Horrible First Night - Sleep Study on CPAP

[fishy]

Had my sleep study where they were going to find my pessure setting. It was truly a horrible experience! The first mask they tried hurt between my eyes and on my upper lip. I stayed with it for 1 hr and called in the nurse. She put on a second mask which didn't hurt, but I think I slept a total of 1-2 hrs all night. When I get my own machine, I will give it a good try - but the experience was a lot worse than I expected. I'm suprised with such little sleep they could determine an appropriate pressure setting.

[Sir NoddinOff]

It's pretty hard to find someone who had a delightful first night. Work thru your problems and stick with it. Lots of people will add comments about mask fit and what you can do to improve your sleeping habits. I'll leave that info to the experts. Re: Your limited sleep during the test... yes, it does seem odd they didn't order another sleep study for you.

[Pugsy]

I had a horrible titration study myself. Out of the 8 hours or so I only slept 156 minutes I think it was. They were close on my pressure requirements but for optimal results I had to change things just a little.

So make sure you get a full efficacy data machine so you can use the software to keep an eye on things.
Read this about full data machines. http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/
so that you are informed as to which models offer full efficacy data and the models that don't.

Might want to read this also...what to know before you meet with DME who will be supplying the machine.
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/what-y ... me-part-i/

I think finding the right mask is probably the hardest part to getting used to this therapy. Comfort and leaks definitely affect sleep quality.

[johnthomasmacdonald]

fishy: "it was a truly horrible experience"

I blame it all on Obama and socialism.

I had a sleep technician from my home sleep test tell that they only need about an hour of sleep to work with - but i would guess more is better.

In my experience i got far far better advice here on tweaking the device/masks to get an optimal outcome than from 2 different board certified sleep MDs - who both were unable to even get any info off my SD-card while Pugsy here got the data from e-mails i sent her for each day and gave me great advise that got my apnea under control.

The fact that you have "some" people here who are really willing to try to help you to get this thing to work trumps all medical degrees it seems ( especially in MDs/sleep techs who just feel the need to go through the motions and do what is required but don't really feel that it is their responsibility to solve your problem)

[Journeyman]

It took two different sleep studies for me. The first one went so poorly that they could not get my pressure figured out, doubt I got any sleep at all. It wat a very bitter experience for me. It took me about three months to go back. My Dr. was not happy with me. Whatever, I wasn't happy with them either and told them so. But, now I am glad I followed through with it. I lot of bumps in the path for me. Classic case of denial. I knew then that I needed something, and now I know that I need cpap. It will be a year in February for me. This forum helped me get past the bumps and going in the right direction. I have lost about 70 pounds in the last year and a half and still need to lose about another 30ish to get to my target BMI. My goal is April of next year. As my body tempers out, maybe I will be able to give up cpap, maybe not. Take it one day at a time. Ask questions as needed, read and learn. Take notes if needed. Don't let cpap be a burden.

[jencat824]

Fishy, hang in there, any type of sleep study is rarely fun. I've been on CPAP for 12 years, and in the beginning I had 9 sleep studies (1 was MSLT & one was a 6 day sleep/seizure study). I remember very well getting settled & the sleep tech telling me its OK you are actually getting sleep - really? - I don't feel like I'm sleeping.

Acutally using the equipment in your own home will get better, you will be in control.

Hang in there & there are many wise people on this board who will help you. They have helped me in the approx 2 months since I found this forum.
Jen