Newbie onboard ?

deerslayer · Post by **deerslayer** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:04 pm

any other G.I.'s on here ? as of last night,this was my 7th night with the new experiance of cpap machine and the respironics profile lite nasal gel nasal mask. wake up several times a night with pressure being applied by the dadgum hose/mask pressing against area just under nose above lip area. it feels bruised & a scab has formed there from the git go. i feel like an old chicken with a roost blister. trying to make light of a not so comfortable situatiion, but trying to hangin there. ...i am dealing w/ chronic broncitis,c.o.p.d. & getting past a reumatoid flare up. even though the setup is uncomfortable, i can tell a differance in my sinus being a lot clearer than before. ...am useing a respironics w/ hudmidifier,ramp/c flex. the hose swivel thing gets to be a pain/...guess i'm just whinning. tim

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:15 pm

Hang in there -- it will get better!!

Please fill in your profile so that we can help you better. It is in the top row mid ways.

This board has a wealth of information on it. I suggest you read the yellow light bulb and the red question mark.

Have you tried some Ayr gel on your sore?

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:52 pm

You either have your mask on too tight or the mask simply does not fit your face. It is relatively much easier to to find a different mask than to find a different face.

Since you are just starting out you should:

1) get a copy of your sleep study report (whole thing not just summary).
2) original prescription
3) spend as much time reading this forum so you can get up to speed before your options for equipment change runs out.
4) don't let the blister get out of control ... do something right away (topical antibiotics or have your doc take a look at it).
5) plus what Carol said

... not whinning at all, many are set up for failure in exchange for profit

sleepyinaustin · Post by **sleepyinaustin** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:31 pm

Not a GI, but also a relatively new CPAP user and new to this board. I have been "on the tube" now for about 8 weeks. I am on my fourth interface and having trouble finding one that I can use consistently - doc tells me this is not unusual. I tried a gel nasal mask for one night and had an allergic reaction to it. Woke up the next morning with huge welts on my face everywhere the gel was even though there was silicone between the gel and my face. The welts lasted 2 days. Maybe you need a different mask until your face heals?

deerslayer · Post by **deerslayer** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:23 pm

thanks all for the info !! this is a whole new world for me.i need to dig into all the first hand advice. not having an easy time right now, the mother of my three children is being buried tomorrow, 700 miles away. my present wife of 27years has been very understanding. God bless all. tim

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:34 pm

I am a proud Marine Mom. Does that count as being part GI?

My son is out now but proudly served in Iraq and was among the first deployed there.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:42 pm

yes mam it accounts for a whole lot. i should have said i'm an old vet since i have been out since 1968. God bless all the troops & the families who have stood the post !

debbieinpittsburgh · Post by **debbieinpittsburgh** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 7:51 pm

HI: Just picked up my equipment today. Will be using it tonight. Didn't really sleep well at the sleep study with this stuff on. Couldn't fall asleep with the mask but eventually did after 2 hours of feeling like I was suffocating.
Worried that I won't sleep tonight.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:29 pm

debbieinpittsburgh wrote:HI: Just picked up my equipment today. Will be using it tonight. Didn't really sleep well at the sleep study with this stuff on. Couldn't fall asleep with the mask but eventually did after 2 hours of feeling like I was suffocating.
Worried that I won't sleep tonight.

Debbie,

I see you have the M Series Auto listed in your profile....
What pressure(s) is is set to? If it's set in the full range of 4 - 20, that will also make you feel like you're suffocating. I understand that that was your experience in the sleep study (which is actually kind of a contradiction in terms as hardly anybody ever sleeps normally in them), but if your Auto is actually set up with that pressure range, you'll still be having those sensations.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

Den

deerslayer · Post by **deerslayer** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:05 pm

goodluck deb...think alot of it is just keeping a can do attitude & give it a chance. i just ordered a swift mirage 2 for comparison. still trying to learn all i can. sure like the humidifier & ramp feature on my machine. this is a great site. ...when the V.A. summond me to a cpap eval (after the wired up sleep study) i had already made up my mind it was not for me. then they wheeled in a cart full of machines for the 25 of us, lol. got my attitude adjusted right quick . hang in there

debbieinpittsburgh · Post by **debbieinpittsburgh** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 6:39 pm

Thanks for the encouragement. The first night was a flop.
The DME guy told me the ramp wasn't working. Not sure what the ramp is
I had the mask on for 1 hr and did not fall asleep. Took it off and went to sleep. The DME company called me the next day and told me they needed to replace the machine as the ramp wasn't working. Not sure why they gave it to me when the ramp was not working.
Bad first night===no Cpap.

deerslayer · Post by **deerslayer** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 7:46 pm

persevere Deb ! this will be my 9th night on cpap. as of dec.4 i knew absolutly squat about any of this world. so far i have had a few good nights, some not so good and a few down right frustrating nights..the ramp feature is a must for me, it slows down the pressure and lets you fall asleep easier. this community here and the wealth of info is very encouraging and will help sustain me in this endevor. eventually i will solve these little all these knickyknack problems associated.click on the yellow light bulb at the forum top for info. here is a link for some equipment info http://sleepapnea.respironics.com/patie ... aring.aspx think it's way too early to see any signs of improvement but have noticed a deeper more restful sleep and will keep trying to be a sponge around here trying to learn all i can. fortunately the V.A.folks have been very helpful and have been there.God Bless em, they don't get near enough credit. hang in there girl---> it will get betta. tim

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 10:34 pm

debbieinpittsburgh wrote:Thanks for the encouragement. The first night was a flop.
The DME guy told me the ramp wasn't working. Not sure what the ramp is
I had the mask on for 1 hr and did not fall asleep. Took it off and went to sleep. The DME company called me the next day and told me they needed to replace the machine as the ramp wasn't working. Not sure why they gave it to me when the ramp was not working.
Bad first night===no Cpap.

I smell a "switcheroo" coming.
The "Ramp" is a feature that gradually brings up your pressure. It can be turned on or off and with various settings as far as starting pressure and the time to reach your normal pressure setting.

You have the "M Series Auto CPAP" in your profile. If that's REALLY what you have had and they want to "switch" machines.....they may be trying to switch you to a lower-end machine than what you had. They may have deliberately turned off the Ramp as an excuse to tell you it wasn't working and as a way to get it back and switch it for a cheaper one so they can make more profit.

BE CAREFUL!!! KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT AND WHAT YOU'RE GETTING IN RETURN!
(I wouldn't trust them)

Den

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 11:27 pm

If it says Hoover 1929, send it back. Jim

deebbieinpittsburgh · Post by **deebbieinpittsburgh** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 1:24 pm

Thanks for the tips. I am taking the dang thing on Monday back to the DME and finding out what I have and what the doctor ordered. I'm also going to try out different masks.l

Newbie onboard ?

Newbie onboard ?

thankyou !

new to this

Re: new to this

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: straight cpap 12.20 AHI avg.0.79