First F/U with dr after cpap start was today

[Pugsy]

First time with a new F&P Flexifit mask and I hurt all over: nose bridge, around nose, upper lip, did I miss anything?

You seem to have come up to speed on the knowledge ramp very, very fast. How did you do that? Are you just that smart with sleep apnea? If so world domination is yours once you get some good sleep. I feel like I am getting information overload, and don't know much at all. Some of this may be a result of sleep/oxygen deprivation. Also, too many new acronyms to learn!

I promise I will check into finding someone that does acupuncture in the city that I hate to go to.. Not a long drive just a PITA to drive in.

Now for the world domination thing... Now that might be interesting. I will have to sleep on that one...

Regarding information overload. Keep reading and re-reading stuff that pertains to your unique situation. Each time you do, something new will click and eventually you will have a real good understanding of it all.
I am not any smarter than the next person but I have an insatiable thirst for knowledge especially about things that pertain to my well being. I kick myself in the butt every day for taking so long to listen to my husband when he kept telling me I had sleep apnea. I truly thought it was just the arthritis getting worse with my age.

This stuff isn't rocket science. The machine part is relatively easy. The mask part is the troublemaker in the whole thing. Masks shouldn't hurt. Tender maybe from the slight pressure on areas that haven't had this sort of abuse. No pain though. How can a person be expected to sleep if their face hurts? So, if you have significant discomfort with the mask, don't wait too long before you start working on it or even trying a different style of mask. I cannot say that I have had anything other than very minor tenderness with my nasal pillows. Very, very minor and then only when I had the top straps just a little too tight. Don't be afraid to try something else if it interests you or this current mask continues to cause discomfort.

[Rustyolddude]

One other pain therapy suggestion without a lengthy diatribe: E-stim. http://www.rehabpub.com/features/82004/3.asp, google will turn up some ahem, "weird" uses as well.

[Pugsy]

One other pain therapy suggestion without a lengthy diatribe: E-stim. http://www.rehabpub.com/features/82004/3.asp, google will turn up some ahem, "weird" uses as well.

I know about TENS units. That other stuff sounds rough. Noxious whatever, sounds about like some therapy I had years ago on my neck. Little electric shocks went through my shoulder and my muscles jerked. It was supposed to help with the neck pain. It didn't. I think I would rather take some dope or get a mattress topper.

[millich]

I think I would rather take some dope or get a mattress topper.

I think you should do both. The memory foam topper may well help.

You already know this, but I'll repeat it for you: sleep deprivation worsens our perception of pain. The less you sleep, the more you hurt, the less you sleep, etc. Take the Ambien for a couple of weeks to break the cycle and then re-evaluate your strategy.

Sweet dreams!!!

[Muse-Inc]

Pugsy, I'm glad they didn't chase ya 'round waving a broom & beating ya for messing with your pressure! Sounds like reasonable folks...good thing. Pain...no fun, the meds aren't pleasant either. I wish you the best on finding relief in your journey. I use BIOFREEZE (TM) rub on painful areas, it's got a So American herb ILEX that seems to make a diff for me...might help, a pharmacist can order it...think ya can get it online too. I have an Isotonic(TM) mattress topper that doesn't outgas formaldehyde...maybe something worse, who knows? But I got a lot of relief sleeping on my back with pillows under knees. I think it makes sleeping on my side propped up on pillows easier as there is that full denseness of memory foam where my hip-waist form an angle. Sorry 'bout your pooch, sad when pets age...not much we can do for age-related issues but love them as long as we have them. Thanks for the update!

[DoriC]

Pugsy, it sounds like something you would do, putting your doggy first. But please do look into the memory foam topper. I've been researching for a good one too for hubby per Dr's recommendation, will let you know when I find "the one" and would appreciate your suggestion as well. As for the Ambien, my husband used it for the first 3months of cpap, then used half the dosage for another 3months, and now uses it only occasionally if he doesn't fall asleep within the first hr. As I understand it, Ambien may cause some dependence with long-term use or may not work after awhile but does not cause addiction in that the body needs higher dosages. I also used it occasionally when we first started cpap to relieve my insomnia and anxiety but it never worked too well for me. I've just had to retrain myself to fall asleep and not worry so much about that damn machine and hubby's breathing. Wishing you well. Dori

[Pugsy]

You already know this, but I'll repeat it for you: sleep deprivation worsens our perception of pain. The less you sleep, the more you hurt, the less you sleep, etc. Take the Ambien for a couple of weeks to break the cycle and then re-evaluate your strategy.

Yep, this is the plan. Yep, pain can be worse if we feel like crap otherwise because we lack the will or inner strength to deal with it very well.......it wears down on an already worn down body. To be honest, I don't feel like total crap anymore. I do feel some improvement. I just know that it isn't all about apneas or lack of. I mention all this so that newbies won't get discouraged if they don't hit that rare miracle and have an over night 180 degree turn. Sometimes life gives us more than the machine and mask hurdles to jump on the road to seeing marked improvement. It is possible to have other issues to have to sort through. Just what we need, more work... :lol
But if when help people to get at least a hold on the sleep apnea issue, it may make other issues easier to address..

