...not having psychotic episodes yet, but definitely depressed, sleep schedule blown because of hours wasted at night trying to get to sleep, day schedule blown, so nothing in my life is being accomplished,
this seems like a nice board, full of caring, interested people, so i will refrain from saying exactly what i think about CPAP therapy and the sadists who invented it (but many are the murderous thoughts that i enjoy during my day)
i haven't given up yet, for those of you who are new to this stuff like myself, and i encourage you to keep at it, too
st
help!
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rested gal
- Posts: 12881
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
What are the biggest problems you're having with the equipment so far...the things that are the biggest factors in making it too uncomfortable to sleep? Perhaps people on this board can offer suggestions to begin working on the problems one by one.
What you're going through is not unusual, unfortunately, at first. The sleep disruptions the equipment is giving you can make you feel worse than before for awhile. It really can get better, starting with finding a mask that suits you as comfortably as possible.
sleepy trucker, I'm no doctor, but if it were me I'd get off the straight cpap and onto an autopap - specifically the Respironics REMstar Auto with C-flex and heated humidifier. Perhaps you can get your doctor to let you have a trial on an autopap.
Why that particular machine? Because it's the only autopap that can give a pressure drop (C-flex) for each exhalation. That can be very comfortable.
Why an autopap instead of straight cpap? The pressure of 7 you were prescribed after your sleep study may or may not really be a good pressure for you in your home environment, in your usual sleeping positions, in your own bed.
An autopap can automatically vary the pressure to give what you need, when you need it. While 7 is a pretty low pressure, it might be that you need only 5 or 6 most of the night. 5, or even 6, would make me feel air-starved, but you can set the lower pressure on an autopap wherever it feels comfortable to you. It also might be that there are times when you need 8 or 9. Ideally, the autopap will use the pressure you actually need.
If it turns out that you do better with one straight pressure, an autopap can easily be set to run as a straight cpap at one pressure....two machines in one.
The Remstar Auto with C-flex is like four machines in one, since C-Flex can be turned on or off in cpap mode and in autopap mode.
Try a machine that can automatically find the best pressures for you throughout the night, set it for a range of 6 - 10, with C-flex set at "3" for the most exhalation relief, and find a mask that is comfortable. The mask search can get expensive. We all buy masks that don't work well for us. Watch for someone who is not getting along with a mask you want to try and send them a private message to see if they want to sell it cheap or trade.
What you're going through is not unusual, unfortunately, at first. The sleep disruptions the equipment is giving you can make you feel worse than before for awhile. It really can get better, starting with finding a mask that suits you as comfortably as possible.
sleepy trucker, I'm no doctor, but if it were me I'd get off the straight cpap and onto an autopap - specifically the Respironics REMstar Auto with C-flex and heated humidifier. Perhaps you can get your doctor to let you have a trial on an autopap.
Why that particular machine? Because it's the only autopap that can give a pressure drop (C-flex) for each exhalation. That can be very comfortable.
Why an autopap instead of straight cpap? The pressure of 7 you were prescribed after your sleep study may or may not really be a good pressure for you in your home environment, in your usual sleeping positions, in your own bed.
An autopap can automatically vary the pressure to give what you need, when you need it. While 7 is a pretty low pressure, it might be that you need only 5 or 6 most of the night. 5, or even 6, would make me feel air-starved, but you can set the lower pressure on an autopap wherever it feels comfortable to you. It also might be that there are times when you need 8 or 9. Ideally, the autopap will use the pressure you actually need.
If it turns out that you do better with one straight pressure, an autopap can easily be set to run as a straight cpap at one pressure....two machines in one.
The Remstar Auto with C-flex is like four machines in one, since C-Flex can be turned on or off in cpap mode and in autopap mode.
Try a machine that can automatically find the best pressures for you throughout the night, set it for a range of 6 - 10, with C-flex set at "3" for the most exhalation relief, and find a mask that is comfortable. The mask search can get expensive. We all buy masks that don't work well for us. Watch for someone who is not getting along with a mask you want to try and send them a private message to see if they want to sell it cheap or trade.