Newbie hello and the Breeze

bulldogs · Post by **bulldogs** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 9:48 pm

I found out I had OSA about six weeks ago, and began CPAP on 3/13/07 and have been 100% compliant since then.

I've been reading this forum since I learned I had OSA, and it's been much more helpful that I can express. This is a very helpful community.

My new life with CPAP began with a nosebleed. And what a nose bleed it was! I went to the emergency room twice in the same morning because it wouldn't stop, and even the ER doctor called an ENT because he was having trouble stopping it.

Well, that was the beginning. I was admitted for observation for high blood pressure and low O2. I saw the ENT the following week, and he said I bled due to dry air, deviated septum and high blood pressure. He sent me for a sleep study.

The day after the study, the sleep doctor wanted to see me right away.....he said I had severe sleep apnea. Well, that helps to explain the blood pressure and rapid weight gain I had (60 lbs in one year, without changing eating habits).

So, it all started with a nosebleed, and now I am happy that it happened. I will be having surgery for the septum sometime this year.

Ok, so thats a brief history. Its been five weeks using CPAP. I have not noticed the great results some experience, but have noticed a difference. Before CPAP, I HAD to take a nap when my son napped. Now I don't need to and actually get bored when he is sleeping. Also, I have a bit more energy during the day, but not as much as I was hoping for. Maybe in time, after all its only been five weeks, and I may have has OSA for a long time.

I use the Breeze, and its very comfortable. Actually, when I wake during the night or the morning, it doesn't; even feel like I am wearing it. A few times I thought my CPAP was broken because its quiet and I couldn't feel the pressure. I had to test it by getting the chipmunk cheeks.

I also use poli-grip strips for my mouth. They work great!

I do have a question for nasal pillow users....
As the night goes on, my skin gets a little oily and I get very small leaks. Usually I take the mask off, wipe my nose, wipe the pillows and then I'm good for a couple of hours. The leaks are very small....I can't feel the leak, but can hear it.

Do these small leaks make a difference or can I just relax and go back to sleep instead of wiping?

Pressure is 11

Thanks!

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:36 pm

Welcome to the message board, bulldogs!

You obviously were doing your homework researching stuff on the message board, since you mentioned using Poligrip strips.

Small leaks can be annoying, but don't interfere with treatment. Well, they do interfere with sleep if they bother you enough to cause you to wake up. But if they are small leaks, the machines compensate for them and keep the pressure up.

If the little leaks wake you up, then wiping your nose dry for a fresh start is easy to do without even taking the Breeze off. Just pull the shell forward a bit for a quick wipe of the pillows and your nose. Apparently you can fall back to sleep easily, so that's good.

Hope you're getting lots of nice sleep!

tangents · Post by **tangents** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 6:48 am

Welcome to the forum, Bulldogs!

Do ALL CPAP machines compensate for small leaks, or just the high end ones?

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:32 am

Welcome bulldoggie!

In addition to RG's suggestion I would also check to make sure that the pillows are aligned correctly. They can be rotated on the shell to fit the angle of your nares (you should notice they are not round but rather oval in shape). If your skin is indeed too oily (mine is too), you can also try washing your face right before you go to bed and/or use an astringent to remove as much oils as you can before going to bed.

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 9:02 am

Well, that helps to explain the blood pressure and rapid weight gain I had (60 lbs in one year, without changing eating habits).

hey bulldogs, welcome to the forum!
sounds familiar...i gained 40lbs in six months, not changing eating habits and living a pretty active lifestyle, considering i was dead tired all the time! too bad my family doc was too busy admonishing me and embarrassing me saying 'eat less and move more' to really look into what was happening to me!

I will be having surgery for the septum sometime this year.

just had this surgery nearly 3 weeks ago, doing fine, lots of posts on these boards about it, if you're interested in reading up

bulldogs said:
"Also, I have a bit more energy during the day, but not as much as I was hoping for. Maybe in time, after all its only been five weeks, and I may have has OSA for a long time. "

i've been on cpap since jan. 4, not counting these 3 weeks since surgery, and i hadn't been noticing much other than eliminating the naps, too...but now that i'm without it, i'm really dying to get back on, so i guess it was doing more than i realize...you're right, sometimes it can take longer than others...my sleep doc told me 6 mos to a year! but it sounds like you're doing great, having success with your interface, etc...i wish i'd found these boards before i started, it was a rough road at first (though one might argue it's still "at first" for me after only 3 months or so! funny how quickly you start to consider yourself a hosehead)

best of luck, keep up the good work!
sharon1965

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 9:11 pm

tangents, I looked for your machine (REMstar M Series DS100 CPAP) in the cpap.com product pages. Yours doesn't have leak compensation:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage-advanced.php?PNum=2207

Down near the bottom of that page under "Compare Chart Specifications":

"Leak Compensation: No"

Nor does the REMstar Plus M Series, which I think is the equivalent of the DS100:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage-advanced.php?PNum=716

"Leak Compensation: No"

The next step-up machine (REMStar M Series Pro CPAP) does have leak compensation:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage-advanced.php?PNum=2170

"Leak Compensation: Yes"

bulldogs · Post by **bulldogs** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 7:33 pm

Thanks everyone!

rested gal- My machine does not compensate for leaks. The leaks are small though, I can't feel the air escaping, but I can hear it. Thats how I've been wiping, I just lift a little, wipe, and go back to sleep. Its so automatic now, I prpbably do it while I'm sleeping too

DreamStalker- I have been alligning the pillows. I learned that from this forum, which has been VERY HELPFUL!! I am so glad I had found it. I usually just use warm water to wash my face, but I'll try an astringent. Maybe it will give me an extra hour before I'm oily again. Thanks.

sharon1965- It seeming like I was in a circle. More weight, louder snoring, more tiredness....which added more weight, louder snoring, etc. I can't belive how fast my health deterioted!

Moby · Post by **Moby** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:29 pm

bulldogs wrote:
sharon1965- It seeming like I was in a circle. More weight, louder snoring, more tiredness....which added more weight, louder snoring, etc. I can't belive how fast my health deterioted!

Yep, ditto. After a slow decline over several years (at least 10), the last six months before Cpap were a helter skelter in old age and obesity.

Di

Humidifier

Additional Comments: ozzie heated hose.