48 Hours and Counting

The countdown is on. My titration is Sunday night. I am looking forward to having this done and finally getting a good night's sleep...or will I? HELP!

JaxDad,
Don't let all the discussion of problems with cpap therapy lead you to assume you'll have trouble too. Many don't - they're just not as likely to end up online searching for help. Let us know how your titration nite goes, and here's hoping a good nite's sleep is in your near future!
Kathy

Cool! Take your pillow with you.

Before they wire you up, if they aren't too busy, ask if you can try on several different types of masks while you're there. Have pen and paper with you -- jot down the entire name of every mask they let you try, and the size...even the name/size of the masks you don't like. Try every mask they'll let you try. Don't restrict it only to masks that you (or they) think will be the only "type" of mask that you'll need or like. In other words, don't stick with trying on just a full face mask because you have nasal congestion. Don't turn down the opportunity to try a "nasal pillows" mask just because you might think you don't want anything in your nose. Don't turn down trying on ANY mask just because the headgear looks bulky, or has parts in front of your eyes, or the mask looks bigger than other masks.

You may not get to try on masks there, but if you can...you'll be way ahead of the game when it comes time to get more mask fittings at the DME. Some labs have lots of extra masks. Doesn't hurt to ask. Also, in the morning, ask to take home whatever mask(s) they used on you during the night. They'll probably happily let you have the mask(s) after it's over.

If you think you might be so excited about finally getting your titration that you might not get to sleep easily, ask your doctor for a sleep aid. As I understand it, Ambien doesn't interfere with the data gathering or titration during sleep studies, but I'm not a doctor!

YAY, Rested Gal Laura!!

You are so right, as usual.

I was so excited to go to the titration--I truly looked forward to that night. I almost always take my own pillow with me, and that night was no exception. While waiting to be wired up, I was given a nasal mask to try for 15 minutes lying down with the BiPAP on. I barely made 10 minutes before feeling that that little mask would eat me up--it crept into my eyes and made me feel claustrophobic.

Next, I was given the Swift, which I preferred over the nasal mask. I tried it under the same conditions. The blasted thing shifted and leaked and the BiPAP made an annoying sound, and the whole thing itched and I BARELY slept that night. In fact, when I finally fell asleep my sleep technician was kind enough to allow me to get in a full cycle. She had to stay a little overtime so that the study would be completed.

I ended up getting a Swift, which definitely did not work well for me. I had to turn it in and borrow various masks from the sleep lab and DME provider, I went through 3 of them before the ComfortLite 2 was ordered.

Laura is right about trying ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. If I had first seen the CL 2, it would never have attracted my attention. I would not have ordered it; in this case, the RT knew her stuff.

Enjoy your night--some people do have the best sleep ever. Others, such as I, only hope for the promise of better sleep which comes slowly for us. Either way, you are starting anew in your life and I hope that will make a significant difference in your life, as it has in mine and that of many others here.

Great advice above.

Let me add that if you haven't read this GET the prescription and copies of both sleep studies. Don't accept "We will fax the prescription to the DME and you will be hearing from them."

You go where you want with your prescription and sleep studies.