Newbie with results

[jetcpap]

Hello all, my first time posting here so please excuse the lenght. First I would like to say that this forum has helped me tremendously in finding information that I critically needed. A quick background on my OSA, as an airline pilot I have slept in many different hotel rooms I care not to think about it. For many years I have had problems with sleeping, I attributed this to being a "light sleeper." For the last several years my sleep got worse and my problems were with falling asleep. NEVER did I go to work if I thought I was unsafe nor did I ever fall asleep in the cockpit. Since my issue was actually falling asleep my wife and I thought to rule out sleep apnea ( not to mention that I was 175lbs and worked out 4-5 days a week, in my ignorance I thought apnea was only for the overweight). The wife finally talked me into doing a sleep study.

Well the results came back with mod-sev osa, my RDI was 25. I was very upset and wondered why I even did the study. The FAA medically grounds you until you have gotten the treatment and have improved. So with not flying for the last six weeks i have done the CPAP thing. At one point I had an issue with my mask and tried nose pillows. I felt comfortable but the nasal pillows did not quite work. After two days I woke up with a headache, the kind I suffered from before, and felt as if I slept for three hours as opposed to 8! I guess that was my AHA moment. Here is what I see different after five weeks.

1. Bathroom visits- down to none or perhaps a rare one per night. It used to be three to four
2. No headaches- OSA explains my constant struggle with headaches, really bad in the morning and would go away after several hours on its own.
3. Heavy dreaming- I guess this means I am in REM sleep. Curious, my encoreviewer software shows alot of hypopneas in the morning time, i think that is when we have alot of our REM
4. Less irritable- I don't see it but the wife says so!
5. No crappy feeling after sleeping for 7-8 hours

I am sure ther is more but this is what i remember. So now just waiting to do an MWT and send the result to the feds. Hopefully the government does not take long and I can get back to the air. Hopefully this information will help those that are having trouble with the cpap process. I can only hope it gets better.

Now if I could find a way for the bridge of my nose not to be so red that would be great. Oh, and do many have a dry mouth in the morning? I will do another search.

have a great day!

[tschultz]

Welcome to the forum and glad to hear things are working out for you.

It's unfortunate that whenever sleep apnea is mentioned that being overweight is mentioned in the same sentence. I do think in many cases weight plays a role, but no more or no less than any other part of ones health. There are many skinny people with sleep apnea, and I expect a number of overweight ones that don't have it. In my case I know genetics plays a role as every family member on my mother's side of the family has major problems with snoring and many have been diagnosed with OSA, the others are too afraid to find out I think.

Although not a pilot, I understand the feeling of being grounded. In my case my drivers license was suspended due to my diagnosis of severe sleep apnea and the sleep doctor want to see two months of treatment and data before he will send a latter stating that my OSA is no longer a problem for driving. Now that I'm starting to feel better this is one of the hardest parts of the whole thing.

I've only been on CPAP for a little over 2 weeks but already I feel like a new man so to speak. I wake up feeling quite rested, have enough energy to last the whole day, and am returning to the man my wife married according to her. My AHI is down from 119 before treatment to now between 1.9 and 4.0 on any given night and more importantly my oxygen levels remain 94-98% all night while sleeping.

I think everyone struggles with the mask as what works best to handle the pressure may not be what fits best with no irritation. I've been very lucky with this so far but I think I still have my mask too tight wanting to make sure the treatment is effective. Now that I'm feeling better its time for me to figure out the whole mask fitting and loosen things up somewhat.

Best of luck with your ongoing treatment and I hope you won't be grounded for too much longer,

[Slinky]

Welcome to the forum.

Let's start w/just which brand and model CPAP you have. And, please, the pictures are cute, but don't use them, use text. Text is quicker for us to recognize which CPAP you have as many models look exactly alike. AND the model you have indicated the picture for is an outdated and discontinued model. The Pro II hasn't been produced since 2005 or so. Respironics, now Philips Respironics or better yet PR, is in a rut using the REMStar proprietary name on most all of their models thru several series. Actual model names are Plus, Pro, Auto, BPAP, BPAP Auto. So - which one do you actually have? I take it by the picture that it might be an M Series rather than the newest PR SystemOne series??

Were you given a humidifier w/your CPAP? Most sleep doctors routinely script a heated humidifier when scripting a CPAP and the local DME providers almost always provide an integrated heated humidifier unless a stand alone heated humidifier is specified. Using a humidifier may well eliminate that dry mouth you have been experiencing. IF you do have a humidifer w/your CPAP try adjusting it up or down.

The other most common cause of dry mouth is mouth leaking. A full face mask, a chin strap or even taping can take care of that, whichever works for you.

Now, back to the CPAP you have. The trucking companies, DOT, etc. are requiring not just compliance data, but also therapy data so I would imagine that it will be a necessity that you be provided w/a fully data capable CPAP. Not too many local DME providers are going to routinely provide a fully data capable CPAP unless one is requested or specified on the script.

There are quite a few mask fitting tips here and one of them should help you eliminate the red nose marks or the sore nose bridge. Or you may need to try a different mask. THE MASK is THE KEY to successful CPAP therapy once they've established your pressure needs.

Keep reading here. You will get a good and thorough "eddy-kay-sun" about how to achieve successful CPAP therapy and good, restful sleep.

[cflame1]

for your nose bridge problem... and if you're like a lot of us we need stuff a little bit cushioned as well.

try padacheek: http://www.padacheek.com/

[jetcpap]

Well, I wasn't trying to be cute with the pics, my error in thinking the profile listed the devices.

Anyway, thanks for the information folks.

Phillips Respironics Pro with C-Flex
Phillips Respironics Heated Humidifier
Resmed Mirage Activa LT Mask

C-Flex is turned off, I do better with it that way.

My device does monitor and record so that the MD and FAA can see compliance and therapy results.

[Slinky]

I didn't mean YOU were tryng to be cute w/the pics. A lot of us when we first filled in our sig chose the pics as they were appealing, not realizing that all Resmed S8s looked the same, all Respironics M Series look the same, etc. Its time consuming, especially for those still stuck w/slow speed dial up, to click on the picture, wait for the page to load to find out which PAP the picture is. Its just easier and faster for us to see the text listing of your CPAP.

So now we know you have the PR SystemOne Pro w/C-Flex. The picture was of either the Legacy Pro II or the M Series Pro (I've forgotten which now), both discontinued models. The SystemOnes are the first to come out w/the Philips Respironics brand name. And now we know that your CPAP is fully data capable which is something we wanted and needed to know as well.

We're wishing you well and great CPAP therapy, restful sleep and back to work!

[DoriC]

Welcome Jet, all the improvements you've listed are indications that your therapy is beginning to work for you. Ask padacheek.com(Karen is a member here) for some help with your sore nose. Keep us updated and good luck.