Really, really new newbie!

Hello!
I have been reading on this forum for a couple of weeks and still feel woefully ignorant. Everyone here seems so well informed about both the varied sleep apnea conditions and the wide range of equipment used to treat them.
Briefly, about me..I am a soon to be 55 year old female who was first dx with severe obstructive sleep apnea that for reasons too numerous to mention right now went untreated. At that time I had one study done. Fast forward to July of this year. I have had 2 studies done so far. The first one showed the same obstructive apnea although I think it was a little better than it was in 2009. I attribute that to the fact that the amount of narcotics needed to control my chronic pain were decreased by at least 50%. I have basically traded breathing for pain.
The next study was to titrate for a C-Pap and this study showed that when the obstructive apneas were addressed, central apneas emerged. Or something like that. This last study my type of apnea was labeled "complex." I have all 3 of my previous studies and it would be possible for me to C&P them, either in whole or in part if/when it would be helpful.
Anyway....has to be a question here somewhere, right? Going forward...my next study to try an ASV is scheduled for Sept. 28th. What do I need to know going into this? Are there different types of units? Somewhere I read that one type of ASV is much more comfortable than the other. What are my questions for my sleep doctor? ANY input will be more appreciated than I can begin to express. I am very excited to start this treatment and THRILLED to have found this forum.
One other piece of possibly useful info is that I sleep with O2 at 2L per nasal canula due to desaturations below 80%.

MsLis

Who does not have all those spiffy numbers/names/initials for her siggy yet!

Hey MsLis...nice to meet you!! I have no advice to give, but just seemed like you needed a quick hello!!! You just hang right here because there's no doubt in my mind someone on here will know something about what you're going through and can give you good advice! I was where you are at right now and not too long ago! I still don't know even half of what I will someday, but I completely understand the confusion and trying to sort it all out!!!

Hi MisLis,
Sorry that your apnea situation is turning out to be complex. I'm new and my cpap isn't working all that great so I understand the frustration. Sounds like you're getting good diagnostics and treatment though. I know that the knowledge displayed by many members here is intimidating. I don't know all the theories and physiological details and such but I'm learning.

There are a few people here who could help you way more them me. Ameriken and John (forgot his last name) and a few others who are already on ASV machines.

I highly suggest you make contact with them by posting on the ASV thread that Ameriken started, One member, and I think it is Ameriken, deals with the narcotic aspect and how it relates to treatment. This is where they hang out...

viewtopic/t65791/ASV-users-join-the-eve ... hread.html

Good luck with your upcoming asv titration study...
Jamis

Hi - you can get all the spiffy stuff at the end of your posts by clicking on User Ctl Panel (under the Cpap logo) and then Profile, where you fill in all the names and model #'s of your equipment (please choose 'text' rather than icons... makes it easier to read here) and anything else you'd like to add (like e.g. pressure range).

Welcome to the forum!