I Love CPAP

VancouverBreeze · Post by **VancouverBreeze** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 2:01 am

Yes, really, I do!

450 hours on that baby! Have a breeze and a c-flex...and breezing along and feeling great.

For everyone super new on this board, really, it's not that hard to get used to it. Just have patience, and if you need to try a new mask go for it.

I know people come to this board in search of answers for problems! I just wanted to say..CPAP ROCKS! (sort of!)

Red · Post by **Red** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 7:39 am

I agree 100%. I am 42 years old and felt tired for the last 15 years (no joke). I had an appointment for a sleep test but ended up in the hospital due to apnea before my test date. My BP was very high, Blood Sugar was 230 (im not diabetic) hurting in my chest. My 02 sat was below 70% Thought I was going to die. All of this due to sleep apnea. I have used CPAP for less than a week and feel like I'm 16.

laniej · Post by **laniej** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 8:13 am

Thanks for posting. Super new here and struggling with the mask. I get a nasal mask today and am very hopeful. I am 34 and pregnant with my second child. My first is a toddler so I am very busy, but it seems that I drag through my days and don't really enjoy them.

I'm praying for relief. Oh how I would love to feel 16 again - then I would have the energy to keep up with my 2 year old!

Lanie

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 8:38 am

Glad to see lots of new posters with success stories. I have had similar success myself. VB, you are right! patience and persistance will pay off. Red, I'm a couple years older than you and don't feel quite 16 again, but I do feel great. Thanks for passing on your "good news." Laniej, I can empathize with your situation. My wife and I have five kids, of which the youngest two are twin boys. Keep at it! What mask(s) have you tried and which ones are you looking at. Many people here have very good suggestions regarding mask problems. Let us know, we can help!

laniej · Post by **laniej** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 9:01 am

I have an Ultra Mirage, but can't sleep on my sides with it which is mainly the way I like to sleep. I have read here about the Breeze and the Swift and am leaning toward the Breeze. When the guy brings the masks today, I am also going to ask about the Aura, although I think I want to try the Breeze first.

I haven't got a very positive attitude right now, but am trying!

The insurance company will pay for a new mask every 6 months so I guess we will see how this one goes and move on to the next if need be.

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

Lanie

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 9:22 am

Lanie,

Though the aura looks more cluncky than the Breeze it is not. It has all the benefits of the Breeze and more. The Breeze is not good on your back and is lacking the ability to adjust the nose piece in all directions. I have all three units you list and the aura is by far the best. That said, either of the other two are good choices if the aura is unavailable to you.

Sleeping With The Enemy · Post by **Sleeping With The Enemy** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 9:27 am

Lanie,

You are very lucky that they decided to treat you, take a look at my story under the poll about how people feel the medical field is helping/not helping or something like that.

Heidi

laniej · Post by **laniej** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 9:40 am

Wow Sleeping, that is something! The good news is I was diagnosed 2 months before I got pregnant. I am now 16 weeks. I remember with my daughter the snoring got worse and the heartburn - YIKES! Dr. is very good and says we need to get a mask that works as soon as possible because as you are well aware from experience - Sleep Apnea only gets worse during pregnancy!

Lanie

nodding off · Post by **nodding off** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 8:00 pm

Laniej,
Have you considered asking your Dr for an APAP? You mentioned your OSA getting worse during pregnancy. Most likely, as yiour body undergoes drastic changes your need for pressure changes as well. I don't think it will make you feel 16 again, but it might help you to sleep better!

laniej · Post by **laniej** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 8:26 pm

To be honest, I don't know what the difference in CPap, APap and BiPap are. I haven't really looked because I am so new. Also, my setting is way lower than I've seen for others on this site. Mine is only a 7 as I was diagnosed with moderate OSA (I actually start with a 4 and ramp up). I don't even know if CPap will work for me yet as I could never get used to a full face mask. I received a Breeze today and will see what happens with that.

L

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 8:30 pm

CPAP - Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; the device used to treat sleep apnea by sending positive airway pressure at a constant, continuous pressure to help keep an open airway, allowing the patient to breathe normally through his/her nose and airway

Auto Adjusting Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Device (SmartPAP) (Auto-PAP) - A type of CPAP machine monitoring changes in breathing and compensates automatically by making appropriate adjustments in pressure.

Bi-Level - Bi-level pressure device used to treat sleep apnea. The "bi" refers to two pressures: a lower pressure for exhalation and a higher pressure for inhalation. Bi-Level machines are more expensive than a standard CPAP, but some patients tolerate it better because they can exhale comfortably against the constant inhalation pressure. (Sometimes called Bi-PAP, but that is a trademark name of one system)

Quoted from Sleepnet.com

Sleep Terms Definitions

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 2:18 am

Lanie, the Breeze is one of my favorites. Here are three tips to make it work better for you, if you have any problems with it:

1. They probably gave you nasal pillows that are actually smaller than what works best for most people. The nasal pillows should not have to be crammed up into the nostrils to "seal". If, during the night, you find that you keep getting tiny air leaks, get them to give you the next bigger size. I have a small nose and smallish nares (the nostril opening) but the "Large" size nasal pillows for the Breeze work best for me - staying more comfortably to the outside of my nostrils and sealing well against them rather than up in them.

2. Rig up a way to hang the main air hose 8 - 12 inches above your head. Use something (bungee, hook, a stretchy head band nailed to the wall behind headboard) to run the main air hose through - keeping it up and out of your way. Think of being a fish on the end of a slack line as your figure out a creative way to hang the main hose up above your head. This will keep the weight of the hose from pulling on the headgear or tugging at your nose - letting you turn over easily without the hose getting in your way. This is a good idea for ANY mask, not just the Breeze - hang that air hose up out of the way.

3. You might find you need to place the extra side straps that come with the Breeze down lower than they are shown in ad pictures or instructions. I place them down very low - even lower than the bottom of the little track in front. Holds everything steadier down there, for toss 'n turn sleeping. I took the track clip off and placed the side straps down as low as shown in this picture I retouched:

VancouverBreeze · Post by **VancouverBreeze** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 2:22 am

Keep it up new CPAPers!! 16!! well, i feel about 20...and that has it's benefits if you know what i'm saying!

Be positive!! When you go to sleep...remember what that mask is doing for you!

CPAPERs of the world unite!
heheh

Cheers from Vancouver,
Darren