Thank you!

Hi everyone, another newbie here. For my first post, I wanted to thank everyone for the existence of this community!

I was diagnosed with OSA and CSA in late December, and have been using my APAP two weeks today. The first day after using it, I felt like I could conquer the world in time for lunch! The days since have not been stellar. I was told by my doc that it would take "about 2 weeks" to get used to the machine. As two weeks approached and I still didn't feel like it was working very well, I was feeling really depressed and frustrated. I went looking for information on the internet and came across this forum.

It has been SO helpful to hear your stories and advice! I feel like I now have more realistic expectations about my therapy "working." Now I realize that I'm probably going to have to try some different masks, and maybe some other gear, before I find the right combination for me.

I've not had contact with my DME since I took my machine home, and I think I needed the reassurance I've found here that what I'm going through is normal.

Thanks again, and I hope I can lend my voice to help others with this xPAP lifestyle too!

Hi ARA,

I'm a newbie too. Tonight will by my 70th night on "the machine" and it is indeed a process of improvement over time. I'm still improving. I've learned so much here that without these fine people I'd be lost. Congratulations and here's to being just that much better each night.

Welcome fellow CPAP'er..

The best advice you will find around here is to track the data your machine (hopefully) records with software.. It's rather addictive, but helps identify problems, and is especially important early on, and whenever things start going off track..

Leaks are probably the number one cause of initial inconsistency with CPAP results.. Getting the right mask (and learning how to wear it properly) to counter these is usually a challenge.

I've been on the hose for 10 months and I'm still no CPAP master (but I got deeper issues than plain OSA.)

May I suggest you fill in your machine information in your CPAPtalk profile.. (showing it as text rather than images makes more sense to most of us)
We're certainly not cliquey when it comes to brands, but it does help us to be more helpful when you have problems in the future...

Edit: They gave you APAP for diagnosed CSA? huh? is that a C as in Complex or Central? (It's not necessarily a bad thing they did, I'm just interested.)

jedimark wrote:Edit: They gave you APAP for diagnosed CSA? huh? is that a C as in Complex or Central? (It's not necessarily a bad thing they did, I'm just interested.)

Sometimes, the insurance protocol here in the USA is you must try CPAP, fail, try bilevel, fail, then you can get ASV.

MaxDarkside wrote:Hi ARA,

I'm a newbie too. Tonight will by my 70th night on "the machine" and it is indeed a process of improvement over time. I'm still improving. I've learned so much here that without these fine people I'd be lost. Congratulations and here's to being just that much better each night.

Thanks for the response!

jedimark wrote:Welcome fellow CPAP'er..

The best advice you will find around here is to track the data your machine (hopefully) records with software.. It's rather addictive, but helps identify problems, and is especially important early on, and whenever things start going off track..

Leaks are probably the number one cause of initial inconsistency with CPAP results.. Getting the right mask (and learning how to wear it properly) to counter these is usually a challenge.

I've been on the hose for 10 months and I'm still no CPAP master (but I got deeper issues than plain OSA.)

May I suggest you fill in your machine information in your CPAPtalk profile.. (showing it as text rather than images makes more sense to most of us)
We're certainly not cliquey when it comes to brands, but it does help us to be more helpful when you have problems in the future...

Edit: They gave you APAP for diagnosed CSA? huh? is that a C as in Complex or Central? (It's not necessarily a bad thing they did, I'm just interested.)

Track my data... ok, I'll look into that. I know my machine stores data on an SD card, but I don't know if I can look at it myself. That would be cool!
Leaks- I didn't know that could be the biggest problem! I have woken up several times because of leaking sounds, or air in my eyes. I'll talk to my DME about that soon (I hope), when I tell them I want to try a different mask too.

I'll look at my machine info and add it soon- I don't have it memorized yet!

Oh, sorry. I was told I have both types of apnea- obstructive and central. Most of my issue is from the obstructive part. I've never heard of "complex apnea.." guess I have more to learn.

Thanks for the input and encouragement!

archangle wrote:

jedimark wrote:Edit: They gave you APAP for diagnosed CSA? huh? is that a C as in Complex or Central? (It's not necessarily a bad thing they did, I'm just interested.)

