Newbie would like to hear success stories, please.

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
Alweeja
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Re: Newbie would like to hear success stories, please.

Post by Alweeja » Sun Jul 03, 2022 8:08 pm

I have used my ResMed for 5 years, till she died. I am now searching for a replacement….any Suggestions for me?

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: Newbie would like to hear success stories, please.

Post by ChicagoGranny » Mon Jul 04, 2022 7:58 am

zip
Last edited by ChicagoGranny on Mon Jul 04, 2022 11:30 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Pugsy
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Re: Newbie would like to hear success stories, please.

Post by Pugsy » Mon Jul 04, 2022 8:16 am

ChicagoGranny wrote:
Mon Jul 04, 2022 7:58 am
Alweeja wrote:
Sun Jul 03, 2022 8:08 pm
I have used my ResMed for 5 years, till she died. I am now searching for a replacement….any Suggestions for me?
Please start your own thread, and people will help you. This thread is reserved for success stories.
Already done.
I have no idea why he posted this post last night in this thread.
viewtopic/t184631/My-ResMed-CPAP-DIED-a ... stion.html
Except the fact that no one has recommended a specific machine but then he/she hasn't told us exactly which machine was being used. Can't recommend anything if we don't know what is being used.
I am sure everyone has a model on their finger tips but that model might not be what this person is actually using.

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Billymadison420
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Re: Newbie would like to hear success stories, please.

Post by Billymadison420 » Sun Jul 24, 2022 6:43 pm

Been on the hose for 7 days. My life has gone from almost intolerable and devoid of joy, to great again. My energy is back. My joy is back. My BP is normal again, and stomach issues are somehow gone. It took me until 35 to get diagnosed.

Waycoolnurse
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Re: Newbie would like to hear success stories, please.

Post by Waycoolnurse » Tue Nov 01, 2022 6:34 am

Hello, New to the Forum but not to CPAP. Have had it since 2009. On my third machine, now on AutoPap. (Setting is lower ,7.5 vs 9). I noticed the difference immediately but not a burst of energy, just able to function all day, no falling asleep in meetings (snoring sitting up), no more snoring (kids told me when visiting). Like others, I don't love the machine but I don't hate it either. But the few times I forgot my machine on a work trip, I drove back home to get it!!!

Most significant difference other than being able to stay awake all day?

NO HORRIFIC LEG CRAMPS. Holey Moley! That's a blessing. Also no headaches and/or reflux. I need to sleep more but that's a me thing not a CPAP thing. I missed my old forum on Yahoo, glad to find this one.

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IzzyZeal
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Re: Newbie would like to hear success stories, please.

Post by IzzyZeal » Sun Dec 04, 2022 10:57 am

I am new as of today and this is my first post. I'm ten days into using my CPAP for Central Sleep Apnea. I am guessing that this condition has been slowly destroying my life for years (I'm 55) but really became pronounced in 2022. I felt fortunate to have the diagnosis as my entire life basically collapsed and I was struggling to understand any of it. I have moderate SA, 27 events per hour and most likely for a very long time.

I did not start using CPAP until I had worn the mask for a couple of days off and on, and realized that its mostly about comfort and understanding that your breathing should not change with the mask on, which is no easy task. My first few nights were pretty disastrous, mostly waking after a couple of hours and tossing the mask aside. But I kept with it and found that I was able to go longer each night, with no discernable improvement, but definitely feeling more comfortable with the routine. I made the decision four days ago to try beepsleep maskless, I am a side sleeper and the mask I started with just didn't feel right on my side. The nose ports actually work well, its a bit of a routine and even like a mask it takes a couple of nights to adjust, particularly hooking up the hose. But four nights in sticking with it I feel that its not that difficult and that the pros so far outweigh the cons. I definitley like the freedom I feel in wearing it at night. I also rigged my CPAP to reside above my head on my headboard, which also seems to make a difference.

