My Life Story! 227 Pages Long...

webgrafix · Post by **webgrafix** » Mon May 19, 2008 3:03 pm

... JUST KIDDING!!!

This is my first post, but I have been reading many many post from you all the last few weeks.

A little background...
Last Wednesday I started using a ResMed S8 Vantage, with Humidifier.

My experience has been OK so far. My wife is a very happy woman, as she claims the my snoring has stopped, and she does not hear me gasping for breath any longer. So my "assumption" is that things are working OK.

My question for you all is this...
- The variance in pressures from the APAP is "weird" for me. I will be falling asleep in "Settling" mode, then wake up and I assume the pressure of the machine is very very low, as I don't feel like it's working very hard. Is this normal? The digital display shows that the pressure is 9.0... so I know it's working.
-I feel breathing through my FusionGel Nasal mask is different when I am on my back or on my side. I find it easy to breath with the mask on lying on my side. Is there a "clinical" reason for this?
-I do not have the software for this machine yet. Is there a way to get it from my DME via a script or such, without have to layout cash for it. Is there a way to get some statistics (like AHI) via the digital display?
-I still feel tired during the day. I am getting several hours of sleep, but I am stirred awake easily when the mask might leak when I move around (air blowing in my eye), or I open my mouth and feel like a balloon expelling air! Is this normal... to still feel tired?

Those are my questions for now. I appreciate any help, advise, input from you all! It's a great group.

Thanks!
Steve

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Mon May 19, 2008 3:19 pm

Welcome to the forum.

Please read the yellow light bulb and red question mark up at the top of the page for answers to many common questions.

It is not unusual to become adjusted to the pressure sleeping and feel that the pressure is not as great upon awakening. I sometimes have to put my hand up to the vent to make sure it is still blowing air. My apap is set for pressures 8 to 15.

I have never heard of insurance paying for the software. You best bet is to find it on the net for the lowest price. I have an M series so unsure where would be the best place for the resmed software. Besides the software you will probably need a reader as well. Very good investment in my opinion.

You are still in the learning curve and for many of us, cpap is not a quick fix but a gradual healing of our bodies from the years of being oxygen deprived during the night. I have been on my machine since last August. I am better than I was, but not were I would like to be.

Keep coming back for support!!

webgrafix · Post by **webgrafix** » Mon May 19, 2008 4:50 pm

SleepyCarol...
Thank you for your reply! What you say makes a lot of sense, and gives me hope!

I have another sleep study (this time on the CPAP), and I hope to get some encouraging results.

Thanks again...
Web

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Mon May 19, 2008 5:28 pm

Remember you will sometimes have bad nights. Everybody has bad nights -- it doesn't matter if you are on cpap or not, it just happens. If you hit a bad night or two come here and we will give encouragement and support for those times when you want to scream (at least that is the way I feel).

If you have a problem, someone else has already had that problem and forum members may be able to come up with solution.

The important thing is to hang in there!!

You have taken the most important step. Remember you may have to take baby steps in the initial beginning, but that is okay.

I do know that I will NOT sleep without my machine now!! It does help!!

jimbassett · Post by **jimbassett** » Mon May 19, 2008 6:09 pm

Hold down the left and right arrow buttons at the same time for a few seconds. The menu will come up to give you the AI and Hi readings along with the leaks. This is almost better than the software except you don't know what time certain events happened. Good Luck in your therapy. jim

yorkiemum01 · Post by **yorkiemum01** » Mon May 19, 2008 6:45 pm

I still feel tired during the day. I am getting several hours of sleep, but I am stirred awake easily when the mask might leak when I move around (air blowing in my eye), or I open my mouth and feel like a balloon expelling air! Is this normal... to still feel tired?

Oh yes...can I relate to that! I'm just entering my third month of therapy, and this is a common issue for me. Most folks struggle with mask issues, but as a mouth breather, I went straight for the full face mask, and didnt have to go through many trials/errors with the mask selection. As far as finding the right machine, I'm pleased to say my Dr and I worked together, and I believe our last selection of the Vantage EPR has met my needs, as I'm sleeping MUCH better. My family is sleeping better also since I'm not snoring to 'beat the band', so things are improving. Since I began on this therapy and forum, I've learned this is a work in progress, and patience is key. The people here are fantastic..keep coming back.
Hang in there.........it will get better.

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Mon May 19, 2008 6:50 pm

My wife is a very happy woman, as she claims the my snoring has stopped
_______________________________________________
A wonderful thing as my husband divorced me for disturbing his sleep with my snoring. Good for you!!

My question for you all is this...
- The variance in pressures from the APAP is "weird" for me. I will be falling asleep in "Settling" mode, then wake up and I assume the pressure of the machine is very very low, as I don't feel like it's working very hard. Is this normal?
_________________________________________

Yes it is. You get used to it.

The digital display shows that the pressure is 9.0... so I know it's working.
-I feel breathing through my FusionGel Nasal mask is different when I am on my back or on my side. I find it easy to breath with the mask on lying on my side. Is there a "clinical" reason for this?

_______________________________________________________

Back sleeping is the worst for collapsing your airway.
Others can elaborate

-I do not have the software for this machine yet. Is there a way to get it from my DME via a script or such, without have to layout cash for it.
__________________________________________

Not legally and many dmes won't even sell it to you.

