new user, how long before i sleep?

[sadali]

Hi.....I'm new. Been using my c-pap for 3 1/2 mos. It gave me about 3 hrs of straight sleep in the beginning, but lately, my sleep patterns seem to have returned, awake every 1-1 1/2 hrs. Also, even tho I found it relatively easy to get used to at first, now I find it uncomfortable. Does this get any better??

[RipVW]

Sounds like you're not getting good CPAP results. Have you let your doc know about this? Maybe your pressure is not right, or maybe your seal is not good, resulting in leaks. Good luck!

[Bluebonnet_Gal]

What type of equipment do you have? If you would go to the User Control Panel and post your equipment (please use text, not icons), then the folks here could tell you if your equipment is data capable and perhaps help you find some info.

[sadali]

hi....thanks so much for responding. i have a resmed S-8 Elite II with a Resmed heated humidifier H41. I have no clue what my settings are. When I first started using my c-pap, the supply co. gave me an autoset II, and after getting my downloaded results after a month, they exchanged it out for the elite II. Th ings have been down hill since then. Haven't talked to my doc yet as I ordered a new seal kit thinking maybe this was the reason I was having trouble. Not so...my c-pap is actually causing me to have more sleep interruptions.

[Bluebonnet_Gal]

hi....thanks so much for responding. i have a resmed S-8 Elite II with a Resmed heated humidifier H41. I have no clue what my settings are. When I first started using my c-pap, the supply co. gave me an autoset II, and after getting my downloaded results after a month, they exchanged it out for the elite II. Th ings have been down hill since then. Haven't talked to my doc yet as I ordered a new seal kit thinking maybe this was the reason I was having trouble. Not so...my c-pap is actually causing me to have more sleep interruptions.

Fortunately, you have a machine that records full data. This is something we can work with. In order to view your data on the LCD display, Press the right and left arrow buttons at the same time and hold for a few seconds. If enabled, you can view your data on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. In order to view daily data, you need to view before noon as the machine resets the daily data at noon to get ready for the next day's data. If you can't access your data in this way, you can do so by going to the Clinical Menu. To go to the Clinical Menu, press the right and down buttons at the same time and hold for a few seconds. From there, press the up and down arrows to move to various menus including the results.

When you get to results, write down everything you see. Also check your settings menu and write down everything you see. Come back and post it here.

Also, what type of mask are you using?

If you stick with it and follow the instructions and advice given here, things will improve. We simply need more info in order to be able to offer advice!

[sadali]

Thank you Bluebonnet!!! I messed up. Gave you wrong info on my machine. What I have is a ResMed S-8 Compact with ResMed Humidifier H41 (heated). The arrows on mine go up and down with buttons on each side that have like minus signs on them. I tried holding them down at the same time and got nothing....tried going thru the menu, and got usage hrs, and a few other things i don't know what they are. My hubby says the med equip co. traded my original c-pap out for this cheap model. They originally set me up with the autoset to get my numbers as I did not go for a sleep study. My doc figured a way around the sleep study as I am self pay without any med insurance. I'm sooooooooooo frustrated!

[Bluebonnet_Gal]

Thank you Bluebonnet!!! I messed up. Gave you wrong info on my machine. What I have is a ResMed S-8 Compact with ResMed Humidifier H41 (heated). The arrows on mine go up and down with buttons on each side that have like minus signs on them. I tried holding them down at the same time and got nothing....tried going thru the menu, and got usage hrs, and a few other things i don't know what they are. My hubby says the med equip co. traded my original c-pap out for this cheap model. They originally set me up with the autoset to get my numbers as I did not go for a sleep study. My doc figured a way around the sleep study as I am self pay without any med insurance. I'm sooooooooooo frustrated!

I don't think the S-8 Compact is fully data capable. I'm fairly new to all this myself, but my only experience so far is with ResMed machines. You had a good one with the AutoSet II and if you can afford it, you should fight to get that one. Have you checked https://www.cpap.com? Since you're self pay, the prices there are much better than you will pay at a brick and mortar DME.

