APAP, Night One

Well, last night was my first night with my APAP and Activa mask. Overall, it was pretty good. I did wake up and discovered I had removed my mask sometime during the night, don't remember doing it, but I put it back on and went back to sleep.

The mask was much more comfortable then the one they used on me during the titration study (Thanks rock and roll!! ). From reading on here and PM-ing with R&R, I knew to leave it very loose and it was comfortable and very few problems with leaks, usually just when I turned over on my stomach and had the pillow pressing it into my face.

When I woke up and got out of bed, I pulled the memory card and read the data into my computer. Looks like the pressure got up to a max. of 10, average was 7.5. The sleep center recommended a pressure of 13, so, I'm glad I did go with the Auto.

Of course, there was a gap in the data or about 1.5hrs. when I took the mask off during the night, that showed as a "Large Leak"...hehe.

Once I finished reviewing the data, I realized something that was simply amazing to me, my legs did not feel like they weighed 1000lbs each!! Holy Cow!! I didn't expect anything amazing after the first night, but this was a nice suprise, for sure! Then I got busy around the house, started the laundry, did the dishes from the night before (just could not make myself do them last night, no energy, as usual), straightened up the living room and made breakfast! However, I think I may have overdone it, by noon, my gas tank was empty, but hey, I'd say that's still pretty darn good after just one night on APAP!!

I guess I feel pretty lucky that it went as well as it did, after reading some of the posts on here and the problems many people have had. But let me say, all of the reading I've done here, I think, helped me to avoid some of the problems others have had. So I just want to say thanks every one , and keep posting. Even an account of a bad night posted here may help someone else, when they get started on XPAP.

Boomer

Glad you had a good report Boomer! I hope things continue well for you. It is so helpful when others share their experiences here. Here's to feeling better, eh?

last nite was my first night too. My husband woke me up because I was holding the whole headgear in my hand too! Mangaed to keep it on the rest of the night but felt like I was awake swallowing air, puffing out of my mouth and just aware of the whole thing.
Did you actually sleep?
I have the remstar auto with cflex but don't have it on auto mode yet How do you download the data off the smart card? The dme guy just told me to take it to the md or send it back to them. Anne

Fairspirit,

Yes, yes!1 to feeling better. I hope it only gets better from here, but I refuse to be discouraged by any setbacks that may come along..

needcpap,

Did you actually sleep?

Yes, pretty well, I think. Only remember waking up that one time, when the mask was off.

How do you download the data off the smart card?

Did you get the card reader and Encore software with the machine? If so, just install the Encore software, then the reader software, then plug in the reader into a USB port, pretty simple from there.

Boomer

Hi needcpap,

Welcome to the board.

As Boomer said, if you want to download data from your Remstar Auto to your own computer, gotta have the Encore Pro software and card reader. It seems expensive until you start thinking about what a couple of hundred dollars is in the grander scheme of medical treatment...especially when it's our own treatment!
It's not a necessity (insurance won't pay for the software) but I'd feel like I was flying blind without it.

You can buy the software and card reader without a prescription from an online store like cpap.com.

Mouth air leaks can interfere with treatment a lot. Chin straps help some people. But if the tongue can't stay in a position to block off air from within, a chin strap can't do a thing to prevent air from puffing out between closed lips (even with jaw closed and teeth clenched!) Some of us resort to other ways to keep from leaking air out the mouth - taping the lips shut - or the most recent creative idea to deal with it...the "DYI" mouthguard that a poster on the TAS message board came up with:

Topic started by frequenseeker Dec 01 2004 subject: mouth leak solution, cheap DIY oral appliance

Hi RG,

Since you are one of the more experienced Auto users, what you you feel is a acceptable leak average over the course of a night?

I have a chin strap, but thought I would see how it goes without it.

what you you feel is a acceptable leak average over the course of a night?

The literature that came with your mask should have a chart showing the leak pressure through the exhaust vents. This varies depending upon the pressure setting of the xPAP. In my case, the chart shows that my ResMed Active leaks at about 33 liters per minute for a pressure of 11 cm H2O. Most nights my Encore software shows that the average leak is 35 - 38 cm H2O, but on occasion has gone as high as 43 cm H2O. I consider these values acceptible. I have not been able to find any rule as to what is an acceptible leak rate.

Most nights my Encore software shows that the average leak is 35 - 38 cm H2O, but on occasion has gone as high as 43 cm H2O.

The above should read: "Most nights my Encore software shows that the average leak is 35 - 38 liters per minute, but on occasion has gone as high as 43 liters per minute."

Sorry about that. May I plead a senior moment?

Rested gal - thank you on the info on the software and card reader...will get those pronto. I think you hit the nail on the head about the puffing - my tongue falls back ...lets see how nite 2 goes.
Let me ask you this....I napped today with it on but really didn't sleep but when I got up my chest and abdomen felt hyperinflated for about 15 minutes - it kind of freaks me out...is this normal? I was pretty concious the whole time and only swallowed saliva as far as I could tell. I felt that way in the morning too and that led me to take the device off earlier than I should have.

I'm glad to hear your first night went so well. I just had my sleep study and titration (split night test) and the energy I had the following day was phenomenal! I only had about 3 hrs of sleep on the CPAP, hated the mask, have no idea what the settings were, but I don't care. I had more energy and got more accomplished the next day than I have in the last month! Looking forward to being part of this great group. I've been a secret admirer for a few days