New member introduction & questions

[maljushri]

Hi everyone, I've just joined as I've been diagnosed with sleep apnea in the past six months and have just begun using a CPAP. I'm in my mid-thirties and am struggling with the idea that I'll be using this device for another thirty (and hopefully more!) years. My partner is generally supportive of me getting help for my sleep problems, but she's struggling a bit with the mask setup, since it interferes a bit with spontaneous cuddling. I've been using my device for only three days, but having read how likely it is that people stop using them, I'm trying to ensure my success early on. Before the CPAP, I was using Provent, which helped a lot, but my insurance wouldn't cover it, so I switched. Provent was my first choice because it was so unintrusive. In contrast, the mask/hose is a lot.

I've been reading through the forum a bit and have found it helpful. I've got a few questions which I'm happy to have folks direct me to the "search" function for, but I figure there's no harm in posting them here.

• I think I'm having "aerophagia" since I burp a lot in the mornings. Any advice other than pressure adjustment? (I'm at 8 currently). Might it go away with time?
• I'm trying to torrent Encore Viewer but it's taking forever, any good links? Also, any data junkies have advice on how to use the reports well?
• How long did it take people to stop waking up in the middle of the night with awareness of the mask? I think I feel more rested during the day, but I dislike being roused at night highly conscious of my mask.
• Finally, any others on the site practice Buddhism and integrate mindfulness meditation or breathing practices with their CPAP therapy? I think my practice has been helpful so far, but other anecdotes would be nice.

Basically, as seems to be the case for a lot of people, I'm somewhere between denial and acceptance. I think that, though it feels embarrassing, for me to get geeky with my therapy (crunching numbers, etc) is a good strategy for integrating it into my life and doing well with it. That's why I'm here.

[Pugsy]

I'm trying to torrent Encore Viewer but it's taking forever, any good links? Also, any data junkies have advice on how to use the reports well?

Check out this little collection of goodies I came up with to answer a lot of people's various questions about software
viewtopic/t89008/Pugsys-Pointers-Collection.html
I think a lot of questions you might have will be addressed there. Some reading but it should help you out.

I will send you a private message shortly with some information on how to get EncoreBasic which will work with your machine.
Encore Viewer ...don't bother to try to find it. I can get you something better..

Your profile shows the PR System One Auto CPAP...model 550.
Look on the bottom of the machine to see if it is 550 or 560.
If you see 560...then you have the 60 series machine...and thus pay special attention to the software install tips for SleepyHead and 60 series machines. You will need the Patch file.

If you have a 560 but your hose doesn't have the black end connecting to the humidifier...that means you don't have the heated hose option. No worry ..if you need it or want it then it can be added later.

If you have a 550 machine...we can't make it a 560 machine...sorry but there are options available if a heated hose might be needed later.

I think I'm having "aerophagia" since I burp a lot in the mornings. Any advice other than pressure adjustment? (I'm at 8 currently). Might it go away with time?

Yes, it might go away with time. We might also play with the Flex settings on your machine to see if something different in there might help. Did you go up to the Wiki at the top of the page and search for aerophagia and see the various options?
If not, you might do that. If it is just a few burps or farts and other than annoying we don't normally worry much about it but if it causes a lot of distress, pain, nausea or whatever then we get more aggressive about reducing it.

How long did it take people to stop waking up in the middle of the night with awareness of the mask? I think I feel more rested during the day, but I dislike being roused at night highly conscious of my mask.

This depends on the person. The brain takes a while before the mask being stuck on the face becomes a welcomed friend and the brain quits waking you up to tell you "Hey dude, do you know that you have something weird on your face"..

For me it took about a month...very gradual reading in awakenings strictly related to the presence of the mask.
But then my sleep was already rather fragile anyway from issues unrelated to sleep apnea. So the brain was always a bit to hyper vigilant anyway.

Finally, any others on the site practice Buddhism and integrate mindfulness meditation or breathing practices with their CPAP therapy? I think my practice has been helpful so far, but other anecdotes would be nice.

There very well may be other Buddhists here...we don't normally get into specific religions here all that much but we have members world wide. If you want to created a special Off Topic thread in that regards you might catch their attention.
I think I saw one member mention some Buddhist meditations just this past weekend.

Welcome to the forum. If you need clarification on anything you read in my threads...just ask in those threads because I know I didn't cover everything and someone else might also have similar need. Might as well keep it in those threads.

[maljushri]

Thanks for the reply! I'll take a look at my machine later to see if I have the 550 or 560. I'm suspicious that I have the 60 series because I haven't been able to get the Sleepyhead software to import my data.

I'll also post a question about meditation as "Off Topic" as you suggest. And I'll take a closer look at the Wiki and some of those threads you mention.