Newly Diagnosed with severe sleep apnea.

lococat · Post by **lococat** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 1:41 pm

I have been lurking for a couple weeks trying to gather information about machines, masks and software, while waiting for my test results. I've gotten some ideas from the very informative posts here and its nice to see honest discussions going on.

And now that I have my prescription (BI - PAP 16 IPAP, 8 EPAP, RR8 , large comfort gel mask with heated humidifier) to address my sleep apnea, I do have a couple questions specific to my situation.

I'd prefer for my wife to be able to sleep through the night, so noise level for a machine is a possible problem... I snore like a mini Darth Vadar and she already has ear plugs, so I'm looking to make sure that the machine stays below that level.... recommendations please.

Also I toss and turn alot currently and would like to avoid strangling my self and crashing the equipment. What type of mask, and equipment set up would best avoid that.

Thanks in advance for the assistance, the help is greatly appreciated.

Loco

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 1:57 pm

you don't really snore anymore going on the machine, not where it disturbs your partner.

as for tossing and turning, maybe you need a different bed. muscle pain and being uncomfortable causes you to toss and turn. look into a higher quality bed like that found in the select comfort or tempurpedic beds.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 2:07 pm

As stated above, your snore noise will be (almost) non-existant. We all can occasionally slip in a snore now and then - but we are not supposed to.

Place your machine well below the level of your mattress. This serves a couple of functions. It lowers the possiblilities of "rainout", and your machine has less distance to fall. ..

I laugh, but am serious also. Many people have pulled their machines off their nightstands. The machine can break in the fall, or get water in it from the humidifier (depending on the type of machine/humidifier).

I have my machine set in the bottom drawer of my nightstand, and have the drawer almost closed. Therefore, my machine is secure even if I should tug on the hose. If your bed is low enough, you can even put your machine on the floor - but it will be subject to more dust/dirt, etc there.

Hope this suggestion helped, and good luck with your therapy.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 2:10 pm

PS. There will be noise from the machine and mask, but it will be much quieter than your snoring. The noise will be more like a "white sound machine", which I call a noise machine. It will be more of a constant low decimal sound like a fan, and your wife should be fine with it.

Bookbear · Post by **Bookbear** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 2:37 pm

And speaking of white noise...... You might also try a white noise machine, placed on your wife's side of the bed, say on the floor next to a night stand. White noise will help cover the sounds your mask will make, and if your machine is at a level lower than the top of your mattress on your side, it and your body will also serve to block much of the noise the machine itself produces. There is no need to invest in one of the fancy machines that will play crickets chirping, birds twittering, rain falling, babbling brooks, etc. Those sounds may be pleasant, but do not have the noise masking effect that simple white noise does.

Welcome, and hope this helps.

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:43 pm

Hi. For what it's worth, unless they make a diesel bipap, the loudest machine will be quieter than your snoring. A friend of mine called me once years ago quite distressed and said she couldn't sleep - her husband had run off across the country to meet up with a woman he'd been 'talking to' on the internet. Wondering why she wasn't just glad to finally be out of a long-time miserable relationship, I asked "You mean you miss him?!" When she regained her composure from laughing, she said, "No, I miss the sound of his cpap machine in the room. I can't sleep without it and the ceiling fan." Maybe she should have fought for property rights.

If the best machine for your treatment happens to be one of the quieter ones, what a bonus! You're a good man to look out for your wife like this (maybe you feel like you owe it to her after driving her to earplugs). Do the best you can for her without sacrificing your ability to be compliant with your therapy.

Since you've brought up the subject, I'm curious as to what percentage of bed partners never truly adjust to the sound of the machine. Hmmm...
Kathy

idahogal · Post by **idahogal** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 7:17 pm

I can tell you that my husband does not hear my cpap at all. He was amazed at how quiet the machine was. As far as the tossing and turning goes, there are all kinds of posts here on hanging the hose from the headboard and such. I originally went in to my doctor because of back pain that I have had for about 10 years and he diagnosed the OSA. Once I was on my cpap I had no back pain again from day 1. I was having the pain because I was tossing and turning due to arousals. Now I don't toss and turn as much so I don't have the back pain.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:12 pm

lococat wrote:And now that I have my prescription (BI - PAP 16 IPAP, 8 EPAP, RR8

(bold emphasis mine)

loco, since "RR8" is mentioned on the Rx, I wonder if that means you'll be receiving a bi-level machine with a timed back-up rate of 8. Doesn't matter if you don't know yet what the full name of the machine is. Was just curious when I saw that mentioned on the Rx.

Others have given good advice. You might want to check out this clickable link to topics about hanging the hose up out of your way. You may not toss and turn quite as much once you get onto treatment, but it's still nice to have the hose up out of the way when you turn over:

LINKS to Hose hangers and methods of managing the air hose

If the Comfort Gel mask ends up being leaky or hurts the bridge of your nose, there are MANY other masks to try. The next one I'd suggest you try is the Respironics ComfortLite 2 (gotta have "2" in its name).

My personal favorite (but not many DMEs have even heard of it, much less have it) is Aeiomed's "Headrest with nasal pillows" mask. Maybe they could order it for you. Excellent for sleeping in any position and has an exhaust that won't blow air against your wife.

Another good mask to try, imho, is the Puritan Bennett DreamFit (not the DreamSeal attachment for the Breeze.)

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Avg. AHI .4

Mask

Additional Comments: cpap pressure: 12

Newly Diagnosed with severe sleep apnea.

Newly Diagnosed with severe sleep apnea.

Machine noise