So while I'm still a newbie, yesterday was a revelation like nothing I've experienced in my life before. I new that my sleep was more successful the night prior than any other, I never fully awoke in the night, I recall rolling over to my other side at one point but still slept. When I finally awoke and decided to look at my clock, it was two minutes before my alarm, a miracle indeed. I was excited, so excited. I didn't recognize any burst of energy right away, my routine is to take a bath, eat breakfast and then start coffee. My first cup of coffee felt like I was drinking coffee for the first time, it tasted so rich and good, and gave me a buzz, something I've not had in years as a lifelong coffee drinker. I didn't reach for the second cup right away and started going about my day. I noticed that everything seemed more vivid than I'd ever noticed before, and that my senses seemed alive. Everything literally felt new to me and this sensation didn't seem to go away, in fact it stayed with me the entire day. I started to write about the experience in my own journal, for two hours, it was really a revelation like no other as I had literally never felt like this at any time I can remember in my life. I was so excited, I defined it as feeling a "Clarity" that was almost like being high, but not in a momentary way. I waited all day to see when this sensation would go away but it never did, until I retired again at 9:30pm. I even drove to get my kid at night, I recently have hated driving at night because I don't feel super confident or safe anymore, but this time everything seemed real, vivid and normal, it was like living in a different body for 12 hours.

I know enough not to make too much of this one experience, its too early and I don't want to set myself up for disaster. Today I am back to where I was the previous day, having slept so-so, woken in the middle of the night with very dry mouth, and the same fog as usual. But just having this one experience that is so vastly different from anything else in my entire life, leads me to believe I'm on the right path. I sure hope so, I'm sticking with it and just going to keep trying and hopefully improving over time. Thanks for reading, i can't wait to explore more on this forum

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Usual_Suspect
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Re: Newbie would like to hear success stories, please.

Post by Usual_Suspect » Mon Dec 12, 2022 3:14 pm

In 2015 I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and issued a CPAP. It took 3 masks until I found that worked for a few years, and last year switched to a different mask. I started out with a ResMed AirSense 9, after a few years an AirSense 10. While I do sleep more today than I did previously, and use the CPAP nightly. I have traveled all over the world with it, Asia, South and Central America, Canada, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. I carry it on the plane with me, and as was suggested by a Flight Attendant, placed a "Medical Device" tag on the carrying case. A Medical Device does not count towards your carry on items, it is exempt. I am considering a travel CPAP, but my RS 9 and 10's have worked so well, I am not sure I want to maintain 2 devices. I am now on my 4th mask, found one that works better than the others I have used in the path.
For those starting, just stick with it, if it's not comfortable, look for a different mask, if your breathing wakes you up, ask for an adjustment. I am not as tired as I once was, haven't snored once since using the CPAP, and now find it difficult to sleep without it.

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oflatun
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Re: Newbie would like to hear success stories, please.

Post by oflatun » Fri Dec 16, 2022 2:19 pm

Hi everyone,

I would like to share my experience with you.

I'm a 38 years old male.

I've been overweight since my childhood. Around my 25 I realized that people start to complain about my snoring. With my age It got worse and affected the quality of sleep. However it was not that big issue till Covid 19 came!

I got Covid and laid down without doing nothing but eating! As an overweight person I became obese as putting on 20 kg. plus in several months with that performance...With that my nights started to become nightmare! I couldn't manage to sleep on my sides at first, only position was just on my tummy with insane upper back pain, with drooling, turning round and round to get oxygen enough. That caused even eyelid problem at me. My eyelids (mostly left) didn't functioned well and my eyes were in terrible condition for more than a year. After those terrible days, maybe similar to you, my wife helped me. She realized that I was dying in the nights, shaking my legs, stop breathing, choking etc. My days were like hell. I am a banker and the workplace is so stressful and busy. my days were like hell, I was always feel sleepy, tired, anxious and irritable. At the end, I finally accepted to go to the Doctor with accepting the situation.

