Thanks for these boards

[snoresnomore]

I have not posted until very recently but just wanted to say how thankful I am to everyone here for supporting each other and providing information. I was diagnosed last year but had such trouble adapting to cpap that I had been very bad about consistent use. Coming back to this board encouraged me to try again and things are going well. Without you guys I never would have known I could check results on the s8 elite (and would still be sitting here unmonitored by the doc/dme who seem to have forgotten me!)

My Pressures have been between 9-10, AHI 1.6, and leak .04L/s. Other than my husband still hating what I call the Darth Vader mask noise (and he'll get over it), I am thrilled with the results.

Anyway, thanks again and happy sleep to everyone!
Shari

[Calist]

[KatieW]

Congratulations!

[Tired Linda]

Congrats to you!!

Give your hubby a little more time...mine has happily traded my mask's "breeze" for my not snoring like a buzz saw and kicking . We could never figure out why the bed was always torn apart in the morning, and gave up using a top sheet years ago. It would either be ripped loose, twisted like a tornado, or on the floor. Guess what? No more....and my husband doesn't have to fight for the covers any more, either

TL

[jlk]

Glad your back at it again, and things are going well for you. After 4 years on cpap and loosing ground, I educated myself here also. Four years ago I was diagnosed and titrated at a chain sleep center in a large city 75 miles from my home. It was a 2 part study, 2 trips. During the titration, I started out at 5 cm and at 2:34 am the pressure was changed to 6 cm. The chart showed me awake for the next hour then 2 hours of snoring. No other pressures tested. I never did meet the Dr. who looked at the data. I think the tech. was sleeping down the hall? I was prescribed a 6 cm and the local dme sold me a noisy entry level machine. I trusted they cared about me. They did till the bill was paid! After getting gouged by 3 different dme providers by selling masks out in 2 or 3 parts to "maximize profits", I educated myself here. I could have saved my ins. co. several thousand dollars, and myself several hundred, by having a split study then just using on-line cpap suppliers. I recently purchased an S-9 auto with humidifier and climateline hose for less money than my deductables and co-pays throughout my un-educated years. Having the data available is the only way to go, no more arrogant rt's for me! I am currently helping my dad who has been on cpap for over 10 years get an auto. He is using his original "big black box", twice the size of the S-9. I can't help but think it's outdated? He illegally used mine for 3 nights and slept far better than he had been even with leaks that he wasn't aware he had been having. Mom was real happy too! My new Dr. and his Dr. have both requested info of where I had learned so much.The Drs. plan to share it with other patients that want to be proactive in their therapy. His Dr. said sleep clinics were rip-offs! Keep informed, You'll sleep better! Happy pappin! jlk

[DoriC]

jlk, I'm so glad to hear that you're helping your parents now. That makes me happy! Good luck to all of you!

[Junebug999]

snoresnomore and jlk -- thank you for sharing your stories -- i've been disappointed also about care available for sleep apnea and i live in a large area with many sleep clinics......maybe now i think of them as "sleep in a box"....because you're treated with all the care and concern as someone going to Lowe's on a saturday morning to buy a 2 x 4.

snoresnomore -- good for you for your preserverence. This is doable. In fact I'm so surprised how well I'm adjusting (just had nite 3), and you know while it's not easy, and I can't say I "love" it, but it's better and I'm a little less foggy each day. And I look forward to getting used to the Darth Vader mask...and then learning to sleep with mouth closed, and I will eventually end up on that nasal cannula mask they have for women. That's my goal. I'll get there. I know I'll always occasionally have to put on my FFM when nosy is stuffy, but it sure is good to sleep. I am cutting off my long hair today because it's just too much to fight all that long hair with the headgear. I'm going to cut it off about chin length. So, you are very fortunate you decided to get back in the ring and be successful. I'm just equating mask equals sleep. If you wake up and mask is off, put it back on and so back to sleep. If I can't sleep I just lay there and pray, or meditate, or just relax.

SNORESNOMORE -- READ THE POST ABOUT SWIFT RX/FOR HER (SOMETHING LIKE THAT) BELOW - THAT MIGHT BE THE MASK WE CAN USE TO LOSE THE DARTH VADAR LOOK!

jlk -- good for you for how you resolved you issues with DME's. I agree with you totally about the chain sleep clinic.....now by that term....you mean there are a CHAIN of these nationwide? I heard some references in my sleep clinic to something having to go back to "ohio" etc for being read (sleep study 1 and titration study).....and you are right, they are pretty scarce when you need them. It's wonderful you are helping your dear ole dad with his sleep machine and issues as well. God only KNOWS how poorly the elderly are treated with this problem. Some of them probably have the original equipment and have never been followed up on. It's sad, but your dad is so fortunate to have y ou to help him.

God bless you!