Thanks to all for your encouragement, from how to stop leaks to being firm with the DME provider.
I used Meister's tip about stuffing tissue under the edge of the mask where it leaked, and VOILA! It worked! I had a headband ready to use per another suggestion, but never had to put it on.
I slept comfortably all night. On my back, then on one side. Only woke up the one time to change positions.
I love the BiPAP, it delivers just exactly what I need. The humidifier set on 3 is perfect. No dry mouth.
I am working on keeping my mouth closed, and I think it's beginning to take. I may eventually be able to try a pillow interface.
Now I think I can face my shoulder surgery knowing I will be able to breathe while sleeping on my back.
What a relief!
I don't know what I would have done without this forum.
I still plan on exchanging the mask for a medium, and will face the wicked girl with the new nice/bitch attitude you guys & gals have given me.
Betty
4th night, and OH BOY, it was good!
Hi photogal,
Very happy to hear you had a good night.
Actually I think you are kind of lucky to achieve this success so soon as I tinkered with my set up for some time. From the beginning I just made up my mind that I was going to make this work for me especially after all the time, frustration and money I invested. Initial inconvenience is really a small price to pay to not have that tired feeling all day and improve your overall well being.
I would caution you a little. One good night does not make a cured Apneac but it is a start. I suspect your not Queen of the Perfect Mask Realm yet and will have minor frustrations along the way. This treatment is not a quick fix but rather a long term lifestyle change which takes a little time to get used to. Just keep at it and soon you will find your rhythm and wonder what all the fuss was about.
One other thing. For me, the simple act of breathing seems to have taken centre stage in my life and have become maybe a little too preoccupied with it. For years I have put up with congestion, wheezing and shortness of breath. Now with xPAP and Flonase I sort of wonder how far I can go. Is there more out there or should I be satisfied and thankful I got this far. The thing is, when I do have a good night I wonder if it could be even better with that new mask that just came on the market.
Anyway, just wanted to wish you well! And think long term!
All the best.
Bob F
Very happy to hear you had a good night.
Actually I think you are kind of lucky to achieve this success so soon as I tinkered with my set up for some time. From the beginning I just made up my mind that I was going to make this work for me especially after all the time, frustration and money I invested. Initial inconvenience is really a small price to pay to not have that tired feeling all day and improve your overall well being.
I would caution you a little. One good night does not make a cured Apneac but it is a start. I suspect your not Queen of the Perfect Mask Realm yet and will have minor frustrations along the way. This treatment is not a quick fix but rather a long term lifestyle change which takes a little time to get used to. Just keep at it and soon you will find your rhythm and wonder what all the fuss was about.
One other thing. For me, the simple act of breathing seems to have taken centre stage in my life and have become maybe a little too preoccupied with it. For years I have put up with congestion, wheezing and shortness of breath. Now with xPAP and Flonase I sort of wonder how far I can go. Is there more out there or should I be satisfied and thankful I got this far. The thing is, when I do have a good night I wonder if it could be even better with that new mask that just came on the market.
Anyway, just wanted to wish you well! And think long term!
All the best.
Bob F
unclebob
Congrats!! -- Meister had a big nite too
Meister took back his nightly Oxygen ($400/mo) and unplugged his CPAP
and made it the entire night with just the Dental Device. He feels just
fine right now. He will see how it does later in the afternoon. But it was
7 1/2 hours of sleep.
and made it the entire night with just the Dental Device. He feels just
fine right now. He will see how it does later in the afternoon. But it was
7 1/2 hours of sleep.
post subject
unclebob, I duly take in your cautions. One night doesn't mean I'm walking the yellow brick road. Yet!
I've read so much on this forum about everyone's struggles, that it just felt good to have gotten at least one night's good sleep. I am forever the optimist.
Meister, which dental device are you talking about? The one somebody in this forum suggested, or something made by your dentist? Here you give me that great tip and then you move on...I feel like a one-night stand.
I've read so much on this forum about everyone's struggles, that it just felt good to have gotten at least one night's good sleep. I am forever the optimist.
Meister, which dental device are you talking about? The one somebody in this forum suggested, or something made by your dentist? Here you give me that great tip and then you move on...I feel like a one-night stand.
Photogal - I would sleep with you more often, but ...
There are so many others on this forum who need my services...
I went to my Dentist and got the Silent Nite. For me it has been a gift
from above. My breakthroughs have been, first PB 420e, then Melatonin,
then Aussie Heated hose, and now the Silent Nite dental device ($100).
