Another Newbie CPAP User

gapwedge · Post by **gapwedge** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:57 pm

Hello all. I am 55 and just over the past year or 2 have developed OSA. I am pretty sure it was my weight gain as I went from 230 to 260 in that time period. I am back down to 250 now and have been a CPAP user since January 2, 2009. I had noticed that I was tired, though never fell asleep at work or while driving, but felt like I needed a nap during the day. So, I basically self diagnosed myself and admitted myself for a sleep study. They had to awaken me during the night to put the mask on because of the number of events I was having per hour. (54 per hour). The setting I was put on was 12 with a machine setting of 10 to 16 with a settling time of 20 minutes. The machine chosen for me is listed below and works very well. Now, the bad news. After two nights my wife cannot sleep because being a nurse in prior years gives her nightmares thinking it is a ventilator. So, go figure. I sleep in the same bed with all of my snoring and apnea, but when I get on the machine I am relegated to the guest bedroom. Great! Cannot win for losing.
I have only been on it just over a week, but my sleeps have been very restful as I awake very refreshed. I also ride a bicycle and have noticed that my legs after a long ride are refreshed as opposed to waking up feeling like I had been riding all night.
I would like to learn how to determine on my own how I am performing. They gave me a ResScan Data Card to read at 30 days and give to the doctor. What is on the download that can be useful to me? I am hoping to lose my weight down to the level it takes me off the machine.
Anyway. I am glad I found this site. I also found out my community has an AWAKE program director so I will be attending the monthly meetings there. So much to learn, so bare with me with the dumb questions.

retirednurse · Post by **retirednurse** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:13 pm

Please tell your wife to check out a few web sites describing how CPAP works I have cared for a number of ventilator patients in the past from children ages 4 to adults on computerized ventilators A CPAP is not at all considered a ventilator . It is a positive pressure machine ,yes, but not as many bells and whistles , also you can survive without CPAP; just will be miserable and also creating more health problems . She,s smart if she is a nurse just give her time to get edcuated as to CPAP

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:07 pm

It's great that you've adjusted so well (apart from the room situation) to using Cpap, and I hope your luck continues. However, I do want to caution you (so sorry!) that while many people have lost weight (and a lot don't have any to lose to begin with... we're not all big) we're usually not very lucky in going off the machine as a result. It's much more likely, unfortunately (depending how you look at it) that you will need it indefinitely, but there are other 'fixes' on the horizon right now that look to be much less invasive to our lives, marriages, etc. and are less clunky and scary looking, so hang in to see what's new.

goose · Post by **goose** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:04 am

First -- Welcome!!!! Be sure to check out (wife too) the light bulb (our collective wisdom) and the New Users area -- there is an incredible wealth of information there.

I concur with retirednurse (it's not me by the by). Have your wife do some research on the condition to ease her mind - it sounds like she has some experience with respiratory issues. I will have to say that sometimes the sound can be a little like a ventilator, but it's not. See if she'll try earplugs.... I think over time, she'll come to accept it. Especially when it makes you healthier
I was in the same weight boat a while back -- about 260 and now at a pretty steady 230 (though 225 is real once in a while)....I always say that the easy 30 is gone (portion control), but that the other 30 I need to drop is where the work is (and I'm lazy.....)

I guess for now, make the guest room as comfortable as you can and keep on keepin' on......don't stop treatment!!! My wife was so relieved that the snoring had gone away she'd take a 747 instead......Now I have to wear earplugs every night so I don't hear her snoring....

take care,
cheers
goose

Sleepy AND Dopey · Post by **Sleepy AND Dopey** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:58 am

I've had my Resmed CPAP for five nights; I'm no longer convinced it is working properly. Exhalation is difficult, even though my ERP setting is on 3, same as it was when the tech set me up.

I am getting less sleep now than I was; it's 5 a.m. now and I've had about four hours of sleep in the last 48 hours. I have great trouble falling asleep, and once asleep, I wake up after a couple hours and tear the mask off.

I'm most curious about the effect of weight loss on this silly disease; I don't believe I had it six years ago, but probably did three years ago, just judging from what you might call intimate complaints, or lack thereof. I went in that time from about 210 to 235, and am now back down to 218 or so. I should weigh about 165, per my doctor.

If weight loss is generally NOT solving this, I am going to get quite discouraged.

gasparama · Post by **gasparama** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:17 am

It's true that the weight loss will definitely help. But I would not get off the treatment without another sleep study. Congratulations on your adjustment so far. Your wife is not the first spouse to have trouble sleeping with the CPAP on the other side of the bed. I hope she'll adjust.
As for the card, it will give your doctor information about your apnea episodes, the leak rate of your mask, your number of hours of use and a few other things that go with your treatment during usage. If you haven't done so, read "Our Wisdom" under the yellow light bulb at the top of the page.

Askel · Post by **Askel** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:26 am

Sleepy AND Dopey wrote:I've had my Resmed CPAP for five nights; I'm no longer convinced it is working properly. Exhalation is difficult, even though my ERP setting is on 3, same as it was when the tech set me up.

Don't be convinced it IS working properly when you first get it. Mine only worked for a few hours after the first night I brought it home.

I would suggest through looking to see if you have CFLEX turned on. With this on, it will reduce the positive pressure when you exhale, making it easier to cope with.

Good luck.

Phil

gapwedge · Post by **gapwedge** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:28 am

gasparama wrote:It's true that the weight loss will definitely help. But I would not get off the treatment without another sleep study. Congratulations on your adjustment so far. Your wife is not the first spouse to have trouble sleeping with the CPAP on the other side of the bed. I hope she'll adjust.
As for the card, it will give your doctor information about your apnea episodes, the leak rate of your mask, your number of hours of use and a few other things that go with your treatment during usage. If you haven't done so, read "Our Wisdom" under the yellow light bulb at the top of the page.

Thanks. Like I said I am new to all of this and to this site. I will search further on the site. I appreciate your feedback.

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