Cpap and women

[cflame1]

A related question for us women: do you find a worsening in your numbers and how you feel related to stages of your monthly cycle? I have always had a few days of major "tireds" during a certain phase, and had them (to a lesser extent) on APAP. My numbers shot up even with zero leak on those same nights. It was curious, and strangely validating. I attribute certain things to hormonal fluctuations, and get the eye roll from others when I do. Seems I was more in touch with reality on that issue than those around me. (Docs included....)

JayC... yes, very much so for me as well.

[aussiemoe]

HI ALL.I AM A 58 YR OLD WOMAN & I LIVE IN SYDNEY, I WAS TESTED AT A SLEEP LAB & TOLD I HAS OSA BACK IN 1999,I HAD ALWAYS USED AN ULTRA MIRAGE & FOUND IT GREAT TILL I JUST BOUGHT THE MICRO MIRAGE,& IT IS THE BEST ..I FOUND AN IMPROVEMENT IN MY LIFESTYLE FROM THE FIRST NIGHT I USED MY CPAP MACHINE ,I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM GETTING USED TO THE CPAP MACHINE,I NEVER GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT IT..I DID FIND IT IS CHEAPER TO BUY THE MASKS & CHIN STRAPS FROM AMERICA THAN IN AUSTRALIA.. AUSSIEMOE

[RafterRattler]

HI ALL.I AM A 58 YR OLD WOMAN & I LIVE IN SYDNEY, I WAS TESTED AT A SLEEP LAB & TOLD I HAS OSA BACK IN 1999,I HAD ALWAYS USED AN ULTRA MIRAGE & FOUND IT GREAT TILL I JUST BOUGHT THE MICRO MIRAGE,& IT IS THE BEST ..I FOUND AN IMPROVEMENT IN MY LIFESTYLE FROM THE FIRST NIGHT I USED MY CPAP MACHINE ,I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM GETTING USED TO THE CPAP MACHINE,I NEVER GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT IT..I DID FIND IT IS CHEAPER TO BUY THE MASKS & CHIN STRAPS FROM AMERICA THAN IN AUSTRALIA.. AUSSIEMOE

Hi Aussiemoe! Any relation to Awesome-O? Sorry...South Park joke. Welcome aboard - I think you have to be one of the longest CPAP users on the forum! Stick around....there's a lot of good information here and it's a great bunch of folks. I've learned more in the last few days than in my whole 5 years on CPAP.

A word of advice. We're sleep deprived, not deaf. You don't have to YELL! We can hear you just fine!

Mike

[gasp]

I'm a 51 yr old female started using cpap in February. I was having headaches so in february of 2007 the un brilliant PA sent me for a sleep study and said it showed no sleep apnea at that time I didn't know I could get the results so it was another 9 months and another doctor that read the same report and said I had servre sleep apnea and ordered the tritration well it took 32 of those thats why I didn't get the machine till this February. I still haven't adjusted real well to it but the doctor tried sleeping pills to help and now I just finished and inhome sleep study see the Doc. friday. ok i'll quit i think I went off topic.

Hi! As you've probably already read in posts, it can take months for some to settle into therapy and find the setup that works for them. Glad you're here. If you create a new post you can list issues that bother you the most and see if everyone can post helpful suggestions : )

[Babette]

I think some of the "YELLERS" (TYPING IN ALL CAPS IS CONSIDERED YELLING) are using Text messaging. I think it defaults to All Caps.

Cheers,
B.

[RafterRattler]

Oops...didn't think of that. You can text to this board? Seems like it would be difficult if you're not browsing - unless we're talking about mobile web surfing...

Mike

[AMANN]

Oh yeh, I am 43 y.o. about 165 1lbs 5feet 6inch. and have been using CPAP for 4 years. I do notice a difference in the way I feel in the mornings. I do have trouble with mouth leakeage though. I have tried about 4 masks. I have the comfort Gel now, but still my mouth opens up at night.

[Babette]

Amann - Try blue 3m Delicate Release painters tape. I've been using it for two nights now and really feel a difference. It's much more comfortable than medical tape, comes off with no pain, and best of all - no adhesive residue!

