A brand newbie

hbakar · Post by **hbakar** » Sun May 22, 2011 12:37 pm

Hello everyone!

I am a newbie and should be getting my first machine and the mask next week. I feel very nervous about it and would like to hear success stories and encouragement. I am hoping that it will not be too hard to get used it and will make positive difference in my life. I am a 33 year old female with a healthy weight. They think that I might have inherited narrow airways from my family and probably have had OSA for a long time. Any words of encouragement and positive attitude would be helpful as I am a little confused right now. Thank you guys!

loganasu · Post by **loganasu** » Sun May 22, 2011 1:07 pm

Welcome to the board.

Please know that you are not alone in what you are going through.
I went through my second test on Friday and I'm expecting my first machine later this week or so.

There is a lot of good information in the Wiki (Light bulb on top of page).

The more I read from here, the better I feel about things.

Good Luck

LoganASU

nanwilson · Post by **nanwilson** » Sun May 22, 2011 1:08 pm

Read, read and read some more. Expecialy read the "announcements" section above this one and the "wiki" as you will gain tons of info and encouragement. Welcome to the forum and good luck with you therapy, if you have any questions (any, no matter how dumb you think they are) just ask, we have been where you are and hopefully make your transition to the "hose head club" as easy as possible
Nan.

STL Mark · Post by **STL Mark** » Sun May 22, 2011 1:13 pm

Welcome to the forum, you are among friends here. Read, ask questions, main thing to get up to speed on is how DMEs (equipment providers) will frequently take advantage of patients by giving the machine with the biggest profit for their company.

gasp · Post by **gasp** » Sun May 22, 2011 1:32 pm

Welcome! I'm so glad you are on the forum before you get your machine and supplies. Read, read, read. It's a great forum. The company that hosts the forum is CPAP.com and they require a prescription for machines but not for some items such as hose hangers. Anyway, if you have insurance you'll probably get your machine and supplies from them. Do consider your part of the costs vs what items cost on sites such as CPAP.com. Sometimes insurance company co-pays are higher than the actual cost of a supply online.

When you are titrated (your second visit to the sleep center where they put you on a machine with a mask and find out what your pressure range is) you will probably find a mask you like. I tried several masks at the sleep center. It would be good if the sleep center titrates you trying three different masks.
full face mask (FFM)
nasal mask (mask fits over your nose)
nasal pillows mask which has little pillows that puff up just outside your nares (official name for nostrils)

You will probably like one best and that's not bad to start out with. However, if you can find a DME on your insurance plan that has a sleep therapist on staff and a whole selection of masks then perhaps you can find you like better there before your prescription is filled. (It takes some time for the sleep center findings to go to the doctor and then make it to the DME - for some as long as 6 weeks.

Keep in mind that some mask manufacturer's have a 30 day return policy thereby allowing you to try different masks until you find one that works.

Make certain you get a machine that records data (apnea events etc) to a card so that you can then read it and see the reports. This is a complicated process but hang in there and use the people of the forum for help through this process. My preference here - and a popular one: Make certain your machine has capability of both CFLEX and AFLEX which you can read up on in the forum posts. I keep my machine on AFLEX with the highest exhalation setting of 3. I like to feel like I'm breathing naturally versus having air blasting at me at all times. It helps me breath better.

That's enough for now - best wishes : ) Keep coming back.

LaurieP · Post by **LaurieP** » Sun May 22, 2011 2:38 pm

Welcome!!! I have been using my machine since May 5th. I can not say enough about this board and the people here. I will say it was not easy in the beginning as I did not have a mask that I liked but once I started reading everything here and talking to the people I made a mask switch and it has been going much better. It's not perfect yet but I'm using it every single night and if I take a nap.

If you feel frustrated do not give up come to this board and threw your question threw it out....someone here will have an answer to help you.

