Another One Bites the Dust!

dirtsurfer57 · Post by **dirtsurfer57** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 7:33 pm

Naturally I'm a newbie just diagnosed with sleep apnea! Took the sleep test last Friday night, man how do they expect you to sleep with all that equipment hooked up to you and them watching your every move. Miraculously I did fall asleep, but just as I was getting into some good zzzzzzz's, they woke me up and slapped a mask on my mug!!!!!! Now I'm making this sound a whole lot worse then it actually was, Dramatic Effect, the first part of the test actually was pretty bad wasn't really able to sleep, but once they slapped the mask on me, a swyfte I think, and they got everything adjusted right, I was out like a light. I couldn't believe it, I never sleep at night but from 2:30 to 6am I was out and it felt like I slept for at least 8 hours, I'm still amazed. Now I'm waiting on my machine, and after reading all your posts, I'm definately shooting for the Remstar Auto with Cflex, the Cflex I'll definately have to have cause that was the only setting I could sleep with set at 3. Can anyone tell me anything about the Swyfte mask, there was another that was similar but it had these pads on both sides of the airway that felt like vice grips on my face. The full masks I'm pretty sure are out brings out the claustrophobic in me. The only other mask that looks comfortable to me is the Oracle 452 oral mask, anyone have any experience with this. Man I'm gettin' long winded here but I've just got so many questions. Well one last question and I'll stop, do you really notice a big difference in your energy level during the day? I drive forklifts for a living and right around 11am I have this uncontrollable urge to nod off, told my former Doc about this and he just blew me off, thus the word former in front of Doc! Does it have any affect on short term memory and concentration? I guess I better wrap up the first chapter in my novel now but any help would be greatly appreciated.
thanks

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 7:55 pm

Hi, Welcome aboard.
The Remstar Auto w/ c=flex and Activa mask are a great start. The Activa seems to work for many first timers.

Glad to hear you fired your doc.

Yes this therapy really does work. You will have tons of energy in no time. No more sleeping during lunch or crashing on the sofa as soon as you get home. You get your life back !

One more thing....Beware of the Evil DME They just want your money.

Check out the prices at https://www.cpap.com Compare prices .

Cheers,

Chris

dirtsurfer57 · Post by **dirtsurfer57** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 8:19 pm

Do I have the ability to choose a store over the DME, will most insurances pay that way. I mean I would think they would it's only gonna save them money, but that only makes to much sense so they probably won't!!!!!! Thanks for the feedback chrisp, can't wait to get my machine and get started!!!!!

JimH · Post by **JimH** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 8:20 pm

Disturfer57,

after awhile you should see an improvement in your concentration. You will be able to focus better. I have seen slight improvement with short term memory. Energy levels have definately increased and now I get more projects done around the house.

Good luck with the treatment.

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:15 pm

To answer your question on the Swift, it is a great nasal pillow interface and go to cpap.com and under masks then nasal pillows click Swift and you can see pictures and info. The Swift and Activa are the easiest interfaces. Good luck and keep us up to date your travails and progress. And of course questions are welcome.

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:26 pm

swift link https://www.cpap.com/productpage/1433

:twis ted:

DrDroopy · Post by **DrDroopy** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 5:43 pm

DMEs get a bad rap here and I am sure that many deserve it. However, my DME is a saint and has made an enormous difference in my ability to make this therapy work for me. I've worked every step of the way with the same person, a man who is enormously knowledgeable and caring. He has answered every question, gotten me everything I have requested, and been the source of much information. He calls me regularly to see how things are going. He has not only handled all of the insurance but has not even charged me my co-pays. I use the knowledge I gain on this site and take it in to discuss things with him and together we are working toward making this work. While I understand that there are lousy DME's out there, I don't think it is fair to label all of them as evil money grubbers and for me, I don't believe that I would have made the progress that I have made if I had worked only on-line.

dirtsurfer57 · Post by **dirtsurfer57** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 6:46 pm

