Titration done

I just got home from my titration sleep study and I'm pretty groggy. I had to take two sleep Meds to get enough sleep to complete the titration. I ended up on a Resmed ASV type, I don't know what exact model. It was interesting to feel the machine breathe for me when I went for a few seconds without breathing. I did feel that I had to make a lot of adjustments to my breathing pattern in order to be in synch with the machine. If I tried to inhale, I got only so far before the machine changed to exhaling. It was annoying and kept me awake, but didn't make me feel short of breath. I've heard that the Respironics ASV may be easier for some people.

Naturally, the tech tried to tell me that "so and so" (a certain hospital based DME) will be calling you to set up your machine. I said that I would be consulting with my sleep NP before I decided what machine I wanted and where I would get it. Thanks to everyone here for getting me at least this far.

I was too groggy to get information on settings, but I'll be seeing the NP in about two weeks and will read diligently on this forum and elsewhere to know what questions to ask and what information he needs from me.

I used Optilife nasal pillows, small, but I think they were too tight. They squished my nose up toward the bridge and irritated toward morning. I'll read about these, too.

I wish I had asked more questions, but after an Ambien and an OTC sleep med, I could barely get dressed and go home.

The tech probably couldn't have given you much information, anyway. They usually leave that to your doc, or NP (well I have heard of sleep clinics that arrange everything- good for you for holding your ground). I don't know much about ASV- there are a couple of threads about it- but with Bilevel the TiMax and TiMin can be adjusted to better sync with your breathing. Hopefully that will be the case with the ASV.
Good luck, keep us posted on what happens next.

I had the same experience with having to use the sleep meds to get enough data. It's never fun the next day, when your brain is still half asleep for about 10 hours LOL.

Also, as was stated, the techs can't give you much info. Your doctor can, of course, but that takes a few days.

Fight for your machine! Search the threads for tips on how to ask for the best machine possible (and why they have to give it to you =)

teknomom wrote: I wish I had asked more questions,
but after an Ambien and an OTC sleep med,
I could barely get dressed and go home.

Your journey begins.
Anything you need to know is going to be at your fingertips....
right here.

I felt like I had a hangover when I left my sleep study.
I used ambien also. I thought, what a waste of time that was.
I started w/the Optilife pillows, too.

Welcome to your new life, it's only going to get better.
Hope to see you on the 19th.

I'd would love to hear more and hope to see you on the 19th.

And welcome to the ASV club, you've probably got similar breathing to my own. They're very unique machines and it sometimes does seem like you're fighting it, but in actuality when you relax, the machine will adjust to your own breathing and rather than you being in synch with the machine, the machine will be in synch with you. When you totally stop breathing, then the machine acts like a ventilator and keep you going.

So, congratulations, I wish you the best and hope to see you again! Ken

MaryZ and TalonNYC: Thanks for the support and hints.

carbonman and Ameriken: We plan to be there on the 19th - full of questions. I'll be getting ready to start treatment and Kim will be preparing for a sleep study!

teknomom wrote:MaryZ and TalonNYC: Thanks for the support and hints.

carbonman and Ameriken: We plan to be there on the 19th - full of questions. I'll be getting ready to start treatment and Kim will be preparing for a sleep study!

Awesome! I am extremely happy to hear you are both almost there! I use the 'older' Respironics ASV, and if you do get Respironics you'll probably get the newer System One version of the same machine. While I am not familiar with the setup of the the System One, it should works basically the same way as mine, so I hope I can be of some help on the behavior of the machine. They really are great machines.

Look forward to seeing you guys !

After kicking, screaming and dragging my feet for 2.5 months of testing, I need to say that I actually kind of enjoyed the experience of being on the ASV BiPap. The pressures were not uncomfortable, the breaths that were machine-aided were smooth and I now know I can tolerate it. I was very afraid of aerophagia since I tend to have serious gas/air problems in my stomach with exercise, elevation changes, allergies, etc. On the BiPap, I noticed it but it wasn't painful. If I can learn to get some real sleep on this machine, I think we'll be friends.

I noticed in the beginning I swallowed some air but now almost 2 weeks later it has really slowed to almost nothing. I guess I got used to it?