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Cpap and getting better sleep: What's your experience?
I was in the hospital for pneumonia and while I was getting a nebulizer treatment the therapist asked if I use a Cpap at home, at the time I didn't have one. Now mind you I was only sleeping for 2 hrs a night during my pneumonia bout (2 weeks) and the therapist asked if I were open to using a BPAP (what they call it in a hospital) it was a large machine and I said of course. Upon using it I still only slept for 2 hours but it was a very restful 2 hours of sleep and was welcomed. I told my Pulmonologist and got set up for a sleep study, and it is all history. I sleep more restful (have much less visits to the bathroom at night) and use it religiously. Medicare covered my testing and machine. After my test my doc told me I stopped breathing x amount of times a minute, and was restless (tossed and turned) an ungodly amount of time during my test. On the follow up test (with the Cpap) the number decreased significantly. My sister snores like a constant thunder storm and she went for a test and got her Cpap, and now she doesn't snore at all and tells me she sleeps much better.
There are two ways to use the machine, with a nostril mask (so to speak) and a full mask (you usually see on TV movies). The latter is what I use, I couldn't get use to the nostril application, and if you were to catch a cold, I don't know how well it would work, but I use the mask never the less. Hope this helps, and do read the instructions about your machine.
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@johnbishop- I would think that the new C-paps are set up so the Drs. can view your numbers, etc. remotely. At least my newer machine I've had for 2yrs. is that way? The 2 previous machines I had, had a card reader that I brought in for them to read. Unless they need to make some in office adjustments (also which I believe then can do remotely) that would be the only reason? It used to be that often clients would lie about the frequency of them using the machine at all and the only way was for them to have the machine and view the internal program that would give them that info. Since essentially you are renting the machine until the payments pay for the machine and the proof that you are in fact using it needs to be verified by ther dr. to your insurance carrier or medicare.
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2 Reactions@johnbishop and @thankful
This is all really interesting, but I'm feeling ignorant. Can you tell me what AHI means? Teresa
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1 Reaction@thankful Yuppers, that's what the doctor told me when he went through the procedure. He gave me a sheet with a list of 5 or 6 CPAP providers in the Rochester area but I told him I was going through Mayo Clinic as it's my in network provider and would be easier insurance wise. That's when he explained how it's paid for and you basically rent it for 13 months and then it's yours but has a 2 year warranty. The one he ordered for me or suggested I get is the Dreamsense as it has an auto function that you can use to lower the starting amount of air being pushed for 15 minutes to let you get to sleep if the pressure is hard to get used to. Mine is set to start at 08 and go as high as 18. I just have to turn it on and push another button to make it drop to 04 for 15 minutes. It does send data to the cloud if you use the app supplied (IOS or Android) by the CPAP company (www.dreammapper.com) but the doctor told me that they don't access it but it is used by researchers to write papers which seemed to bother him. He also told me he has to write a prescription every year after verifying the usage.
John
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4 ReactionsHi Teresa @hopeful33250 -- I had to look it up too. @menotpvcs described it well in the post above to me.
-- http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/sleep-apnea/diagnosing-osa/understanding-results
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1 ReactionMy machine is set for 15 to 20. I had something like 55 events when tested many years ago. Now if I cannot use it because the mask broke or I have a bad cold, I have trouble getting to sleep because it seems so strange without it. My father had sleep apnea and ending up dead because of it. He kept getting strokes since the loss of air causes the heart arrythmias which lead to clots. So may I encourage you John in keeping up the therapy. The use will prolong your life.
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5 ReactionsThank you @johnhans -- night two with the mask was even easier.
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4 ReactionsDay 2 of using the CPAP went well. AHI number was down from 17.4 to 9 and the total obstructive apneas was down from 32 to 10 for roughly the same amount of time sleeping - day 1 was 8:05 hrs and day 2 was 7:55 hrs. Happy camper I am.
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5 Reactions@johnbishop That is great, John. Are you feeling more alert during the day?
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2 Reactions@johnbishop- Yes, I have that "ramp" feature as well as a "warm-up" mode. I really like the warm up mode especially in the winter months mostly because their is less likely any issues with condensation and the air I'm breathing is warmer than the cool room which I like. My air hose is a heated one so I have less issues unlike my older machine which needed a "cozy" for winter months. The ramp-up is a nice feature especially when you are new to C-pap although I still have mine preset for a 10 minute ramp up till it reaches my perscribed pressure of 11.
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2 Reactions@johnbishop- John, so great to hear! Keep up the good work. In a month you'll be sleeping like a baby!
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