Good Luck.....Laurie

tourguidewv · Post by **tourguidewv** » Sun May 22, 2011 6:43 pm

I am also a "newbie". I've been using my machine now for about 6 weeks. I had practically no adjustment period, averaging 6.5 hours of use every night. I've only had one night since I started that I didn't get to use my BiPap machine, and that was only because the power was off for most of the night. I am so comfortable with my machine that I usually fall asleep with 10 minutes of lying down and putting on my mask. I also travel 2-3 nights every week, and that has not been an issue either.

I feel more rested every day, and according to my wife I've not had any apnea events, or snoring at all, so obviously she's resting better as well.

I'm confident that seeking medical treatment for my apnea is the best thing I've ever done.

Good luck!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 23, 2011 8:51 pm

Thank you everyone! It has been a really stressful time for me...My husband has been in Iraq for almost eight months now and I have been diagnosed during his absence. I am Turkish and because of my husband's job (air force) we move a lot. We had just moved to Idaho, in the middle of no where, 2 months before they had sent him to deployment....with no friends and family and my daughter and I have had difficult time and on top of that they diagnosed me with OSA and the support from here means the world to me. I have been reading a lot here and loved this web site...useful information and meeting with and talking with other people who go through the challenges as me helps out a lot. Thanks again!

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue May 24, 2011 1:47 am

Welcome to the forum hbakar. As you've seen, you'll get plenty of support and encouragement here. Glad you found this message board!

Welcome to you, too, tourguidewv. Sounds like you're off to a great start. Hope you'll keep posting about how it goes for you.

Sheriff Buford · Post by **Sheriff Buford** » Tue May 24, 2011 6:33 am

Welcome!! If I could give you advise... educate yourself and take charge of your treatment. Tell your doctors and especially your DME (they work for you)what you want.

Sheriff

OutaSync · Post by **OutaSync** » Tue May 24, 2011 8:49 am

HBAKAR,

I certainly can empathize with you. I, too, was stationed in Idaho (MHAFB) way out in the middle of nowhere, with no friends or family, and then found out I was pregnant with my second child. That was 31 years ago, but I still remember the terrible loneliness of being in that desolate place.

We are here to help you figure it all out and encourage you on your journey. Welcome aboard.

Bev

hbakar · Post by **hbakar** » Tue May 24, 2011 8:31 pm

Thank you all so much! You guys are awesome! I am getting my mask and machine on Friday. I am pretty excited about it....I'll update you all...

hbakar · Post by **hbakar** » Tue May 24, 2011 8:36 pm

OutaSync wrote:HBAKAR,

I certainly can empathize with you. I, too, was stationed in Idaho (MHAFB) way out in the middle of nowhere, with no friends or family, and then found out I was pregnant with my second child. That was 31 years ago, but I still remember the terrible loneliness of being in that desolate place.

We are here to help you figure it all out and encourage you on your journey. Welcome aboard.

Bev

Woow Bev! This place is like hell, hard to keep your sanity..My husband was out the door roughly two months after we moved there and he is still gone..Hopefully, He'll be back next month and everything will be better.

Kilgore Trout · Post by **Kilgore Trout** » Tue May 24, 2011 9:28 pm

I was apprehensive before I got my equipment (and by that,i mean I was freaking out) but I have to tell you this: a week and a half into therapy, I love this thing. I hadn't felt well-rested in so long that I forgot there was such a thing. Try it, you'll love it.

OutaSync · Post by **OutaSync** » Wed May 25, 2011 8:37 am

hbakar wrote:Woow Bev! This place is like hell, hard to keep your sanity..My husband was out the door roughly two months after we moved there and he is still gone..Hopefully, He'll be back next month and everything will be better.

Try to attend some funtions for the enlisted/officer's wives. There will be a lot of women in the same boat as you and it helps to have someone to talk to. It's much easier to make friends in your situation because you all will have at least one major thing in common.

In 1980 there was only one buger joint within 60 miles of the base and it was not a name brand, because the locals did not want any competition from the likes of McDonald's or Burger King. Has it gotten any better?

Bev

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