Is there a way to get some statistics (like AHI) via the digital display?
___________________________

I believe so, but don't own this machine. I am sure you will or have gotten help on this one.

-I still feel tired during the day. I am getting several hours of sleep, but I am stirred awake easily when the mask might leak when I move around (air blowing in my eye), or I open my mouth and feel like a balloon expelling air! Is this normal... to still feel tired?
__________________________

Sounds like you are mouth leaking and using a nasal type interface. See discussions on chin straps and mouth taping.

goose · Post by **goose** » Mon May 19, 2008 8:05 pm

Welcome aboard!!!

I've been on the hose for nearly a year -- Anniversary coming up -- yay!!!!!
Most of the time after the first few minutes I don't even know it's blowing....Once I get the nightly leaks under control, it's good to go....

Pur-sleep oils also help -- the aroma reminds me it's really sucking from the input of the machine

cheers
goose

webgrafix · Post by **webgrafix** » Tue May 20, 2008 9:27 am

Thank you to everyone for your kind and encouraging words!

I actually had a pretty good night last night using some of the ideas I have found here... like wrangling the breathing tube through the headboard so gravity isn't yanking it off my face!

I think I definitely need a chin strap... thats the one thing that zaps me right awake... opening my mouth! I feel like a full balloon deflating... if wasn't tethered to the tube... I'd probably blow around the room!

Jim...
I am anxious to see the readouts tonight. Thanks for the advise.

Goose...
Pur-sleep oils? Do you add drops to the humidifier?

tony22 · Post by **tony22** » Tue May 20, 2008 10:20 am

Steve, I'm also a new "hoser". They started me on an Escape and I had trouble with exhaling, so long story short they bumped me straight up to an Autoset Vantage. I'll be getting it tomorrow.

I often breathe through my mouth so I went for the full face mask. What is your prescribed pressure? When I went for my second study I went through that just fine and woke up feeling great. The first two nights at home worked out pretty much the same, but then I started noticing the whole annoyance I was having with not having EPR (which I did not have during the study). I think it will be a gradual process to get used to not only the new sleeping pattern but also the quirks of whatever equipment we are using, as others here have already said. I plan to keep at it, and hopefully the Vantage will be a better tool in the war.

jimbassett wrote:Hold down the left and right arrow buttons at the same time for a few seconds. The menu will come up to give you the AI and Hi readings along with the leaks. This is almost better than the software except you don't know what time certain events happened. Good Luck in your therapy. jim

Jim, I see that you have not only the Vantage, but also the Respironics A/Flex C/Flex - and the UMFF and Quattro. Would love to get a firsthand assessment of how the Resmed works for you compared to the Resp (the good and the bad), and the masks. I'm using the Quattro, and apart from having to tape up the bridge of my nose every night with moleskin before masking up it seems okay. Wondering about the FF, however.

webgrafix · Post by **webgrafix** » Tue May 20, 2008 4:31 pm

I have seen several reference to "taping" ones mouth closed. I am kinda freaked at the concept.

Does anyone have a link to a post on the best way to do this? Is this preferable to a chin strap?

I search for post about "taping" and all I have found are threads about "not" doing this method.

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Tue May 20, 2008 5:26 pm

I use Roosters method of taping. It works great!

viewtopic.php?t=9653

Brenda

Fredman · Post by **Fredman** » Tue May 20, 2008 7:34 pm

Goose...
Pur-sleep oils? Do you add drops to the humidifier?

Welcome Steve to our little community er rather large community!

Sorry I am not Goose, but thought I would answer and he can certainly weigh in on this.

A lot of us use aromatherapy as provided by a fellow here on the forum called sleepguy (Bret) and his company called Pur-Sleep. He has developed a nice ceramic dispenser and cloth pad system as a difusser. All you do is place anywhere from 1-5 drops onto the cloth pad and place the ceramic plate and pad near the intake of the machine.

It has helped a lot of folks. Some have found that they no longer rip off their masks in the middle of the night as they sleep. Some find it soothing and helps them feel less claustrophobic, and folks like me just enjoy the smell and for me as well get a longer evening sleep.

Check it out at http://www.pursleep.com or at https://www.cpap.com

goose · Post by **goose** » Tue May 20, 2008 7:55 pm

Fredman covered the Pur-Sleep product pretty well.....

Let me do some of the "dirty work" and let you know -- NEVER put anything but water in your humidifier.
You don't want oils or anything else atomized and put into your lungs!!! Not a good thing.
Just a word to the wise!!!

The aroma therapy is a really good way to "forget" you have a mask on. If you go to the Pur-Sleep site, you'll notice a bunch of fragrances available now. I prefer the older natural oils, but he's developed some "candy" scents that are also very good. If you search on Pur-Sleep in the archives you'll find reviews of products done by a lot of us that use them......

A sample pack is well worth the $30 it costs as it comes with 3 oils, the diffuser and pads.....

Good luck!!!! Take care
cheers
goose

Fredman · Post by **Fredman** » Tue May 20, 2008 9:27 pm

Further to the info on Pur-sleep another thread on it ongoing right now:

viewtopic/t31276/PurSleep-Worked-Great-Again.html

Will give you sense how much folks like this product and how helpful it is. I didn't think it was going to be much of a help to me until I tried. I was intrigued, but didn't think much about it until I tried.