Hi Carol,
I work at a DME store so I am lucky enough to try any mask. Ive tried nasal swift, swift lt, ultra mirage, dont like the larger masks. Now i am using respironics simplicity(that is when i use it)
Thanks for the welcome. Kris

hi, I got it about two weeks ago and I love it. It is Respionics Total Mask.
I have had leaks but, I am an inovative person, I come up with solutions for whatever I need. If it is the harness, I make a new one. If it is leakage, I think up a device to stop the leaks. I never, roll over and give up. I want to live at the best quality of life that is possible. So, I do something about it. I try to help myself and would love to help others. If I can help, let me know what you need and I will see if I can help you. The masks, are never going to fit everyone the same way, so we have to improvise. I want to live to a very old age and I know you do too!

thanx for the invite.......

I am glad to be a member. My husband and I both have sleep apnea. We both have been using a CPAP for almost two years. We use it every night.
My husband has Alzheimer's and it is up to me to see that he uses his.
He has always been one to fall asleep in a room of people, etc.
Now he no longer does that. The CPAP's have helped us both.
Martha

Is it possible to get a daily digest of emails on a thread, rather than individual reply emails?

Thank you for the welcome. I've used the Nasal Aire II a little over 5 years and really like it. I tried about 3 or 4 other masks within the first month & really struggled until I started using this one. If felt much better than the others right away. I've been compliant since!

Thanks for the welcome. I'm interested in any connection between SA and pulmonary hypertension. That seems to be what my Doc is talking about.

Why, thank you! Cannot be on every day, only when I can if you understand. Appreciate the welcome.
dorothy

Yes I have. I have to check with my doctor to schedule one soon. I just had a cardiac catherization done and they found a 45% blockage and another one forming. Plus I have Hypertension among other heart related problems. I've been told that Sleep Apnea can be a factor in some of this. My family history is the major factor with my problems but if I can eliminate at least some of the strain, that would be great. Recently while I was hospitalized, the Cardiologist came to my bed while I was sleeping and asked my wife if I had been diagnosed with sleep apnea because he noticed it right off the bat. She told him I do have it but have not been diagnosed as of yet. She says when I'm sleeping, I snore a lot and stop breathing all the time for somewhat long periods of time. Hmmmm.

I feel welcomed. This is all new to me and I don't understand how this works but I will keep watching until I am comfortable. I do have a question. Is anyone allergic to the neoprene that holds the mask on. I haven't found one that fits right and I wake up with a rash and terrible itching. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I will try the vineger and soaking after I receive my new mask. I can't go a night without it. He diagnosed me as severe and my setting is 17. It blows the sides out of the mask I have and whistles. I have been using the cpap since 2006. How long have you been on it? Would you trust a pill?

All of you seem to monitor your Sleep Apnea and return to your doctor regularly. I had my 2 nights with the electrodes and CPAP machine over 2 years ago and I haven't been back to see the doctor since. Am I missing something? Paul

Hi Carol - I was just diagnosed and the dr. figures it will take a few weeks to set up the appointments re: CPAP fittings - and a couple more weeks to get used to it and learn to use it properly. We have a vacation planned so will get onto it when we get back...rather than leave it half done.

ttfn Jennifer

Not yet. Stubborn!

Hi Carol - Thanks for the welcome! =) Yes, I have thought about a sleep study. Unfortunately though, I am without health insurance at the moment, so have been putting it off.

I am trying to get the co. supplying my CPAP to train me on how to use it. I'm very frustrated as just trying to get them to do a yearly maintance check on my other equipment has been an unfunny joke! i feel like I'm falling thru the cracks.

Thank you for the welcome. My husband is the one using the CPAP. He's been using for about 2 years now. He has severe sleep apnea. He uses it every night. The only real complaint he has is that it tends to dry his throat out and sometimes has to take off the mask. It did take him a long time in the beginning to get used to the machine.

