Hello Everyone! My name is Jenn. I am 26 yrs old, married, and have 6 precious cats & 2 lovely ferrets. No kids. I recieved my CPAP yesterday. I am so glad to have it as I look forward to actually getting some restful sleep and not wake up with those really scary episodes of not breathing. That gasping, trying to get air is so scary to me. I am so thankful that I found this forum and can read about apnea and CPAP with other users. I am going to get started reading some posts right now. Take care everyone!
New CPAP User
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FairSpirit
- Posts: 127
- Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2005 4:35 pm
- Location: Western, NC
- Contact:
New CPAP User
~FairSpirit~
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cheath1000
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2005 7:07 pm
- Location: scottsdale az
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johnnygoodman
- Posts: 784
- Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 5:13 pm
- Contact:
Welcome!
Howdy! Glad to have you!
There is a ton to do and learn on this board. You've already signed up and posted, so you are off to a great start.
The blurbs under each posts are CPAPopedia keywords contained in each post. Click each link for a definition of the term as well as information about the subject.
There are live chats Mondays and Thursdays. Right now they start at 7 PM CST.
If you want to see how your equipment stacks up, check out CPAP reviews or visit the cpap.com CPAP Comparison Chart available here:
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-compare-chart/CPAP
Also, in the near future, you may be interested in this compare chart:
https://www.cpap.com/simple-find-cpap-p ... d=AUTOCPAP
Enjoy!
Johnny
There is a ton to do and learn on this board. You've already signed up and posted, so you are off to a great start.
The blurbs under each posts are CPAPopedia keywords contained in each post. Click each link for a definition of the term as well as information about the subject.
There are live chats Mondays and Thursdays. Right now they start at 7 PM CST.
If you want to see how your equipment stacks up, check out CPAP reviews or visit the cpap.com CPAP Comparison Chart available here:
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-compare-chart/CPAP
Also, in the near future, you may be interested in this compare chart:
https://www.cpap.com/simple-find-cpap-p ... d=AUTOCPAP
Enjoy!
Johnny
Welcome Jenn! I saw your post in another thread also - and just wanted to say welcome. I think you will really like this board - its fairly active and I've learned and incredible amount of good info here!
Its nice to know we're not alone!
Good luck with your CPAP and I'm sure we'll "run into" each other often on this message board!
Its nice to know we're not alone!
Good luck with your CPAP and I'm sure we'll "run into" each other often on this message board!
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FairSpirit
- Posts: 127
- Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2005 4:35 pm
- Location: Western, NC
- Contact:
hi Jenn, and welcome!
What equipment did they give you? How did your first few nights go? I'm a new user too (2 weeks), and it took a few nights for me to get ANY sleep. The frustration of trying to deal with the mask and hose kept me awake, and I'd end up taking the mask off in the middle of the night.
I've learned now not to let myself do that! My best sleep seems to happen in the last few hours prior to the alarm going off. I'm now forcing myself to keep the mask on even if i lay awake awhile 'cause i know those last few hours make all the difference. I'm now waking much more refreshed and feeling better overall.
It took awhile and i'm still waking up often to deal with the mask & hose, but I now find it much easier to drop back to sleep.
Hang in there, kid! It gets better!
teej
What equipment did they give you? How did your first few nights go? I'm a new user too (2 weeks), and it took a few nights for me to get ANY sleep. The frustration of trying to deal with the mask and hose kept me awake, and I'd end up taking the mask off in the middle of the night.
I've learned now not to let myself do that! My best sleep seems to happen in the last few hours prior to the alarm going off. I'm now forcing myself to keep the mask on even if i lay awake awhile 'cause i know those last few hours make all the difference. I'm now waking much more refreshed and feeling better overall.
It took awhile and i'm still waking up often to deal with the mask & hose, but I now find it much easier to drop back to sleep.
Hang in there, kid! It gets better!
teej
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FairSpirit
- Posts: 127
- Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2005 4:35 pm
- Location: Western, NC
- Contact:
[quote="Teej813"]hi Jenn, and welcome!
What equipment did they give you? How did your first few nights go? I'm a new user too (2 weeks), and it took a few nights for me to get ANY sleep. The frustration of trying to deal with the mask and hose kept me awake, and I'd end up taking the mask off in the middle of the night.
I've learned now not to let myself do that! My best sleep seems to happen in the last few hours prior to the alarm going off. I'm now forcing myself to keep the mask on even if i lay awake awhile 'cause i know those last few hours make all the difference. I'm now waking much more refreshed and feeling better overall.
It took awhile and i'm still waking up often to deal with the mask & hose, but I now find it much easier to drop back to sleep.
