Looking for Advice, just started CPAP a week ago, new to forum

[Happiness]

Hello, I have just started CPAP and am using the ResMed 10, set at 9 with a full face mask. I was diagnosed with mild OSA. My apenas have been varying with CPAP-1.3,2.3, 3.6. I've been doing alot of online reading about OSA, and according to the American Posture Institute, says sleep apnea can be eliminated by laying on side with the proper height of pillows, or in more severe cases a wedge to adjust to a more upright position. Has anyone else heard of this?? Also in my research I have read that CPAP therapy for OSA could lead to central apnea. Would like to know if anyone has heard of this?? I am nervous about all this. Would appreciate input. Thanks.

[Okie bipap]

Welcome to the forum. The position you sleep in can have some effect on your obstructive apnea. However, the ability to eliminate the apnea events entirely through sleep position is highly unlikely. When they did your sleep test, was it an at home test, was it done at a sleep lab? Most sleep labs will test you sleeping in more than one position and your test results will reflect the results. For some people, sleeping on their side lessens their number of events. Central apnea does sometimes appear once people start using a CPAP machine. However, this is usually associated with higher pressures, especially when using exhale relief (lower pressures on the exhale portion of the breathing cycle). Right now, the best thing for you to do is to relax and try to get used to having that alien thing on your face when you are sleeping. It is common for your events to vary from night to night. We do not sleep the same every night. Give yourself a couple of weeks to get used to this new way of sleeping, then see how you are doing. if you have any more questions, please come back to this thread to ask them. That way, we will know what sort of problems you are having.

[zonker]

Hello, I have just started CPAP and am using the ResMed 10, set at 9 with a full face mask.

welcome aboard! glad you could find us.

would you do me a favor,please? when you get the time, please read this-

viewtopic/t172378/Sticky--Newbies-PLEAS ... STING.html

the experts here can help you more readily if you give them a few things to go on. we are each different in our equipment and in how we react to cpap therapy. once they get a bit more info from you, they can tailor their advice to you.

good luck!

[palerider]

Hello, I have just started CPAP and am using the ResMed 10,

There are many 'resmed 10' machines, see this table: wiki/index.php/CPAP_models

[kteague]

Hello and welcome. One of the hard things early on is having so much info coming at us before we have developed the knowledge base to sort through things and figure out which is relevant to our situation. Yes, there are some people who have apnea events only when on their back. Not sure what percentage of people that might be, but it doesn't include me. Sleeping on an incline may help some, but it is not enough to stop everyone's events, and not mine. Now, I can sit upright in my recliner and be ok, but if I lean back a bit I'm in trouble. Got a friend who snores and snorts sitting straight up. As was mentioned your report might have some comparison of your side sleeping vs supine. We're all so different. But a statement that side sleeping on an incline resolves sleep apnea as a blanket statement is highly inaccurate. Good luck with things - looks like you're off to a good start.

[Sheriff Buford]

Welcome! Yes, your sleep position may determine the severity of your apnea incidents, but I personally do not put much stock into them. I have a bad shoulder, so sleeping on that side of my body is limited. Sleeping on my back provides me the greatest comfort. I wouldn't worry about it. Sleep in the position that provides you the maximum comfort.

Sheriff

[Pugsy]

according to the American Posture Institute, says sleep apnea can be eliminated by laying on side with the proper height of pillows, or in more severe cases a wedge to adjust to a more upright position.

I have heard of it and it might work for some people but not necessarily all people.

If I nod off sitting totally upright on the couch my airway still tries to close off and I still start snoring and I still will wake myself up.

[Happiness]

Thank- you so much for your replies and information. Yes my sleep study was done in a sleep lab. I don't know what the actual report says, I'm going to request a copy so I can review. As to daytime sleepiness I don't have any, I've always slept well. My machine is the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet with humidifier CPAP. Mask is ResMed AirFit F20. The past few nights I have woken up with my BP being high after CPAP. This concerns me, because this past year my BP became high with tachycardia. Fast forward went to Cardiologist who ordered alot of tests including sleep study. When I get up at night my heart rate races to 135 which is scary to me. Can mild OSA be causing this? During the day becomes elevated just walking around house 120-140. I'm taking metoprol 50mg er daily now. Just really trying to make sense of it all and to get better. Appreciate any input and suggestions. God Bless.

[Happiness]

Thank- you so much for your replies and information. Yes my sleep study was done in a sleep lab. I don't know what the actual report says, I'm going to request a copy so I can review. As to daytime sleepiness I don't have any, I've always slept well. My machine is the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet with humidifier CPAP. Mask is ResMed AirFit F20. The past few nights I have woken up with my BP being high after CPAP. This concerns me, because this past year my BP became high with tachycardia. Fast forward went to Cardiologist who ordered alot of tests including sleep study. When I get up at night my heart rate races to 135 which is scary to me. Can mild OSA be causing this? During the day becomes elevated just walking around house 120-140. I'm taking metoprol 50mg er daily now. Just really trying to make sense of it all and to get better. Appreciate any input and suggestions. God Bless.
Also my O2 stays between 97-99. I'm going to purchase a pulse oximeter recorder to use at night, curious if anyone has tried this?

[zonker]

Thank- you so much for your replies and information.

thanks for providing further information. now, when you have a moment, could you go to your profile and fill in your equipment there? that way it will show up at the bottom of each post, like mine does.

eventually, you are going to want to use the free sleepyhead software. and from there, post the charts of your sleep. once members can see that information, they can offer all kinds of helpful advice.

good luck!

[Happiness]

Thank-you, this is a learning process. I will check into that (sleepyhead).

[zonker]

Thank-you, this is a learning process. I will check into that (sleepyhead).

thanks for filling out the equipment. helps a lot for people too lazy to actually read what you've posted in the body of your posts.

yes, indeed, this is a learning process. i can well remember first coming here so long ago. i was under the impression that this cpap thing was a "one and done" sort of venture. the sleep docs sure make it sound that way!

but i quickly found that i couldn't really learn from sleepyhead. i just don't have the ability to absorb what it's all about. but, i did learn enough so that i could take screen shots and post them here. (i won't tell you how long it took me to even figure THAT out)

but truly, it was all i needed to do. the experts told me what changes to make and how to do it. end result? better sleep and more alertness and energy.

stick with it. before long, you'll be giving ME advice!

[palerider]

Thank-you, this is a learning process. I will check into that (sleepyhead).

thanks for filling out the equipment. helps a lot for people too lazy to actually read what you've posted in the body of your posts.

Some times zonker... :shakes fist:

Frankly, I'm not going to go back through every post someone's made trying to find out what they're using for a cpap and mask.

[Happiness]

Glad your results have been good, that's encouraging. Wandering if anyone is or has used a pulse oximeter recorder at night for (oxygen) numbers? Also interesting that the CPAP machine records apenas wandering how it detects , I know during sleep study it took alot of wires to detect. Just trying to gain knowledge and understand this process. Appreciate your advice and input.

[zonker]

Thank-you, this is a learning process. I will check into that (sleepyhead).

thanks for filling out the equipment. helps a lot for people too lazy to actually read what you've posted in the body of your posts.

Some times zonker... :shakes fist:

Frankly, I'm not going to go back through every post someone's made trying to find out what they're using for a cpap and mask.

i TRULY didn't mean YOU were one of the lazy people. why, i'd never make such an accusation.