My Introduction

lola · Post by **lola** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 8:48 am

Hi

I'm new here, so here's a bit of an intro. After snoring loudly all my life (I'm 29), I finally got to have a sleep study done. I think I scored an RDI of 80! I don't currently have a job, but when I did, I'd be falling asleep by midday even after having 9-10 hours of sleep. I think people just assumed I was lazy. Argh. Even now it takes about 12-14 hours of "sleep" to feel like I've had enough.

So in a few days I'm having another sleep study to find out what pressure I need. I'm hoping it's 11 or less so I can use the nasal pillow system, the nose masks with the forehead support bit that I trialled gave me incredible headaches and irritation. If I'm not able to use the nasal pillows, I'll have to try one of the nose masks without the forehead bit. By the way, I have my nose pierced (with a ring) and that didn't present a problem for either the masks or the nasal pillow (ResMed Swift), though the technician was worried it might.

I don't think I'll have a problem with taking the mask off in my sleep, though I reckon I'll have to have the humidifier cranked all the way up, cold dry air tends to bring on asthma wheezing in me. I am looking forward to seeing what effect using CPAP will have, hopefully I can finally get some REAL SLEEP!

lindas88 · Post by **lindas88** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 9:01 am

WELCOME lola...

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 10:15 am

Welcome Lola! I know what you mean about that "lazy" thing!

I'mSewTired · Post by **I'mSewTired** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 10:21 am

So in a few days I'm having another sleep study to find out what pressure I need. I'm hoping it's 11 or less so I can use the nasal pillow system, the nose masks with the forehead support bit that I trialled gave me incredible headaches and irritation. If I'm not able to use the nasal pillows, I'll have to try one of the nose masks without the forehead bit. By the way, I have my nose pierced (with a ring) and that didn't present a problem for either the masks or the nasal pillow (ResMed Swift), though the technician was worried it might.

I am not understanding the 11 limit. I wear Swift with pressure of 13, and have worn breeze with pressure of 18/13 on a bipap. I really don't think high pressure keeps you from nasal pillows

lola · Post by **lola** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 12:48 pm

Thanks for the welcome

I'mSewTired - I'm just going by what the technician told me, I'll have to do a bit more research on this. It's good to hear that you have succesfully used the Swift with a higher pressure. Will have to find out why the tech thinks 11 is the limit. ("This one goes up to 11!")

Barb (Seattle) · Post by **Barb (Seattle)** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 1:34 pm

Welcome lola

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 2:47 pm

Hello eveyone! I'm knew here and have been on CPAP since the beginning of May.
I'm not sure if there's technically any reason you can't use nasal pillows at over 14 cm, but I tried them at 12 cm and when I inhaled it sounded like a hurricane in my head! Had to get my Comfort Gel back from my DME (this was on a Friday so I had to wait till Monday to get it). HAD ONLY BEEN ON CPAP for a week and didn't think it made that much difference, but for those two days without it I could hardly stay awake.

Sergeant Bob · Post by **Sergeant Bob** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 2:51 pm

The above post (Guest) was mine. I registered but forgot to log in before I posted.

yawn · Post by **yawn** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 3:10 pm

[quote="lola"]Hi

Even now it takes about 12-14 hours of "sleep" to feel like I've had enough.

[quote]

Welcome!!! I can totally relate to the 12 - 14 hours of sleep to feel awake. I was exactly the same way!!! I used to go to bed around 10:00 and get up around 5:00 to go to work. It was such a struggle to stay awake. If I didn't keep moving, I would fall asleep (even at work). On Saturdays, I would sleep as long as I possibly could (usually 12 hours)...I was so desperate for sleep.
I'm still a newcomer too so I'm still waiting to feel the full effects of CPAP. If you do decide you can't use a nasal pillow interface, try the Mirage Activa. It's a great mask and you don't have to tighten up the headgear on it. When you turn on your machine, the mask suctions itself onto your face (that sounds worse than it is) so the headgear doesn't need to be tight. I've been using the Activa and I'm also trying to use the Swift.
Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.
Amy

OldSeaRock · Post by **OldSeaRock** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 6:55 pm

From one newbie to another, welcome lola!

It's amazing the difference these machines can make.

Good luck!

ufo13 · Post by **ufo13** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 8:47 am

Lola:

Welcome.......Keep reading and learning and you will also be OK in due time! just for ref. i use the SWIFT mask all the time and my fixed pressure was 18 cm H2o for the past 11 years. so the swift can handle HIGH pressures if you like that interface! i now have the remstar auto w/c-flex which has made the therapy so much better. hope this info helps YOU!

steve,
ufo13

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 9:01 am

Hey, Lola. Welcome.

GET THE SWIFT!!!

By the way, UFO13 and Im Sew Tired, I used a straight CPAP pressure of 10, but am now on APAP. I started out with this machine using 5-15. But after reading my software, I am now at 9.5-15 and had an AHI of 0.8 this morning (yea!!!).

Question is, with the Swift, when I had it at the 5 starting point, it was silent. Now that I start at 9.5, it it not totally silent. Do you notice noise, not on only inhalation, at higher pressure from the get-go? Just curious. I'm doing so well that I won't switch anyway, but just curious why at 5 I heard silence, but at 9.5 I hear a bit of air passing around.

Thanks.

I'mSewTired · Post by **I'mSewTired** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 10:09 am

[quote="Sleepless on LI"]
Question is, with the Swift, when I had it at the 5 starting point, it was silent. Now that I start at 9.5, it it not totally silent. Do you notice noise, not on only inhalation, at higher pressure from the get-go? Just curious. I'm doing so well that I won't switch anyway, but just curious why at 5 I heard silence, but at 9.5 I hear a bit of air passing around.

Sorry, no help here. I sleep with a sound spa most of the time so I don't focus on the sounds that I here. If I hear a loud sound, I jiggle the barrel and see if it is sealed good or not.

I do have trouble side sleeping with the swift. I don't think it is the swift by my method of sleeping. I used Breeze for a year and a half, and couldn't side sleep with it either. I have a back up mask that I can side sleep with, but can't wear a mask all the time as that there are times I just can't have my face that covered! In a dream world I would have many mask to wear based on my mood at the time. Maybe I can think in terms of Jewelry. I mean who wears the same earrings all the time? And I do sleep away more than a third of my life

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 11:02 am

Question is, with the Swift, when I had it at the 5 starting point, it was silent. Now that I start at 9.5, it it not totally silent. Do you notice noise, not on only inhalation, at higher pressure from the get-go? Just curious. I'm doing so well that I won't switch anyway, but just curious why at 5 I heard silence, but at 9.5 I hear a bit of air passing around.

Wind. Remember storms - when the wind blows hard, and makes a lot of noise when it trys to enter you house?
O..

lola · Post by **lola** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 11:24 am

Thanks for the words of encouragement It's good to hear about people's experiences with the Swift, since it's the only device I trialled that I really liked and felt comfortable in. I did get to try the Activa and a few other masks, and while the Activa was quite comfortable, I had the same problem with it as I had with all the other nasal masks - the forehead support thing drove me nuts!! Even if it was barely touching, loose headgear, etc, it managed to do so in such a way I got a horrible headache - and I made sure it wasn't the mask pressing on my nose that was doing it, too. Maybe the angle between the bridge of my nose and my forehead is weird or something. I also want to minimise the parts making contact with my skin, as it's really sensitive.

I don't mind if it makes a louder noise at a higher pressure, I usually wear earplugs to bed anyway as I live near a busy road!

My Introduction

My Introduction

Re: My Introduction

Re: My Introduction

lola............welcome!