I'm one of these self employed people that makes enough money to live, but it's without health insurance.
My wife has complained about snoring/apnea for about 5 years, and with the internet we self diagnosed the situation.
My dad had a machine he no longer used, and he gave it to me to try. I was such a loner/novice, that I tried the first cople of nights to put a nose mask over my nose and mouth at the same time... Any way I figured it all out and with a "can do attitude" got used to it all and have come to love my machine. I've been on it for 6 months, but I've got a couple of problems that a site search did not help with...
* Weight Gain - I started at 260#, and am now #290. I fill/feel bloated and PG like crazy (can be fun, but mostly irritates my wife). Is weight gain normal, or is it a by product of a bigger stomach that gets hungry more often? Does anyone else have a huge weight gain - is it normal?
* Is it posible to wear a mask that doesn't leave red marks around your nose? I've got a comfort gel medium something or other. Not even sure. (funny thing - Its delicate plastic pieces have busted two or three times, and I've duct taped it up, and used zip ties to keep it working. It looks like something out of MadMax, but it works.)
At first I thought more pressure was better, so I changed it from 16 to 18. Since I've found this site (this week) I've turned down the pressure to 10 and have noticed than my mouth is completly normal in the morning, whereas at 16 it was dry... Can someone give me a quick lowdown on pressure and whats considered a normal setting?
Thanks in Advance
Don't Hate Me, but I'm a underground CPAP user.
8 posts
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clackamascoug
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:30 am
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Panhandler
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Thu May 17, 2007 5:39 pm
- Location: Idaho's Panhandle
Coug:
Most of us are at least a little cynical about the "professional" sleep folks and most of us are making at least some personal adjustments in our therapy, so you're not much farther underground than the rest of us!
It will be helpful to us in commenting on your situation to know what kind of equipment you're using. If you'll fill out your profile, the forum software will put that at the bottom or each post and keep us reminded.
I'm no expert, but 16 or 18 is pretty high and the air in your gut (called aerophagia, which means, I think, eating air) will be worse as pressures rise. The dry mouth is most likely your therapy air leaking out of your mouth during the night. When that happens, you're not getting any therapy at all.
Stick around this forum. Read the material under "Our Collective Wisdom" and the "CPAP FAQ" at the top of the page and you'll soon get responses here from the more experienced members. Welcome!
Most of us are at least a little cynical about the "professional" sleep folks and most of us are making at least some personal adjustments in our therapy, so you're not much farther underground than the rest of us!
It will be helpful to us in commenting on your situation to know what kind of equipment you're using. If you'll fill out your profile, the forum software will put that at the bottom or each post and keep us reminded.
I'm no expert, but 16 or 18 is pretty high and the air in your gut (called aerophagia, which means, I think, eating air) will be worse as pressures rise. The dry mouth is most likely your therapy air leaking out of your mouth during the night. When that happens, you're not getting any therapy at all.
Stick around this forum. Read the material under "Our Collective Wisdom" and the "CPAP FAQ" at the top of the page and you'll soon get responses here from the more experienced members. Welcome!
_________________
| Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine |
| Mask: Quattro™ Air Full Face Mask with Headgear |
Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity.
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wabmorgan
- Posts: 395
- Joined: Sat Apr 29, 2006 10:46 pm
- Location: Southfork Ranch, Braddock County, Texas ;-)
- Contact:
HATED..... Aa Roster said NOT HERE>
You will be welcome with open arms.
At least you are trying to do something about it.
As for you mask question... it leaving red marks.... you might try the ResMed Activa mask. It is the one I use and the only one that works for me well. (I don't like tight masks eighter.)
You can leave the strap loose on the Activa and it won't leak. (Keep in mind the Activa is a nasal mask and won't help if you are mouth breathing.)
Now..... my only other question for you is.... what kind of CPAP are you using???? Is it an Auto Cpap??? If not.... what presure are you on and how did you detrmine it???
YOu might also check to see if there is a way to get a sleep study... maybe there is a charity that can provide one.
You might try starting here.... http://www.sleepapnea.org/awake/index.html
You will be welcome with open arms.
At least you are trying to do something about it.
As for you mask question... it leaving red marks.... you might try the ResMed Activa mask. It is the one I use and the only one that works for me well. (I don't like tight masks eighter.)
You can leave the strap loose on the Activa and it won't leak. (Keep in mind the Activa is a nasal mask and won't help if you are mouth breathing.)
Now..... my only other question for you is.... what kind of CPAP are you using???? Is it an Auto Cpap??? If not.... what presure are you on and how did you detrmine it???
YOu might also check to see if there is a way to get a sleep study... maybe there is a charity that can provide one.
You might try starting here.... http://www.sleepapnea.org/awake/index.html
Health Insurance?
Self diagnosed, self treated, and doing very well thanks to this forum.
The only difficulty this has caused is that most sites are kinda fussy about selling machines without a prescription, but all of the masks and accessories are no problem.
As for your questions...
Weight Gain - Me too... I used to be so tired at the end of the day, for the first few months I was HUNGRY at the end of the day. It seems to have calmed down, but I still need to loose the weight.
Mask leaving red marks. Try any other mask. If one bothers you, the next mask will hopefully bother you in a whole new way. Cpapauction.com is great for masks if your trying to keep the cost down. BTW The Activa and the Swift are my choices. The swift doesn't even touch the bridge or the sides of your nose.
Pressure: I started by finding the lowest pressure that stopped my snoring, and added 1 or 2 to it. I now have a better machine that will adjust pressures automatically and gives me access to some very helpful data.