Man you guys are great, wish I would have checked this sight out a long time ago, but I'm a slow learner!!!!! One other question, the one thing I noticed when I did my sleep study with the heated humidifier was that it made my whole body warmer, was that just me or does it actually warm you up. The reason I ask is that once I get my machine and get everything set up, should I set the temp in the room a bit colder. Ya know after reading all of these posts I'm actually looking forward to getting started instead of dreading it.
Thanks

JimH · Post by **JimH** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 8:47 pm

Distsurfer,

Not sure if the humidifier made you warmer or the room was warm to begin with. I know mine was when I did the test. I think it makes you sleepier. Try keeping your room cooler. Maybe the humidifier setting is too high for you. Just try keeping the room cool, or even reducing the level if necessary. See what works for you.

JimH

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 8:55 pm

You're off to a pretty good start already, Jim!

Yes, the heated humidifier will warm you up, but you can turn it down or even off if you like. The warmer temperatures will carry more moisture to you, but if there is too great a difference between the room temp and the water, you'll get something called "rain out" - condensation inside the hose and mask.

One other suggestion I have heard here and from my RT is to place the humidifier lower than your head to keep condensation from running down the hose & dripping in your face.

(My DME is a saint as well. So far I have tried three different machines (2 BiPAPs and one AutoPAP) and two different masks, the Fischer& Paykel FlexiFit HC407 Nasal Mask (just covers your nose) and the Swift Nasal Pillows.

You are set on a great new adventure! Have fun with it!

- JB

JimH · Post by **JimH** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 9:19 pm

JB,

I remember the first time I had that condensation issue. The noise the tube was making was loud enough to wake my wife and I up. Kind of disturbing in the middle of the night. Then to make matters worse, I picked the hose up without removing the mask from my face. As you guess, I drenched myself. I noticed this happens when it is more humid out.

dirtsurfer57 · Post by **dirtsurfer57** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 9:22 pm

I've only been on this forum for a couple of days and I've already learned a great deal. I had heard alot of people talking about rainout but had no clue as to what they were talking about, now I do. When I took my test the room it was done in had to be around 65 cause it was pretty chili but that's the way I like to sleep anyway, I like sleepin' with the fan on in the middle of winter, my wife hates it though!!!!! Now I've got to fess up a little I was actually diagnosed with a mild case of OSA about 7 years ago and I tried the machine but unfortunately there really wasn't a whole lot of forums like this back then, so I wimped out and stopped using mine, that is until Reggie White passed away and that really got my attention. My family doc really got on me when she found out about my past diagnosis and she didn't have to twist to hard to get me to look into it again. He was pretty close to my age when he passed and I'm sure in better shape, so anyway here I am. My specialist told me that they are considering naming the disease of after Reggie White just to get some recognition, I guess anything to help the cause.
Thanks
Roger

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 9:05 am

Roger,

So very glad something got your attention and that you are trying it again!

What made you quit? The high pressures? or just the thought of looking like a person who needs a little help?

Reggie White for OSA and John Ritter for high blood pressure. Whatever it takes to get people's attention!

Wow. 65 degrees is pretty chilly. My last study was in a cold room too. I had to pull the hose under the covers because the air was too cold to breathe coming straight from the machine.

Glad you're here among such knowledgeable people. I sure have learned a lot from them!

- JB

dirtsurfer57 · Post by **dirtsurfer57** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 9:13 am

Alright now I'm totally confused, I just left my DME, and let me say it was an extremely nice visit, anyway I was checking to see if my order was in yet and I figured while I was there I'd see what they had to offer. They told me the only machine they had with Cflex is the Remstar Plus, I asked if it had the software to track your progress and she said that it had the smart card but that was only for answering survey questions not to track progress. Now I may have misunderstood her or had a blonde moment, but I was under the impression the Remstar had tracking capabilities. Also we got to talking about masks and I'm pretty sure I'm going with the Swift, but she had said something about the Snapp has anyone used this mask yet.
Thanks again
Roger

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 9:18 am

Roger,

You can go to this site for a full expalantion of the differences between Remstar Plus and Remstar Pro.

http://www.respironicsremstar.com/pdf/n ... ochure.pdf