I'm New with lots of questions . . .

[divajojo]

I've recently been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. I'm still learning, but I can tell you that in my first sleep study, my average events per hour were 61 with the longest being 72 seconds (I think that was what they called hypopnea) and my oxygen saturation went from 95% down to 66%. My understanding is that that's bad, really bad. Anyway, I had my second night a couple of days ago with the CPAP machine. It took some getting used to, but eventually I did. My only real frustration was the constant adjusting of the machine . . . one minute I'd be breathing fine, then the technician would adjust the machine from another room and I'd start choking. How's a person supposed to sleep that way. Anyway, I still don't understand why it takes them an average of two weeks to review the results, but it'll be another 2-3 weeks before I get my own machine. I have some questions though . . .

1. Everyone I've spoken to said they felt great the next morning after sleeping with the CPAP the first time. I didn't - although maybe it was the constant tugging on my head to find what wire wasn't transmitting, the whispering voices and flashlights so they wouldn't wake me by turning on the overhead light or the constant voice coming over the intercom to ask if I was alright if I did so much as reach up to scratch my cheek (I think he was new). Did anyone else NOT feel great the morning after?

2. This is kind of embarrassing . . . but, did anyone experience excessive . . . oh goodness -- GAS after starting with the CPAP? I ask because I did and I remembered that after having my gall bladder removed, the nurses and doctors kept asking my if I had passed gas yet (very uncomfortable question, I might add). They explained to me that both breathing on the ventilator and having air pumped into my body for the surgery left excess air and I needed to let it out. I wondered if the constant air pressure would do something similar. Please tell me yes, because if not, I don't know WHAT was happening yesterday.

3. Also, is there an added risk of developing congestion problems, bronchitis or pneumonia from the constant flow of air with a CPAP with humidifier every night?

4. I'm a lyric soprano, I remembered someone mentioning losing their voice after starting CPAP use. Is that common? Is it a given that the constant air pressure will damage the vocal chords? What can I do to minimize or fight the effects?

I think that's all for now, although I know once I get my CPAP, I'll have more. Just be patient with me.

[LDuyer]

Welcome to the forum. I see both your posts. Ask plenty of questions whenever you like. People here just love to answer, even when they don't have any, ....well, answers.

But be sure to ask your doctor plenty of questions, and insist on a copy of the test results, one to keep. All of it too, if you can. Ask lots of questions of how the insurance works for you (my doctor handled it entirely with my insurance), and you might contact your insurance directly with questions. Everyone's experience seems to be a little different, and yet many experience similar things. So keep checking in here. You should find this forum helpful. Be sure to get a heated humidifier with your machine. Sure helps many people. Sorry if I can't answer all your questions, but you will get lots of feedback, I'm sure.

Linda

[Sleeping With The Enemy]

There will be others who will respond later tonight, I'm sure.

I just want to assure you that you are normal. I did not feel good after my first night on CPAP as I think for me it is going to be a long road to recovery. I have severe apnea. AHI of 67, meaning 67 events per hour of either apnea/hypoapnea.

The gas thing. I experienced this after having a pop later in the evening. Seems for some people the carbonated beverages don't agree with the CPAP and walla GAS and BLOATING.

Hang in there it will get better. I had to wait 3 weeks for my results and then I had to hunt them down myself. All the while the hospital had them after a week. So be persistent and don't just take one persons answer as TRUTH. This is your health and you need treatment as soon as possible.

Another thing, really push for an Respironics Auto with C-flex it really is the most comfortable treatment out there.

Good luck and stay with us, there are tons of really neat and helpful people.

This is a great forum.

[littlebaddow]

Welcome to the forum and the world of cpap.

Don't worry, we've all been through similar things You are in the right place to ask lots of questions and learn from other people.

I certainly did not feel great after my first night with cpap, in fact I found it quite a struggle getting used to it. Everyone is different, and it seems that the key is sticking with it until you find the combination of mask and machine that suit you best. In my case, 2nd mask and 3rd machine, and it was into the second month before I realised I was feeling a little better.

I think the risk of developing other infections can be controlled by a sensible hygiene policy with the equipment. Keep the mask clean, use distilled water in the humidifier and make sure you keep the filters in the machine clean.