I am actually still feeling great midway through the day without using
the PAP.
Photogal -- don't feel bad. Meister told you to wrap toilet tissue
around your head and Rested Gal promotes pantyhose for the face. What more could you want out of life?
I went to my Dentist and got the Silent Nite. For me it has been a gift
from above. My breakthroughs have been, first PB 420e, then Melatonin,
then Aussie Heated hose, and now the Silent Nite dental device ($100).
I am actually still feeling great midway through the day without using
the PAP.
Photogal -- don't feel bad. Meister told you to wrap toilet tissue
around your head and Rested Gal promotes pantyhose for the face. What more could you want out of life?
-
sleepy gal
- Posts: 108
- Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2005 1:59 pm
- Location: upstate New York
posted subject
Well, Meister, I guess the next thing I could want is for somebody to tell me it's OK to go rob a bank. I'd like to spend next Christmas in Hawaii.
-
neversleeps
- Posts: 1141
- Joined: Wed Apr 20, 2005 7:06 pm
- Location: Minnesota
post subject
<digging out the ole pantyhose>
I have a question for your hubby
Send me your phone number:
Dear Mr. Photogal,
Which would lead to a divorce with your beautiful wife sooner for you.
1) Your wife admitting to having a one-night stand with the meister?
2) Your wife successfully robbing a bank with pantyhose on her head and
not getting caught?
Dear Mr. Photogal,
Which would lead to a divorce with your beautiful wife sooner for you.
1) Your wife admitting to having a one-night stand with the meister?
2) Your wife successfully robbing a bank with pantyhose on her head and
not getting caught?
-
nodding off
- Posts: 133
- Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2005 3:54 pm
- Location: Central Mass
- Contact:
you are a scream
Meister, thank you for giving me something to laugh about!
That's what I like about this forum. You all have such a great sense of humor and realize as we struggle with our treatment, we need those light moments.
I'll tell you what. I'll rob that bank first, then you and I can spend all that money. Maybe we can buy every interface out there.
And yes, I will take my trusty BiPAP to the hospital with me. It will keep me from looking like a snoring fool in front of everyone. Isn't that typical for a female to worry about that?
It's not ladylike to snore. When my husband first told me I'd begun to snore, it crushed me.
That's what I like about this forum. You all have such a great sense of humor and realize as we struggle with our treatment, we need those light moments.
I'll tell you what. I'll rob that bank first, then you and I can spend all that money. Maybe we can buy every interface out there.
And yes, I will take my trusty BiPAP to the hospital with me. It will keep me from looking like a snoring fool in front of everyone. Isn't that typical for a female to worry about that?
It's not ladylike to snore. When my husband first told me I'd begun to snore, it crushed me.
-
rested gal
- Posts: 12881
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
LOL! Laughing at this whole thread too.It's not ladylike to snore. When my husband first told me I'd begun to snore, it crushed me.
Photogal, I know what you mean. The first comments about my horrendous snoring came from other girls at teenage slumber parties back in the 'fifties. Not that anyone really expected to sleep at those get-togethers. Slumber parties were for staying up all night yakking, trying out hair styles, girltalk about boys, etc. But as dawn approached and things wound down, not many could drop off to sleep with the way I snored.
For the next 40+ years I continued to hear about my snoring, even though I wasn't aware of it myself. College room-mates, two ex-hubbies, and women who shared a room on dog show trips all mentioned it. One can expect a husband to mention it, but it has to be a-w-f-u-l-l-y bad snoring when tactful friends say something about it.
One even gave me a box of "Breathe Rite" strips, which, of course, didn't put a dent in the snoring, given that my throat closing off was the real problem. One might say that was a first feeble attempt at "lab rat" experimentation -- so long ago. heheh
But, hey, some people snore, don't they? Annoying, irritating, unladylike! I was simply a snorer - the only unladylike thing about me. I hated that I did that, but what can one do? I've always been normal weight. Had no inkling that anything was really dangerously wrong.
Finally... just before I turned 58, I tried to find a position for my head that would lessen the chance of snoring. Kind of late in life to start worrying about it, given how many people had commented on it...heh.
I found that no matter what potential sleep position I tried, if I let my throat relax as completely as possible while awake -- WHAM! Throat closed off totally.
That made me realize it could be a much more serious matter than just unladylike snoring. I read about "sleep apnea" for the first time. That info soon guided me to message boards. I wanted to see how people were dealing with sleep apnea. Got an autopap/software and all is well now.