I use in conjunction with a chinstrap.

Cheers,
Barbara

[gasp]

Amann - Try blue 3m Delicate Release painters tape. I've been using it for two nights now and really feel a difference. It's much more comfortable than medical tape, comes off with no pain, and best of all - no adhesive residue!

I use in conjunction with a chinstrap.

Cheers,
Barbara

The tape glue isn't made for contact with skin so I'm wondering if there are any chemical nasties in there that can be absorbed into the body through the skin? Hummmm.

[froggie66]

Well...and then there are people like me who absolutely cannot tolerate the adhesive even on a plain old bandaid! I have to use hypoallergenic bandaids!!! (very hard to find!!!) The tape on the EKG sensor that the sleep study techs put on my neck caused my skin under the tape to completely blister and become the most horribly itchy, nasty looking sore square on my neck. It took 3 weeks for it to completely to disappear, too. I looked like I had a hickey for weeks!!!! UGH!!

Soooo....if anyone has any suggestions for someone like me, too, I'd really appreciate it!!!! And....unfortunately, I seem to be a drooler....EWWWWWW!!!! It makes the tape come unglued when that happens!!! For some reason, in my Liberty mask, I do not have any problem with drooling at all. It just doesn't happen!

Bummer...now a week and a half into the Liberty and I am developing a pressure sore on my upper lip!!!! WAAAAA!!!! I LOVE my Liberty and I REALLY want to be able to use it every night!!!!!! Any suggestions on this, too??!!

I am so needy...I apologize!!!

Kathleen

[tlc95066]

Hi All,
I was DX'd with OSA almost 4 years ago, although I beleive that I have had OSA most of my life. I am almost 45 and feel so much better now that I am on CPAPtherapy. I can't imagine not using my mask every night! I am currently using a Activa nasal mask and tegaderm to tape my mouth. When I was first DX'd I dreaded thinking about wearing a "stupid" mask everynight. Now I am thankful becasue I feel so good!

All of you newbies out there... hang in there. I know that it is tough to get used to a new way of sleeping , but just keep trying. I think I tried no less than 8 masks before I found one that worked me. Remember you are your best heath advocate, if you dont get the answers you like or need from your health care provider, keep asking questions! This is a fabulous place to be!

Best,
Teri

[ozij]

Well...and then there are people like me who absolutely cannot tolerate the adhesive even on a plain old bandaid! I have to use hypoallergenic bandaids!!! (very hard to find!!!) The tape on the EKG sensor that the sleep study techs put on my neck caused my skin under the tape to completely blister and become the most horribly itchy, nasty looking sore square on my neck. It took 3 weeks for it to completely to disappear, too. I looked like I had a hickey for weeks!!!! UGH!!

3M's Micropore hypoallergenic surgical tape works great for me - one of those people who reacts allergically to a "plain old bandaid".



I also religiously follow the recommendation made by Repironics' reps on a chat on TAS: "For those with sensitive skin, it is a good idea to soak ANY new mask you use for 30-60 minutes in mild soapy water" http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleep-dis ... hat.htm#63

O.

[bdp522]

A light coat of milk of magnesia also helps with tape allergy issues. Just a light coat will give a nice barrier that seems to stop any reaction for me.

Brenda

[Babette]

I am currently using a Activa nasal mask and tegaderm to tape my mouth.

Hi Teri!

What is "tegaderm"?

Cheers,
Babs

[Babette]

BTW, to the previous poster who asked about AHI and menstrual cycles... O M G!!!! My period started last Friday. I downloaded about 2 weeks worth of data on my card and was PERPLEXED to see a rising AHI consistently up to Friday. And then BINGO! the light came on.

I'd never noticed that before!!!! How WEIRD!!!!! I feel good, and particularly since starting the blue tape, I'm sleeping really good - no 3 am potty breaks for a few days now.

So, I'm another one finding a correlation between AHI and menstrual cycle. I think it's really weird that I'm still not finding a correlation between AHI and how I feel in the morning.

Cheers,
Babs