new to this and scared...

Well, I'm finishing my sixth week of treatment, and its getting tough to keep my hopes up. Though I'm feeling better during the daytime, I'm sleeping worse than before my sleep study in terms of awakenings.

Briefly: I was diagnosed after a split night study conducted on my last night of a 5 day hospitalization followinbg my first (and hopefully last) heart attack (at age 55). I was titrated to 10 cmH2O and given a Fisher&Paykel HC608 CPAP with a superb humidification system with an integrated heated hose. I was alkso started on an Activa. After about a week of trying that mask, there were too many nights when I woke up suddenly with claustrophia, or with the mask coiled up on my CPAP or next to me in bed. I switched to the Swift anf have been very satisfied with how they feel. But, I began waking up at 4 every morning and not being able to fall back asleep.

About 2 weeks ago, I talked with my sleep doc about this, and was concerned that I was awakening because of some breathing event. Also, though I really loved the huimidification system on the F&P, I was a little worried that the heated hose was heating the air enough that it felt stuffy to me in my sleep, and that's what was awakening me. He agreed, and switched me to APAP, initially telling me that he had the best results with Respironics, though when I was contacted by the DME, I was given a brand new ResMed S8 Vantage AutoSet/H3i combo. My auto range was set from 6.0-14.0 cmH2O.

Now, I noticed that the number of awakenings to go to the bathroon has dropped dramatically (usually 4 on CPAP, down to 1 or rarely two on APAP). But, the 4 o'clock awakening is a killer, that lasts for two or three hours, if I go back to sleep at all. This is exactly like CPAP was. I'm feeling OK during the daytime, with MUCH more alertness, and I'm not dozing off as I watch the morning news or the evening news. My S8 is running at a 95% pressure of 9.6 cmH2O or so. My AHI has remained about 13, but I'm convinced that ResMed has a funky way of detecting hypops, so I think that they are over-counted. My AI is 0.6-3.0.

So, I've switched masks to one I really like (the Swift), switched machines from CPAP to APAP, and I'm still not sleeping through the night; WORSE in fact, than before diagnosis with OSA. I AM feeling better during the day though. I don't know what else to try, and I'm feeling soemhat discouraged. What's a boy to do??

Chuck

Hi Chuck-
I just completed my 3rd night using the same machine- Resmed Autoset Vantage system. I am using the swift nasal pillows. I am also getting much less sleep than before. Although so far I only feel more tired. I keep waking up in the night. THe mask stays on my face, and I think I am keeping my mouth closed.I don't know why I keep waking up, but I think I'm having trouble falling back asleep b/c I'm not used to the air force. Last night I tried restarting the 10 minute ramp each time I woke up and I think it did help me fall back asleep. It seems like most of the people on this forum use the Remstar Auto C-flex. I was never given a choice. I wish I had researched the different machines first. I didn't know about this website until the DME guy told me about it when he brought me my new machine...for purchase! I wish the neurologist who made the referral to the DME company would have educated me a bit first. I'm going to give them that feedback when I go for a follow-up visit. I also think that perhaps I had too much humidity running thru the line. Tonight I will turn it down from 4 down to 2. I really want this to work for me...I truely am concerned about my health and well being if I do not use it! I'm hoping that us newbies will settle in to this new life as "hoseheads". Does anyone else have any other ideas for me as to why I'm waking up so much?

Bsil, there could be a number of reasons for waking up. What is your machine pressure? Are you getting rainout in your hose? Do you wake up with certain feelings, like choking or not able to breath? If you can give us a little more info, we can try and help you.

ya'll are AWESOME!!! I made it through the night and only removed it once to scratch my nose.

Wearing it while awake for a while and putting the hose above my head definitely helped. Thank you.

I saw (and can't find it again) something to hold the hose above my head. Anyone who knows where that post is please let me know.

Drew
Not as scared anymore...

fogot to log in. Previous post was from me....

Hi Bonnie-THanks for your quick reply. My auto-pap pressure starts at 5.
Upon awakening, I've checked it several times...it sometimes is 7, 9, 11.
THe hose has not been wet...is that what "rainout" is? Once I awoke not able to breathe...the nasal mask was still attached. THe other times, I seem to just wake up and I don't know why. I just contacted the DME company and spoke with the sales gal. She suggested that maybe I opened my mouth. My mouth does not feel dry in the morning, so I think that I am keeping it closed, for the most part.. I don't seem to have any trouble breathing exclusively from my nose. I did have a choking feeling during the sleepstudy in the sleepcenter.But, so far, at home have not yet experienced that. What is that choking feeling from? Thanks...what a wonderful forum to have help from fellow xPaPers.
Barb

Note to GoofyUT:

You describe some problems and say: "I don't know what else to try, and I'm feeling soemhat discouraged."

On the other hand you have these statements in your message: "Now, I noticed that the number of awakenings to go to the bathroon has dropped dramatically (usually 4 on CPAP, down to 1 or rarely two on APAP). I'm feeling OK during the daytime, with MUCH more alertness, and I'm not dozing off as I watch the morning news or the evening news. I AM feeling better during the day though. I've switched masks to one I really like (the Swift)"

These are several big positive points for someone who's has been using cpap therapy for only six weeks. You should feel encouraged that you made this much progress so quickly. Depending partly on how long you went untreated it can take quite some time before you feel like you want to.

I am in my fifth month of treatment and only started feeling encouraged after four months. I am even planning my activities with the assumption that I won't have an acceptable level of physical or mental endurance before this fall.

So, the only advice I can give you is to feel good about the progress you have made so far and keep active in this forum for ideas about things to adjust.

Good luck.

Thank you Rooster!!! I needed that.

I saw (and can't find it again) something to hold the hose above my head. Anyone who knows where that post is please let me know.

Thanks
Drew