Soon to be a newbie

Hello all,

Nice to be here. I am 46 years old and as it turns out I have fairly severe sleep apnea with an AHI of 50.7 per hour and total RDI 53.5. I am still learning all of this so forgive me if I'm posting things that don't actually matter much. My understanding is that I stopped breathing over 50 times per hour, though. Minimum oxygen level was 78%. My machine will be set to 9cm H2O. Any comments on what exactly this all means or just how bad I have it are welcomed, as I am curious how I sort of rate in severity, etc. It sure would explain a lot of my tiredness over the years.

I have been waiting on my CPAP machine for what seems like too long now. My sleep lab was a little over 6 weeks ago. There is a snag between my insurance company and my doctor. Turns out the insurance company needed to have the request for the CPAP machine come from my Doctor and not the sleep lab. I'm learning this is normal. Well normal that the insurance company would request it this way. Not normal that my doctors office set the referral up this way. I am guessing there are many more horror stories concerning insurance and doctors, and probably even some for trying to get that first machine.

I am really looking forward to the machine. I can say that for the few hours that I used the properly set machine on the night of my sleep lab, it seemed to make a very obvious difference for me the next day.

I have always been the tired type and have always had allergies, and so I sort of contributed my tiredness to allergies, but I guess there was a lot more going on.

This looks like a great place for info and to just talk. Thanks for reading. Have a good one.

John

I've only two things to say. One, you sound like you have a good basis of realistic common sense working for you, therefore I predict good results - if you stick with the learning process. Two, read this LONG link (or at least skim the parts that you find relevant), it'll help a lot:
viewtopic/t35702/Where-A-CPAP-Newbie-Should-Start.html
Touch base later and let us know how things go.

One major takeaway from Sir's link, you must insist on a full efficacy data machine. Any thing less will greatly increase the odds of failure. Good luck, Earl

poppi2 wrote:One major takeaway from Sir's link, you must insist on a full efficacy data machine. Any thing less will greatly increase the odds of failure. Good luck, Earl

Good catch, Earl, I should have mentioned that. JohnTK: pound away in advance at your DME and doctor letting them know that you DEMAND a full data capable machine so that you and your doctor can track your sleep progress. Tell them that you will be VERY upset if they try to dump a 'brick' on you (run if they offer an Escape anything to you). Tho it's usually it's the DMEs who pull that ugly stunt.

JohnTK wrote:I am curious how I sort of rate in severity

You rate pretty bad. But so does everyone else.

The problem is people have to get in real bad shape before they go to a sleep doctor.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a progressive condition, meaning it gets worse with age. As a society, we need to start diagnosing and treating at earlier ages. And of course longer term, find a preventative.

My understanding is that I stopped breathing over 50 times per hour, though. Minimum oxygen level was 78%. My machine will be set to 9cm H2O. Any comments on what exactly this all means or just how bad I have it are welcomed, as I am curious how I sort of rate in severity, etc. It sure would explain a lot of my tiredness over the years.

It is severe. You have been running on less then 80% of the O2 you need at night.

However severity and pressure have no relationship to each other. The pressure is mid range - same as what I use.

Thank you for the replies. Just called the machine supplier again and they are going to follow up with my primary doctor, which I've done three times myself but maybe that can get further. As soon as I get this machine I am seriously thinking of switching doctors. Coming up on 2 months since my sleep lab and it is mostly my doctors fault, although my insurance company is notoriously a pain, too.

JohnTK wrote:JohnTK

Until you get your CPAP equipment, try to avoid backsleeping and instead sleep on your sides or stomach. You can pile up some pillows behind your back if needed. Here is the correct way to stomachsleep, with or without CPAP - http://www.uarsrelief.com/sleeppositions.html

On your back, gravity is directly pulling your tongue and soft palate toward a point of obstruction in the airway. The effect is moderated a bit in the other positions.

I have never been able to sleep on my back. I can't stay asleep. If I am even able to fall asleep, I wake up about a minute later, and this can go on all night until I'm just wide awake.

When the woman at the sleep lab told me to try to stay on my back when I first went to sleep (without a cpap to see where I stood), I knew the results were going to be really bad. When she later said I could try sleeping on my side (I believe I had a cpap on by then), she said my results were better on my side than on my back.

Also, due to back issues I've had for many years now, I sleep with a body pillow, etc., and only sleep on my sides, as sleeping on my stomach has always wreaked havoc on my back.

Thanks for the recommendations.

good luck with the insurance. mine requires that I "rent to own" for 10 months before machine becomes mine!

andycole wrote:good luck with the insurance. mine requires that I "rent to own" for 10 months before machine becomes mine!

This is typical of insurance policies. Medicare also requires a rental period.

The reason for this is the legions of people who pick up a CPAP machine, use it for a few nights or weeks, then quit using it.

Hello again,

Finally got the machine on Friday. Huge difference in energy during the day. Average AHI of about 3 for the last 3 days.

I sleep well without waking for about the first 4 or 5 hours and then the next few I've been tossing and turning a bit. But those 4 or 5 hours are making a world of difference.

I seriously wonder just how long I have been really suffering with this stuff, because I can't remember the last time I didn't feel tired simply trying to have a conversation with someone. Now I can just talk to someone and not feel like I need to be in bed. All weekend I was looking for things to do and couldn't sit still. It's a little weird actually, but I'm pretty positive so far about the outcome.

Thanks for reading.

JohnTK wrote:Hello again,

Finally got the machine on Friday. Huge difference in energy during the day. Average AHI of about 3 for the last 3 days.

I sleep well without waking for about the first 4 or 5 hours and then the next few I've been tossing and turning a bit. But those 4 or 5 hours are making a world of difference.

I seriously wonder just how long I have been really suffering with this stuff, because I can't remember the last time I didn't feel tired simply trying to have a conversation with someone. Now I can just talk to someone and not feel like I need to be in bed. All weekend I was looking for things to do and couldn't sit still. It's a little weird actually, but I'm pretty positive so far about the outcome.

Thanks for reading.

Congrats Welcome to the hose head club.

Don't forget to update your profile here with your machine & mask info. (upper left corner - User Control Panel)

Chris

JohnTK wrote:Hello again,

Finally got the machine on Friday. Huge difference in energy during the day. Average AHI of about 3 for the last 3 days.

I sleep well without waking for about the first 4 or 5 hours and then the next few I've been tossing and turning a bit. But those 4 or 5 hours are making a world of difference.

I seriously wonder just how long I have been really suffering with this stuff, because I can't remember the last time I didn't feel tired simply trying to have a conversation with someone. Now I can just talk to someone and not feel like I need to be in bed. All weekend I was looking for things to do and couldn't sit still. It's a little weird actually, but I'm pretty positive so far about the outcome.

Thanks for reading.

Hi John: You have definitely come to the right place for support. My experience has been very little help from the medical experts, and most of my knowledge has come from here on other online sources.

One thing you may find is that 5 or 6 good hours of premium sleep is enough. When, if you are like me, I needed 9 or 10 hours plus naps and still felt like crap. Sounds like you are doing really well, and your positive attitude is the key to success.

Familiarize yourself with the sleep software available, specifically Sleepyhead. I had no idea all these things were happening to me at night, resulting in terrible sleep and worse daytime fatigue. You can monitor your performance, and it can help you suggest the right tweaks to your doctor if you need any.