I agree with Sleeping with the Enemy. Consider, or insist on getting an auto (apap) rather than a fixed pressure cpap. This will mean you only get the pressure you need, rather than a constant pressure, and in my case that has meant a lower (and therefore more comfortable) pressure for much of the night. The Remstar auto with c-flex and heated humidifier certainly gets my vote

Good luck

[gailzee]

welcome and you've come to the right place. Insist on an autopap as it will not ramp you up full of pressure that you DO NOT need. Also, a must a htd humidifier. CPAP.com is great to deal with. Get your study reports, get your scrip. Talk to cpap.com, check out postings on here, of others newbies, see how they're doing.
the titration study is usually so alien, it's a miracle anyone comes out unscathed (or does).

Good luck.

Try diff. masks, check your ins. ask ask ask away..............we've all been thru it, newbies, oldies, whatevers, returnees, you name it, this board has the gamut and then some.........it's a great learning experience.

Don't worry, no question is too insignificant when it comes to health...!

I've recently been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. I'm still learning, but I can tell you that in my first sleep study, my average events per hour were 61 with the longest being 72 seconds (I think that was what they called hypopnea) and my oxygen saturation went from 95% down to 66%. My understanding is that that's bad, really bad. Anyway, I had my second night a couple of days ago with the CPAP machine. It took some getting used to, but eventually I did. My only real frustration was the constant adjusting of the machine . . . one minute I'd be breathing fine, then the technician would adjust the machine from another room and I'd start choking. How's a person supposed to sleep that way. Anyway, I still don't understand why it takes them an average of two weeks to review the results, but it'll be another 2-3 weeks before I get my own machine. I have some questions though . . .

1. Everyone I've spoken to said they felt great the next morning after sleeping with the CPAP the first time. I didn't - although maybe it was the constant tugging on my head to find what wire wasn't transmitting, the whispering voices and flashlights so they wouldn't wake me by turning on the overhead light or the constant voice coming over the intercom to ask if I was alright if I did so much as reach up to scratch my cheek (I think he was new). Did anyone else NOT feel great the morning after?

2. This is kind of embarrassing . . . but, did anyone experience excessive . . . oh goodness -- GAS after starting with the CPAP? I ask because I did and I remembered that after having my gall bladder removed, the nurses and doctors kept asking my if I had passed gas yet (very uncomfortable question, I might add). They explained to me that both breathing on the ventilator and having air pumped into my body for the surgery left excess air and I needed to let it out. I wondered if the constant air pressure would do something similar. Please tell me yes, because if not, I don't know WHAT was happening yesterday.

3. Also, is there an added risk of developing congestion problems, bronchitis or pneumonia from the constant flow of air with a CPAP with humidifier every night?

4. I'm a lyric soprano, I remembered someone mentioning losing their voice after starting CPAP use. Is that common? Is it a given that the constant air pressure will damage the vocal chords? What can I do to minimize or fight the effects?

I think that's all for now, although I know once I get my CPAP, I'll have more. Just be patient with me.

[Grant I]

Divajojo,
I welcome you, as well. Take some time and read through some of the thousands of posts--you'll get a flavor of the wonderful assistance members of this forum can provide (of course--we're mostly NOT doctors; NOT providing medical advice; yada, yada...)

I am a singer--although not at your caliber. My Italian/Irish tenor hasn't been harmed by almost 2 years on the hose. I do find that it's now easier to NOT nodd off during masses and concerts. I believe the reason others have had voice problems is due to lack of humidification. Crank your humiditiy to the max, deal with "rainout" and gradually decrease the humidity each night until you start "drying out" in the morning. Then bump your setting back up a bit.

I remember my 6-week wait after my sleep study--talk about going crazy with anticipation--I knew the results of the study that night (AHI 69) but had to wait for my doctor to read the study and send the report to HIMSELF!! Then waiting for the DME...All I can say is to be patient!

Let us know what kind of mask you used--are you a mouth breather or not? Folks here will gladly give you their $87.50 worth of mask/interface recommendations--and not charge you a dime!!

Welcome again--hope we can help!
Grant

[Janelle]

I was told there are literally hundreds of pages of statistics and such from each sleep study, electrocardigrams, all that stuff, and it is these that the doctor or a technician has to interpret down and read for the final report which will probably be condensed down to less than 5 pages. This is what takes the time between the sleep test and the visit with your doctor on the results. And then the doctor has to work with the DME, the DME with your insurance to find out exactly how much they will pay and what they will approve before you can get your machine.

So, a lot of that wait time is plain ole bureaucracy and a paper trail.

No, I felt like hell the first morning after my titration. And I pretty well slept the entire 6 hours or so. It took me several weeks of treatment before I felt better. Yes, I got gas the first few weeks too, both bloating and out both ends.

