POLL Adjusting to Therapy

[Muse-Inc]

For those interested.

[TSSleepy]

I didn't have any major deal breakers, but I needed to make the following three changes to get "comfortable".

I had to move to an APAP. A pressure of 10 wasn't good enough to keep my AHI low all night, but a pressure of 12 all night had me belching air in the morning. APAP 10-12 was just right.

I needed a different full-face mask to get a better air seal around the bridge of my nose.

I needed to get off lysinopril (blood pressure medicine), because it gave me a nasty tickling cough (which is no fun when wearing a pressure mask).

[thewetlizard]

First of all I had a hard time getting use to wearing something on my face. Then having a hose restricting my movements. I refused to wear my CPAP for the first couple of months, then I decided at the begining of 2010 I forced myself to start wearing my CPAP every nite. Now it's not so bad.

[Geminidream]

I jumped right in and decided to be as compliant as possible....then about 3-4 weeks in, I had the "mysterious mask removal" during the night. Guess it took my tired brain a few weeks to figure out I did not like something on my face at night while I sleep....LOL. With perserverance, its gotten better.

[Scarlet834]

Had two key needs:
1) Change masks. My nasal mask did not fit without leaking. I've done very well with the Swift LT for Her.
2) My pressure needed changing. Until that happened my AHI didn't get below 18.

I also added a chin strap to combat mouth leaks, but 1 and 2 were the deal breakers. I did feel different, but not functional, the first week so I didn't feel any of the answers really fit.

[torontoCPAPguy]

My experience was likely similar to many, namely:
(a) My most major improvement in sleep came with finding a mask that was comfy and fit well, the Mirage Activa LT Large Wide and in fact I fell asleep trying it on at home and slept like a log for a few hours.
(b) I upgraded from a ResMed S8 Escape II to an Autoset II and found a noticeable improvement although the mask was the biggie.
(c) I am finding that getting used to the experience improves my sleep day to day (some good days and some bad days thrown in for good measure);
(d) I discovered through the members of this board that I could be my own advocate and am working to keep track of my own numbers and understand their meaning and am grateful;
(e) I discovered through the members of this board that I could comfortably wear my hosehead gear while I have a cold (it's just about gone guys!), that it was generally safe and that if I cranked my heated humidifier up as high as I could stand it that my sleep would improve. And it did. Boy did it ever! My nasal congestion and chest congestion virtually disappeared and I lost NO sleep from congestion, awoke with little congestion, and only had to deal with phlegm and the like later in the day as it was thinned by the hot humid air and went 'somewhere' at night while I slept.
(f) Discovered that there is virtually no way to clean a CPAP/APAP/XPAP from odours such as cigarette smoke that leave a film and that such film on sensors can destroy a blower in a blink. Am still looking for a solution to the problem although I no longer need it myself it might make a pretty good business.
(g) Learned more from the members of this board than from all the MD's, respirologists, sleep clinics, etc., that I have been visiting since getting out of hospital in July after almost a month on life support from H1N1.


Lots more. But that'll give you the idea. Adjusting to therapy has been an ongoing process and it gets better with passing time.

[BlackSpinner]

After dealing with migraines and environmental allergies and menopause and learning all sorts of coping mechanisms and relaxation techniques I was determined to make it work from the first because I wanted my life back.

It worked from the first night on. No headache that first day! I did have the waking up in the middle of the night with the panic attack of "I can't breathe" but I knew how to deal with it from previous health issues.

For me it has been the easiest medical therapy I have ever done. Compared to migraine and allergy therapies it is a breeze.

[Debjax]

My experience was likely similar to many, namely:
(e) I discovered through the members of this board that I could comfortably wear my hosehead gear while I have a cold (it's just about gone guys!),

I found that I now get fewer colds also....but had a pretty bad bout of a broncho-pneumonia last fall. When I went to my sleep doc last month, he was "concerned" because my average pressure was a bit above the 8 I have been prescribed....and wanted to get my machine checked out (I have CPAP, not APAP). I told him the machine was fine, that the increase was probably due to the fact that I increased the pressure to 9 and then 10 when I had pneumonia so I could get enough air at night, and then dropped it back to 8 when I got over the pneumonia. He just looked at me funny for a minute, started to say something, stopped, then went on to the next subject....

