Newbie says hi

[Diver71]

Gday all

I have been watching these forums for a little while now since I was first referred to a sleep study.
My sleeping issues have been a worry for me for a few years now (and the snoring worrying others) and finally late last year my GP referred me for a sleep study where they diagnosed me with OSA with an AHI of 67.

Then came the initial titration week where the sleep clinic fitted me with a mask too large and I spent the whole week psychotic with frustration after nights of leaking masks and horrendous rainout. It seems that I did manage to get enough sleep that week to enable them to set my pressure a 9.0cm H20. It was during this period I discovered this forum and realised that I wasn't the only one who has these issues.

Then came the purchase of the CPAP that would hopefully change my life - I spent hours online looking at reporting, size, weight and portability of a huge range of machines before deciding on the Sandman Info from Covidein (formerly Tyco) with a fixed pressure and heated humidifier and combined it with a Quatro full face mask (I am a chronic mouth breather).

I have now been using this combination for two weeks and have noticed a huge change in my life.

My energy levels are rapidly improving, my BP which has been elevated forever is now almost normal and I no longer wake with a throbbing headache and sore throat feeling like I hadn't slept a wink. My AHI is now averaging somewhere between 0.4 and 1.2 and I am averaging around 6-7 hours a night of quality sleep.

I do still have a couple of issues -
1) Rainout still is an issue but I am now looking at hose socks etc.
2) The Sandman seems to have a wheeze during the ramp phase but I am getting past this ...hell if I can sleep through my snoring I can sleep through a relatively quiet wheeze
3) As a scuba diver it seems that there is potentially a number of ongoing health issues that may effect my diving and lead to me failing my next medical and/or being excluded from injury insurance.
4) Morning gas ... apparently I don't need to elaborate on this

I will post a general query about the scuba stuff ... for now hello everyone

Sweet dream and snore-free nights

[tjk55]

Welcome!

A lot of great folks here, and a wealth of info.

tjk55

[chichi]

Hi Diver 71,
I too have the Sandman machine. One of the things I noticed with it is the seal has to be just right when the hunidifier is re-attached after cleaning and refilling. Otherwise there will be a hissing noise as it ramps up. I'm also thinking about moving to a full face mask as the Comfort Gel mask that came with the machine, sometimes erritates me under my nose. But, the overall improvement in the quality of my life is amazing since I've been on this.
Regards,
Chichi

[elader]

I am a NAUI Master Diver. I don't think treated apnea will affect your abilty to get DAN insurance. Regular health insurance wont cover your diving anyway.

I am a very shallow breather when diving. I am always the last guy out. I wonder if it's a side benefit of apnea?

[LinkC]

I'm a PADI Rescue Diver, and I concur with elader. It shouldn't interfere with your diving or insurance.

Conversely, I suck down air like it's free! So I don't think light sipping is a side effect of OSA.

[rested gal]

Welcome to the message board, Diver. Good to hear you're already feeling an improvement with treatment.

[Gerryk]

Diver Welcome aboard. Is your Avatar actually a picture of you? That is a quattro that person is wearing. I ask that because I am also wondering if you are having leak problems with your mask. In the picture it seems cranked down pretty tight. Your pressure is set at 9 so you should have good luck with the quattro.

[Diver71]

Yeah its me in the pic with the Quatro - the photo does make the mask look tight but i think its just my chipmonk cheeks poking out. As a scuba instructor I know how a too tight mask distorts the sealing edges and creates leakage. The Quatro is actually as loose as I can get it without constant leaks (4 nights of minimal adjustments to get it right). I dont have any mask marks when I wake up and I can easily slide a finger under the mask skirt to scratch my nose when I need to

Re the scuba stuff - It is relevent in Australia at the moment as DAN down here does impose exclusions on it's insurances for pre-existing conditions. Obviously undiagnosed apnea has a range of effect from poor oxygenation through the night to increased cardiac load during the arousal stages. Anyway have to do another medical soon guess I will find out.

[elader]

Yeah its me in the pic with the Quatro - the photo does make the mask look tight but i think its just my chipmonk cheeks poking out. As a scuba instructor I know how a too tight mask distorts the sealing edges and creates leakage. The Quatro is actually as loose as I can get it without constant leaks (4 nights of minimal adjustments to get it right). I dont have any mask marks when I wake up and I can easily slide a finger under the mask skirt to scratch my nose when I need to

Re the scuba stuff - It is relevent in Australia at the moment as DAN down here does impose exclusions on it's insurances for pre-existing conditions. Obviously undiagnosed apnea has a range of effect from poor oxygenation through the night to increased cardiac load during the arousal stages. Anyway have to do another medical soon guess I will find out.

Ah so, you are also an instructor. Your liability is different as well. You may well have some issues. Sorry about that, I was thinking you just needed the usual $40 a year subscription. Whereabouts are you located and do you have a guest bedroom??

[Diver71]

Currently living in Melbourne .... some great diving but all about an hour or two away.

[Gerryk]

How are you doing on those issues? If you haven't done anything as far as covering the hose find an old blanket or go to the thrift store if their is one around and get an old baby blanket. Cut it to size and pit it around your hose for a night or two and see if that helps. If it does you know what to do.

Morning gas? I get it anytime I take the mask off and get up other times I don't even need to take the mask off just moving around does it.

Good luck, let us know.

[Diver71]

Issues are resolving I think

1) Rainouts don't seem to be much of an issue with the Sandman as opposed to the ResMed machine I had during the testing time - not sure if this is something to do with the humidifier set-up on this machine or if I have just been lucky.

2) Machine still wheezes but I am used to it now - I actually find it soothing. Not sure that it will be as soothing to others if I ever manage to get lucky.

3) There is a bit of a test case on where it seems that OSA might be a contributing factor in Australia at the moment so I am waiting to see how that pans out.

4) Morning gas is not really an issue for me living alone - I consider my morning belch a way to say hello to the day

Things are looking up ... consistently averaging around 0.4 AHI ...much better than the 67 I had during the sleep study.