As a result of my tests, I had 103 AHI score which was great! :) They immediately wrote my report and I got my Resmed AirCurve 10 BPAP machine in 16th of November 2022. I couldn't believe that, the cure for that kind of serious illness was just that easy to find! I used to wake up for peeing almost 4 times a night. I learned that was because of my carbon dioxide level which was high with less oxygen intake! Now my sleeps are so deep and calm, no nightmares, no drooling, no more on stomach sleep, no more eyelid problem. In the day time, no more sleepy mood, more active life and brain. I feel like 20 again. I hope to lose weight now as I heard from some people which experienced similar problems.

Although I feel amazing about my treatment, I have a big problem. I experienced the same problem when I started to sleep on my stomach and now I have the same upper back pain again. I sleep so deep that I don't change my position in the night. When I start to sleep on my left side, I wake up on my left side without any move. And when I wake up, I can't tell you how terrible pain on my upper back and chest area. I guess with that much fat, it is hard to maintain the same position for that long for my body! After 3-4 hours the pain disappears in the day. But in the night it doesn't not let me sleep back an I finally wake up too early after 6,6-7 hours of sleep.

So now I feel just sorry for my almost 2 years without accepting my apnea and not getting treatment.

Regards.

ARBatteiger
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Re: Newbie would like to hear success stories, please.

Post by ARBatteiger » Thu Dec 29, 2022 8:05 pm

I have now been on a CPAP machine for 1 1/2 months. I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, I am now consistently having my AHI under 1, I am sleeping over 5 hours each night. No big burst of energy as compared to before, but my afternoons no longer drag. I just had blood work done. So I will soon know if there are any significant changes.

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robjones1985
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Re: Newbie would like to hear success stories, please.

Post by robjones1985 » Mon Jan 30, 2023 7:44 am

Third night on cpap last night, and actually made it the entire night so I consider that a success, AHI since I began has been less than 1.0 as well. Definitely building confidence in this new therapy. Can already tell I feel a little better.

Laid in bed for a few hours then had to take some pills. My only problem now is figuring out how to cut out the ambien and other sleep drugs (I've struggle with insomnia for a few years now) to fall asleep. My mind just will not turn off no matter how much sleep hygiene I throw at it. Waiting on a referral to a sleep psychologist to see if I can get through this then hopefully I can get back to living again.

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gebo
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2 Month Mask Success

Post by gebo » Mon Feb 20, 2023 2:36 pm

The reason I quit CPAPing years ago is my dry mouth. Leather dry. In Dec '22 I decided to try CPAP'ing again. I have my reasons. LOL

I finally figured out as an acrobatic sleeper that the F30 and the Dreamwear headgear work best for me. I have them both. Now I have a few leftovers to sell.

Anyways, I got them both in the full face models figuring that would seal up my dry mouth. NEGATIVE! I would use a whole tray of water in 8 hours of usage and when I woke up
I could barely open my leather mouth and tongue. I made humidity adjustments up to rain out but nothing stopped my dry mouth, stopped up nose, swollen eyes and face, strap marks, etc.

Well, I decided to use nasal cushions with both headgears but I had to keep my mouth closed. I got a cheap chin strap and we have much better success. Don't let people tell
you poo poo on a chin strap. It completely solved my dry mouth issues. My wife still said my face and eyes are swollen upon wake up. Hmmm...

Well, well, I have now progressed and found even better success. Last week I got the pillows for the Dreamwear and the P30. Now I am trying the pillow versions of each headgear.

My pressure with the pillows has come down from 11 to 8. My leak has come down from 20 to 8 (with the p30) and 0 (with the Dreamwear Gel Pillows). I can see why many of you
like the GEL cushions from Dreamwear ($34 yikes). And I am only using about 1/2 tank of water per night. Where the nasal masks still made it a little hard to breathe, the pillow
masks are wide open. Seems more natural to breathe. Of course changing my max pressure from 13 down to 10 has gotta help the exhale when I subtract the 3 from my EPR settings.

