Goshes, Jeanne, what's the big deal about an ABG if you've been an RN all these years? Or not at a hospital?? I would think if you worked in a hospital you'd know which techs were good at ABGs. I've had 3-4, I just volunteer at our local hospital but I know which of our PFT RTs is good at the ABG draw. One of mine was even one of those six minute walks on room air and ABG draw done w/in 20 SECONDS. (We cheated and figured 27 seconds was good enough for the doctors we "play" with). None of mine have been any worse than a regular blood draw - except ONE time, AFTER the draw, when pressing the artery after withdrawing the needle the pressure on the nerve sure got my attention!! But I just released the pressure a bit and that was it.No more problem.

GOOD LUCK w/the doctor today. I'd take a guess its more the med than the CPAP - but I'm only an impatient patient!! Whatever the cause I sure hope you find some relief!!! Have you ever had a PFT (pulmonary function test)? Or at the very least a Spirometry? Or had an ABG (arterial blood gases draw)? Do let us know how this works out for you!!!

Ah, hubby was on Lisinopril for years for HBP the doctor switched him to .... I'm gonna get balled up here now .... generic lisinopril w/a diuretic? Prinivil HC ??? I don't know they all began to blur together when they started messing w/his meds. When the goal was 140/90 he and Lisinopril did great for years, then they decided the goal had to be 120/80 and his doc added the diuretic version and that caused gout so he had to add ..... whatever to prevent gout .... they've messed w/his meds until now he is on Allopurinol and Atenolol and he's ticked off about that ...

Hokay. I've don't have a weight problem - yet anyway - but - I do have pulmonary hypertension - and COPD. So the med you were put on for the PH is causing you all this coughing? What med is it? Is it a productive cough or a dry cough? Bringing mucus up or no?

Yer right, coughing and CPAP don't get along particularly well. For one thing you're coughing a lot of your therapy right out the mouth. Bummer!

At 3:11pm on January 22, 2009, Judy said…
Good for you for getting back to your doctor about not being able to establish any friendly tems w/your CPAP!!

Hey, my first 30 nights on CPAP were THE WORST 30 nights of sleep I didn't get in my entire life - except my two titration studies. Yeah, TWO titrations. I only slept 42 minutes out of 6 hours bed time my first titration which wasn't enough so they had me come back for a second titration. I only slept 98 minutes out of 6 hours bed time that second titration. BUT they figured that we enough to script a CPAP and set a pressure. Yeah, uh huh. Its taken a while, but I haven't been bashful about any problems I've had. FINALLY, I am sleeping GOOD. So just hang in here. Don't be bashful, push your doctor, push your local DME supplier's RT and ask all the questions you need to in these apnea support forums!