The Good Knight H20 Htd. Humidifier, Insomnia

I am sounding like a broken record. Is there any ''natural'' way to try and relax with all this crap on your face and get some sleep. And contrary, I woke enuf to read my auto cpap was at a 12, so I guess one doesn't have to be ""DEEPLY" asleep. I think my starting number ''4'' is way to low. I will get it moved to 5 or 6. Getting used to the swift nasal pillows is a disaster. So now I've tried to wear it ''un'' attached for a 1/2 hr here or there, just to acclimate to wearing this junk on your head, yanking your hair, putting on a chin strap which is even worse.
But to cover my nose/and/or mouth with a FF, I won't do. So I keep plugging along. It has been very down and actually dreading going to bed. Without an ambien/xanax combo, NO SLEEP.

NO SLEEP...can anyone tell me how to fall to sleep, I tried counting my breaths, and I did move my hose to the other side and it helped some. I can't lie fully on my side as I'm used to. So I'm still tired, grumpy, needed a nap today and frankly am wondering if this is all worth it.

Guess we all want a quick fix and I'm wondering how many people REALLY REALLY feel great on day 2. I don't.
I'm sticking to it, I need this to help me, and I sure don't want a stroke or h. attack, I' m only 54, and so here I am.

Any tips on getting to sleep?

Also, does anyone know if I can get a 8 or 10' hose with inline humidification to be used with the 420E?

Had a lovely chat with Becky at cpap.com and cpap.com doesn't have a hose that is a bit longer to use with the 420E?

Anyone know of where or if this is correct, that I'm only stuck with the 6' with the 420E?

Good sleeping?

Gailzee,

Sorry to hear things seem to be so hard for you. I think you just need to RELAX. You sound as though you are very worked up about all this. Move the machine closer to the bed if the hose seems to short. Work on eliminating the concerns not adding more. I find the Swift to be practically imperceptable on my head. As I said I think you just have yourself all worked up. Try doing something to distract yourself, watch TV, read a book etc... I don't think counting your breaths is a good thing for you to do. Work on getting your mind away from the 'pap. Marathon runners learn to distract themselves from the intense pain and are able to acheive amazing distances. Distract yourself from the experience. Put your mind in another place, you will be suprised how all the discomfort disappears.

Gailzee,
To adjust the pressure on the 420E :
Press the GO on Goodknight and the Left key at the same time and hold for 5 seconds.
Press the Left key until MIn shows
Press the Right key (up arrow) until the # you want shows. Use the center key (down arrow) if you go to far
Press the left key until the time shows again

OR

Use the software to adjust the pressure.

If Surly Abond in India could adjust his pressure so can you.

Good Luck

Gailzee,
You can buy longer tubing at http://www.cpapplus.com/cgi-bin/ez-cata ... 291X326714

You will have to add a pressure sensor tube yourself. Home Depot has it

Thanks! I ordered the software today.
I'm afraid to change anything if it breaks the rental DME agreement or anything. I am calling her to raise it a notch or 2.
The home visit RT/DME seemed ''ok'', more in a rush to get it unwrapped and leave me to it.

I wouldn't begin to know how to add the press. hose? I am a technie phobe. IF But you're right if s. a. in India can do this, I will too change the pressure.

Thanks for the link. I will checkit out as well.
Thanks.
G.

Anonymous wrote:Gailzee,
You can buy longer tubing at http://www.cpapplus.com/cgi-bin/ez-cata ... 291X326714

You will have to add a pressure sensor tube yourself. Home Depot has it

Gailzee, like you I have been trying to get use to all this stuff. I am a 52 year old woman. I started in October. I have tried many masks. Finally I have settled on the swift. I have had the swift for about a month. I am still not use to it. I keep on fiddling with it. Thanks to this message board and all its good information. I will not give up and I will make myselft wear this mask.

