Looks Like I'm Going to be a New ASV User

[Buggstzer]

Just finished my 3rd sleep study last night and looks like I'm going to be an ASV user. Man was it different than the regular CPAP from test 2 (which I loved - darned centrals...). When I was just about to fall asleep.... just when the puppy dogs on marshmallows started floating by (ahhh, so nice...) Puuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!! About jumped about of bed!!! What the heck???? Guess the centrals kicked in right as I was falling to sleep. This went on for about an hour repeated continuously (it's hard to expect that rush of air, when you are just starting to transistion to sleep and especially when puppies on marshmellows are floating by...). So maybe about 11, in comes the Tech with an Ambien. Got to relax and got to sleep and next thing I remember is, "Good Morning! We're all Done!"

Now the hard part. Getting back to see the doctor to actually get the script sent to the DME. I did tell the nurse about the shock from the falling asleep "blasts" and she said she would talk to the doc about a script (Ambien??) to help with that, and hopefully, she said he may just call in the script for the machine, once he got a chance to look at the data from the sleep lab. Fingers and toes crossed. And the next hard thing - Paying the bill for that beast.

[teknomom]

I actually love that feeling of having the machine kick in like that when I drift off. It's reassuring to me. I've never been on CPAP so don't know what a steady pressure would be like. I know what you mean about the "paying for it" part. I have a high deductible and know that my part of the monthly rental will be almost $400. Ouch! Good Luck in the future. A sleep aid at first will help until you get used to the different pressures.

[Buggstzer]

It's interesting looking at your equipment. I already have a Contec 50d+ and a Zeo even though I haven't got the other equipment yet. The Oximeter and Zeo helped me to convince myself this was serious even before the 3rd sleep study was ordered. By the way, seems like I average in the upper 50's to low 60's for sleep ZQ, while my wife nails upper 90's. But, she is diabetic, I think I have the lesser of the two evils.

[teknomom]

My ZEO scores were pretty good even before my machine. I haven't tried it or the oximeter since being on the machine since I have been working on basic comfort issues for the last six weeks (humidity, hose placement, Flex settings). Read all you can about dealing with your DME (machine supplier). I shopped around - you don't have to use the one your doctor wants to send the Rx to. Mine has a good rep. but tried to give me an out-of-date machine the first time. I refused it and now have what I wanted. For what we pay for these machines, we should get the most up-to-date hardware and software. Do you know about software for your computer - used to read your data each day?

[JohnBFisher]

I actually love that feeling of having the machine kick in like that when I drift off. It's reassuring to me. I've never been on CPAP so don't know what a steady pressure would be like. I know what you mean about the "paying for it" part. I have a high deductible and know that my part of the monthly rental will be almost $400. Ouch! Good Luck in the future. A sleep aid at first will help until you get used to the different pressures.

First, Buggstzer, welcome to the "club". In all honesty, I would rather not have to welcome you to the ASV club. But since you find yourself in need of this therapy, it is good to know that it REALLY makes a difference.

I agree FULLY with teknomom about actually looking forward to that increase in pressure as I fall asleep. But if you need your machine to ramp up the pressure to be certain you are breathing, you are - in fact - relying on the "ventilator" capability of the ASV unit. I do. When I fall asleep I stop breathing for more than a minute at a time. Scary! So, knowing that the machine is there to take over when you need it is very reassuring.

Do keep us posted. You will find adjusting to ASV therapy a bit challenging. But you can adjust. There are lots of tricks that we learn that help.

Best wishes!

[Buggstzer]

It was unbelievably helpful to have been here and read about other's experiences so that I was taken by less surprise. I went to the "Bi-Pap Titration" thinking, well at least it's not ASV.... ASV was one of the first things that came out of the Tech's mouth. After I adjusted a bit, I knew pretty much what was going to happen. I'm a pretty voracious researcher and reader from everything from forums, to mfg lit, to white papers all the way to medical journals I can dig up. (I had already read the titration manual online.) But, I can say the best information came from here from people that have and are doing it.

I can say that once I got past that "Blast" of air right when drifting off, it was pretty good. I usually "hit the wall about 1 - 1:30 everyday, today it kind of hit about 6 or so. I have high hopes and am committed to making it work. Seeing my O2 level for myself put the fear into me. I'll post them when I can figure how.

[Buggstzer]

Here are my pre-therapy graphs.

[Buggstzer]

And Here is the ZEO graph. Hope to see improvement soon. Any comments?

[Kiralynx]

Well, welcome to the ASV Club.

Sorry you had to become a member, but consider this -- at least this therapy is available for those of us who need it. Ten years ago, it wasn't!

It takes some adjustment, but I can't imagine trying to sleep with anything else.

[RationalEntropy]

Welcome, just as others have mentioned: it is not the best club to join, but since circumstances warrant it, welcome. During the last couple of months my productivity in the workplace, socially, creatively, intellectually, physically, etc. has improved. I realized I wasn't running on all of my cylinders, now so many questions have been answered. I am thankful that insurance has helped with 90% of the bill.

I wish you very deep, rejuvenating sleep, increased productivity and quality of life. There is much to look forward to. Take the good with the bad, I suppose.

[sandman19@mac.com]

As we say in a different "club", "Sorry for what brought you here, and happy to see you here". Sandman19

[Mr Bill]

Welcome Buggstzer, we'll be glad to help out if we can.

[tonycog]

I struggled with exactly what you describe when I was first on my machine. That 'blast' of air just as I was dozing off was brutal; my body would give me a jolt of adrenaline every time it cranked up. That was frustrating, and it took me quite awhile to adjust to it. In time I got used to it and now I seldom notice it. I usually sleep within 5 minutes of masking-up. I think there is a "Pavlov's Dog" reaction to my mask now. If it's on, I sleep.

Stick with it and keep reading & learning. At my sleep study, I had an AHI of 46 and Cheyne-Stokes respirations were discovered. Now, 30 months into ASV I have an AHI of 1.1. I prefer breathing. If I can be of any help please let me know. PM's are a sure way to reach me here.

Best wishes,
Tony