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DesertHorses

DesertHorses
Joined Aug 2017
DesertHorses
Joined Aug 2017

I don't see how a home sleep study could determine the pressure needed. I had a lab study done several years ago which was a waste as I couldn't sleep long enough. I've been trying to do this since March. I think my settings are 4-20 which might just be a machine "default range"?; it's ridiculous that I can't adjust my own settings. I can manage maybe two to four hours before I wake up choking and gasping - this seems to occur at pressures around 10-11. If I'm just relaxing or reading with my cpap, it's comfortable and soothing up to a pressure of 8 or 8.5 and I feel refreshed after a light afternoon nap. I had major abdominal surgery in the middle of my insurance compliance period and couldn't use the cpap at all - I was afraid the bloating from swallowing air might actually tear something and it was acutely painful - so I only used it when I was awake for the minimum to make compliance. Using a nasal mask which doesn't work well if I don't have dentures in; they sent me some nasal pillows but they must have been made for an elephant as they don't fit at all (even the "small"). It took me six weeks to get them. I'm trying a full mask tonight that a friend had extra - I think it's a littl big but will give me an idea. I can't afford to buy different masks to try so I'm limited to three month trials (if I can actually get to talk to someone at the supplier). Meanwhile I called my doc and asked that they do whatever it is they have to do to get the pressure lowered.
As a nurse and a cancer patient I'm pretty adept at navigating the system but this has been ridiculous. Without the cpap I sleep for twelve hours and find it difficult to drag myself out of bed and care for my ranch and horses. With the cpap I only sleep a couple of hours and find it difficult to drag myself out of bed, etc.

Patti in AZ