Hello all. Here is my story. Input, thoughts, suggestions, and support welcomed.

51 year old male
I am overweight and plan to attack that soon.

I know I have had apnea for a while as I was involved in ablation treatment studies some time ago. Probably around 2004 or 2005. Since it was a research study I never really found out the results of either the pre ablation or post ablation study. I don't even know if I received the treatment as it was a double blind study but I was told that I should "do something" about the apnea. I did what a lot of men do, I put it off until recently. Over the past 6 to 9 months I have been feeling increasing levels of fatigue that no amount of sleep seemed to help resolve.

I called a local sleep treatment center, went to see the doctor and was told I should have a polysomnogram study after the interview and examination.

I went for the study on 10/19/2008 and met with the doctor on 10/24/2008 to review the findings as follows:

Total Dark Time: 408.00 minutes
Total Sleep Time: 286.5 minutes
Total Wake Time: 121.5 minutes
Total Wake after S/0: 114.00 (does this mean after sleep onset?)
Sleep Efficiency: 70.2%

Sleep staging
Stage 1: 19%
Stage 2: 70.5%
Stage 3: 0%
Stage REM: 10.5 %

Sleep Latencies
Stage 1: 7 minutes
Stage 2: 2 minutes
Stage REM: 173.5 minutes

Respiratory Disturbance Index
Total Hypopneas: 74   15.5/hour
Total Mixed Apneas: 0
Total Obstruct Apneas: 91   19.1/hour
Total Central Apneas: 50   10.5/hour
Total Number of Events: 215   45.0/hour
Total Number of Events in REM: 21   42.0/hour
Total Number of Events in Non REM: 194   45.4/hour

Oxygen Saturation Level
Baseline SAO2: 95%
Lowest SAO2: 87%
Time Spent under 90%: 5.1 minutes

Arousals
Arousel Total: 156   32.7/hour
Arousal w/Resp. Event: 155   32.5/hour

The doctor said I severe apnea and should have a CPAP titration done and that I would probably benefit from CPAP therapy's liklihood of improved sleep.

I could not make my first date of 10/31/2008 due to the onset of acute sinusitis and bronchitis. I have a history of nasal allergies and tend to develop one or the other (sometimes both) at least once per year. I also have hypertension and ADD.  Am I  a mess or what?

After being treated I was able to do the CPAP titration last night (11/12/2008). It was somewhere between discomfort and torture with all the wires and now a full face mask with its associated tube!

I did come out of the session with a CPAP machine as follows:

Resmed S8 Escape II
Pressure 10cm, EPR 3
Resmed H31 humidifier
Resmed Quatro Full Face medium mask
I guess the DME is actually the sleep center company but I am not 100% sure of that.

I am commited to the therapy if it turns out to help. My next appointment with the doctor is on 12/5/2008.

Between the study and last night's appointment I found this site and did some research on machines, CPAP therapy, and related topics.

I plan to ask my doctor for copies of the tests when I have my next visit. I think I am also going to ask him to prescribe a machine that is cabable of recording the data so I can see what is going on.

Again I am open to hear other's thoughts, suggestions, and support.

The technicians would not tell me any test results or findings the morning after the study except for how the machine was setup.

I guess I am most concerned about the number of Central Apnea events. It is clear that I have OSA events as well but is the number of central events indicative of other problems?

I will probably look into sinus irrigation in the future once I get comfortable with the PAP therapy. I don't want to change too many things at once as that may blur possible causes of problems.

I am looking forward to hearing from this group. Thanks in advance

You will DEFINATELY benefit from xPAP!

The centrals could be indicative of other things going on..or may be related to your obstructive apnea.  The titration study will most likely show that these central events went away once they settled you on a proper pressure.  If that is the case,,then it is related to the OSA (the OSA tricks the brain in pure laymen terms .  Regular CPAP and even the basic BiPAP will not take away the centrals if they are coming from a source other than the obstructive SA..therefore you would most likely have been put on another type of machine that treats centrals.  Of course, ask the Dr about it..and get a clear understanding of their source.

I have not kept the machines straight in my head (me head can only handle so much input and retaining of info   But, definately ask to be switched to a data capable machine if this is not one...not just one that can record the data (cuz then you will need to buy all the software and download it all the time..or get the DME to do it)  You want one that gives you the AHI and leak rate from a LCD screen..this way you can take a quick look at it right on the xPAP..without going through a down load process.  For me, this is all I do.  I do not go into reading all the data via downloading...no need to drive myself nuts with it and micro analyze it.

Nah, techs really can not give the results..they can say you do or don't have it..but the Doc needs to read it.

Might as well jump onto the band wagon and start irrigation veses wating for a problem to pop up.  The irrigation is simple.  I did not go through the irrigation sticky..well, I did in the beginning and did it wrong.  I found the most simple thing to use was what my Dr suggested..NeilMED irrigation..bought a kit at Walgreen's for $11.99.  Included a bottle and 50 packs of solution.  Super easy to use...the bottle is marked with measurement lines...I warm water to just luke warm.. 1 cup of distilled water (which I have for my machine anyway)..pour it into the bottle, dump a pack of the solution mix in...give it a shake, lean over the sink with kleenex and old towel close..hang my head down..open my mouth, push out my chin and squeeze half the bottle in one nostril..take a sniff in at the end of the squeeze..then let it drain into the sink (gross)..blow my nose without pinching the nose or closing the mouth..then do it again on the other nostril with the remaining solution.  You will probably find that upto an hour or so after that you will get a few onslaughts of nose running..without warning.

