OT? A visit with my doctors

Well, I'm back from going and seeing the Lung doctor today, while I was there I also seen my ENT doctor as well. Those two were like night and day. The ENT told me that I have OSA because of my cleft pallet, on top of the other things that caused, oh well. He also brought in another doc that does repair works because he said my pallet was interesting. She was very well informed about Sleep Apnea and about the new PR One machine. They were giving those out where she came from.

So here I am, showing him my reports and the first words out of his mouth, I don't know how to read that. I was like, ok so I explained it to him. He was impressed at the knowledge that I showed. (Thank you to everyone who taught me) When I told him what I've done so far, and the machine I was using, he started to be worried, until I showed him how low my AHIs were. He suggested that I should use a mask that will allow me to breath through my mouth because my nasal airway is so small. Once I explained to him what I was using, he said ok, keep using what works as long as you're not having any problems breathing.

The Lung doctor looked at my reports and was like ok, didn't seem to care too much. He was concerned about my sleeping habits, seeing how broken up they were and how short some of the times I spent asleep. The real reason I don't sleep much, is because my wife isn't with me, but I didn't tell him that because he might have thought that I was a bit crazy. He had no problems with me using an APAP and was surprised that I had one. He was also impressed with the settings I have it at.

When I brought up the question about deploying, he said there was no reason that I shouldn't be able to and left it at that. (I don't think that he would have stopped me from going unless I'd asked him to.) I don't mind going, the extra cash would be nice, I just hate to have to tell the wife.

When I asked about spare items for while I'm deployed he said no problem, went to his office and in less that 4 minutes came back with a new prescription for extra masks, filters, hoses and what not. He also said that I could have just called for that. Now I know.

akcpapguy, thanks again for telling me to ask him for that. Now I just have to wait for my traveling DME to get back with me so that I can let them know what I need.

I think that I'll be able to get 2 more masks from this, so does any one have any suggestions. I'm looking to get a nasal (any kind really) and a full face (just not the one that covers the entire face). I've already tried the Hybrid and that didn't work out too well. I was thinking giving that one socalmonkey tested a try.

David

drj130 wrote: The Lung doctor looked at my reports and was like ok, didn't seem to care too much. He was concerned about my sleeping habits, seeing how broken up they were and how short some of the times I spent asleep.

You know mine thought more along these lines also. They tend to look more at the overall picture and "how we feel" and the numbers are incidental and only really important if they are out of line and we are still having some serious symptoms.
Your sleep architecture is crappy. I have already told you that. Wife or no wife, you need better quality sleep. When I first started therapy I had lots and lots of awakenings and even with a rare 8 hours total sleep, didn't feel so hot. I am somewhat better now but still averaging less than 7 hours but with a reduced number of awakenings. When I get really lucky I get 8 hours of sleep and few awakenings and I feel awesome. Those nights are rare but they do happen, so I have something to look forward to.
I would be a total zombie with the sleep that you are functioning on.. Night before last I only got 3 1/2 hours of sleep. I was physically ill yesterday from it.

drj130 wrote:I think that I'll be able to get 2 more masks from this, so does any one have any suggestions. I'm looking to get a nasal (any kind really) and a full face (just not the one that covers the entire face). I've already tried the Hybrid and that didn't work out too well. I was thinking giving that one socalmonkey tested a try.

If you do well with and like the Swift LT then you might also like the Opus 360 (nasal pillow). I am using it right now since I loaned my Swift LT to my sister. To be honest, it is a real close race which I like better and the Opus seems a bit more comfortable all around. My numbers are pretty much the same with either. I don't remember if you have that one in your collection or not. I can't help with full face suggestions. I don't do well with anything on my nose or straps on the back of my neck so I bailed on trying any FF except I have a Hybrid on standby for extreme emergency like concrete poured in my nose.

Pugsy wrote:

drj130 wrote: The Lung doctor looked at my reports and was like ok, didn't seem to care too much. He was concerned about my sleeping habits, seeing how broken up they were and how short some of the times I spent asleep.

You know mine thought more along these lines also. They tend to look more at the overall picture and "how we feel" and the numbers are incidental and only really important if they are out of line and we are still having some serious symptoms.
Your sleep architecture is crappy. I have already told you that. Wife or no wife, you need better quality sleep. When I first started therapy I had lots and lots of awakenings and even with a rare 8 hours total sleep, didn't feel so hot. I am somewhat better now but still averaging less than 7 hours but with a reduced number of awakenings. When I get really lucky I get 8 hours of sleep and few awakenings and I feel awesome. Those nights are rare but they do happen, so I have something to look forward to.
I would be a total zombie with the sleep that you are functioning on.. Night before last I only got 3 1/2 hours of sleep. I was physically ill yesterday from it.

drj130 wrote:I think that I'll be able to get 2 more masks from this, so does any one have any suggestions. I'm looking to get a nasal (any kind really) and a full face (just not the one that covers the entire face). I've already tried the Hybrid and that didn't work out too well. I was thinking giving that one socalmonkey tested a try.

If you do well with and like the Swift LT then you might also like the Opus 360 (nasal pillow). I am using it right now since I loaned my Swift LT to my sister. To be honest, it is a real close race which I like better and the Opus seems a bit more comfortable all around. My numbers are pretty much the same with either. I don't remember if you have that one in your collection or not. I can't help with full face suggestions. I don't do well with anything on my nose or straps on the back of my neck so I bailed on trying any FF except I have a Hybrid on standby for extreme emergency like concrete poured in my nose.

No, I don't think that is one of the ones that is coming to me. I believe that the ones I'm expecting are all comfortgel styles. As well as a Nasal Ayre II.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll see what they have and what others suggest.

If it were me I would let my insurance buy the more expensive masks of my choice and if I had another one in mind to try outside of insurance I would let it be the least expensive.

Wouldn't that be that full life one, or was it fitfull life. too confusing. lol

Your welcome David, it was my pleasure, glad everything is woking out for you.

I understand about telling the wife, if you stay in the Army, you will both get used to it. Early in my career with the Rangers we used to get called in at all hours of the day and not know if or where we were going or even when we were coming back. My wife didn't really know how to react when i told her the last time, hey I'm leaving for Iraq in a month and we should be back in about 11 1/2 months LOL.


AKCPAPGUY

Guest wrote:Your welcome David, it was my pleasure, glad everything is woking out for you.

I understand about telling the wife, if you stay in the Army, you will both get used to it. Early in my career with the Rangers we used to get called in at all hours of the day and not know if or where we were going or even when we were coming back. My wife didn't really know how to react when i told her the last time, hey I'm leaving for Iraq in a month and we should be back in about 11 1/2 months LOL.


AKCPAPGUY

Right now I'm sitting at about 18 years and 9 months. The wife and I have only been married 3 years so far and we've spend about 3 months of that together.

drj130 wrote:Right now I'm sitting at about 18 years and 9 months. The wife and I have only been married 3 years so far and we've spend about 3 months of that together.

On the upside of this you are still in the honeymoon stage and no time for spats....

Well, Respironics named the two new full face masks basswards ackwards as far as I am concerned.

The FitLife is the one tested in hospitals that covers the entire face including the eyes.

The FullLife is the one that has no straps at the bridge of the nose area and does NOT cover the eyes.

The military is hard on marriages. It takes a special couple to hold it together for a 20 year marriage and military career. God bless you both. I wish you well and much happiness!

If you're gonna get the nasal ayre ll, you'll need to have Babettes tip sheet for it; viewtopic/t23207/Babettes-Nasal-Aire-II-Tip-Sheet.html

Brenda