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First impressions of a new CPAP user
Thanks to Mike for noticing my CPAP mention on Twitter and pointing me to this site. I figure I'll jump in with both feet:
Just got my Respironics REMstar Plus M Series with Heated Humidifier and ResMed Mirage Swift II nasal pillow yesterday. Pressure = 8 cm H2O. My DME (Lincare in NJ) sent an LPN who showed me everything about the equipment -- enough that the manuals (which I did read) were redundant -- and answered all my questions. Good service.
My first night with the new air pressure was not quite the magical miracle I had been hoping for. Woke up many times during the night -- but, notably, not from lack of breathing.
Items to note:
I guess my main question is: Is this all pretty standard for a first night with CPAP?
Just got my Respironics REMstar Plus M Series with Heated Humidifier and ResMed Mirage Swift II nasal pillow yesterday. Pressure = 8 cm H2O. My DME (Lincare in NJ) sent an LPN who showed me everything about the equipment -- enough that the manuals (which I did read) were redundant -- and answered all my questions. Good service.
My first night with the new air pressure was not quite the magical miracle I had been hoping for. Woke up many times during the night -- but, notably, not from lack of breathing.
Items to note:
- The airway pressure is, I assume, going to take getting used to. It's an overall foreign sensation, and I sometimes find that my ears overpressurize through my eustachian tubes.
- The vent holes on the mask make a distracting rushing-air sound. Yes, I realize this is from rushing air. I know this is an important part of the equipment design and, in this case, I suppose I've got it relatively easy, since I've got a fairly low pressure; I can only imagine what it sounds like at a pressure of 17. But it's still new and strange.
- With regard to the previous two points, I do use the ramp function on the CPAP machine, and it does help -- but I still find myself rising to consciousness and noticing the pressure and noise.
- On the positive side, the mask makes surprisingly little contact with my face, especially in contrast with the full-face mask from my sleep study. The straps actually aren't all that bad; they're maybe a little snug. I'm experimenting with the tightness to determine just how much is necessary to keep the mask on my nose. My biggest complaint would be that one of the little plastic buckles presses against the back of my head when I'm lying on my pillow. I'm guessing there's a way to pad that?
I guess my main question is: Is this all pretty standard for a first night with CPAP?
Views: 66
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by BeeAsleep on
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Hi there St. Chris,
Well I am a newbie as well. (April3rd ) And it all sounds very familiar. The noise and the rushing air were hard for me to get accustomed to. I have figured out a way to sleep facing the outside of the bed so the airflow from the mask doesn't bounce off the blankets and hit me in the face. All trial and error on my part. I bought the Pad a Cheek covers for the Swift LT nasal pillows.( padacheek.com ) It makes the part of the mask that touches your face much more comfortable.
I seep with the hose under the covers with me and it doesn't seem to bother me at all. There are a lot of great posts on this site about getting used to sleeping with your new "friend". I have found that everyone is willing to answer your questions and give you support to make this new experience successful for you. The benefits of using the xPAP are listed all over this site.
If you ever feel like it is too hard or overwhelming or just not worth the bother, read some of the posts. You will feel encouraged to keep on keepin' on. Best of luck to you!
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Permalink Reply by Marie Davis on
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HI: I have just passed my 8 week mark with my new CPAP and belive it or not..it has taken that long to work out the glitches and such. Pillows make a big difference on comfort and the mask blowing on you etc. Some of the cpap pillows are expensive but I found one that has helped a lot. Keep trying...i figure every night I get another hour of sleep it is more than I would have gotten before. And now I am getting healthier and I am breathing at night.I EVen had a dream for the first time in years. (I used to dream all the time!) Best of luck, stay with it, it will get better and YOU WILL START SLEEPING BETTER!!!
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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I would say you had an unusually good first night with CPAP. Sounds as if your provider gave you good service and you were able to able to keep the mask on all night, which is more than most of us experience at first.
Bee and Marie had some great words of wisdom for you. I would add that you can probably loosen up your straps. Adjust them while you're lying down so that they are as loose as possible while still maintaining a seal with your nostrils. Maybe you can also move the buckle in the back that way so that it's not digging into the back of your head. There's a lady on here, Karen Moore, that sells accessories for masks that make them more comfortable. She has a company called Pad a Cheek. Look her up on the site and leave a message on her profile page or private message her. Maybe she'll have some ideas to make your Swift pillows even more comfortable.
Congrats on such a promising first step toward getting well with sleep apnea! Ask lots of questions and keep climbing that learning curve. It's all so well worth it.
By the way, you're probably not yet experiencing that blissful night of restorative sleep yet because your body needs some time to "take in" this foreign object on your face and right now it's probably causing some fragmentation of your sleep. That goes away with time. Could take a week, could take a month. Everyone's different.
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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on
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Something to think about -- I see they gave you the Plus machine. Since you haven't had it but a couple of days -- you may want to see if they will switch it out for a data capable machine. The Plus only records how many hours you are using the machine and no real useful data for the doctors. If you have a data capable machine the doctor is better able to track your progress and not any troublesome areas.
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Permalink Reply by Judy on
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By all means, take that Plus back!!! YOU are the one paying for this xPAP whether thru insurance or out of pocket is immaterial. YOU are the one who will have to live and sleep w/this CPAP for the next FIVE years at least.
Insurances contract for a set reimbursement fee by insurance code (HCPCS) NOT by brand or model. That Plus is the exact same HCPCS code: e0601 as the fully data capable Respironics M Series Pro w/C-Flex and the Pro is the CPAP you want. If you have any problems acclimating to CPAP you want the data available to indicate why and possible solutions. You do NOT want your sleep doctor having to adjust your therapy "by guess and by gosh".
Call your insurance Tuesday and ask them what local DME CPAP suppliers they are contracted with. Hopefully you will have the option of more than just this one. That will give you more bargaining/negotiating room to exchange the Plus for the Pro. Be diplomatic, BUT be FIRM. you will NOT accept this Plus, you will only accept the Pro - or the Respironics M Series Auto w/A-Flex. THAT will get the DME supplier's attention and make that exchange for a Pro much more attractive to them.
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