The few mistakes I made in the beginning was to1) do it too close to bed time causing the pressure of the machine to force some on the remaining solution into my E-Tubes (have E-Tube dysfunction) and 2) closed my mouth and pinched my nose while blowing.

Best of luck...


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CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO~ http://tinyurl.com/69q52a

BiPAP Auto M 13/8 Mirage Nasal Swift. 20 years+ undx'd. RLS/PLMD, Hypersomnia & more.

Ms. Winkle,

Thanks for the suggestion about the irrigation. I may stop on my way home tonight and see if I can find one of the kits you mention. I have had upper respiratory problems and allergies for most of my life so this may give me some relief for that too.

Last night was my first night at home with the machine. I was surprised that the machine I have was less bothersome than the one they used at the center to get my pressure set.

I think I had some trouble getting my mask fitted properly so I am going to call them today and see if I can stop in for a brief fitting. I can also see that I am going to need at least a tube cover for comfort as the tube touches me. I also like to sleep in a cold room and the tube ended up gurgling from some condensation.

I checked the machine this morning and it says I only used it for 3 hours last night. I was late getting to be by a couple of hours so that only left a maximum of 5.5 hours for sleep last night. (I know not good).

I had a lot of trouble falling asleep for the first time and each time when I awoke. I am not sure what is causing this but it troubles me. I can usually fall asleep in 5 to 10 minutes from lights out.

I did not really feel claustrophobic and my perception was that the machine was not bothering me too much. I don't think I was awake for the entire 2 hours while not on the machine. (I am not really convinced that the numbers are accurate.)

Wait, I am getting confused now. Maybe I took the mask off for a couple of hours, not really sure.

Anyway, is it "normal" for one to have trouble falling asleep at first when on the machine? I guess since I feel more tired today I am worried that I will continue to accrue sleep debt as I struggle to adapt to the machine.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

I am finding myself feeling really blue today, more so than in the recent past.

Yeah..the newness of it can make it harder to fall asleep in the beginning.  I didn't have a problem on CPAP way back when..but when I got my bilevel this past spring the sound of it took me about a week to get use to.

Are you using the ramp function?  If not, try that...or if you ARE using the ramp the pressure may be too low for your comfort therefore try raising the starting ramp pressure (I think this is something you can change..but not your scripted pressure for therapy) or..try using full pressure from the get go.

Try using the machine during the day..while watching TV..take it out of the bedroom and into the living/family room to use it while awake..you will get more use to it..and not associate it with HAVING to fall asleep..plus you just may doze off with it for a good nap ...do this everyday for awhile.  The weekend is almost here..if you are able to be home all weekend (good to make it a point to do so) you will have time to work out some of the kinks.

Put the mask on loosly..then once in your sleep position..with machine on tighten it..don't over tighten..you do not have to 'strap' it on.

You will get it..and soon you will not be able to go to sleep without it.


_________________

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO~ http://tinyurl.com/69q52a

BiPAP Auto M 13/8 Mirage Nasal Swift. 20 years+ undx'd. RLS/PLMD, Hypersomnia & more.

I think the ramp setting is probably OK. Last night I set it for 15 minutes at first and was able to go to sleep with just a bit of trouble. Definately not as bad as Wednesday. I woke up sometime in the night and lowered the ramp to 5 minutes. I think maybe I will try to get the ramp starting pressure a bit because I feel like there is not enough air at first. I may even be able to just go full pressure as it really does not seem to bother me a lot.

I also took the mask off and turned the machine off sometime last night. Woke up after a while and put it back on. That was when I went right back to sleep.

I still woke up 4 times last night I think so I think there might still be something going on. I am really concerned that with my CSA number I might be still having some problems.

Since my machine does not really record much, if any data, maybe I can use that to make a case for a data capable machine.

I will also get the results of the titration study on 12/5 when I next talk to the doctor.

I am a dedicated mouth breather because of the sinus problems I have had all of my life so I am having dry throat problems. I did a nasal irrigation last night about 1 hour before going to bed. Maybe that will help some long term. Any other suggestions for dry throat?

So far at home I managed to sleep on the machine 3 hours Wednesday, 4 on Thursday. That is if I can believe the machine.

Please assure me that if I stick with it and keep after my doctor to solve the problems I will be able to get some good sleep and feel better.

Oh, thanks for taking a look at my stuff and having a good word.

I got a little extra sleep Friday on my machine.

I have worked myself into the fog I see so much about on the forums so I am having a lot of trouble keeping things straight.

I have been managing to spend a little more time on the machine each night. I know I used it all night last night for all of my sleep.

I also have an appointment today to see my doctor to talk about the difficulties I am having.

I am waking up 4 or 5 times a night which is troubling. When I say waking, I mean full awake. This seems to be more than before I was on the machine. I don't know exactly why I am waking as I have the Resmed S8 Escape which I understand does not record data. I do know that when I awaken I have an extremely dry throat. It is to the point that I have to take my mask off and drink some water. Last night, I was able to keep my composure and put the mask back on each time to go back to sleep. I am running my humidifier full blast.

I do sleep in the basement and it is colder than the rest of the house. I also got a hose cover but still have some condensation in the mask and in the tube.

I started sinus washes a few nights ago and seem to be getting some allergy relief.

Any ideas or thoughts of how I can stay asleep longer? I am feeling a little better this morning but who knows as the day wears on?

Thanks.