A few questions from a newbie

[AugustW]

I was diagnosed last month, AHI of 87 on the split night study. I’ve been on my CPAP for 2 weeks today, pressure of 10. I do use the ramp feature but I find I actually prefer it. I’m able to fall asleep before the air really gets going. I really like that the pressure keeps my mouth shut. No more dry mouth in the morning!

(Just in case my profile doesn’t show correctly, I have the ResMed 9s (s9?) auto, with the Bella nasal pillows)

A few questions I’ve had since starting. One is…does your nose adjust to the pressure of the nasal pillows eventually? When I wake up, my nose is numb for about 30 minutes. Sometimes my lips as well. I use the Bella nasal pillows, size small, but I have all the sizes because the lab gave me my testing set, and my DME got a little overexcited and gave me a bunch of extra supplies. (Working for a sleep doctor comes in handy sometimes)

Also, I was told that it would take about a month for me to not be exhausted. I get really good sleep with the CPAP, 8 hours on average, and my AHI has been in the 2-3 range every night. However, I’m still just worn out every day. I do see a difference, mainly in the fact that I’m not getting up all night to pee, and I don’t wake up with a headache….just wondering when the not being tired kicks in?

Lastly, do any of you have a narcolepsy along with your OSA? I’m wondering if it’s possible with me. If I do have the cataplexy with it, it’s probably mild, but I have always had “butterfingers” as my family calls it, and I have times of extreme weakness in my arms and legs. Most often when I’m going to sleep, or gradually waking up, I feel like my arms and legs weight 50 tons and it’s hard to move.
Anyway, any opinions? My sleep doctor has said that I need to get my OSA fully treated before he can consider narcolepsy as a secondary diagnosis.

(Somewhat related, anybody using Nugivil or Provigil? We’ve had the drug reps in our clinic for lunch and they talk about the medicine like it’s the best thing since sliced bread. I would certainly enjoy not being tired…thoughts?

[Noctuary]

Also, I was told that it would take about a month for me to not be exhausted. I get really good sleep with the CPAP, 8 hours on average, and my AHI has been in the 2-3 range every night. However, I’m still just worn out every day. I do see a difference, mainly in the fact that I’m not getting up all night to pee, and I don’t wake up with a headache….just wondering when the not being tired kicks in?

I've been at this six months (almost). I still feel like crap everyday. Some people are just lucky with this.

(Somewhat related, anybody using Nugivil or Provigil? We’ve had the drug reps in our clinic for lunch and they talk about the medicine like it’s the best thing since sliced bread. I would certainly enjoy not being tired…thoughts?

I'm going to try to get some Monday. So sick of this.

[Julie]

Hi, what are your pressures set at? The lower one may not be quite therapeutic. Are you using software to track overnights on your computer? And I'd ask your MD to be referred to a neurologist (with some sleep knowledge) because while your symptoms might be related to narcolepsy, what if they aren't, or even if they are I'd want to talk to an expert rather than have any of us guess at things. Not everything is about OSA or Cpap.

[palerider]

Hi, what are your pressures set at? The lower one may not be quite therapeutic. Are you using software to track overnights on your computer?.

sadly, he's got the crap model that doesn't provide worthwhile data

of course, this is why we rail against them, because there's something wrong, and nobody can tell what.

[AugustW]

He is actually a she. Common mistake. Named after my grandfather.

[palerider]

He is actually a she. Common mistake. Named after my grandfather.

sorry, I thought we were referring to Noctuary, not you

awesome name, August

since your post was ambiguous, *which* resmed s9 auto do you have? the escape auto, the autoset, or the vpap auto?

the first one is crap, try to get rid of it, the second two are great, get sleepyhead software and let's get some details of what's happening to you

also, your profile doesn't show up unless you're logged in, which yuou weren't.

[Julie]

So... what are your pressures?

[August]

This forum doesn't like my computer much. Or my computer doesn't like this forum. Hard to tell! Anyway, I have the s9 autoset, and my pressure is set at 10cm. It seems to work for me, as my AHI has stayed under 5 every night since starting it. I had a rather bad night last night due to having a cold and trying the full face mask, my leaks were up to 21 and I hit a 4.4 AHI, which is my highest so far in therapy.

Definitely going back to nasal pillows as soon as I can breathe through my nose. Fingers crossed!

[palerider]

This forum doesn't like my computer much. Or my computer doesn't like this forum. Hard to tell! !

get them to sit down over a nice cup of tea and biscuits and see if you can't get them to work out their differences

[August]

I am a newish employee in a pulmonary/sleep clinic (as well as a patient here) so I was encouraged to look into this forum as a way to increase my knowledge, but the work computers are less than fond of it I guess. Tea and biscuits, stat!