Hang in there, kid! It gets better!
teej
What equipment did they give you? How did your first few nights go? I'm a new user too (2 weeks), and it took a few nights for me to get ANY sleep. The frustration of trying to deal with the mask and hose kept me awake, and I'd end up taking the mask off in the middle of the night.
I've learned now not to let myself do that! My best sleep seems to happen in the last few hours prior to the alarm going off. I'm now forcing myself to keep the mask on even if i lay awake awhile 'cause i know those last few hours make all the difference. I'm now waking much more refreshed and feeling better overall.
It took awhile and i'm still waking up often to deal with the mask & hose, but I now find it much easier to drop back to sleep.
Hang in there, kid! It gets better!
teej
~FairSpirit~
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ahujudybear
- Posts: 354
- Joined: Mon May 23, 2005 10:12 am
- Location: Franklin, WI
Welcome to the forum, Fair Spirit!
I'm new here too and have been using a BiPAP for almost 2 months now.
But your mention of headaches sent up a red flag here.
Please understand that the headaches might not be from the mask, per se, but from a build-up of Carbon dioxide that is caused by not being able to exhale against the pressure of the machine.
This is a problem that people who have weak "coughing muscles" (oblique abdominals) have. I am a polio survivor who spent a short time (several days) in an iron lung due to Bulbar type poliovirus infection.
If these headaches continue I would tell my Dr. and ask for some ABG tests (Arterial Blood Gasses) or any other means to monitor this.
Sounds like you have a very pretty set of equipment there! Hope it all works for you, and that you enjoy the forum!
- JB
I'm new here too and have been using a BiPAP for almost 2 months now.
But your mention of headaches sent up a red flag here.
Please understand that the headaches might not be from the mask, per se, but from a build-up of Carbon dioxide that is caused by not being able to exhale against the pressure of the machine.
This is a problem that people who have weak "coughing muscles" (oblique abdominals) have. I am a polio survivor who spent a short time (several days) in an iron lung due to Bulbar type poliovirus infection.
If these headaches continue I would tell my Dr. and ask for some ABG tests (Arterial Blood Gasses) or any other means to monitor this.
Sounds like you have a very pretty set of equipment there! Hope it all works for you, and that you enjoy the forum!
- JB
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FairSpirit
- Posts: 127
- Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2005 4:35 pm
- Location: Western, NC
- Contact:
also new
Hi Jenn and Hello all...friday nite was my first nite of cpap!!
Needless to say I didn't sleep well...please tell me it gets easier.
I have the remstar auto with cflex set in ccflex of 3 with a pressure of 12 . I have the heated humidifier and a swift nasal pillow.
Despite the fact that my husband woke me up early in the night because I had the entire headgear in my hand the cpap was tolerable but I spent the nite worrying about the small leakage that would occur when I changed positons (and making adjustments) (is small leakage expected?) and feeling like I was swallowing air. I also was waking because I was leaking puffs of air out of my mouth (the chin strap helped but it still happened - is this also expected/normal?) I really want to be compliant...I am the one that has pulmonary hypertension that I want reversed!!
Jenn, I also have 2 cats, marrried with 2 kids (4 and 19 months). My son told me that my snoring woke him up at night!!! Anne in Washington DC
Needless to say I didn't sleep well...please tell me it gets easier.
I have the remstar auto with cflex set in ccflex of 3 with a pressure of 12 . I have the heated humidifier and a swift nasal pillow.
Despite the fact that my husband woke me up early in the night because I had the entire headgear in my hand the cpap was tolerable but I spent the nite worrying about the small leakage that would occur when I changed positons (and making adjustments) (is small leakage expected?) and feeling like I was swallowing air. I also was waking because I was leaking puffs of air out of my mouth (the chin strap helped but it still happened - is this also expected/normal?) I really want to be compliant...I am the one that has pulmonary hypertension that I want reversed!!
Jenn, I also have 2 cats, marrried with 2 kids (4 and 19 months). My son told me that my snoring woke him up at night!!! Anne in Washington DC
Jenn,
You're welcome. You'll find this place is filled with friendly, helpful people.
Glad the mask isn't creating a prob for you. That's half the battle.. maybe more! From what i read, all of us respond to xPAP therapy differently. But if you're actually getting quality sleep, you should start feeling better soon.
The question is, ARE you getting quality sleep? Altho' there are a lot of factors involved in getting good sleep, the correct pressure setting seems to be a key one for us OSA sufferers. Sooo.. what's your doctor's plan for verifying that 5 cm is working for you?
Does he have a plan? Has he shared it with you?
