Newly Diagnosed CPAP user (Long HAUL TRUCK Driver)

PaulB1979_CANADA · Post by **PaulB1979_CANADA** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 10:30 am

Hi there. I would like to introduce myself.

My name is Paul. I am 33 years old and live in Quebec, Canada. I have been diagnosed with Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
I am a USA/Canada Long Haul Truck Driver. I've been driving truck for 5 years now. I am married, 5 years now and have a son.
My wife asked me to go get tested and Here I am

How am I handling the diagnosis? Pretty darn well actually. I'm not depressed about it or sad. I knew I had Apnea, just did not know how bad it was until now.
I am just happy that I am diagnosed and now have a machine and doing something about it. Yes it's a big change, but it's what life is all about.
Change, change, change. My father was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a type of Bone/Blood cancer, 2 years ago. The Doctor's succeeded in controlling it, but it
has started up again with a vengeance. Another change is coming soon too. No way out of it, it's reality.

As a Truck Driver, Sleep Apnea is not a good thing to have. It must be controlled or I could lose my job, my license, my career. Here's a couple of links to understand what I am
facing as a Truck Driver, What all drivers are going to face a moment in their life If they have Sleep Apnea:

http://cdllife.com/2012/health/is-your- ... eep-apnea/

http://cdllife.com/2012/uncategorized/t ... our-sleep/

http://cdllife.com/2012/featured/is-tru ... rous-jobs/

My Doctor and Sleep Specialist have prescribed me the following equipment:

ResMed S9 AutoCpap with Humidifier
Resmed Swift Fx Nasal Pillow Mask
Heated Tubing...
and all the other goodies that come with it......

Last night was my first night using it, and it went very well. Mask Seal was ok. Had a green smiley face. AHI maked 5.2 <---Does anyone know If this is ok?
Amount of Hrs Slept: 8 Hrs...

How Do I feel right now, well I've been up for about 4-5 hrs and feeling quite awake, more energy. Though It could change in a heartbeat.. Who knows..
When I first woke up, I felt odd. Foggy. Not Dizzy, just slightly dazed. Took about 15 minutes to wake up, clear my head. Got a coffee at Tim Hortons and been up since
I actually looked forward to using my machine last night. Still looking forward to it. Must be a good thing

Well I dont know what else to type so thank you for this FORUM and hope to speak to many of you out there, especially other TRUCKERS!

Take care everyone!

Paul

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 10:40 am

Welcome to the forum.
That AHI is pretty darn good for a first night. We like to see it below 5 and yours is close and I suspect with it being the first night you may have had some "first night awake events" get flagged. I would continue as is and see what happens with time and experience.

Software...you can use ResScan which is ResMed's software. Windows based software only.
You can find a link in UncleBob's signature
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=38643

There's a video telling how to use it
http://montfordhouse.com/cpap/resscan_tutorial/

SleepyHead is also available and there is a Mac version available also. I have information on it in my signature.
Feel free to try it if you wish. It is Beta software and does have a few bugs. Some people love it and some people don't.
You will find that is the way with just about everything related to cpap...

Main things to look at for newbies...that AHI and the breakdown into whatever event categories and the leak line...24 L/min leak is your line in the sand to avoid as much as possible. We don't expect perfection and a few short excursions above that line is not the end of the world but you don't want huge leaks that are prolonged above the line.

BlackSpinner · Post by **BlackSpinner** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 10:44 am

Congratulations on your successful first night and great attitude.

That fuzzy feeling in the morning comes from the lack of adrenalin pumping through your veins as that last apnea woke you up and also because your body/mind is saying "Wow, sleep ! O2! Lets get to work! Oh damn, he wants to get up and we aren't finished the repair job."

There is software available called sleephead that can track your therapy by the breathe so you can see what is happening.

There are several long haul truckers on the board here who can help regarding travel and battery backup.

Sheriff Buford · Post by **Sheriff Buford** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 10:58 am

Welcome!! I toast my coffee to you! Looks like you had a rather good first night! Finding a mask that is comfortable and doesn't leak is your key to success. You have a good mask, so try and get your leak rates down. Be sure to work all your issues on this forum.

Sheriff

Xney · Post by **Xney** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 12:20 pm

For a first night, it was great! Get the software as was talked about and you can look at things in more detail to get things dialed in.

I like your avatar photo.

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 12:54 pm

It makes total sense.

95% numbers....this means for 95 % of the time you were at OR below this number for whatever it is reporting. People tend to forger the OR BELOW part of the definition.

Your machine is set wide open...4 minimum and 20 maximum.
You have EPR (exhale relief) set to 3...so during exhale relief your pressure drops by 3 cm...it won't kick in fully until you reach 7 cm minimum though because the machine can't go lower than 4 cm.

ResMed machines subtract a generic vent rate for whatever mask you have chosen in the mask selection menu. Vent rates are the intentional leak rate that all masks have and as your pressure increases...so does the vent rate.
ResMed says that 24 L/min is where the machine starts having trouble compensating for leaks.