I don't see that the pressure of a CPAP would damage vocal chords. And I think that the humidification would help bronchitis, etc. rather than cause it. I know I've used mine with colds and it seems to get me over them quicker and cause them to be much milder. Remember when you were a child how they had the humidifier at your bedside when you had a cold to help you breathe?

Good luck with your treatment and getting a machine and mask that suit you.

[divajojo]

Hello All;

Thanks so much for your advice. I have felt a bit neglected, seeing as how I haven't even MET my doctor yet. I can't abide being treated by someone I've never met. I'm making an appointment today so we can go over my results in person . . . in the meantime . . . I have another question. Several of you have suggested getting the Prescription and buying the machine myself, making sure insurance will reimburse me, of course -- which I have no problem with . . . but, will I still have the opportunity to switch out machines/masks/etc. to find which works best for me or do I have to buy it each time I feel I need to try something else?

[gailzee]

you only need a scrip for the actual machine. But for the rest of the equipment, buy away whatever you want. But you can demand the scrip (god luck with dr. doing this/and the RT/and the DME $ they have a piece of--but that is another long long story). You can trust cpap.com, in fact, they will advise you, talk to you about your needs, etc. But you need to check with your ins. what will be covered, I do not think cpap.com does any T/P billing (third party). So if you have ins. and must use a DME that the sleep dr, sleep clinic, dr. recommends, ask questions of what type of machine you're buying/leasing, terms, also can you have an auto pap. THey may jump up/down, giving you the line of BS they always do. I stood my ground and demanded an apap, and after much sighing, phoning, (me calling other DME's) they did come thru. This was before I realized I could've eliminated the whole experienc and bought from cpap.com, which I did for a back up exact same system. However, that purchase is out of my pocket.

THerefore, find out what ur ins. covers (or not), tell them what type of machine YOU WANT, type of nasal pc YOU WANT, htd humidifier YOU WANT, etc. Believe me the DME if they want ur business should cave and if they need a new scrip, they will get it from the dr. But you must stay on top of these DME reps, and RT's as once you get in their loop its hard to go forward (most of them are fine, some are not).

Saying that, let us know what if any/ins. info you find out, for example, do they rent, then purchase, terms, stuff like that, that ony you can find out from your insurer. If insurance is not in the pic, then in one sense you will have less headaches and can safely send ur scrip to cpap.com and they can walk you thru any questions, problems, etc. you may have.

I am not a rep, dr. RT, or anything else, just a fellow c-pap-er.

Good luck.
Gz

Hello All;

Thanks so much for your advice. I have felt a bit neglected, seeing as how I haven't even MET my doctor yet. I can't abide being treated by someone I've never met. I'm making an appointment today so we can go over my results in person . . . in the meantime . . . I have another question. Several of you have suggested getting the Prescription and buying the machine myself, making sure insurance will reimburse me, of course -- which I have no problem with . . . but, will I still have the opportunity to switch out machines/masks/etc. to find which works best for me or do I have to buy it each time I feel I need to try something else?

[snoozin']

If you purchase equipment, you will probably NOT be able to return it.
So the best way to get what you want is as follows:
1. Check exactly what your insurance will pay for. Check if they will reimburse for purchases online. Check if they will pay for rental of equipment and how much for how long. Check how often they will pay for replacement equipment, like masks. Also check how often they will replace a machine - some will pay for a new machine after 2 years, some after 5 years, etc.
2. If the insurance will pay for rental, call around or visit the local DMEs (Durable Medical Equipment supplier). See what equipment, masks, etc. they have and how willing they are to let you try different equipment. Some DMEs work only with one company, so will only have that company's equipment for rent. Some DMEs will have equipment from several manufacturers. Find the best local DME, with the most equipment options, and rent machines for as long as your insurance will allow. This will give you the option of trying several differnt machines. Also, if the DME has numerous mask options, you should be able to try on or even use different types and kinds of mask.
DO NOT GIVE THE DME YOUR ONLY COPY OF THE PRESCRIPTION. Make sure you keep a copy of the prescription for your own records. Give the DME one copy and keep one. This will allow you to purchase online, or even through another DME if the first one turns out to be not as good as they seemed.
3. When you have found out what machine/masks combination works best for you, check your cost to purchase on line or through the DME. Most of the time it will be online, but some people will be able to purchase through the DME/insurance channel cheaper. Only purchase when you know you are getting what you want and need - don't settle for anything less.

Depending on how your insurance works, you might have to modify a bit, but the most important things to remember are:
Find out what the insurance will cover.
Don't give the DME your only copy of the prescription.
Don't settle for something that doesn't work or isn't comfortable.

Debbie