I put my mask on when I go to bed and read in the dark with a small flashlight or booklight. When I get tired I turn on my sound machine (so I don't hear the breathing) and try to sleep. Like you I have had insomnia for years. I worry that I am the only one with this problem and reading these sites I know I am not alone and that helps. I have tried all kinds of meds with no help. One of the pills was valium (about 3 - 4 pills) and nothing happened. So far the only pill that works is ambien or klonopin. When I take ambien I only sleep for 2 hours. Klonopin a little longer. I don't take the pills every night, but almost every night. On nights that I am tired I don't take anything and try to sleep as long as I am relaxed and dreaming I don't take anything. On nights that I am wide awake I take something. I give myself until about 4 or 5 a.m then I take the mask off and try to sleep for about 2 more hours and then I get up. I think because I make myself leave the mask on it has helped me some because I don't need to sleep in the afternoon as much.

This month the FDA approved a sleeping pill called "Lunesta". I have been following this one and another one for about 4 years. Finally the FDA approved this pill. It will be available soon. Was suppose to available in January. They say it isn't addictive and doesn't require larger and larger doses during long term use and helps people to go to sleep and stay asleep. As soon as this drug is available I will try it. You can check it out at "Webmd.com".

Goodluck and don't give up Gailzee you are not alone....

Boy, am I glad for this msg. board. When Lunesta comes out, sign me up. I had not heard of it. But I see my GP tomorrow, and I'm going to ask him if it's out, no doubt he'll have samples, he has samples galore. I WAN IT!

I actually managed to sleep 6 hrs (ambien) straight with my Swift on. So tha was good this morning to think I actually got from around midnight to 7 AM. The people on here who slap it on, go to sleep and get up next day so called ''refreshed'' I really wonder if this is true. NO ONE I know can get to sleep, stay asleep, feel refreshed,NOTHING.
Sorry to hear that you're having ''troubles'' but I think we'd best hang in there for our health's sake, right? Keep up the good work. I am going to master this beast, if it kills me. I have to, the sleep apnea will do damage otherwise, and at 54, stuff starts happening. Big time.

Keep me posted, ok?
Thanks.

guest wrote:Gailzee, like you I have been trying to get use to all this stuff. I am a 52 year old woman. I started in October. I have tried many masks. Finally I have settled on the swift. I have had the swift for about a month. I am still not use to it. I keep on fiddling with it. Thanks to this message board and all its good information. I will not give up and I will make myselft wear this mask.

I put my mask on when I go to bed and read in the dark with a small flashlight or booklight. When I get tired I turn on my sound machine (so I don't hear the breathing) and try to sleep. Like you I have had insomnia for years. I worry that I am the only one with this problem and reading these sites I know I am not alone and that helps. I have tried all kinds of meds with no help. One of the pills was valium (about 3 - 4 pills) and nothing happened. So far the only pill that works is ambien or klonopin. When I take ambien I only sleep for 2 hours. Klonopin a little longer. I don't take the pills every night, but almost every night. On nights that I am tired I don't take anything and try to sleep as long as I am relaxed and dreaming I don't take anything. On nights that I am wide awake I take something. I give myself until about 4 or 5 a.m then I take the mask off and try to sleep for about 2 more hours and then I get up. I think because I make myself leave the mask on it has helped me some because I don't need to sleep in the afternoon as much.

This month the FDA approved a sleeping pill called "Lunesta". I have been following this one and another one for about 4 years. Finally the FDA approved this pill. It will be available soon. Was suppose to available in January. They say it isn't addictive and doesn't require larger and larger doses during long term use and helps people to go to sleep and stay asleep. As soon as this drug is available I will try it. You can check it out at "Webmd.com".

Goodluck and don't give up Gailzee you are not alone....

Gailzee, I know this might not be easy to do but as we say in New York

JUST FAGEDDABODIT you are making yourself crazy.

Have you increased the lower pressure like was suggested by Ionizer ?

Get off the internet.

Standing up, arms at side , make tight fists and breathe deep for 30 seconds or so. Dont hyperventelate.