I suspect if your minimum pressure was a little more than 4 cm that your AHI would reduce further...your machine wants to stay around 11 most of the time...with a little more minimum it wouldn't have to go so far.
Not a critical issue right now but something to think about.

If you want to post images of your reports so we can see what you are seeing...this thread talks about it with some examples in the instructions.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=81072&p=737779#p737779

What was the leak % number?

All in all a very decent first night. I wouldn't go wanting to change anything until I full understood what I was changing.

Are you comfortable with the 4 cm starting pressure? Some people find that to be rather stifling...almost like they are suffocating...not enough air movement. If that is the case a little more minimum would probably be more comfortable for you and probably help out the AHI at the same time.

PaulB1979_CANADA · Post by **PaulB1979_CANADA** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 1:04 pm

Pugsy wrote:It makes total sense.

Are you comfortable with the 4 cm starting pressure? Some people find that to be rather stifling...almost like they are suffocating...not enough air movement. If that is the case a little more minimum would probably be more comfortable for you and probably help out the AHI at the same time.

Its not too bad. Maybe a little higher would be better, but I was able to breathe ok.

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 1:10 pm

Cool avatar, Paul.
Welcome.

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 1:12 pm

Is that your truck in your avatar? Sure is pretty. My husband is long haul truck driver also. Luckily no OSA...which is good because he would be a big cry baby about the whole thing.

PaulB1979_CANADA · Post by **PaulB1979_CANADA** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 1:32 pm

Pugsy wrote:Is that your truck in your avatar? Sure is pretty. My husband is long haul truck driver also. Luckily no OSA...which is good because he would be a big cry baby about the whole thing.

Ya, that's my truck

2012 Volvo, Got it Brand new, now has approx 40,000km's on it. I love this truck

PaulB1979_CANADA · Post by **PaulB1979_CANADA** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 1:33 pm

chunkyfrog wrote:Cool avatar, Paul.
Welcome.

Thanks

PaulB1979_CANADA · Post by **PaulB1979_CANADA** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 1:34 pm

Pugsy wrote:Welcome to the forum.
That AHI is pretty darn good for a first night. We like to see it below 5 and yours is close and I suspect with it being the first night you may have had some "first night awake events" get flagged. I would continue as is and see what happens with time and experience.

Software...you can use ResScan which is ResMed's software. Windows based software only.
You can find a link in UncleBob's signature
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=38643

There's a video telling how to use it
http://montfordhouse.com/cpap/resscan_tutorial/

SleepyHead is also available and there is a Mac version available also. I have information on it in my signature.
Feel free to try it if you wish. It is Beta software and does have a few bugs. Some people love it and some people don't.
You will find that is the way with just about everything related to cpap...

Main things to look at for newbies...that AHI and the breakdown into whatever event categories and the leak line...24 L/min leak is your line in the sand to avoid as much as possible. We don't expect perfection and a few short excursions above that line is not the end of the world but you don't want huge leaks that are prolonged above the line.

Thanks for the info. I downloaded ResMeds program. It's excellent.

PaulB1979_CANADA · Post by **PaulB1979_CANADA** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 1:35 pm

BlackSpinner wrote:Congratulations on your successful first night and great attitude.

That fuzzy feeling in the morning comes from the lack of adrenalin pumping through your veins as that last apnea woke you up and also because your body/mind is saying "Wow, sleep ! O2! Lets get to work! Oh damn, he wants to get up and we aren't finished the repair job."

There is software available called sleephead that can track your therapy by the breathe so you can see what is happening.

There are several long haul truckers on the board here who can help regarding travel and battery backup.

Im currently using ResMeds program. Thanks! I hope to hear from all the trucking men and women out there

PaulB1979_CANADA · Post by **PaulB1979_CANADA** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 1:36 pm

Sheriff Buford wrote:Welcome!! I toast my coffee to you! Looks like you had a rather good first night! Finding a mask that is comfortable and doesn't leak is your key to success. You have a good mask, so try and get your leak rates down. Be sure to work all your issues on this forum.

Sheriff

Thanks Sheriff

PaulB1979_CANADA · Post by **PaulB1979_CANADA** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 10:17 pm

Ok... So How much power does a CPAP machine require? Grrrr.. I was sleeping so deeply, then the Inverter shuts off.. CPAP then shuts down, no air.. Brutal wake up call! I guess I will be plugging it directly into the Truck's main power..

Newly Diagnosed CPAP user (Long HAUL TRUCK Driver)

Newly Diagnosed CPAP user (Long HAUL TRUCK Driver)

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Re: Newly Diagnosed CPAP user (Long HAUL TRUCK Driver)

Re: Newly Diagnosed CPAP user (Long HAUL TRUCK Driver)

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Re: Newly Diagnosed CPAP user (Long HAUL TRUCK Driver)

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Re: Newly Diagnosed CPAP user (Long HAUL TRUCK Driver)

Mask	Humidifier

Additional Comments: Not sure about Software package.