you all for your welcomes and advice! I cant wait to get started with this!

[Sheriff Buford]

One way to "hurry up" the process is to "help" it along... Like running paperwork here and there and constantly following up.

Sheriff

[SleepyJohn43]

So, I followed up with the sleep lab this morning. They indicated that they would take 7-10 days to evaluate my test results, then they would write the appropriate prescription.