Take a long hot shower

Have a cup of sleepy tea or hot cocoa or whisky

go to bed

put your mask on

turn on cpap ,

turnoff lights

Take deep breathes , slowly , until you faall a sleeep.

If this doesnt help try hypnosis . But I know it will work.

I'm liking the whiskey part~

chrisp wrote:Gailzee, I know this might not be easy to do but as we say in New York

JUST FAGEDDABODIT you are making yourself crazy.

Have you increased the lower pressure like was suggested by Ionizer ?

Get off the internet.

Standing up, arms at side , make tight fists and breathe deep for 30 seconds or so. Dont hyperventelate.

Take a long hot shower

Have a cup of sleepy tea or hot cocoa or whisky

go to bed

put your mask on

turn on cpap ,

turnoff lights

Take deep breathes , slowly , until you faall a sleeep.

If this doesnt help try hypnosis . But I know it will work.

As far as waking and seeing 12. The cpap doesn't suddenly drop the pressure. It slowly lowers it stopping to check if there are any apneas or hypopnias. so if it were at 12 0r 13 it might take a while to return to 7 or 8 or 4 as yours is set. Your average pressure may be higher than you think.

Flattulance
aka Marty Farty

Gailzee, I agree, try and relax, think good thoughts, fields of flowers, being in the arms of Mel Gibson, taking a leisurely cruise, someone rowing you in a boat while you lay back and dangle your fingers in the water. On second thought, scratch Mel Gibson, since relaxed is probably the last thing you are thinking of there.

Try wearing your mask during the day, walking around the house, so you are breathing normally. Take a nap with it, or just lie in bed with it plugged into the machine and watch TV for a bit. This is how I got used to mine.

When you are using the Swift you don't really need to have the straps snug. It stays on quite well with them relatively loose (where you can comfortably fit about 3 fingers under the straps). Having it tight will result in way too much pressure on your upper lips. Yes, the pillow will still stay sealed no matter how much tossing and turning or what position you sleep in. One thing I love about the Swift, that I didn't have with the Breeze.

If you find the inhale sound too loud, try adjusting the barrel of the Swift backwards or forwards. This makes a big difference in the noise level

HI!
I like the Mel Gibson idea best. haha.
Better yet, Kevin Costner. well that'll do it.

I don't find the Swift noisy. I have the 420E and it's silent on autopap. I have worn the device during the day, off and on today is first day I didn't. It's easy to clean, no problems.

I do have to wear a lousy chin strap, the sleep techie told me, my mouth flopped open like a fish. I must've been the delight of the sleep center, YIKES. How attractive.

So I have the universal chin strap, it's sort of scratchy, and I play with it, tightening/loosening. I don't dare NOT wear it, knowing I open my mouth during the study (while sleep that is), so I don't want to be defeatig the purpose of sleeping with this BEAST on.

I can't tell if it's helping, but actually 2 less naps this first wk, so ???

I bt. the software for the 420E, so I can monitor myself. If I don't no one else will and how would I know if my machine is doing the job.

I find the heated humidity to be warm and icky, so I have it turned low, but my nose and mouth are not as dry as before the humd. so I guess it's comfortable enuf. I may just put it on ''air only'' I think it's called passover. I'm new and am not sure if I'm expressing myself correctly, or am right on my opinions. But there ya' have it for what it's worth. Hope it' helped?

Janelle wrote:Gailzee, I agree, try and relax, think good thoughts, fields of flowers, being in the arms of Mel Gibson, taking a leisurely cruise, someone rowing you in a boat while you lay back and dangle your fingers in the water. On second thought, scratch Mel Gibson, since relaxed is probably the last thing you are thinking of there.

Try wearing your mask during the day, walking around the house, so you are breathing normally. Take a nap with it, or just lie in bed with it plugged into the machine and watch TV for a bit. This is how I got used to mine.

