New CPAP user here greatful for information

[rlittle1970]

Been about 2 months getting my script and gear all lined out, but finally got it all home today. I told the clinician I wanted the ResMED S8 Autoset2 after reading about them on this site. She generally issues DeVelbis CPAP, but was willing to sell me the Auto. She would not set it up as an auto, and did not understand why I would need the daily data. I have to rent the machine for 3 months before insurance will purchase the unit. I did download the clinician manual so I do know how to get at the usage data now thanks to this site! Wanted to check in and formally say thank you for all the great info while I have been lurking here over the last couple of months.

[cflame1]

Can you fill out your profile please... in text format.

That way folks will know what you've got in case you have specific questions.

[Irene P.]

Congratulations on getting started as a hosehead. Hope your first days will be smooth, but be sure to stop by here to ask for assistance or just reassurance if needed.

[RipVW]

Hello & Welcome, rlittle1970! Glad you found this forum—SO much useful info and everyone here is so willing to help!

You're lucky to have found this forum as you begin CPAP—took me almost year before I found this place and, with the help of folks here, got my CPAP therapy working as it should. It does take time to get everything tweaked and working at its best, so patience is key as one begins CPAP.

"You are getting sleepy . . ."

[DreamOn]

Welcome to the forum, rlittle1970! I lurked here a while before registering too. Learned a lot! And I continue to learn.

I'm so glad you investigated the machines before meeting with the clinician -- great machine choice. Good to hear that you already have the clinician's manual too! I had memorized the manual before I even ordered my machine. I think it really helps to be as prepared as possible before starting therapy. Of course, many of us have very fuzzy brains before beginning (myself included), so it's sometimes easier to tackle the finer points of therapy after the mind starts to clear.

I recently ordered the Opus 360 nasal pillows mask that you have. It should arrive today or Saturday. Can't wait to try it!

I hope you have a wonderful night's sleep and wake up with a smile on your face tomorrow! Please do feel free to ask questions as they may come up. There are always things to tweak. As you already know, there are a lot of very kind and helpful people here.

Best wishes,

DreamOn

[rlittle1970]

Great thing is that I have major backing of my wife on this too.
She is so tired of my snoring that she practicaly forced me to talk to
a doctor about it. Funny thing is that prior to that day I had not
been to my doctor's in 5 years. He freaked out on My BP at 207/113
which I had no idea it was even high. He put me on BP meds that day.
He thinks my OSA is the root cause of my BP, so it will be cool to see
if the CPAP does indeed help!

Ray

[Muse-Inc]

...BP at 207/113...be cool to see if the CPAP does indeed help

Mine was 210/110 Apr '07 and now I average 130/66-70! I still take a diuretic but I still have a lot more wt to lose (lost 57#s so far)...another 30-40#s and I might be able to stop it. Here's a good article and drug recomendation for the type of oxygen deprivation we hoseheads experience that leads to hypertension
http://eon.businesswire.com/portal/site ... ewsLang=en

[DreamOn]

Great thing is that I have major backing of my wife on this too.
She is so tired of my snoring that she practicaly forced me to talk to
a doctor about it. Funny thing is that prior to that day I had not
been to my doctor's in 5 years. He freaked out on My BP at 207/113
which I had no idea it was even high. He put me on BP meds that day.
He thinks my OSA is the root cause of my BP, so it will be cool to see
if the CPAP does indeed help!

Ray

Our stories are similar. I also came upon the diagnosis of OSA after discovering my blood pressure was very high. I ended up in the emergency room one day about 3-4 months ago, where it was about 215/125! They were worried I was about to have a stroke. Looking back, I did have a lot of the symptoms and feel like I just barely dodged that bullet. My doctor put me on medication and told me that there was probably no particular reason for my high blood pressure ("it just happens"). I wasn't willing to accept that answer, mentioned my suspicion that I had OSA, and the sleep study was ordered. So here I am. I've done really well with CPAP and I feel great.

I suspect I've had OSA for at least 15 years. It sure can cause a lot of problems, such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, diabetes, obesity, mental/cognitive decline, frequent nighttime urination, heart arrhythmia, and possibly liver disease.

I just don't understand why more doctors don't screen for it, especially since the links are clear between other diseases, particularly high blood pressure. I have read that about a third of hypertensives also have sleep apnea. Normally during deep sleep, blood pressure lowers. But this decrease in blood pressure doesn't occur with sleep apnea. Stress hormones are released in response to the "fight or flight" reaction caused by oxygen deprivation during apnea events. If that happens long enough, our blood pressure can become elevated during sleep and remain high during the daytime too. Arteries become less elastic.

My BP has come down a little since starting CPAP two months ago. Others here also have seen their BP come down. I think just how much partly depends on whether your particular blood pressure problem is related to OSA and also how much damage has already been done to the arteries. If your BP is difficult to control, it may be more easily controlled on CPAP.

It's fantastic that you have your wife's full support too. That helps so much! Hopefully, she'll sleep better now as well. I look forward to hearing how you do!


~ DreamOn