Hubby gets machine tomorrow morning!

bucsfan0713 · Post by **bucsfan0713** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:11 pm

Our DME meets w/ my hubby tomorrow AM, he is getting the M Series BiPAP Auto with BiFlex, Heated Humidifier, and Card Reader, as far as the mask he will be getting the Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask with Headgear. If anyone has any tips, hints suggestions etc, please let me know. I am so excited he is finally getting it. It has been 3 weeks since his sleep study! By the time his doctor had the follow up appt and by the time the DME got the orders it seems like a year has passed by lol. My hubby is falling asleep every afternoon, in the middle of conversation. When we drive somewhere i usually drive now, because he gets way to drowsy behind the wheel. He is 46 yo by the way. He is having such a hard time functioning I pray that the bi flex helps him get the rest he needs.

Any thoughts please share, I am so anxious for him!

TIA Laura

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 2:16 pm

Welcome TIA Laura!

Most important thought is not let him fail this treatment ... do everything you can to make it work. The sleep issues are only the tip of the iceberg.

OSA kill silently if left untreated. Read this forum as often as possible until you get up the learning curve and take control of the the treatment.

Think of it like diabetes. It is a life long condition and it needs to be monitored and adjusted as needed. Get the Encore software and card reader as it is invaluable.

Best wishes!

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 3:31 pm

bucsfan0713 wrote:It has been 3 weeks since his sleep study! By the time his doctor had the follow up appt and by the time the DME got the orders it seems like a year has passed by lol. My hubby is falling asleep every afternoon, in the middle of conversation. When we drive somewhere i usually drive now, because he gets way to drowsy behind the wheel. He is 46 yo by the way. He is having such a hard time functioning I pray that the bi flex helps him get the rest he needs.

Any thoughts please share, I am so anxious for him!

TIA Laura

Sounds so much like me!!! I too would fall asleep in mid conversation. My wife almost would not let me drive if I had to go over a couple of blocks. I was afraid I would get fired from my job because my boss would find me slumped over my desk asleep. I was so lucky, my doc was so concerned he called the sleep center and and got the hand written notes faxed the next morning and I had a machine by noon the next day. The first few weeks were hard but it has been worth it. Like DreamStalker said be suportive and don't let him fail the treatment. It does get easier just don't let him give up. My wife would tell me "Iknow it is hard but you have to do it" when I would get mad because I had trouble going to sleep and throw the mask across the room. I was a bad patient but I can now look back and see the difference.

Jerry

crossfit · Post by **crossfit** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 3:51 pm

Good luck. One thing you might consider is telling him that not all people do well right off the bat but that you have found a great community of people who have figured out many of the initial problems. You and he both can come here to ask any of the questions that will come up. And things will come up. Often the DME and the doctors don't know how to solve the day to day problems like the people here do. Building a support system for those times is invaluable.

sleeplessinaz · Post by **sleeplessinaz** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 4:27 pm

Hi--yes the best advise is to go slow and be patient. It is hard to get used to all the stuff on your face etc. it will take some time to get used to and like the others have said--it will take time to start feeling better.

I have tried about 6 or 7 masks now --I am ok with the Comfort Gel for now but still on a quest to find "the" right one--so he may need to get some new masks if the one he gets is not for him--much of this is trial and error. Don't let him give up!!!

Carrie

bucsfan0713 · Post by **bucsfan0713** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 9:30 am

Thank you so much for all of the support! He slept with it last night for the first night! He woke up twice in the night, once to use the bathroom and once he felt like he could not exhale hard enough against the incoming air so he woke up. To get past that he said he concentrated on his breathing and it felt easier to him. This A.M. he woke up and said he was not as achy as he normally is when he wakes up. I guess his body was really deprived of sleep and oxygen. That was a promising sign. I will be able to tell when he does not doze off during the evening while we are talking lol.

I think he did better the first night then I expected him too lol. Hopefully with each night it will get easier and easier. Thanks again for the support. BTW the DME did not have a card reader for our machine, it will come in a few weeks so we can not look at the data yet

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 11:10 am

Sounds like a good first night, BucsFan! Many he have many more even better ones!

Now, if only I could get "my" husband .....

crossfit · Post by **crossfit** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:17 pm

that is excellent. I also noticed the aches and pains going away first thing. He may not be able to stay up in the evenings with you for a while yet. Most of us need to catch up on our sleep. So hang in there and keep looking for the small improvements. My husband said he notices small things each day that show my improvement. I am only about two weeks on treatment so your hubby and I are both new and going through this. Good luck to him from me.

bucsfan0713 · Post by **bucsfan0713** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:24 pm

Thanks...I will pass on the good wishes to him from you! Good luck to you too!

I will keep you posted on his progress!

Gerald · Post by **Gerald** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:41 pm

Bucksfan.........

Your husband will probably find that the trips to the bathroom will cease once he gets his AHI below 2.5 or so. My opinion (based on my own experience) is that high BP is the biggest cause of nocturnal visits to the bathroom.

Watch out for mask or mouth leaks. They'll negate his therapy if he can't get them under control.

As he gets further into his therapy, he'll know what questions he needs to ask....and there'll be plenty of people on this forum who'll be glad to help.

He's a fortunate man to have a wife like you....someone on the scene to help him along. Evidently, you've decided that you don't want to be without a husband. OSA is a killer.

Gerald

bap40 · Post by **bap40** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 1:42 pm

It is a very nice thing to see when someone comes onboard with such a down to earth and positive frame of mind. This will be an pretty easy adjustment I think.

I think this is only the way to go about life. More positive than negative. These people know it is the only thing that can be done and are looking at a new kind of forever life long treatment.

I have a feeling you and your husband will make wonderful additions to this board and come in with a new perspective that is so caring.

Good Luck

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: new Airsense auto set 12/08/14. Cpap pressure is

Hubby gets machine tomorrow morning!

Hubby gets machine tomorrow morning!

Re: Hubby gets machine tomorrow morning!