Self diagnosed, self treated, and doing very well thanks to this forum.
The only difficulty this has caused is that most sites are kinda fussy about selling machines without a prescription, but all of the masks and accessories are no problem.
As for your questions...
Weight Gain - Me too... I used to be so tired at the end of the day, for the first few months I was HUNGRY at the end of the day. It seems to have calmed down, but I still need to loose the weight.
Mask leaving red marks. Try any other mask. If one bothers you, the next mask will hopefully bother you in a whole new way. Cpapauction.com is great for masks if your trying to keep the cost down. BTW The Activa and the Swift are my choices. The swift doesn't even touch the bridge or the sides of your nose.
Pressure: I started by finding the lowest pressure that stopped my snoring, and added 1 or 2 to it. I now have a better machine that will adjust pressures automatically and gives me access to some very helpful data.
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NightHawkeye
- Posts: 2431
- Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 11:55 am
- Location: Iowa - The Hawkeye State
Welcome to the club, coug. Some of us are also self-diagnosed. Myself included.
Now that I think about it, I'm wondering what the harm in making APAP available for over-the-counter snore relief would be. Hmmm ...
I'd recommend you latch onto a data-capable machine which will allow you to better optimize your therapy. An APAP would be even better. E-bay, yahoo auctions, maybe other places offer CPAP's from time-to-time.
Good luck.
Now that I think about it, I'm wondering what the harm in making APAP available for over-the-counter snore relief would be. Hmmm ...
I'd recommend you latch onto a data-capable machine which will allow you to better optimize your therapy. An APAP would be even better. E-bay, yahoo auctions, maybe other places offer CPAP's from time-to-time.
Good luck.
Hello & Welcome, clackamascoug! Glad you found this forum--SO much useful info and SO many helpful people here!
Good for you for doing this all on your own. I agree, though, that you need to get a data capable machine, an auto-titrating APAP would help to determine your best pressure, too. Re the red marks, your mask might just be too tight. Or, if it's marks from the headgear, then you just need strap cushion covers to take care of that. Good luck!
"You are getting sleepy . . ."
As others have said..... WELCOME! (see? We ARE a freindly bunch ).
If you do not mouth breathe, you might try a nasal pillow interface. No marks on the face, and for me at least, much more comfortable than a mask. I use and swear by the Breeze, others here love the Headrest, others really like the Swift or Swift II. Do a search (2nd button from the left at the top of the screen) on 'nasal pillows' to read up on threads concerning various types of nasal pillows.
As was stated in a message above, generally on line sites will sell masks and hoses and other consumables w/o a Rx. You can also try Craigslist, or cpapauction here.
The high pressure is likely causing you the aerophagia (stomach bloating). Lower pressures can help with that, so can a bi-pap or a machine with exhale relief (aflex, cflex, epr, or the like). Unless your machine reports data (not all do, and some require the use of additional software to access that data), you will not know what pressure gives you the best results; but your body should be telling you at least roughly. The goal would be the minimum amount of pressure to resolve the highest number of apneas. More pressure is not always better. People vary in their response. I have not heard of aerophagia stimulating appetite.
As to weight gain, there really isn't a direct link between xpap therapy and weight. Some lose, some gain, many remain the same or close to it. Not all apnea patients are overweight... some are downright skinny. (Swordz, how ya doing?) And loss of weight may help reduce some apnea symptoms, but by itself rarely eliminates them. It may be that the cpap treatment has made you feel much better and you have more interest in things in general, including food!
Losing weight by itself has a host of advantages for your overall health, and for those reasons alone it's worth working for. Don't assume it will affect your apnea, though. It may help.
Congrats for taking control of your condition and doing something very positive towards your improved health. Stick around, read up, ask questions, and good luck!
If you do not mouth breathe, you might try a nasal pillow interface. No marks on the face, and for me at least, much more comfortable than a mask. I use and swear by the Breeze, others here love the Headrest, others really like the Swift or Swift II. Do a search (2nd button from the left at the top of the screen) on 'nasal pillows' to read up on threads concerning various types of nasal pillows.
As was stated in a message above, generally on line sites will sell masks and hoses and other consumables w/o a Rx. You can also try Craigslist, or cpapauction here.
The high pressure is likely causing you the aerophagia (stomach bloating). Lower pressures can help with that, so can a bi-pap or a machine with exhale relief (aflex, cflex, epr, or the like). Unless your machine reports data (not all do, and some require the use of additional software to access that data), you will not know what pressure gives you the best results; but your body should be telling you at least roughly. The goal would be the minimum amount of pressure to resolve the highest number of apneas. More pressure is not always better. People vary in their response. I have not heard of aerophagia stimulating appetite.
As to weight gain, there really isn't a direct link between xpap therapy and weight. Some lose, some gain, many remain the same or close to it. Not all apnea patients are overweight... some are downright skinny. (Swordz, how ya doing?) And loss of weight may help reduce some apnea symptoms, but by itself rarely eliminates them. It may be that the cpap treatment has made you feel much better and you have more interest in things in general, including food!
Losing weight by itself has a host of advantages for your overall health, and for those reasons alone it's worth working for. Don't assume it will affect your apnea, though. It may help.
Congrats for taking control of your condition and doing something very positive towards your improved health. Stick around, read up, ask questions, and good luck!
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| Machine | Mask | |||
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| Additional Comments: Avg. AHI .4 | ||||
Getting old doesn't make you 'forgetful'. Having too damn many things to remember makes you 'forgetful'.
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