[twokatmew]

... <snip> ... My little pug dog has some potential neurological problems and I don't want to spend any money right at this moment just in case he needs surgery. His hind legs aren't working so good and neither is his anal sphincter. God love him, nearly blind from cataracts, old, can't walk very good and can't control his bowels. I can wait a few weeks to see if he needs something special done before I spend any money on myself right now.

Pugsy, I do hope your little guy is OK. What is his name? My brother has two fawn pugs. One is nine, and his name is Beau. The new one is just six months old, and his name is Lucas. They are such characters!

Please keep us posted on the pet front, and know that my thoughts are with you.

[Pugsy]

Pugsy, I do hope your little guy is OK. What is his name? My brother has two fawn pugs. One is nine, and his name is Beau. The new one is just six months old, and his name is Lucas. They are such characters!

Please keep us posted on the pet front, and know that my thoughts are with you.

My Beau. General Beaureguard. Age 12 and loves me to death.
We are giving him steroids in hope that this is just maybe arthritis pressing on a nerve causing inflamation. It could of course be a turmor. Hard to see the cuteness in an all black dog.

[Paddyboy100]

My sister got one of those memory foam toppers and she says it really helped her back. I got a small one for my husband to use in the truck sleeper (over the road truck driver) and he says it really helps him. I am thinking it is worth a try. I already tried the feather bed topper and that wasn't such a good idea. Found memory foam topper at Amazon.com that seems to get good reviews and price isn't such that I have to go rob a bank.

I LOVE my memory foam topper, I too tried a feather-bed-topper & I woke up more sore than normal. The memory foam is great though.

[drubin007]

just have to add my 2 cents in...

good job Pugsy. As much as I want to flame you for taking pills I will hold back. I will keep the voodoo doll at bay (for now). inside joke....

as was said on page 1, you truly are an inspiration for all of us and my hats off to ya.

[Pugsy]

good job Pugsy. As much as I want to flame you for taking pills I will hold back. I will keep the voodoo doll at bay (for now). inside joke....

Thanks.
I knew you wouldn't approve but I have to do something till I can figure out a non drug alternative. It is a shame to waste all that good CPAP therapy work and not be able to sleep very well.
Besides my voodoo doll is bigger and has more experience than yours......

[drubin007]

[/quote]
Thanks.
I knew you wouldn't approve but I have to do something till I can figure out a non drug alternative. It is a shame to waste all that good CPAP therapy work and not be able to sleep very well.
Besides my voodoo doll is bigger and has more experience than yours......[/quote]

word to everyone else: she speaks the truth. She has no hangups about putting pins in said doll and virtually ruining sleep for hose heads everywhere.

I still say save the coins, ebay the voodoo dolls, spend less money on junk food for the neice and use the $$$ for the memory foam.

(by the way I am really liking the Opus) all I am using now.

[BleepingBeauty]

Pugsy,

Congrats on the successful doctor follow-up visit. (I, too, thought F/U meant something else at first glance. ) I wish my ex-doc (or my current one, for that matter) was as cooperative as yours is re: data collection and patient involvement.

Sorry to hear your pug's having some medical difficulties. So many of us here are pet owners (or are owned by them) and can relate to that kind of dilemma. Hope things improve for him (and you) soon.

Re: the memory foam topper, I have a suggestion for you to try until you can afford one. I believe Tempur-Pedic offers an in-home 90-day trial of their bed. You may have to pay for it up front, but then you could return it after 90 days and get your money back. (You'd have to read the fine print on the offer, obviously, to be fully aware of whatever monetary obligations are involved.) In the meantime, you could be sleeping on a memory foam mattress until you can afford to buy just the topper. (Put your current mattress in the garage or in another room in the meantime; they usually offer to haul it away for you when they deliver the new bed.) This suggestion might not be feasible for you, but I thought I'd throw it out there for consideration.

I've been sleeping on a Tempur-Pedic mattress for almost 20 years now, and I absolutely love this bed. They're not cheap, but they're fairly comparable in price to any other top-of-the-line "regular" mattress. The value is in the comfort, and I can't say enough about this material in that regard. My bed looks and feels virtually new after 20 years, and I've slept on the same side of it for all that time. No indentation, no impression, nothing. By far, it's the most comfortable mattress I've ever slept on. Personally, I wouldn't consider any other (knock-off) memory foam mattress or topper. Tempur-Pedic is the pioneer of this type of material. Other brands might be just as good, but I'll stick with the original manufacturer when it comes to something as important as getting a good pain-free night's sleep.

I, too, used a waterbed for several years. Same as you - first was the full-wave-action type, and then one with the baffles inside. I liked it while I had it (especially for the heated properties in the winter months), but I was younger and had no back pain to speak of back then. I'll have a Tempur-Pedic bed for the rest of my life.

BTW, when you DO get yourself a memory foam topper, make sure hubby is the one to put it on the bed. The foam is very dense and really heavy, and you don't want to be hauling it around with your back pain.

[millich]

..word to everyone else: she (Pugsy) speaks the truth. She has no hangups about putting pins in said doll and virtually ruining sleep for hose heads everywhere. .

SHE DOES???!!!??? And to think she comes across as so sweet and helpful to everyone!?! I would never have guessed that.

PUGSY - P*L*E*A*S*E tell me that I'm on your good side and you won't ruin MY sleep!