Newbie Looking For Info, and Motivation

Also, any machine recommendations?

sleepygary314 wrote:Also, any machine recommendations?

Have you read this?
https://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/

and this
https://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/what- ... me-part-i/

and this
http://adventures-in-hosehead-land.blog ... -with.html

Make sure your machine is a full efficacy data machine and not a machine that gives either hours of use only or very limited data (what I call a half assed brick).

If you can get a model machine that has apap (auto adjusting pressure) mode available as well as cpap mode...get it...it's like 2 machines in one.
Learn the models available and what each will or won't do.
I would stick with ResMed or Respironics...most DMEs will be supplying whichever brand they got a better wholesale deal on.
Check with DMEs in your area that work with your insurance to see which brand they usually dispense and start there.

See this
https://sleep.tnet.com/equipment/cpapmachines
click on each brand to see models and data availability or not.

Pugsy wrote:

sleepygary314 wrote:Also, any machine recommendations?

Have you read this?
https://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/

and this
https://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/what- ... me-part-i/

and this
http://adventures-in-hosehead-land.blog ... -with.html

Make sure your machine is a full efficacy data machine and not a machine that gives either hours of use only or very limited data (what I call a half assed brick).

If you can get a model machine that has apap (auto adjusting pressure) mode available as well as cpap mode...get it...it's like 2 machines in one.
Learn the models available and what each will or won't do.
I would stick with ResMed or Respironics...most DMEs will be supplying whichever brand they got a better wholesale deal on.
Check with DMEs in your area that work with your insurance to see which brand they usually dispense and start there.

See this
https://sleep.tnet.com/equipment/cpapmachines
click on each brand to see models and data availability or not.

Thanks Pugs! I really feel like I'll be ahead of the curve when its time to get my machine.

Quick question for you: in my post before the one you replied to i mentioned one of the sensations i get with my apnea (the brain sensation waking me up). Is this common with OSA? Or is it more of a central apnea symptom?

sleepygary314 wrote:Quick question for you: in my post before the one you replied to i mentioned one of the sensations i get with my apnea (the brain sensation waking me up). Is this common with OSA? Or is it more of a central apnea symptom?

Have no idea really which is why I didn't say anything. It's too subjective of a feeling meaning what I might feel you are describing isn't necessarily what is going on.

At any rate...it could be either...so impossible to know for sure and I would quit worrying about central vs obstructive until you know which one you are fighting...if you are fighting one or both.

If you do end up with central apnea...it's fixable. Maybe not quite as simply as someone with plain vanilla Obstructive Sleep Apnea but it's fixable. People get all in a panic over "centrals" and there's really no reason to...it's fixable and that's what is important.

Chances are that if it is sleep apnea that it is obstructive if going by the odds. More people have the obstructive kind than the central kind and when it comes right down to it you don't really have much say so in the matter anyway. It is what it is no matter what it is and we deal with it whatever it is.

If I am understanding what you are describing it could be related to either adrenaline or the stress hormone that the heart dumps out in response to apneas...and it could be either type of apnea causing the response.

Pugsy wrote:

sleepygary314 wrote:Quick question for you: in my post before the one you replied to i mentioned one of the sensations i get with my apnea (the brain sensation waking me up). Is this common with OSA? Or is it more of a central apnea symptom?

Have no idea really which is why I didn't say anything. It's too subjective of a feeling meaning what I might feel you are describing isn't necessarily what is going on.

At any rate...it could be either...so impossible to know for sure and I would quit worrying about central vs obstructive until you know which one you are fighting...if you are fighting one or both.

If you do end up with central apnea...it's fixable. Maybe not quite as simply as someone with plain vanilla Obstructive Sleep Apnea but it's fixable. People get all in a panic over "centrals" and there's really no reason to...it's fixable and that's what is important.

Chances are that if it is sleep apnea that it is obstructive if going by the odds. More people have the obstructive kind than the central kind and when it comes right down to it you don't really have much say so in the matter anyway. It is what it is no matter what it is and we deal with it whatever it is.

If I am understanding what you are describing it could be related to either adrenaline or the stress hormone that the heart dumps out in response to apneas...and it could be either type of apnea causing the response.

I suppose the whole not knowing thing is making me anxious. Kinda hard not to be, but I'm trying to keep myself together. I'll report back in after my study on thurdsday.

sleepygary314 wrote:I suppose the whole not knowing thing is making me anxious. Kinda hard not to be,

It's understandable to be anxious. Part of us wants there to be something wrong, that is causing us to feel like crap, that has a face and a name so we can fight it. Then there's the other part of us that starts worrying about the face and name and what it could be.
People come here and worry about centrals an d get all in a panic when they see them on the reports or talked about but it's panic that is uncalled for. Yeah, sometimes centrals are an indication of another sort of problem but there's also a good chance that they are idiopathic and there's no known reason.
Besides...if they are related to some other health issue wouldn't it be better to know about it now and try to fix it?

I have a philosophy that I try really hard to use...cross that bridge when/if I come to it. Worrying ahead of time isn't going to make that bridge go away or come any sooner or change it.

It's hard though. I understand where you are coming from. Just try not to let it upset you too much....keep telling yourself that whatever it is...it's fixable. Now will it be an easy fix or difficult fix?...dunno but again there's no sense in looking for problems before we even know for sure what you are fighting.

