New Member Busting With Info

[bulldog]

I am new to cpap and have been using for two months now. I had a rough time getting the mask adjusted and even tried a different mask but went back to the first one. Before cpap I wasted many years not sleeping for two to three weeks at a time and now I sleep anytime I lay down with the machine. The first two weeks I laid down with cpap both day and night until I seemed to get caught up or at least rested enough that eight to ten hours each night is all I need. I am retired so I can sleep anytime I need to but I now stick to nights like a normal person.

I read a few posts here about weight loss and thought I would provide some information that might be of use to some readers. Last year on September 19 my wife had Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding or Lap-Band Surgery for the short name. She was at the hospital at 6:00 AM for the surgery and was back at home at 2:00 PM the same day. The next day she went to work as usual and has not slowed down since then. Before the surgery she weighed 245 lbs. and today she is down to 190 lbs. Before the surgery she was injecting insulin twice a day sometimes three times for her diabetes and now it has been three weeks since her last injection and her blood-pressure has also dropped to a safe level. Her clothing size has gone from a size 24 down to 18 and she feels great. Before surgery she was taking vitamin and mineral supplements and according to her last two blood tests she no longer needs that stuff. She was taking a big load of iron that made her feel yucky but does not need it now. We decided on the lap-band instead of gastric by-pass because the surgery is a lot easier on the body, recovery time is a lot shorter and it is reversible if needed. As soon as I can get the ok from my cardiologist and one of my cancer doctors I am going to do it also. We both tried all the diet and exercise programs that came along and nothing worked but this simple surgery has been a miracle. For more information and links to even more info about the lap-band go to http://www.bandmd.com . I know this sort of thing is not for everyone but for those of you that might be interested I hope this will help, it has been a wonderful gift for us.

[rested gal]

Hi bulldog, glad to hear that cpap is working well for you!

Another poster on this board, "Titrator" (Ted), had the other kind of surgery a few months ago ("roue en Y" ? gastric bypass) and has dropped 70 lbs so far.

Sounds like both of you are seeing great results from your respective surgeries. Wonderful!! Thanks for the report and do please keep us posted.

[Patrick A]

Hi Bulldog, I have been on CPAP since June 21, 05 I went on a diet on August 4, 05 I have lost a tidy sum of weight, I was on Insulin and all kinds of Oral Diabetic meds, I am now almost completely off of all Diabetic Meds. and in August I was taking 75 units of Lantus, twice a day, and 5 to 50 units of Novolog at each meal and at bedtime.
Like you I didn't sleep at normal times, but I could be sitting at the dinning room table talking to anybody and nod off to sleep and not remember, I would even go to sleep while eating a meal. Geezzz

[bulldog]

Hi Patrick & Rested,
My wife is the one doing so good after the surgery but I am getting it done as soon as my doctors can all get together and agree. I have some problems with cancer that are slowing things down but I am also diabetic and weighed 331 the last weigh-in so I think it is time to stop worrying about me surviving the surgery and just get-r-done. Some of the drugs I take are causing a weight gain of 5 to 10 pounds a month and the lap-band might get me off of those drugs. Being able to sleep again has been wonderful and will be even better when I get settled on one mask that suits me. I started off with the Profile Lite and it is not the most comfortable thing in the world so I bought the Comfort Curve and have not been able to get it stop leaking. I will have to wait until my insurance will pay for another mask but I am leaning towards the Breeze or Nasal-Pap Freestyle. Patrick, I am glad your diet is working for you and it sounds like you are getting a new wonderful life. I have three more tests and two more doctor visits and the next stop will be the lap-band, I hope.

[rested gal]

so I bought the Comfort Curve and have not been able to get it stop leaking.

Yeah, that's been the problem a lot of people have reported with that slab-sided mask - leaky, leaky - especially if they turn onto their side.

Of the two interfaces you're thinking about trying next, the Freestyle was another leaky disaster of an interface for me. I think you'd be more likely to have success with:

Aeiomed's "Headrest" (formerly named, "Aura") - super for sleeping in all positions.

Puritan Bennett's Breeze with nasal pillows - unless you like to sleep on your back - the headgear isn't great for back sleeping, but is very good for side sleepers.

ResMed's Swift - rather noisy but a deservedly popular mask.

ResMed's Activa - least likely to leak of any nasal masks, imho. The straps are worn very, very, VERY loose.

Puritan Bennett's DreamFit - another very nice nasal mask.

Personally, I avoid like the plague any interface that has the word "Comfort" in its name. Actually, I'd simply avoid any mask made by "Respironics" if prescribed pressure is more than 7.