And to top it off, I have only gotten up once the last 2 nights and only twice the previous 3 nights. What the HECK? Sleeping almost all night is awesome!!!!

Apparently, once I got the better seal and kept my mouth shut I got a much better night's sleep.

My point is for some of you that just don't think you can take CPAP'ing, please don't give up. All total I have spent probably $1000 on masks but I have finally found what works for me.
Get your machine set right.....YouTube has some great info.
2 Timothy 2:15

BigNortherner
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Re: Newbie would like to hear success stories, please.

Post by BigNortherner » Sun Apr 16, 2023 9:14 am

As usual, I point out that finding an interface with good fit can be challenging, try to find a provider who studies, learns, and offers a wide selection.

(Yes, beyond that may take some getting accustomed to something on your face and the air pressure plus exhalation resistance.
Some people have longer period of adaptation than others.
Some machine designs have features like ramp up of pressure and increasing pressure if OSA sensed. More expensive of course.

BTW, again I note that nose-only masks need to be generously sized, not pressing right beside your nose.

(And throwing in that pillows while quite useful can be better designed. One variant is elongated and angling, IIRC old CPAPMAN (not the present company of that name) made his better headgear for that design. (His headgear had the lower backstrap going below the occipital bump many people have on their head.) I made some pillows myself to get size and shape better suiting me but wore them out, have not gone back and made more (the manifold for that design was poorly made, someone IIRC old CPAPMAN pointed people to hardware store to get repair pieces.
Also understand that nostril pillows are intended to seal to the skin around your nostrils, the projection into them is only to keep them in place.

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mp6617
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Re: Newbie would like to hear success stories, please.

Post by mp6617 » Mon Jul 10, 2023 11:17 am

Hello and I would now like to share my success story. Last night for the first time I slept through the night with my CPAP. I do want to do some experimenting with masks as I am uncertain the recommended mask is what's best. I tried a larger sized mask but to no avail. I struggled for a whole month. Kept waking up cuz I quit breathing and was very aware of it. I played with the heat for the tube and the humidity settings to no avail. I have Tourette's Syndrome so when someone tells me here put this on your face and sleep with it...it's a no go. It's harder to get used to the CPAP with TS. Anyway, I also have COPD so increased heat and humidity are even more stifling. Finally turned the heat and humidity to the lowest settings. Still to no avail. I have the capacity to turn the Ramp Time on or off. So out of curiosity since it felt like I wasn't getting enough air soon enough I turned the Ramp Time off this week. I had a night or two where I slept with it for 2 - 4 hrs and took it off. First night I slept off and on for 6 hrs and determined I was making progress. Then two nights of the aforementioned 2 - 4. Then last night I made it the entire night and actually slept! Yes I get cottonmouth and my nose plugs up but that too hasn't been as bad. I'm tired this morning but I don't feel like hell like I usually do.

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BigNortherner
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Re: Newbie would like to hear success stories, please.

Post by BigNortherner » Tue Jul 11, 2023 12:51 pm

"mp6617 '

Good experimentation work.

For nose stuffiness you might try Vicks VapORub when up in the night, blowing your nose a few times after inhaling it.

(It is confusingly named 'rub' because the original notion of its use was to apply to chest so vapours would be inhaled.
I just put a bit in each nostril.

There are other brands but I have not found any better than Vicks original.)

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: Newbie would like to hear success stories, please.

Post by ChicagoGranny » Tue Jul 11, 2023 4:38 pm

BigNortherner wrote:
Tue Jul 11, 2023 12:51 pm
just put a bit in each nostril
Warnings
For external use only; avoid contact with eyes.

Do not use
by mouth
with tight bandages
in nostrils
on wounds or damaged skin

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/f ... pe=display