Better late than never.
So glad your treatment is off to a good start now, photogal. Best of luck with your upcoming surgery and a smooth recovery, now aided by smooth breathing!
P.S. Need an accomplice on the bank adventure?
post subject
Restedgal,
Boy, do I relate. Before I knew I had OSA, a girlfriend I used to work with moved back to her home state of Wisconsin. We kept in touch, and she came to visit me several times.
One year she invited me up to an all-women fishing trip to the Boundary Waters in Minnesota. There were about 8 of us women, and we stayed about 4 days.
I drove my little Honda up from Oklahoma, and we canoed down a beautiful creek and across a lake to an island. We had to bring our own water, cooking utensils, eats & tents, and put all food in sacks and suspend them in trees to keep bears from getting the food. No bathrooms, showers, electricity or modern conveniences. We were loaded down with huge backpacks, and had to portage our canoes around places in the creek where canoes couldn't go. I had NEVER paddled a canoe before, and that is another whole hilarious story.
I brought my own tent instead of staying in the tent with my friend. I told her I snored really bad, but it still hurt her feelings that I stayed alone and not with her. Kept us from being able to giggle, talk and catch up as you do before falling asleep. Had I slept in her tent, she'd have been sorry.
As it was, I'm surprised a bear didn't join me thinking I was talking his talk. I think I laid awake half the nights worrying about bears. The other half I'm sure was spent struggling to breathe.
It was a lovely but exhausting trip and we had a fishing contest. I caught the most, and the biggest. Walleye & Northern Pike.
It is sad, though, that OSA and the snoring that goes with it interferes with our lives.
I just received a call from my DME gal and will exchange my large FF mask for a medium tomorrow. I asked her about pillows, specifically about the Swift and Breeze. She said she had the most patient satisfaction with Swift. She said a lot of people said the Breeze came off their heads at night. Although she said both were good.
And yes, Restedgal, I need an accomplice. We'll just put on our masks and hoses and everybody will faint when we walk in, thinking they've been invaded by ETs.
Betty
Boy, do I relate. Before I knew I had OSA, a girlfriend I used to work with moved back to her home state of Wisconsin. We kept in touch, and she came to visit me several times.
One year she invited me up to an all-women fishing trip to the Boundary Waters in Minnesota. There were about 8 of us women, and we stayed about 4 days.
I drove my little Honda up from Oklahoma, and we canoed down a beautiful creek and across a lake to an island. We had to bring our own water, cooking utensils, eats & tents, and put all food in sacks and suspend them in trees to keep bears from getting the food. No bathrooms, showers, electricity or modern conveniences. We were loaded down with huge backpacks, and had to portage our canoes around places in the creek where canoes couldn't go. I had NEVER paddled a canoe before, and that is another whole hilarious story.
I brought my own tent instead of staying in the tent with my friend. I told her I snored really bad, but it still hurt her feelings that I stayed alone and not with her. Kept us from being able to giggle, talk and catch up as you do before falling asleep. Had I slept in her tent, she'd have been sorry.
As it was, I'm surprised a bear didn't join me thinking I was talking his talk. I think I laid awake half the nights worrying about bears. The other half I'm sure was spent struggling to breathe.
It was a lovely but exhausting trip and we had a fishing contest. I caught the most, and the biggest. Walleye & Northern Pike.
It is sad, though, that OSA and the snoring that goes with it interferes with our lives.
I just received a call from my DME gal and will exchange my large FF mask for a medium tomorrow. I asked her about pillows, specifically about the Swift and Breeze. She said she had the most patient satisfaction with Swift. She said a lot of people said the Breeze came off their heads at night. Although she said both were good.
And yes, Restedgal, I need an accomplice. We'll just put on our masks and hoses and everybody will faint when we walk in, thinking they've been invaded by ETs.
Betty
-
rested gal
- Posts: 12881
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
Yes, both are good. I'd guess the reason the Breeze comes off the head for some people is because they don't put straps down low on the Breeze, like this (retouched pic of where I put my Breeze straps):She said she had the most patient satisfaction with Swift. She said a lot of people said the Breeze came off their heads at night. Although she said both were good.
With the straps down that low, it's held in place perfectly steadily, yet one can still lift the Breeze on and off like a ballcap without undoing the straps.
Also essential, imho... hang the main air hose up on headboard to keep hose out of the way and to keep it from tugging at the headgear (and thus, one's nose!) while turning from side to side.
What a lovely description you wrote of the fishing trip.