[Muse-Inc]

...When I went to my sleep doc last month, he was "concerned" because my average pressure was a bit above the 8 I have been prescribed....and wanted to get my machine checked out (I have CPAP, not APAP). I told him the machine was fine, that the increase was probably due to the fact that I increased the pressure to 9 and then 10 when I had pneumonia so I could get enough air at night, and then dropped it back to 8 when I got over the pneumonia. He just looked at me funny for a minute, started to say something, stopped, then went on to the next subject....

[gasp]

There needed to be another choice, change mask multiple times : )

[RJazz117]

None of the poll options fit me at all.

I had exactly one good night's sleep, and woke feeling rested and energized. That was the first night I used my CPAP machine, over a year and a half ago.

Since then, I wake much as I did pre-therapy: exhausted, feeling stoned, and feeling as if I had never slept. I fight the urge to sleep all day, every day, and mostly win (thank you 5-Hour Energy) but failing once could cost me my job.

I have changed from the nasal mask, to the nasal pillows, and back to the nasal mask, and had my doctor increase my pressure to 8cfm. While the pressure increase was most likely warranted, none of the changes have had any effect on my next-day-exhaustion.

Now, my doctor wants to test me for narcolepsy, and I can't afford the full day test.

At this point, I think I may need a different machine (perhaps BiPAP?) or some other treatment.

[Muse-Inc]

...

If I were you & could afford it, I'd buy the ResMed AutoSet II (from our host is the least expensive way) and home-titrate...lots cheaper than another test! IMHO (hosehead to hosehead) , it sounds like the pressure is not stopping apneic events. This seems to be the best way to approach our therapy: Get the right machine-->Get the right mask, the one you'll wear all night & doesn't destroy your face-->Find the right humidifity level for you-->Collect data-->Control leak-->Get the right pressure or pressure range-->Tweak pressure for optimal results. Without restful sleep, something is not right. How are your numbers? Leak?

https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/resme ... chine.html

[DreamDiver]

...

If I were you & could afford it, I'd buy the ResMed AutoSet II
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/resme ... chine.html

I'm in RJazz117 camp on this one. I have trouble reading the sunday comics, much less a novel. I keep hearing good things about the AutoSet II. Does it detect centrals/period breathing, etc.? What makes it better, say than the SandMan Auto?

[happysleeper]

I'm in the never got better mode still. On my worst days I wake up tired, on my best days I wake up with 3-4 hours of think-able time. This is greatly lessening my quality of life and work. I realize that with my machine my numbers may not be as bad as they look, but the exhaustion is still present, so I'm still adjusting things around. But I've only been using CPAP since 10/09, and I'm determined to make this work. I seem to be educating my sleep doctor; I've visited him x2 since I started therapy.

I'm still getting an average AHI of 9.4, and an average AI of 1.2. These seem to be the best results that I can get; I've titrated myself to 9.2 air flow, with no EPR and a 5 minute ramp from 7-9. I can usually sleep 8 hours with my OptiLife nasal pillows. Things which may be contributing:

Still sleeping on my back. My shoulders and back hurt when I sleep on my side, even with lots of supporting pillows and a memory foam mattress cover.

I may be loosing air through my mouth. I use a mouth guard because I grind my teeth, so my jaw is shut, but occasionally I wake to find my lips leaking air.

Next steps: getting a chin strap today. I have very sensitive skin and thus far masks have been not workable for me. Considering a hybrid mask if this doesn't work.
See if I can borrow an oximeter for a couple of nights
Get better software so I can more clearly correlate hypopneas/apneas with sleep position.

Any suggestions from the masters?

Happy Sleeper

[gasp]

...

If I were you & could afford it, I'd buy the ResMed AutoSet II (from our host is the least expensive way) and home-titrate...lots cheaper than another test! . . .

Our host being: https://www.cpap.com