Sometimes, the insurance protocol here in the USA is you must try CPAP, fail, try bilevel, fail, then you can get ASV.

Oooh, I don't know what those abbraviations mean. I'll have to look this up...

To clarify, I'll be adding my machine and mask info to my profile. But, until I get a chance to, I have a ResMed machine that (I was told) is an automatic PAP, that constantly checks my airway and adjusts the air pressure it blows at me accordingly. It blows less air at me when I exhale than when I inhale. It even shoots sonar at me if it thinks I'm not breathing!

Thanks for responding and giving me some things to look up!

Welcome, relax, take your time and read here. There is a lot to learn and you have plenty of time. Work out the little things like mask fit and leaks first. Don't get discouraged. There is plenty of help here, and the obstacles are worth the reward. But it does take some patience and perserverence.

Welcome to the forum. I think you'll be doing great very soon.

I think you have chosen the wrong machine in your profile. The S9 Elite is not an automatic machine. I think you probably have either an S9 Escape Auto or a S9 Autoset.

I you are going to check out new masks, I recommend that you try the ResMed Swift FX, check the link in my signature. If it works for you, it's a fantastic mask. Small, lightweight, comfortable and seals very well with minimal tighening of the headband. It's also very tolerant of varying pressures, great for us APAP'ers.

Ara: my 'puter at home is busted (I guess I'm too cheap to buy a new one), but if you you push the "I" button and at the same time you push the down button (below the "I") button, you'll get basic reading on your night's sleep. The first screen will show you:

- hours slept
- leaky face (smiley is good, frown is bad)
- AHI (< 5 is targeted... < 3 is great)
- leak rate

Then scroll the round knob to the left one time and more numbers will show up (centrals, apnea incidences, actual leak numbers, etc..)

I record these numbers so I can track my progress. When I do get a 'puter, I'll pull up the data via software from the machine's card reader. I'm sorta glad I've gotten use to the basic data because I know I'd end up chasing numbers if I had the multitude of data from the 'puter.

This will help you track your process and see how you are doing... but most of all.... take charge of your health.

Happy 'papin

Sheriff

Sheriff Buford wrote:Ara: my 'puter at home is busted (I guess I'm too cheap to buy a new one), but if you you push the "I" button and at the same time you push the down button (below the "I") button, you'll get basic reading on your night's sleep. The first screen will show you:

- hours slept
- leaky face (smiley is good, frown is bad)
- AHI (< 5 is targeted... < 3 is great)
- leak rate

Then scroll the round knob to the left one time and more numbers will show up (centrals, apnea incidences, actual leak numbers, etc..)

I record these numbers so I can track my progress. When I do get a 'puter, I'll pull up the data via software from the machine's card reader. I'm sorta glad I've gotten use to the basic data because I know I'd end up chasing numbers if I had the multitude of data from the 'puter.

This will help you track your process and see how you are doing... but most of all.... take charge of your health.

Happy 'papin

Sheriff

Ah-hah! I've been trying to figure out where all that information was hidden! Thanks for telling me!
p.s. I adore Harry Callahan!

Lizistired wrote:Welcome, relax, take your time and read here. There is a lot to learn and you have plenty of time. Work out the little things like mask fit and leaks first. Don't get discouraged. There is plenty of help here, and the obstacles are worth the reward. But it does take some patience and perserverence.

Thanks for the encouragement!

Burkebang wrote:Welcome to the forum. I think you'll be doing great very soon.

I think you have chosen the wrong machine in your profile. The S9 Elite is not an automatic machine. I think you probably have either an S9 Escape Auto or a S9 Autoset.

I you are going to check out new masks, I recommend that you try the ResMed Swift FX, check the link in my signature. If it works for you, it's a fantastic mask. Small, lightweight, comfortable and seals very well with minimal tighening of the headband. It's also very tolerant of varying pressures, great for us APAP'ers.

Thanks for the heads-up about the machine, and the mask recommendation. I'll be getting a different mask today, and am looking for something that won't hurt my face or leak when I sleep on my side. I'll look at the one you mentioned.

My second anniversary on the hose is coming up in April;
and I thank all the wonderful folks here who guided me to get the most out of my equipment.
YOU GUYS ROCK!