Thank you Sleepycarol. I didn't realize all the compexities of sleep apnea and it's treatments.

Thanks for the welcome Carol

I have been on CPAP for two years with night time oxygen...my CPAP pressure is set at 12 used be 14... I am not fighting the mask or machine like I had in the past! Plus, I have a nasal full face mask now!

Hi, Carol! One week into my treatment, I am going thru the struggle to getting used to having gale force winds shoved down my throat, and unfortunately, a lot of it goes thru my GI tract as well. How to stop that?? But I am beginning to feel better, stomach pain and flatus aside. LOL.

Hi Carol. I've been on CPAP about a month. I usually have a good few hours and then struggle with the mask. Thank God for Ambien.

Actually I've been on it for 4 days now. I did try 3 or 4 years ago with no luck.
I am sleeping some now with it. I have a Resperonics M series I believe.
The Respiratory Therapists is coming back out tomorrow to switch masks. I had the pillows that go in your nose, which I like, but when I move, they come out.

Thank you very much sleepycarol. It was very thoughtful of you to welcome me.

Hi Carol, I want to thank you for the welcome.I have been on cpap for almost two years and i am still not use to it. How long did it take you? Robert

I have been on the cpap machine for between 1 and 2 years.

What is an ENT?

thanks carol. I have been a sleep medicine technician for a year now. I am currentlu studying for my initials. I love everything about the field of sleep. I am hoping that this site will help me fill in some of the gaps, as I don't get to here anything about the pts after the studies. Are you in the sleep field, or are you a user? lol

Thanks, Carol! Very nice to be here. I'm new to sleep apnea, but ready to learn.
Anne

Thanks for the welcome and the info. To answer your question, I've thus far not treated because I haven't seen tx. I thought I could deal with. I have 2 brothers with sleep apnea: one had surgery but seems it was only helpful for a while. The other uses CPAP but hates it ---and it seems an awful deterrent to romance to say the least. I'm beginning to think I may have to change my mind: I find myself having more and worse symptoms as time goes by. I recently spent 3 days in CCU (atrial flutter and ventricular tachycardia) and every time I dozed off all the alarms went off because I stopped breathing long enough for my O2 sat. to fall. Anyway, I guess that scared me, plus I wonder if it was contributory to my being there in the first place. AND, I absolutely never have any energy or feel rested---haven't for several yr. now.

Sorry to be so long-winded (no pun intended) in answering you. I am glad I have found this forum and I'm sure I will learn alot.

Thank You!

Thank you, I was told after waiting a 1 1/2 from the VA that I have a slight case of Sleeping apnea.. I don't know how this could be only a slight bit. It was just the other night and my wife was asking me If I was alright ...I was half a sleep and she thought I was choking or had a gergling sound coming form me. I do snore a lot at night so . I don't know how they come up with this diagnosis that I don't have it..

Thank you for your welcome. We dealt with this problem about 5 years ago and now are at again, since my husband's blood oxygen level is low. We thought after his ppp operation we were clear of this problem but overnigh oxygen levels are low. We have been through the mill and back after a diagnosis of a paralyzed diaphragm, which came on suddenly. He originally was supposed to use oxygen only on exertion but now the doctor is suggesting a sleep study and I am assuming that he will again be put on a Bi-Pap. At least from the first round years ago we know that he can't tolerate the C-Pap and needs a mister with the Bi-Pap. He stopped using the Bi-Pap when he developed chest pains when using it. He was borderline after the operation. Well, that's our story. We are not only wrestling with the wearing oxygen thing but now possibly a Bi-Pap again. If there is anyone out there that you know of with any similar issues we would love to hear their story. Thanks again for the welcome. I have a feeling we will be back to this site often. Em

Thanks for the message and info.
Les

Thank you

thanks for the warm welcome

Thanks for the welcome. I use a CPAP with 3 liters of oxygen at night. I am currently having some other medical problems not linked to this. As soon as I get feeling a bit better, I will be joining in here more.
Sharon

Thank you for the kind welcome. I will definitely poke around hopefully be able to contribute as well.

