Newbie here

Hello all,

I am newbie to this and just signed up today. I got my 1st CPAP this past week(11-3) and still adjusting to it. My major concern right now is I am full time paramedic and been know to work up to 2 days away from home. As I work for 24+ hours at a stretch and don't feel comfortable using it at work yet. Is this a problem?

I am still having problems sleeping at night. Either I wake up every couple of hours and take 30+ minutes before going back to sleep or I wake up feelling smothered. I did get a chin strap due to the first night having a really bad night of dry mouth.

Any insight.

TIA

As a paramedic you know (or should know)that not using the machine when you sleep is an issue! I certainly wouldn't want a sleep deprived paramedic treating me.
As for you adjusting to the machine...try wearing the mask during the day while awake, with the machine on. Read, watch TV, whatever will take your mind off the mask and machine. What pressure is your machine set to? A pressure that is too low can make you feel as if you are suffocating, as can other things.

Brenda

I agree but I know there will be times when I won't be able to sleep due to calls etc and I worried of getting into too deep of a sleep that I will sleep through our alert tones and miss the call completely.

My CPAP is at 5cm with heated hummidty at "5" with cflex at 3. I am currently using a full mouth/nose mask with chin strap.

It takes time to adjust to PAPpy. Some of us take longer than others. But, if we are motivated, we do adjust.

As to sleeping too deeply and missing alert tones, I doubt that would happen as you are adjusted to wakening when they sound. If you use your mask & machine at work, you can ask one of your co-workers to check that you wake up when the tones sound. After all, your co-workers will know you are "using" as soon as they see your set-up.

Welcome to the club. And, thank you for the work you do. I appreciate it.

dnrperez wrote:I agree but I know there will be times when I won't be able to sleep due to calls etc and I worried of getting into too deep of a sleep that I will sleep through our alert tones and miss the call completely.

You will find yourself more alert once you stop stressing it and breath thru the nite.

dnrperez wrote:My major concern right now is I am full time paramedic and been know to work up to 2 days away from home. As I work for 24+ hours at a stretch and don't feel comfortable using it at work yet. Is this a problem?

Only if not breathing is a problem. Tell us your thoughts on not breathing for a nite or two.

Honestly, Don't short change yourself on this. I think in time you will find you can do with less sleep. Find a spare machine on craigslist to leave or take to work, that will make life easier. Just make sure they are the same or same brand so you don't have to learn all over every other day which buttons to push.

PLUS, do make sure you get a data capable machine. Search this forum to learn more about data capable machines.

This is THE Best Forum on the planet and has everything you need for FREE.

Good Luck

Please check the machine you have listed. It hasn't been available for some time and won't work with the humidifier you have listed. Changing the equipment from icon to text will help us identify the machine and mask faster when we answer your posts.
As for waking when you need to; my husband swears the machine puts me into a coma. I now sleep thru all kinds of noise, but I do wake to my alarm clock, security system and his fire dept pager. Before xpap I would get out of bed and take an hour or so to really wake up and climb out of the xpap fog, now I'm up and going as soon as my feet hit the floor! As ThirdOutOfFive said, someone will wake you if the tones come over. Don't worry about having a poor sleep schedule, just be sure to mask up everytime you do get the chance to sleep.

Brenda

Welcome to the club...and I agree with the others that certainly take it to work with you and you shouldn't have any problems being alerted and waking up....it does take some time to get used to all of this stuff....who wants things wrapped around their heads and neck etc anyway! You are using a chin strap so I am assuming your mouth drops open...please check out the ultimate chin strap for sleep apnea...it truly is the only one on the market that works...my husband has tried several and this is the best one....Good Luck to you....

A restful few hours of sleep will actually make you more aware of alert tones. Use your machine and you will find yourself operating at a much greater efficiency.