My first recommendation to you - get a complete copy of your sleep study from your doc. Have you talked to your doc about what you're experiencing? If you have a good doc, he should work to help you find the best solution. If lack of insurance prevents too many visits to the doc and you prefer to tweak the settings yourself, this is the best site to offer help. If you haven't already done so, you need to sign up with a user name and provide your equipment data in the User Control Panel.

Since you're wanting to do this without a sleep study, IMHO it is IMPERATIVE that you have a fully data capable machine.

Here is Rested Gal's list of machines that record "full data" (AHI and leak data) and those that don't -- as of October 2008:
viewtopic.php?p=307168#p307168

Check out the list. Go to https://www.cpap.com for comparison charts of the machines. Go to "New Users" (man in green) and "Our Wisdom" (yellow lightbulb) at the top of the page for the best info. Rested Gal treated herself without a sleep study. From another thread:

Here's a list of machines that are "full data capable" and those that are not, as of October 2008:
viewtopic.php?p=307168#p307168

lotklear, another thing you might try is start asking everyone you know in your town this question:

"Do you know someone who uses a "CPAP" (pronounced See-pap) machine? I'm not talking about using oxygen. I'm talking about a machine and mask used for sleep apnea."

Chances are, you'll come across people in your town who either use CPAP or know someone who uses it. Often the "user" has quit using the machine and it's just sitting in a closet, or they were given a newer machine at some point and still have the old machine packed away. They'd probably give the old (or unused) machine to you.

Chances are, it won't be a machine capable of recording full data, but at least it's "a cpap machine", and that's better than nothing. If I were going to use a machine without software or any way to monitor my treatment, I'd start out using " 10 " for the pressure and see if I felt better.

Do be aware, though, that "CPAP" isn't a magic bullet that you start using and immediately "feel better." Even if cpap is doing its part of the job perfectly (keeping your airway from collapsing when throat muscles and tongue relax too much during sleep) there can still be many other reasons why a person could continue feeling fatigued, sleepy, and tired. Other health reasons, med side effects, poor sleep hygiene, other sleep disorders (like Periodic Limb Movements.) The list can go on and on. Also, trying to sleep with a mask on can be disrupting to sleep until you find a mask that really suits you and you get used to this crazy new way of trying to go to sleep.

So, if you do try "CPAP" and don't feel "great" right away or within a few weeks, don't get discouraged. There can be a lot of tweaking to do to get comfortable with "cpap." And since you don't have a prescribed pressure, there will be some trial and error there, too.

The two best things you have going for you, to succeed at CPAP treatment, are your own knowledge that you have obvious symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and "need cpap", and that both you and your sleep partner are all for your using "cpap." The kind of determination that is sending you looking for a machine, and the attitude of "I NEED this!!!" will work in your favor.

Another possibility -- if you (or someone you know) has an understanding family doctor, you might be able to get a prescription. That would make getting exactly the machine you want much easier...you could buy it yourself from an online vendor like cpap.com, or on cpapauction.com (Rx is required at that auction site.)

If a family doctor understands even just a little bit about sleep apnea and "cpap", sometimes he/she will be willing to scribble "CPAP @ 10 cm H2O" on an Rx for you, without requiring a sleep study or a visit to a "sleep doctor." Nothing else requires a prescription...just the machine itself. You can buy masks, humidifiers, hoses, filters, etc., online without a prescription.

Here's my story -- how I went about getting myself on "cpap" without a sleep study, and without a prescription at first:

viewtopic.php?p=5977#5977

I think you'll find Rested Gal's story to be helpful and an inspiration to you! There are many here with much more experience and expertise to offer than I have. You'll hear from them when they're online!

Hope this helps!

[Wulfman]

Hi.....I'm new. Been using my c-pap for 3 1/2 mos. It gave me about 3 hrs of straight sleep in the beginning, but lately, my sleep patterns seem to have returned, awake every 1-1 1/2 hrs. Also, even tho I found it relatively easy to get used to at first, now I find it uncomfortable. Does this get any better??

If you're using a nasal mask, you're probably leaking air out your mouth while you're sleeping.....which means your therapy is not working. You need to make sure your mouth isn't leaking.

Den

[Shilohcane]

sadali

I agree sounds like you could be leaking air out your mouth when you sleep. Try a chinstrap if you are using a nasel mask.