any suggestions? sleep study next week..

tnmom · Post by **tnmom** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:12 pm

a little background--- my spouse has used a cpap for about 10 years, and it seriously saved our marriage. He is a different person & so much more AWAKE!

Anyway, I had rotator cuff surgery about 2 months ago which caused me to only be able to sleep on my back. As a result, apparently I snore like a banshee, gasp and choke, flip and flop (which is wonderful with the shoulder situation...), and wake up exhausted. I have also been gasping/choking for about the last five years.

So anyway, I bit the bullet and made an appointment with the sleep dr, who promptly informed me that the ambien (to GET to sleep) and provigil (to wake up) combination is a badddd idea. I am set for a sleep study on Monday.

My husband has an extra cpap (not a bi-pap--- he got to keep that one, haha), that I have tried to use on and off, but never with much success. The main problem--- no matter how much I work on getting the correct size maek or nasal pillows, it seems like it it blowing into my eyes. Then, I can't get out of my mind that I am exhaling into the same thing that I am inhaling from, so I am probably getting poisoned by carbon monoxide. Yes, I know, that is a little paranoid and surely isn't the case, but it makes me wonder.

My question for all of you---- any suggestions on TYPES of machines to discuss with the dr? cpap? bi-pap? anything else? I'm worried that he is going to say that I need to go with something, and I am going to rip if off after an hour of insomnia because my eyes are drying out & I can't get to sleep.

SOMETHING has to change though, I'm exhausted!!

Thanks!

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:40 pm

Sleep apnea can change in severity by sleeping positions. Usually sleeping on one's back (supine) is the worst for apnea as the relaxed muscles/tongue block off the airway. Side sleeping helps to minimize it.

If it turns out that you do have sleep apnea.....and it sounds like you do.....if you get a good titration, you COULD use your husband's machine (assuming you don't need a Bi-PAP or different type of machine)......or, if not, get a good data-capable CPAP or APAP machine like these two.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage-bundle ... undle.html

https://www.cpap.com/productpage-bundle ... undle.html

If you NEED a Bi-PAP, they would have to do that type of titration to get the IPAP and EPAP pressures correct.

Yes, the mask is THE critical element in this therapy. By the way, it's carbon DIoxide......not MONoxide......and the masks are designed to expel it with extra air flow (deliberate leakage).

If you haven't, I'd suggest going up to the Yellow Lightbulb icon "Our Collective Wisdom" and start reading.

Den

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:42 pm

Hello & Welcome, tnmom! Glad you found this forum--SO much useful info and SO many helpful people here!
My suggestion would be to discuss an APAP machine, specifically the M Series APAP wi/AFLEX--had mine since October, it is a DREAM machine!

"You are getting sleepy . . ."

tnmom · Post by **tnmom** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:43 pm

oh man--- you can tell I am sleepy! carbon DIoxide. carbon DIoxide. hah!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:20 pm

I had shoulder surgery a year and a half ago. I could only sleep on my back.. After an hour or two, it got so painful that I would get up for a while and walk around the house, just so I wouldn't have to lay down... it hurt so bad. I feel for you.

Solution #1, take a towel and fold it so that it is about 3 or 4" wide. This should make it an inch or so thick. Place it under your shoulder so that it's not under your back or your side , but laying alongside of you, just underneath the shoulder. If you get it just right, it will support your shoulder ever-so-slightly.... and it will make an enormous difference.

Solution #2, get a softer, pillow top mattress. This will let your body sink in, yet hold up the lighter and smaller portion of your shoulder.

It will take a number of months for the shoulder to heal... I was probably 5 or 6 months before I felt really well.

DO YOUR THERAPY!!!! Get that shoulder stretched out, don't get lazy on this or you will suffer with it the rest of your life.

Jerry.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:24 pm

Also, if you are a nasal breather, try an Optilife Nasal pillow system. You're not breathing into the same mask so you won't have to worry about Carbon Anything.

You can sleep on your back or your side and still keep it in place. It is my favorite system.

I don't know if I'll ever be able to sleep on the shoulder that had the surgery, but I do very well on the "good" shoulder and the back...

Jerry.

katusha · Post by **katusha** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:21 pm

....make sure to get up early that day so that you are good and tired and able to fall sleep with numerous wires attached to your body (mainly your head/face. You must have clean loose hair because these wires are glued to your scalp. Make no plans to go anywhere when you leave the next morning unless the sleep facility has a shower where you can shampoo this glue (water solvent) out of your hair. I actually stopped at walmart on my way home with large lumps of white glue still on my scalp. It was very early and it was practically emty. Three people approached me to ask what was wrong with my hair I must have looked like a mental patient out for the first time in years.
Also if you like to fall sleep while watching TV, it may not be allowed. I was bothered by the thought of someone watching my every move too.

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:32 pm

I took my own pillow and "blankie" from home for both nights of my sleep study :<)

any suggestions? sleep study next week..

any suggestions? sleep study next week..

First sleep study suggestions...