Good luck on your upcoming sleep study. Do whatever you need to do to make sure you can actually get some sleep.

Soothest Sleep wrote:Hi, Gary,

I can't help with info on the sleep lab study, as mine was a home study, but others will come along who have had the lab experience.

I can point you to a thread with success stories,though. On the Board Index page, look in the section at the top ("Announcements"); I think it's the last thread in the box.

Don't expect instant change with your treatment (although it's been known to happen, I hear); it's a process, as you learn about your equipment, comfort needs, new sensations, and your reactions to all of that. Take it one day at a time, one issue at a time; and come to the forum with specific questions so advice and comments can be directed to your need.

When you know what your equipment is, you can update your User Profile (click on User Control Panel, top left of the forum pages; then, Profile; then, Edit Equipment) to display that information automatically with your posts. The experts around here need to know. . .

Welcome to the forum,
Jean

same as mine

Pugsy wrote:

sleepygary314 wrote:I suppose the whole not knowing thing is making me anxious. Kinda hard not to be,

It's understandable to be anxious. Part of us wants there to be something wrong, that is causing us to feel like crap, that has a face and a name so we can fight it. Then there's the other part of us that starts worrying about the face and name and what it could be.
People come here and worry about centrals an d get all in a panic when they see them on the reports or talked about but it's panic that is uncalled for. Yeah, sometimes centrals are an indication of another sort of problem but there's also a good chance that they are idiopathic and there's no known reason.
Besides...if they are related to some other health issue wouldn't it be better to know about it now and try to fix it?

I have a philosophy that I try really hard to use...cross that bridge when/if I come to it. Worrying ahead of time isn't going to make that bridge go away or come any sooner or change it.

It's hard though. I understand where you are coming from. Just try not to let it upset you too much....keep telling yourself that whatever it is...it's fixable. Now will it be an easy fix or difficult fix?...dunno but again there's no sense in looking for problems before we even know for sure what you are fighting.

Good luck on your upcoming sleep study. Do whatever you need to do to make sure you can actually get some sleep.

Yeah, you're right. I'm usually a very health anxious person in general, so my mind automatically wants to go to worst-case scenario when anything is wrong, but given the fact that I've had every test in the book for my symptoms before even getting to the possibility of a sleep disorder, and having it all come back normal, I probably should follow your advice. It is good advice, after all. I'd feel silly worrying about it being central and finding out its not related to anything, or not central at all. The study is 3 days from now. I'll let you all know how it goes.

Thanks everyone.

Not sure why my comment above is marked as being from "guest". maybe I wasnt logged in. but yes, that was me. and thanks pugs

sleepygary314 wrote:Not sure why my comment above is marked as being from "guest". maybe I wasnt logged in. but yes, that was me. and thanks pugs

You weren't logged in.
That's all, no big deal.

There's a setting in the member profile to "keep me always logged in" that helps avoid the non logging in thing.
It's not perfect and sometimes it fails but for the most part it works well. It's what I do so that I don't have to log in each time and remember the password each time which I can never remember anyway.

tomorrow's the big day. Im excited but nervous.Like "what if they tellme nothings wrong even though I know something is" kinda nervous. I slept last night with the helpof a benadryl and ativan (doctor prescribed). I wonder if I can take those during the study or if it'll mess up the results somehow. getting me to rem 2 on my own is not gonna be easy, if possible at all. I def dont have the cash for 2 sleep studies either

Take what your doctor advised. First of all you have to get the sleep first for it to even be evaluated.
Benadryl really won't mess with anything and a small dose of ativan won't make that big of a difference anyway. At worst maybe a slight relaxation of the muscles and tissues.
As long as your doctor is okay with it there shouldn't be a problem.
Heck my sleep doctor routinely prescribes Ambien for the sleep studies. He said that the benefit of actually getting the sleep far outweighs any small things the meds might do to sleep architecture. Gotta get the sleep first.

And sounds like from what you have said about yourself and stress...you are going to need some help. Take it and good luck.

Pugsy wrote:Take what your doctor advised. First of all you have to get the sleep first for it to even be evaluated.
Benadryl really won't mess with anything and a small dose of ativan won't make that big of a difference anyway. At worst maybe a slight relaxation of the muscles and tissues.
As long as your doctor is okay with it there shouldn't be a problem.
Heck my sleep doctor routinely prescribes Ambien for the sleep studies. He said that the benefit of actually getting the sleep far outweighs any small things the meds might do to sleep architecture. Gotta get the sleep first.

And sounds like from what you have said about yourself and stress...you are going to need some help. Take it and good luck.

Doc prescribed ambien for the sleep study, so thats one less thing to worry about there. I didnt think it would impact the study adversely but wasnt sure, so I had to check here and with them because I was planning to sneak one if need be.

Now the next mystery seems to be if my sleep issue is tied to my odd weightloss and appetite. Nobody has an answer for that just yet. Kinda hoping it'll resolve itself or is due to anxiety/stress caused by lack of sleep, but like you said,I'll probably just have to cross that bridge when I get there.

I took ambien for my sleep test and biap titration without any problems. They were able to get good date both nights.

Okie bipap wrote:I took ambien for my sleep test and biap titration without any problems. They were able to get good date both nights.

Sweet! I was hoping it wouldnt mess up the data. Seen some debate about it.