Thank you for the welcome. I was diagnosed with OSA in late 2007. I have a titration of 18/14. It's been a hard road but I have struggled through it and been determined to make it work! I don't want to die. My husband also has apnea. He has both central and obstructive and he is not very good about using his machine. I quite often hear him snoring. We love each other but have had separate bedrooms for some time now due to the snoring. So far I have found useful information on this site. Wish I had found it when I was first diagnosed.

Janet

Hi sleepycarol, thanks for the welcome. I have not been diagnosed with sleep apnia but I'm sure my husband should be... Can you suggest some ways I might convince him to get treatment? I know its his call but perhaps there's some info. on it he could read that would convince him... in the meantime, i'm running out of earplugs!

Hi Sleepycarol. Thank you for the welcome. This is an awesome site! I wish I would have known about it sooner! I have severe obstructive sleep apnea. I do not like CPAP and I am thinking about re-constructive surgery. I already had ovular/soft palette/tonsil removal surgery but it only provided about 25% relief. Now my goal is to lose 30 pounds to get down to my ideal weight but with me I don't think it will make much of a difference as far as the sleep apnea is concerned. We will see. If it doesn't help enough to ditch the CPAP I will seriously think re-constructive surgery. I will continue to use this site as a resource and will make my own contributions as my story continues (hopefully if it is God's will :-). Thank You!
-Ken Seubert

thank you....unfortunately, I was diagnosed about 3 years ago...right after I got married! LOL! That makes for a sexy first year!

Hi Carol!

Thanks for the welcome email. Yes, I am new to this world, but has had my share of OSA for a while. Is there any new treatments out there for people who cannot tolerate the Bi-Pap machine very well? Thanks.

Thanks for the welcome mail...I have been using a CPAP for around nine years now and I won't leave home without it!

Hi Sleepycarol...or should I say Neighbor? JK we are both from MO!

Thank you for the friend request! I have been on CPAP for two years...still trying to work the kinks out, LOL!

Thanks for contacting me, Carol. I do not have software but will check on LCD display and let you know. Thanks so much.

thanks for the welcome - this site has been great so far! Hope to learn alot since the people who gave me the machine really weren't that helpful. I had increase to 12 on pressure and its too much - trying to get them to change it has not been easy. Either the doc doesn't connect with them or visa versa. I have been on bi-pap for a long time and wondered why I still didn't have much energy and seemed tired alot. Seems central sleep apnea is not really helped much by bi-pap. Could actually kick the bucket while sleeping, since my brain doesn't get a signal to my lungs to breathe!!! Wonderful news!! Thanks again and I know this site will be helpful for questions.

Thank you Carol. I've had sleep apnea since 2000, and would never have known other than one night my wife was on my chest trying to wake me up because I had stopped breathing and she couldn't wake me up. Since then I've had 2 Rhinoplasty's, 4 Turbinate Reductions, and I cannot get my ENT to do the removal of my soft pallet because my Uvula hangs into my throat. I also have alot of scaring in my throat and need to have esophogial reconstruction. I'm tired everyday, can't sleep without the CPAP (neither can anyone else), have gained about 40 lbs. and generally wish there was some help. Maybe I will find some and a little piece of mind talking with others that have the same condition.
Take Care, NBK_Viper

Thanks for your concern! I will peruse the website a lot because I have a lot to learn and get used to. I need to lose weight, ~50#, (which i know will help the SA), which is incredibly hard but I do not know which is worse-weight loss or the CPAP!
Later! Janet

Carol -- thanks again for responding to my post the other day. I have been on cpap therapy for 2 1/2 years and last night was one of my worst nights ever. I've been trying a ff mask for the last three nights -- it leaks and wakes me up. I adjust it. Five minutes later it leaks again. And so on and so on. Finally it's daylight so I just get up. Do not know what to do.