Learning the Ropes

jimnlacy · Post by **jimnlacy** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 6:01 pm

I am in day 2 of CPAP therapy. Not going too well but that seems the norm. Research indicates 50% don't end up using or whatever a CPAP machine. I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. My pressure is 4-16. Just call me "Bane". The full face mask gets changed out tomorrow for nasal pillows, only seen pictures. I'll come up with a nickname after I see what it looks like on.

First night ended in hiccups. Second night I took the mask off after feeling like I was being channelled as Dizzy Gillespie. My checks were puffed up like a chipmunk when the CPAP woke me after about 3 hours.

I plan to keep plugging away. My wife says that with the mask on I moan and whimper and she had to go to sleep on the couch. We have a white noise machine that masks the CPAP but I guess my carrying on was too much. They were kinda nightmarish. I like a good scare every know and then, seems like it may be a by product of the therapy. We'll see.

Appreciate any and all tips, secrets, cajoling...whatever.

Cheers

Jim

saltydawg2 · Post by **saltydawg2** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 7:23 pm

It is indeed a hard thing to get used to, my friend. Even as we speak,(type), I am wearing a opti-life pillows mask, trying to get used to it. I have used a Quattro FX most of the six months in therapy, and do pretty well with it. Have tried other styles in past, waking with extremely dry mouth. Would like to be able to actually itch my nose when I want to; no satisfaction scratching outside of FFM. Some seem to take no time at all, others, longer. I will get a new chinstrap next week, when insurance company waves their magic wand. One of many things I have learned from this forum, there are a lot of great folks here to help, and in general have developed a good sense of humor through it all. Hang in there, and know things will change, and people sometimes see a change before you do. Good Luck!

jimnlacy · Post by **jimnlacy** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 8:43 pm

Thanks Salty. It's a journey. For sure.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 9:39 pm

The hiccups could be due to GERD (acid reflux) which many of us have, tho' it sometimes gets better on Cpap, but if there's a chance you have it (and there's a form known as 'silent' GERD - you're not really aware of it tho' it can damage your insides), try to not sleep on your back (which provokes more apneas anyhow), raise the head of your bed on 5" blocks and stay away from caffeine after mid afternoon, and alcohol for a few hrs before bed.

Drowsy Dancer · Post by **Drowsy Dancer** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 11:05 pm

Nasal pillows are the bomb diggity (at least for me).

Is it too overwhelming to start thinking about the software already? I wonder how much time you're actually going to spend at a pressure of 4, which would feel to me like I was breathing in a vacuum.

Welcome!

jimnlacy · Post by **jimnlacy** » Thu Mar 12, 2015 7:11 am

Julie, great idea about the blocks.

Drowsy, I am getting fitted with nasal pillows today. Hope it helps.

jimnlacy · Post by **jimnlacy** » Thu Mar 12, 2015 7:16 am

Drowsy, not sure about the software. My machine sends the data via cellular signal back to the DME. I don't know if using the SD card at the same time will interfere with sending the data. And I'm not sure if that would really help me at this early stage. Your thoughts?

AMK · Post by **AMK** » Thu Mar 12, 2015 8:01 am

I take my SD card out every morning and import the data into Sleepyhead and it does not interfere with the cellular transmission. I've been on cpap a month and I've found the data very helpful. I just had one day where I forgot to return the SD card to the machine and it didn't record that night's data, but the data still got transmitted.

palerider · Post by **palerider** » Thu Mar 12, 2015 10:14 am

jimnlacy wrote:. I don't know if using the SD card at the same time will interfere with sending the data. And I'm not sure if that would really help me at this early stage. Your thoughts?

it doesn't, and it will.

without examining the data, you're flying blind. and, only summary data is sent via wireless.

jimnlacy · Post by **jimnlacy** » Thu Mar 12, 2015 4:00 pm

Just got the nasal pillows. I'll plug in an SD card and download the software (Sleepyhead). Sure is weird having your airways pressurized.

Drowsy Dancer · Post by **Drowsy Dancer** » Thu Mar 12, 2015 10:40 pm

jimnlacy wrote:Just got the nasal pillows. I'll plug in an SD card and download the software (Sleepyhead). Sure is weird having your airways pressurized.

What think you about the nasal pillows?

Elle · Post by **Elle** » Thu Mar 12, 2015 10:46 pm

Don't forget to lock/unlock the card. I screwed that up more than once.

jimnlacy · Post by **jimnlacy** » Fri Mar 13, 2015 7:31 am

I was able to wear the nasal pillows all night. 9+ hours. What a difference from the full mask. Also downloaded the software, imported the data.

Learning the Ropes

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