2Sleepy

I just read the article that Dan posted from the Cleveland Clinic about screening people for OSA prior to surgery. I would be interested in reading any current article that would help me stay updated about OSA. I have now had the chance to look over the "Learn" link on this site. The info is basic, so anything that builds on that basic knowledge would be interesting to me. I figure that if I have the diagnosis, I might as well be as informed as possible.

Thanks

Interesting article.

I am not currently scheduled for surgery.

Even though I have worked as a surgical nurse in the past, I would not have thought to mention sleep apnea to a surgeon or anesthesiologist. I am relatively new at using CPAP. The good news is that I did figure out that I need to use CPAP every night even if I am going away for an overnight or travelling for a more extended time.

Joe,

I think you mentioned that you have a wife. If she is nearby, maybe she can give you a gentle nudge if she is aware that you have turned off your machine or pulled off your mask.

Just a thought...my hub did a good job of nicely giving me a nudge with my snoring.

Good luck,

2Sleepy aka Janet

Hi all, thanks for the many and varied suggestions. I have now been using CPAP nightly for about 2 1/2 months and my issues have become infrequent and more manageable. Whew!

My latest headgear interface is the Respironics OptiLife Nasal Mask with Chin Strap. I am finding it easier to put on and keep in place as I turn side to side. The CPAP pillow is comfortable and keeps my head and neck in alignment. The change of hairstyle seemed drastic, but it makes it so much easier to manage my hair with the head straps, and I even like the new hairstyle. Imagine that!

Best of all, I feel better and I am more alert during the day. My AHI is most often less than 5.

Getting to this point has been a huge learning curve. I absolutely understand why many people do not adjust. Having this resource of experienced CPAP users has been a big help to me. So, thanks all!

2Sleepy...getting less sleepy...aka...Janet

Hi, thanks for bringing back the "Introductions" thread. I am 64 yrs old and live in FL. I was diagnosed with OSA in January, 2015. I am a nurse, by background, and was surprised by the diagnosis. I thought I just had an annoying problem with snoring, like my mom and her brother. The noisey snoring started about 22 yrs ago, when I was in my early 40's and weighed 112 lbs.

I started CPAP in March, 2015. I was very committed to making it work. Good thing. I have had a wide range of issues with getting CPAP to work for me, and found few resources. This site has been very helpful to me in resolving the problems I have run into. It helps to have other CPAP users share practical solutions from their experience.

Right now, I have been using CPAP nightly for 2+ months, and I have found a way to get it to work for me. I definitely feel more mentally sharp during the day, starting when I get up. My daytime energy is better. I still tend to nod off in the eve, prior to going to bed. Right now, I am working on establishing healier sleep routines.

So far, I have posted on a number of threads in the forums. Now that I am mentally clearer, I have been able to identify areas for further research on sleep apnea.

Hi all....

2Sleepy (Janet)

Hi Dan,

What a surprise. I have been visiting this site for the past couple of months and never noticed a category for "learn."

When I am using the site, the categories I see are general forum, research, news, build my apnea.

Now that you have pointed it out, I will go to that link for further reading. To learn more about sleep apnea, I have just been doing "google searches" and concentrating my reading on mainstream medical resources vs. unusual "cures."

At the moment, I have no further questions, because I have not explored the link at the bottom of the myapnea site.

Maybe I was just 2Sleepy before 😉

Thanks for posting, Ruby.

This article does cover many of the problems that came up and surprised me. Nice to know common solutions.

I am still working on step 1: finding a mask style and size that works. I gave one approach, ResMed Swift Fx nasal air pillows for Her, and a separate BreatheWear chin strap a full 30 days and could not get a good fit that lasted for the night. I started with small size pillows, then changed up to a medium size. I was better able to breathe with the M pillows, but still couldn't keep it aligned when I changed positions after about 3 hrs of sleep.

I am now about 3 1/2 weeks into using my 2nd style, Optilife head gear with a built in chin strap and nasal air pillows. Much better fit. No problem with air pillows being dislodged at night. But within a few days I started having nose pain in the AM, noticed when removing the air pillows and continuing for a couple of hours. I think the nasal air pillows were pushing up on the cartilage in my nose, Ouch! When I tried to make the air pillows a looser fit, I have a lot of noisey air blowing around, although the data on my CPAP machine shows no major leak. Confusing. This is more streamlined and easier to put on with just 2 straps over my head vs. 4. I also changed to a shorter hairstyle to avoid the tangled mess with my hair and the straps.

I mostly sleep side to side, and I am now using a CPAP Contour Pillow to keep my head in alignment. That part is working well.

I think it might be time to try a new approach. Any suggestions on what else might work, based on what I have explained? It seems like this is kind of an expensive "hit or miss" approach to finding an interface that works for me. I might be able to use this OptiLife nasal air pillow some of the time, but I think I need to take a break for awhile due to the daily nose pain.

