Newbie and nervous

[raggedykat]

Hi everyone! I am sitting here waiting for a call from my sleep clinic to set up my appointment to get fitted for my CPAP machine. I had my sleep study in Nov. of 08 and found out that I needed a pacemaker- I went from the sleep clinic to the hospital and had it implanted the next day. I was in third stage heart block! Well, I thought maybe that had taken care of the sleep apnea so I never thought about it until about six weeks ago when my family physican asked what I planned on doing about it. Apparently my score was 2.9 which is almost in the severe range. My oxygen level was also dropping into the 30's. I just assumed that the pacemaker fixed everything, my heart is fixed so why not the sleep apnea? Well I tried everything to get out of using the CPAP machine but yesterday at the ENT's office I finally gave in. I want to be around for awhile (a long, long, awhile) so CPAP here I come. Any advice - how many trials will it take to get the right adjustments? The right mask? I really don't want to be spending a couple of days a week at the doctor's office. Will they let me try them out, do I have to buy them.....so many questions.

[timbalionguy]

Ah, another cat person. We need more of those here to counteract the monkey people!

I am sure others will give you good advice as well. I'll just touch on a couple of things.

1. Get an autoadjust machine if you can.
2. Get a fully data-capable machine if you at all can. This is important.
3. If you can afford to buy a machine outright on line, you will save yourself money (probably) and hassles (definitely) in the long run.
4. See if your sleep clinic can help you choose a mask. What did they use when they titrated you? Did they titrate you?
5. IMHO, choose a full face mask or a hybrid mask if you are comfortable with that.
6. If going through a durable medical equipment provider (DME), make sure your doctor writes a prescription that specifies the machine you want. Otherwise, they will stick you with the cheapest machine they can get away with.
7. Read, read, read! Read the 'collective wisdom' section, marked by the light bulb.
8. Question everything. Don't hang o every word of your doctor, and especially anyone at the DME (or anyone here for that matter, including me).

Good luck! It may be a journey, but we all here can help you make it a successful one.

[raggedykat]

How noisy is the machine. Will I be looking for a new home? or at least a new bedroom (or maybe a new bed partner?)

[jdm2857]

I am a newbie two (three weeks.)

I have a ResMed S8 AutoSet II and it is very quiet. Just a little whisper from the machine. It's an automatic. The Elite II and Escape II should be just as quite. They are not automatic, just straight CPAPs. The Elite has full data capability. The Escape only has compliance data capability, so you should try to avoid it.

Others are happy with the sound levels from their DeVilbiss IntelliPaps.

I believe that the Respironics machines are a little bit louder, but many people are satisfied with them, too. The noise similar to white noise, which many people find soothing.

The old days of loud CPAP machines are over.

[Cassandra]

Welcome, raggedykat. I am a newbie myself. Started using my machine a week ago. I got the Diviblis Intellipap auto machine and it doesn't make any noise at all. Now, I will say that I have been sleeping with a bedside fan for 25 years. (And I still do.) So... if it is making any noise, it's nothing compared to the fan. lol

I suppose the air coming out makes some kind of sound... like "shhhhhh..." but again, it's nothing compared to the fan. If you are used to sleeping in complete silence it may be a little weird at first, but I'm sure you can get used to it!

As a newbie, I can offer a little advice. Keep positive! Decide you are going to make it work for you and you will be able to overcome any little snags you run into.

Good luck and keep posting!

Cassandra

[katosmus]

Hello Raggetykat... I'm new to this board, but thought I would add my 2 cents.

I've used a CPAP for close to 10 years now.. as I recall it was quite an adjustment getting used to the CPAP.. They used to be much noisier machines, but are so much quieter now. After a few weeks of using it, I couldn't go to sleep without it. An airline lost my luggage once and I had the most miserable night and I wasn't able to sleep at all. So now I try to carry it with me onboard when I travel. That said.. I find that not all machines are approved by airlines for use on long trips, so if you do travel you may want to check into machines that have been approved. I've always used the Respironics machines, but have had problems with these machines after several trips overseas. I've had two of them die on me after having used them in New Zealand and Australia. So I am going to be trying out a ResMed model on my trip to New Zealand next week. ResMed has switching built in for 110/240 conversions and are also approved for use on the airline I'm travelling on.. I just bought it so I can't vouch for it just yet.. but many people seem to give them good reviews.

BTW... I've used CPAP dot com for several years and find them very helpful and reasonably priced. In fact I checked to see if my insurance would pay for the new ResMed and found that it would actually cost me more with my copay going through the approved medical equipment supplier for insurance than to buy the machine online.

Good luck with the CPAP..

[BlackSpinner]

I just put my air conditioner in and it is much much more noisy then the cpap machine I have.
My regular fan is noisier then the cpap machine.
My Bionaire air filter is noisier then the cpap .

Just don't put it on a hollow wooden surface that turns into a speaker. You probably snore much louder then the machine and your bedmates will thank you.

[junie]

Welcome to our group, I own a cat also, I also have a pacemaker, Just keep positive thoughts, there is a lot
of fantastic people here, If you need to ask a question they are here.

[mdoc367]

My wife will tell you the machine is much quieter than my snoring. I started cpap therapy 4 weeks ago. At first I could only use it a couple hours per night. I'm up to about 6 hours now and several times have gone 7 or 8. I feel better. And I wake up rested. What a novel feeling!

[gasparama]

Let's hear it for the kitties!!! My avatar is my grand-doggie, but I love my cat! BTW, kitties have been known to put little holes in the CPAP hoses.

The machines really aren't extremely noisy. You can cover them with white noise of some kind. Some people have insulating boxes or covers for there. But be careful if you go that route because the intake vent needs air. My snoring and gasping all night were much louder than the machine. My DH loves my using mine. I recently forgot to take my machine on a recent weekend trip and we were both miserable. It's difficult to sleep without it once you get started. Just think: a full night of oxygen and sleep. Aaaaah. Welcome to our group!

[mars]

Hi RaggedyCat

Just a few thoughts - mainly reinforcing what others have said.

Most important - make the determination that no matter what, you will overcome all obstacles and succeed in your xpap therapy.

It can take between days and years to get everything right - it all depends...................
on so many things! This forum will help speed things up

A data capable machine is essential if you want to get the best and most timely fine-tuning (ie. you doing the fine-tuning).
Get the software to go with it, so you can find out daily what is going on.

The most difficult part is the mask - try out as many as you can before buying, but be prepared to try out others over time.

Getting the right pressure (cpap) or range of pressure (apap), and minimum leak rate, is what you will be working on to get your minimum AHi.

Any problems - first do a forum search if that is appropriate. Otherwise post with as many details as possible.

Never forget - it may happen that the person who can answer your query is not around at the time. If that happens try again later.

Do not let your cat sleep on the inside of your mask. Take it off as soon as you are awake, so it can give you a good morning nuzzle.

It seems that most modern machines are quiet, including mine, so that should not be an issue.

There are many other problems that come up, but that will be for later

Good luck

cheers

Mars