Getting CPAP this week need advice on headgear etc.

ThePBMinistry · Post by **ThePBMinistry** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 1:43 am

Hello,

I had my sleep test this saturday night. I was told I was one of the more severe cases they have had. I went from 98%oxygen to 91% in 5 minutes and was down to 71% and dropping in less than 45 minutes. they had me on a cpap machine in 1hour and 15 minutes from the time I first fell asleep. I guess this is bad?

Anyway. I am excited to get my CPAP this week. The VA provides respironics units, I dont know which ones. I do know It will have heated water unit on it and a battery pack for camping etc. I understand that I will go through a fitting this week where I get to choose headgear and whatnot so I would love a little guidance. Do you have any suggestions? the over the nose mask they used on the test felt heavy and I was a little clausterphobic with it, but I want to sleep better so I am all for it.

Please if anyone has any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate them.

BTW I am 29 6'2" 325lbs if this makes a differance in the headgear.

_________________

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 1:55 am

ThePBMinistry wrote:I guess this is bad?

Yeah, it is. Of course it's really good that you know about it now and can start the path to fixing it.

ThePBMinistry wrote:I understand that I will go through a fitting this week where I get to choose headgear and whatnot so I would love a little guidance. Do you have any suggestions? the over the nose mask they used on the test felt heavy and I was a little clausterphobic with it, but I want to sleep better so I am all for it.

Well, it mainly depends on how you sleep. Stomach/side/back? Do you happen to know what pressure you were titrated at?

The basic types are nasal, which you described above, nasal pillows, which just seal against the bottoms of your nostrils directly, and full face masks, which cover your mouth and nose. Each type has plusses and minuses.

ThePBMinistry · Post by **ThePBMinistry** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 2:02 am

I think it was 12?

I like to sleep on my back but thank God my wife forces me to sleep on my side because of the snoring. I some times end up on my stomach but my head position is the same as if I were on my side.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 2:46 am

Ok, well, you won't be snoring anymore (most likely) once you get the treatment equation right.

Nasal pillows masks tend to be less restrictive, but some have trouble with rubbing on their nares, and they're slightly noisier.

Nasal masks are the old standby. They'll leak more easily than most nasal pillows masks when pushed up against a pillow, or the like. These can be very quiet.

Full face masks are used when you mouth breathe, but tend to be harder to seal correctly (more area that needs to seal).

Mainly just take your time when they fit you for a mask, lay down, and try to make it leak. Try at least 3 masks, even if you think one works well.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 3:23 am

Should also mention that you won't get much of a choice in the way of headgear. Each mask comes with a different type (though one co's will be very similar to its others) and you use the one it comes with, though some have S,M & L sizes if you're lucky.

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:20 am

Get a unit with data recording capability NOT A "PLUS" machine in the Respironics line. A Pro2, AUTO, or M series Pro or M Series Auto will record data.

cpapnewby · Post by **cpapnewby** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 6:08 am

ThePBMinistry wrote:Hello,

I had my sleep test this saturday night. I was told I was one of the more severe cases they have had. I went from 98%oxygen to 91% in 5 minutes and was down to 71% and dropping in less than 45 minutes. they had me on a cpap machine in 1hour and 15 minutes from the time I first fell asleep. I guess this is bad?

Anyway. I am excited to get my CPAP this week. The VA provides respironics units, I dont know which ones. I do know It will have heated water unit on it and a battery pack for camping etc. I understand that I will go through a fitting this week where I get to choose headgear and whatnot so I would love a little guidance. Do you have any suggestions? the over the nose mask they used on the test felt heavy and I was a little clausterphobic with it, but I want to sleep better so I am all for it.

Please if anyone has any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate them.

BTW I am 29 6'2" 325lbs if this makes a differance in the headgear.

If your pressure is over 10, you have a tendency to open your mouth. Definitely try the Hybrid mask with the new premium grey headgear.

cpapnewby · Post by **cpapnewby** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 6:10 am

ThePBMinistry wrote:Hello,

I had my sleep test this saturday night. I was told I was one of the more severe cases they have had. I went from 98%oxygen to 91% in 5 minutes and was down to 71% and dropping in less than 45 minutes. they had me on a cpap machine in 1hour and 15 minutes from the time I first fell asleep. I guess this is bad?

Anyway. I am excited to get my CPAP this week. The VA provides respironics units, I dont know which ones. I do know It will have heated water unit on it and a battery pack for camping etc. I understand that I will go through a fitting this week where I get to choose headgear and whatnot so I would love a little guidance. Do you have any suggestions? the over the nose mask they used on the test felt heavy and I was a little clausterphobic with it, but I want to sleep better so I am all for it.

Please if anyone has any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate them.

BTW I am 29 6'2" 325lbs if this makes a differance in the headgear.

If your pressure is over 10, you have a tendency to open your mouth. Definitely try the Hybrid mask with the new premium grey headgear.

sleepingBear · Post by **sleepingBear** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 7:07 am

The VA is issuing the M series, also they will allow you to try just about any mask. The DME they work with in CT is very responsive and the VA specifically told me to call them if I had any questions or problems.

They had no problem giving me an M series Auto, all I had to do was ask. All they asked was that I send them the smart card after 2 weeks of usage, so be sure to ask for a replacement card.

My VA rep was adamant that I try as many masks as I like until I find one that fits.

All told my experience with the VA has been great.

Good luck getting started.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 12:14 pm

thanks for the quick responses. the VA in roseburg OR was very helpfull during the study. I swear I learned more about myself in 1 hour of talking to the tech than I had ever learned from any other medical professional. I cant wait to get my machine

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 12:39 pm

Called the VA to find out when I would be getting my machine. The nurse said that the doctor is gone untill the 26th. that means I wont have my machine till I return from a business trip in march.... that sucks, gotta love the government. Anyway, I did find out that the machines they hand out are the respironics M Pro. It looks like that one has the smart card and everything? dont know what the benifits of that machine are but thats apparently what I will recive when I finaly get it.

sleepingBear · Post by **sleepingBear** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 1:02 pm

PB, I wrote the Dr a letter explaining why I wanted an M Series Auto as opposed to a straight CPAP (Based on what I learned in this forum) and they were very receptive to my desire to want the Auto.

I have had it for 2 weeks and would recommend asking for the auto as opposed to the straight CPAP. That would allow you to not only monitor your useage, but easily titrate yourself. You can use the machine as an APAP or a CPAP depending upon what works best for you. If you would like a copy of the letter I sent to my VA Dr I PM me and I'll be more than Happy to e-mail it to you.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 2:06 pm

I was titrated at 12, I dont know what the benefit of the auto is, but the lady at the va said that the auto is for people that have not been titrated? I dont know the differance between apap and cpap.

Can anyone tell me the benefits of the M pro vs the M ?

telly · Post by **telly** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 3:27 pm

I've tried both nasal masks and nasal pillows and I must say that nasal pillows are much more comfortable. I use the Swift and don't think I'll try nasal masks again. I would try another nasal pillow unit though.

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:27 pm

PB

1st, the auto can be used by anyone (titrated or not). The advantage I like at a pressure of 13 (my titration pressure) is that I don't need 13 much of the night so when I don't need 13 I don't get 13. This makes for less air swallowing, less mask leakage etc.

2nd There is no just plain M (there is M series Pro that can collect useful data, m series plus that collects no useful data -- avoid, and M series auto)

Getting CPAP this week need advice on headgear etc.

Getting CPAP this week need advice on headgear etc.

Re: Getting CPAP this week need advice on headgear etc.

Re: Getting CPAP this week need advice on headgear etc.

Re: Getting CPAP this week need advice on headgear etc.