In Love with my hose - day four report

crossfit · Post by **crossfit** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:26 am

My heated hose arrived yesterday. So did my teeny little hose cover for my mask hose (the swift hose cover thing). NO RAINOUT! Yahoo!

Also good is that I am starting to move around a little in my sleep again. My body seems to be adjusting to the mask and letting me sleep more normally. However, I am not tossing and turning like I used to either.

One thing - I am noticing that one eye seems a bit hazy during the day, especially when I wake up. Not sure if this has anything to do with CPAP but I did find an article relating glaucoma to sleep apnea so I am curious if this is somehow related.

I adjusted my minimum pressure up again yesterday to 7.5. For the first night I didn't feel like I was struggling to breathe as I fell asleep. I also think that the pressure changes weren't as dramatic when the machine compensated for events as I didn't wake up when the pressure got high. My AHI did go up a drop (from and average of 2.9 the day before to 3.6)though so I am not going to mess with it again for a while. I am actually pretty sure the AHI increase is due to more REM as I have REM rebound. My software is not here yet so I can't look at more detailed data yet.

I slept really well last night. I am totally in love with my machine. APAP is my friend.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:20 pm

I occasionally get that blurry eye thing too. I don't think it's really any big deal, but if you're worried, go to an OPTHAMOLOGIST and get a test for eye pressure.

Several people here have reported going to the mall OPTOMETRIST and getting some bogus info there. I can't stress enough going to a real eye doc, vs. the DME of the eye profession.

Not that all docs are GREAT, but I've been lucky about 90% of the time and have gotten decent ones.

Of course, the eye surgeon that butchered my eyesight in the nineties wasn't in the top 10% there... The current doctor is the first one to tell me that indeed, I was BUTCHERED. And he has been the only one to offer me any workable solution. But he has refused to do further surgery on me, or a cornea replacement. He's waiting until I go fully blind to do that. I kid you not...

Do your homework, ask around, find a quality doctor. And even then, you can't guarantee the results, but they are bound to be better than the Mall Doc-in-a-box.

Cheers,
Babs

crossfit · Post by **crossfit** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:06 pm

Thanks. I have a great eye doctor (not optometrist) and she has been doing the pressure tests for two years to get a baseline on me. I see her again in January. That is probably soon enough unless this really starts to bother me.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:11 am

I knew you were a smart cookie!
Cheers,
B.

crossfit · Post by **crossfit** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:45 am

lol. I am a smart cookie - chocolate chip.

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 3:33 am

Good to hear that you're off to such a good start.

About the eyes, based on my recent experience, it's better to be safe than sorry. I had felt my eyesight was declining and I attributed it to getting older. One day for just a while I was seeing rainbows around the lights, then a yellow haze around those same lights. I called my doctor who sent me directly to an opthomologist. My eye pressures were over 40, and untreated they would have led to blindness.

Not that your eyesight issue sounds like mine (glaucoma), I'd just like to encourage you not to wait till Jan. if you continue to have symptoms.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:45 pm

Good advice Kathy! Yes, definitely if symptoms persist or get worse, get thee to your fav Opthamologist, Chocolate Chip Girl!

Cheers,
Babs

crossfit · Post by **crossfit** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:55 pm

I agree. Its better today though. My eyes are slightly different in their prescription anyway. I used to only use glasses for reading but now I need an intermediate prescription for the computer too. I like that this site lets you increase the font size so easily though.

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:39 pm

Just FYI:

I happen to have a friend who is married to an optometrist. He is, oddly enough, my optometrist. EVERY time I have seen him he does a glaucoma diagnosing pressure test on each eye...gee, how I love those puffs of air in my already dry eyes.

Overall, at retail prices, he charges less for his services and eyeglass frames and lenses than the big box department store chains that provide optical care. Yep, and he KNOWS that because he has to go to work for one of them to make ends meet...thus, becoming aware of their pricing policies.

So, as with CPAP, doing one's homework is worthwhile in the area of eye care. A reliable, competent optometrist will refer anyone with a problem that is best treated by someone else to that expert. However, in most cases, an optometrist will be able to treat eye conditions and prescribe for them capably.

Independent optometrists' offices are also eager to please because they are not able to advertise like the mall biggies. They have been hit hard by some of the contracts requiring workers to see the mall They do, IMHO, provide a better level of care because the optometrist has more input into his or her office practices.

As I said...this is just FYI!

Karen
Who is attempting monovision

with contact lenses

crossfit · Post by **crossfit** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:42 pm

Thanks birdshell for the reminder that it isn't the field, its the person. Anyone who stays up to date in their field and has excellent patient relationships with the expectation of patient input will be a good health care practitioner.

tashabear · Post by **tashabear** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:45 pm

crossfit wrote:I like that this site lets you increase the font size so easily though.

You can change the text size in your browser, did you know that? Which one are you using? I think hitting "ctrl++" will increase text size on almost any browser.

echo · Post by **echo** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 2:08 am

You can change the text size in your browser, did you know that? Which one are you using? I think hitting "ctrl++" will increase text size on almost any browser.

You can also use CTRL + scroll the mouse wheel (up or down, depends on the program).

CROSSFIT - Hope your therapy continues on this positive note!! Definintely get them eyes checked out - they are so important!

Though I have a bit of what you desrcribe too ... but only when I first get up and before I take a shower. I get it worse without CPAP actually.

Hint - when at some point in the future, after the honeymood period, you start throwing your mask against the wall because everything is failing, repeat that 10 times to yourself:

crossfit wrote: I am totally in love with my machine. APAP is my friend.

And then go find the right mask/hose/tape/socks/pantyhose/ Not to discourage you, just in the future if you start having problems, don't get discouraged... the enthusiasm and dedication you've already shown will go a long way! You won't be a newbie for too much longer...!!!

Hope you get the software soon!

mmmmmm chocolate chip cookies mmmm.....

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 11:19 am

No matter how frustrated I have been with my mask or machine, I have still been thankful for my CPAP therapy...and have immediately come here to find answers, if I can! (Hey, anything helps if it allows me to sleep less than half of my life.)

In that spirit, here is one of the best postings Laura, aka rested gal, EVER compiled:

Lab Ratting Awards

And, just for frosting on the cake:

Laura keeps updating her compilations. Thank you,

O rested gal!

Karen

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP

crossfit · Post by **crossfit** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 11:40 am

I am prepared. Yesterday I had a moment where it sort of hit me that this was for the rest of my life. I wanted to lie down for just ten minutes but knew that I couldn't without the mask and apap because if I fell asleep that would not be good. On the other hand, keeping track of how I feel each day is really helpful. I am getting better and better.

As for my eyes, I didn't take my normal sleeping pill last night and my eyes feel fine this morning. So who knows. I will continue to pay attention to that. I also don't feel tired. Thats amazing.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): APAP

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 12:30 pm

LOL, Karennnnnnnn. (ty )

In Love with my hose - day four report

In Love with my hose - day four report

Off to a good start