FFM Transition: Starlette's Journal

Thursday 10/27/11

Total hours slept 5.47
AHI: 1.9
Before waking up the first time: Total hours slept 4.03, AHI 1.4.

I say for the first night with a FFM, I didn't do too shabbby. I woke up at 2:30am for whatever reason and had a mild case of air in my gutt.
I wasn't too worried. Went to my office to check my data. Wanted to make sure everything was ok. Amazingly, I didn't have any issues of dry mouth. Reason may be that I was wearing my dental appliance and kind of assisted in keeping my mouth closed. I didn't wear my chinstrap.
Hubbs comment, "Now you don't look like a mummy!" I saw in the video chinstrap wasn't necessary. *shrugs* Woke up without feeling of air in the gutt.

Leaks: According to the data, looks like I did pretty good.

Face: No marks. I sleep on my left side. Slight indent on right check & slight redness on nose bridge disappeared as the day moved on.
Right side nostril has been irritated all day. I'll let it go one more night. If I still have issues tonight, tomorrow I'll slap a small bit of moleskin in that area. Probably what I'll end up doing. Overall, I think my face/skin took pretty well to FFM.

Major question: How did I feel? Amazingly, I went to work today and my mind was relaxed, strong and focused! This may be an odd thing to say, brain felt VERY VERY strong and focused, ready and able to concentrate. I feel like this was a first for me. Then around 3:30pm brain alertness
began to fizzle and the yawns and desire to sleep returned. Hear I sit typing and journaling and my brain is begging me, "Time to go to bed!"

So, I consider my first night on FFM a success.

Starlette

Data reading from last night.

Your profile still shows a nasal mask. What FF mask are you using?

Sorry LSAT, I forgot to include that.

FFM: Resmed Ultra Mirage FFM (Small Standard)

Looking wonderful, Starlette.

You've been doing a great job optimizing your therapy!

Glad it's going so well for you. I'm sure you will continue to improve, and you'll feel less tired in the afternoon.

numbers are looking great!

After the first few nights, I bet anything you end up loving the FFM =)

Friday 10/28/11

5.55 = Total hours slept with mask on
4.9 = AHI

1.46 = First fell asleep. In my sleep, I took the mask off and placed on nightstand
4.5 = Slept without mask
4.09 = Slept with mask

Observations: As for the higher increase in AHIs, I’m not that concerned. I believe the AHI's were higher this time because I watched a movie on cable last night that I shouldn't have. I FINALLY figured out how to work the latch last night. Anxiety/fear is increased when you don’t know how to remove the mask quickly, especially a FFM. There is definitely a fear/anxiety to overcome when wearing a FFM as opposed to other masks (nasal and pillows). Everything you use to bring oxygen to your body is now encased.

Leaks: I feel I did better than the night before. Currently, I don’t know what average leak rate is for this type of mask. I'll eventually learn that.

Face: No red marks again or skin irritation this time at all! Kudos to the poster that said to loosen up on the opposite direction/side that brings irritation. I’ve never thought of doing it that way. Thank you so much!!!

How do I feel??? Honestly, mind/concentration/sharpness doesn’t feel like it did yesterday. Probably due to the time I slept without the mask. Wish there was a mechanism/alarm that would sound when you remove the mask without your approval (in your sleep). However, the time is 4:05pm and I haven’t had a yawn or felt sleepy which I suppose is a good thing.

Starlette

Starlette wrote:Friday 10/28/11

Leaks: I feel I did better than the night before. Currently, I don’t know what average leak rate is for this type of mask. I'll eventually learn that.

Starlette

The chart shows that with the UMFF at pressure of 9cms the leak rate should be somewhere around 34-35 so you did good! Now all you have to do tonight is keep the mask on all night! Those clips are a little tricky, Mike finds them easy to undo but has a hard time clipping them on.

Saturday 10/29/11

5.18 = Total hours slept with mask on
6.0 = AHI

Thanks DoriC for the heads up on the leak allowance. Yes, it appears I’m doing well in that area.

Observations: Becoming less apprehensive about wear the FFM. I think I can now proceed to bed with less fear and anxiety using FFM.

Leaks: I noticed the first part of the night the leaks were non-existent. The events were held at bay except before I woke. Before it freaked me out to see a brief cluster before waking up, now I’m not bothered. I just figured my breathing has changed before waking up and the data picks up on them. Nothing more. Second part of the nights there were leaks and as a result events. I know how to tame leaks and events.

Face: Nose continues to be irritated on the left side. I know how to deal with that now.

How do I feel??? Me and Hubbs went to church today. I was totally alert throughout the service. Went to the Bronco game today and was very much alert (NOTE: If there was a way to take a nap in the south stands, I would have done it! For those who didn’t see the game we were spanked.).

Conclusion: The reason I decided to look into the FFM was because of the continued mouth leaks even with the chinstrap = Lost therapy. Strange that the AHIs never seemed to pickup on the mouth leaks. The FFM brings resolution to this issue. For the short time I’ve been on a FFM I feel my concentration/alterness/focus have noticeably increased. So going forward I’ll begin to use FFM with dental appliance and no longer use chinstrap.

Lastly, I’ll soon find out the correct resistance setting (x1 – x5) for the PR System 1 for my masks from my Primary Care Physician in the next couple of weeks. Then in the words of Rested Gal I feel my therapy will have been optimized, which will allow me to FINALLY reach cpap nirvana.

A deep heartfelt thank you to all those that were my cheerleaders and my support through this process. I was very scared and nervous.
FFM terrorized me, not so much now. I would not have been able to go through this process which such ease without you. Thank you so much!

Thus ends my journaling at this time.

Starlette