When you are using the Swift you don't really need to have the straps snug. It stays on quite well with them relatively loose (where you can comfortably fit about 3 fingers under the straps). Having it tight will result in way too much pressure on your upper lips. Yes, the pillow will still stay sealed no matter how much tossing and turning or what position you sleep in. One thing I love about the Swift, that I didn't have with the Breeze.

If you find the inhale sound too loud, try adjusting the barrel of the Swift backwards or forwards. This makes a big difference in the noise level

Dear Gailzee

I too am having an awful time getting used to my mask, hose etc. I usually cannot sleep without Ambian or Xanax. HELP!! I'm going to buy a new machine this week, the Remstar C-flex. I have a gelmask and am wondering if I should "try" a fullface? Lord this website has saved my life. Now I get great advice and don't feel like a freak!! yes I too am trying everything to conquor the beast!
tealb

I cannot wear or stand anything on my face. I am very claustrophobic, even the dr. said I'm too anxious. This while he's puncturing me for an angiogram. So I too take a low xanax, either .25 or .50, if I have to throw an ambien I do. I cannot stand the way I feel the next day, fuzzy headed, rough to get up, and if you don't get those 7-8 hrs in with ambien it's worse. Then try having a beast shoved in your nose, I use the nasal pillows, they are the least objectionable. I use the Mirage Swift. I bought the 420E for several reasons, one, the size, SMALL. Two--quiet, 3, portability, and 4. many posters on this msg board feel it's a good deal. I won't bore the board with DME stories, suffice to say, I got the machine I want. Am now waiting impatiently for the new GK H2O htd humidifier.


I placed an order with the very helpful and friendly CPAP.com today for a few backups to what I have (nasal pillows, etc.) and actually learned more in one conversation than the DME (forget her) told me, the RT at the doctor and the doctor combined.

But anyway, I digress, it's all a learning curve. I can't say I feel better, for me it's been only one wk. So no expert, but am desperate to feel better.

I look at the med's as necessary evils. My bigger problem is falling asleep 1-3 hours is usual. Nothing works, even relaxation tape. I lay there and eventually I guess I just nod off. Its a big big problem. I am wondering if this is part and parcel of sleep apnea.

Who are these people who feel ok, go to bed strap on all this CRAP PAP, and fall asleep. I'd trade places in a minute.
What is even more disturbing is that people take these med's and throw some alcohol down with it. Wonder what the ole CPAP'er thinks fo that ''type'' of sleep.

Well don't fret, this board is to vent, ask questions, and thank heaven for CPAP.COM, they're great.

Hoping we all get some decent sleep and better health.

Nighty night.

Anonymous wrote:Dear Gailzee

I too am having an awful time getting used to my mask, hose etc. I usually cannot sleep without Ambian or Xanax. HELP!! I'm going to buy a new machine this week, the Remstar C-flex. I have a gelmask and am wondering if I should "try" a fullface? Lord this website has saved my life. Now I get great advice and don't feel like a freak!! yes I too am trying everything to conquor the beast!
tealb

Gailzee, do you lie awake listening to yourself inhale? I did that for weeks, now it seems I don't anymore. One thing I just did last night and fell asleep much quicker was I lowered my bottom pressure. I felt like I wasn't getting enough air at 4 so I upped it to 6 for a week and then 7. Last night I lowered it to 5, slept longer at a stretch than I have in weeks. 5 hours, and every time I awoke slightly and checked the pressure it was still at 5! But I went immediately back to sleep. I also put pistachio nut netting (purple) inside the Swift barrel which made it quieter even still, nearly silent in fact.

Dunno if this will help you or not. Before CPAP I would fall alseep in 30 seconds to 1 minute. No lie. I was that exhausted. On CPAP usually an hour or so the first weeks, then gradually it has gotten shorter.

Again, I think it is just a matter of adjustment, and possibly finding your ideal ramp time and pressure. I've got my ramp at 5 minutes now and I'm usually asleep before that.