Recently diagnosed. Getting my CPAP next week.

35, male, 5'10", 160 lbs. Diagnosed with ADHD at age 9, diagnosed with sleep apnea last week.

My diagnosis came as a shock. I had longstanding sleep issues that I had just learned to manage: excessive daytime sleepiness, occasional insomnia, attention/focus issues, sleep paralysis, cataplexy, forgetfulness. Then I was hit with an onslaught of new symptoms earlier this year: unrelenting insomnia, intolerance to caffeine, palpitations, HR spikes, chest pains, ED. Though the new symptoms have since relented somewhat, I got my heart checked out and I was given the same diagnosis by two doctors: stress! And so they did what any doctor does when they're flummoxed: meds. Vitamin V for the ED, Zoloft for the stress, Trazodone for the insomnia, and get off the ADHD meds in case it really is my heart.

Well, the pills worked as well as they could have, cycling sleep aids helped with the insomnia, the ED went away on its own, and the Zoloft, while definitely making me happier, also made me flaky and scatterbrained above and beyond the normal ADHD (losing the Ritalin certainly didn't help either). I tried a few non-stimulant ADHD meds with my psychiatrist but nothing really clicked.

Not sure what I was expecting when I set up an appointment with a neurologist, but given my age, build, and level of exercise, I really didn't think anything would come out of a sleep study. I guess went along because I was hoping for yet another pill to make the sleepiness go away. In any case she ordered a PSG and MSLT, and the sleep apnea was so painfully obvious (AHI of 36.6!) that they canceled the MSLT.

I've got an appointment set up next week to get my CPAP. Still coping with the idea of sleeping with a mask for the rest of my life; I am currently in the denial (I was congested the night of the test! I just need an antihistamine!) and bargaining (contacting an ENT to discuss surgery) phases of acceptance.

But the denial is quickly fading: after turning my FitBit on sensitive, I discovered I'm only getting 3-4 hours of sleep per night; consistent with the 50% sleep quality finding on my PSG.

Trying to find comfort in knowing that relief -- for sleep problems and perhaps even ADHD -- is around the corner.

First order of business, become a member of this site and fill out your profile .... check!
Second order of business, get back to your doctor's office and demand a hard copy of your prescription.
Third, come back here and read read read ... oh, and ask questions too.

Sent my doc an email. Getting into the clinic in person is a bit of a hassle. EDIT: And now I have a copy.

bernerbits wrote:Sent my doc an email. Getting into the clinic in person is a bit of a hassle. EDIT: And now I have a copy.

That's great because you will need it. Now take a look and see if the script is for a specific brand or type of CPAP machine and what the settings are supposed to be set to.

x_ E0601 (CPAP): CPAP auto 4-16 cmH20 with CFLEX 3, a heated humidifier, an AHI recorder and a download in one month. A mask fit to the patient's comfort.

Further down says "Respironics or ResMed preferred but substitutions permitted."

bernerbits wrote:x_ E0601 (CPAP): CPAP auto 4-16 cmH20 with CFLEX 3, a heated humidifier, an AHI recorder and a download in one month. A mask fit to the patient's comfort.

Further down says "Respironics or ResMed preferred but substitutions permitted."

go for the resmed autoset.

Elsewhere I was told to go for the Philips-Respironics DreamStation Pro.

Listen to PR - he knows what he's talking about.

bernerbits wrote:Elsewhere I was told to go for the Philips-Respironics DreamStation Pro.

well, in my opinion, that's an adequate machine (the auto would be better), if you're happy with second best. (other disagree).

here's my list of things I find pluses for resmed vs respironics: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=99737&p=927976#p927976

the resmed records a little better data, if you're into digging deep into what exactly is happening to you, while the respironics is a bit vague on the details.

resmeds respond to your needs quicker, while the respironics rode the short bus and sit around waiting for you to have more events before they do anything... some people prefer the more relaxed response, I prefer a machine that minimizes my breathing events.

You should also get a copy of your sleep study. You can get a lot of information here, and once you start your treatment, you can get a lot of help to maximize your treatment.

Okie bipap wrote:You should also get a copy of your sleep study. You can get a lot of information here, and once you start your treatment, you can get a lot of help to maximize your treatment.

+1

Dang it! I forgot fourth order of business.

Pugsy wrote:The DreamStation Pro from Respironics isn't a full time auto machine so it won't fulfill the doctor's RX long term. It has 30 days of auto available with the ability to reset a couple of times and that's it.
Basically it's a fixed cpap machine which means it doesn't auto adjust and your RX requires auto adjust.

If looking at the Respironics machine model that would fulfill the RX requirements...the DreamStation Auto CPAP.

ouch, I missed that when he said it...

Pugsy wrote:The DreamStation Pro from Respironics isn't a full time auto machine so it won't fulfill the doctor's RX long term. It has 30 days of auto available with the ability to reset a couple of times and that's it.
Basically it's a fixed cpap machine which means it doesn't auto adjust and your RX requires auto adjust.

If looking at the Respironics machine model that would fulfill the RX requirements...the DreamStation Auto CPAP.

Those evil bast*rds! Why would anyone make such a machine? It's like ... like as wicked as Monsanto's GMO seeds.

So what they gave me was a Dreamstation Auto. There was no "going for" it - when I arrived she had already unpacked it for me and was ready to walk me through it. Was quite sleep deprived since my insomnia has rebounded, so I didn't feel like making a fuss, and I didn't know enough to assertively decline this model anyhow.

Would like to know what "ouch" and "evil bаstаrds" means in relationship to this machine, since I have little context. I take that to mean it is a bad machine. It has me pretty concerned.

bernerbits wrote:So what they gave me was a Dreamstation Auto. There was no "going for" it - when I arrived she had already unpacked it for me and was ready to walk me through it. Was quite sleep deprived since my insomnia has rebounded, so I didn't feel like making a fuss, and I didn't know enough to assertively decline this model anyhow.

Would like to know what "ouch" and "evil bаstаrds" means in relationship to this machine, since I have little context. I take that to mean it is a bad machine. It has me pretty concerned.

not the same machine type as yours.