Suggestions are welcome. Thanks.

I think the first step would be talking with your Sleep Specialist or Pulmonologist about your idea of a 1 month trial without CPAP. Once you have his input about risks/benefit, you can make an informed decision.

Is you new med something like Nuvigil, Provigil (generic = modafinil)?

I have come at the problem from the opposite angle. I have been taking Provigil since it was a new med in the 1990's. When it went generic, I switched to generic modafinil. It is just this year that I was diagnosed with OSA. I thought my extreme sleepiness was part of seasonal depression. In my situation, I would like to stop taking the med, if possible. I think that might work, because I am doing OK with CPAP, so the OSA is being treated. The proposed med change that I will try is under the supervision of my MD with input from the Nurse Practitioner at the Sleep Clinic.

I can understand the bedtime anxiety that you are having, given all of the different masks you have tried and the problems that you have run into.

Here is another thought. Have you checked to see if there is an AWAKE support group in your area? That might be another place where you could get some input and/or support. I am amazed when I hear from someone who has been on CPAP for 20 yrs. I don't think I had even heard of CPAP until recently.

About REM sleep. I remember having dreams as a child and young adult. At the time of my sleep study, I was not aware of dreams. The results showed that 6% of my sleep was REM. Since I have been using CPAP, I am aware that I am dreaming again. I may or may not remember the details of tne dreams, but I know that I have been dreaming. What is more important to me is feeling more mentally clear during the day and not as tired.

Good luck. I hope you get some good input that helps you feel better and healthier.

2Sleepy

Kevin,

You raise an interesting question about weight gain. Of your bullet points of suggestions for future research, the third is most relevant to me as a person with OSA who has started using CPAP.

I have gained weight in my post menopausal years. I was once petite and thin and could eat anything without gaining weight. In recent years, I blossomed into a carbon copy of my mom (short and round, clinically obese) despite being active with swimming laps at the pool, going for bicycle rides on our local bike trail, walking a lot, etc.

In the 6 months prior to my OSA diagnosis (starting fall, 2014) I became very sedentary due to my extreme lack of energy. I was also probably eating more than necessary in an effort to "fuel my engine."

I have only been on CPAP for 6 weeks, but my energy and mental clarity are returning. I personally believe that with increased energy, and dedication, I will bump up my level of exercise, hopefully restrict my eating habits, and generally get into better physical shape. I only need to lose a few pounds to get myself out of the "obese" category and merely "overweight."

I would be interested to see the relationship between effective, nightly CPAP use, and long term effect on body weight.

Hi Joe,

Thanks for taking some time to help a Newbie.

You are right. I was not told how interfaces work and how to wear them. I had help putting it on correctly in the Sleep Lab, but no explanation about concept or correct use. I basically didn't shift my position that night, because I was afraid to move with so many wires, leads, the nasal pillows, straps on my head, etc. In the AM, I was told that I would need a chin strap. This has added to my confusion. With 4 straps on my head tangling with my hair there are many ways to go astray.

That said, I am coming along. I use a Res Med Swift Fx Nasal Pillow system. I started with a size small nasal pillow in the lab. When I had the experience of feeling like I was suffocating for an extended period one night, I called customer service (clinical support) department of my DME. One helpful suggestion was to increase the size of the nasal pillow. A size medium has worked much better for me.

I got very frustrated by the nasal air pillows getting out of alignment with position changes. Because I sleep mostly on my side, I got the original model CPAP pillow by Contour Products. It has more cutouts than the newer model CPAP pillow, and it works very well for me. I especially like that is shaped to keep my head and neck in proper alignment. That $50. investment turned out to be money well spent. Good thing because it is non returnable.

I also ordered CPAP moisture therapy lotion to protect my irritated skin. That has helped. I tried to find something appropriate at a local DME. They had no clue what I was talking about. I only knew that I needed something that was not petroleum based. CPAP moisture therapy is something I found online. More recently, I found Ayr Saline Nasal Gel on Amazon. It sounded like what you were referring to in your last post. I expect that will also do the trick.

So the journey continues. My latest change has been a change in hairstyle, which is a pretty drastic measure for me. My hair was not long, and not really short. I had nightly battles with working with my hair and the 4 straps on my head, especially the adjustable silicone strap on the top of my head. This is probably a more common woman issue than guy issue. To me, it felt like a drastic measure to change my hairstyle. I showed my hairdresser a diagram of all of these straps, and she came up with a short hairstyle that resolved the tangled hair issue.

I am now at 42 nights of consecutive use of CPAP. I still run into new issues and problems, but I am getting a better feel for how my interface should fit. On Monday, I have another follow up appt. at the Sleep Lab with the nurse practitioner. I think I might need another adjustment in the prescribed pressure, but I am getting closer to feeling as if the CPAP is helping.

Thanks to all who have offered tips and suggestions.

What a journey. Onward...

2Sleepy