When i asked this question, the answer was 'we'll have you do another sleep study to see if 5 is working'. I guess my reaction was pretty strong because they changed my prescription to an AutoPAP on the spot. An Auto automatically adjusts the pressure based on your breathing pattern. It also tracks realtime data. The plan now is to use the APAP for 3 weeks and see what data it provides. I'm just glad i don't have to do another study. Ugh!
Just some more info for ya, Jenn. It's great that you're adjusting to your CPAP. Next thing is to make sure the CPAP is delivering a pressure that actually helps you.
hi Need, and welcome!
It gets easier.
I have the same unit and humidifier. It's working out very well for me. With a pressure of 12, did they activate the Ramp feature? If not, you might want to check into that. It ramps the pressure up gradually and helps you fall to sleep easier.
Sorry, but i can't really address the leakage issue. I have a mask that hardly leaks ever. But i sure read about leaks a lot here on the forum. So don't feel alone.
But i do experience the puff of air out my mouth you describe. I don't wear a chin strap. But i'm learning that if i sleep with an extra pillow, it tends to keep my chin tucked closer to my chest. And this helps to keep my mouth closed. So it hasn't been a problem for me. Maybe someone else can offer advice.
Pssst... we have 3 cats. don't tell anyone; having cats isn't manly.
teej
You're welcome. You'll find this place is filled with friendly, helpful people.
Glad the mask isn't creating a prob for you. That's half the battle.. maybe more! From what i read, all of us respond to xPAP therapy differently. But if you're actually getting quality sleep, you should start feeling better soon.
The question is, ARE you getting quality sleep? Altho' there are a lot of factors involved in getting good sleep, the correct pressure setting seems to be a key one for us OSA sufferers. Sooo.. what's your doctor's plan for verifying that 5 cm is working for you?
Does he have a plan? Has he shared it with you?
When i asked this question, the answer was 'we'll have you do another sleep study to see if 5 is working'. I guess my reaction was pretty strong because they changed my prescription to an AutoPAP on the spot. An Auto automatically adjusts the pressure based on your breathing pattern. It also tracks realtime data. The plan now is to use the APAP for 3 weeks and see what data it provides. I'm just glad i don't have to do another study. Ugh!
Just some more info for ya, Jenn. It's great that you're adjusting to your CPAP. Next thing is to make sure the CPAP is delivering a pressure that actually helps you.
hi Need, and welcome!
It gets easier.
I have the same unit and humidifier. It's working out very well for me. With a pressure of 12, did they activate the Ramp feature? If not, you might want to check into that. It ramps the pressure up gradually and helps you fall to sleep easier.
Sorry, but i can't really address the leakage issue. I have a mask that hardly leaks ever. But i sure read about leaks a lot here on the forum. So don't feel alone.
But i do experience the puff of air out my mouth you describe. I don't wear a chin strap. But i'm learning that if i sleep with an extra pillow, it tends to keep my chin tucked closer to my chest. And this helps to keep my mouth closed. So it hasn't been a problem for me. Maybe someone else can offer advice.
Pssst... we have 3 cats. don't tell anyone; having cats isn't manly.
teej
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Janelle
Try the larger pillow size, the Swift comes with 3 sizes. You shouldn't be getting leaks with small movements. In fact the headgear should be lose enough you can put a few fingers flat against your head under it, and be able to push and move the barrel quite a bit from side to side and forward and backward without the seal breaking under pressure.
I've used the Swift for 6 months and switched the headgear for a mesh cap since the headgear was wearing hair off the side of my head I sleep on.
I've used the Swift for 6 months and switched the headgear for a mesh cap since the headgear was wearing hair off the side of my head I sleep on.
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FairSpirit
- Posts: 127
- Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2005 4:35 pm
- Location: Western, NC
- Contact:
Thanks again teej! My Sleep Study Doc has me seeing him again on June 25th, he wants to see how I'm feeling and answer questions I may have then. I certainly want to make sure 5 is working for me, I mean, I'm wearing it faithfully and I want it doing it's job. The sleep studies really suck, but I'll be right there for another if need be; to get things right.
I got really sleepy again earlier and had to go take a nap. I don't know if my sleep is improved or not. I know I sure am fighting those headaches when I wake up though. I'll have plenty of questions for the Doc, that's certain.
I got really sleepy again earlier and had to go take a nap. I don't know if my sleep is improved or not. I know I sure am fighting those headaches when I wake up though. I'll have plenty of questions for the Doc, that's certain.
~FairSpirit~
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FairSpirit
- Posts: 127
- Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2005 4:35 pm
- Location: Western, NC
- Contact: