ShiftWorker

Hello Athena 1965, In my experience, it is the only experience I can speak of! My insurance has covered the cost of machine rental, mask, and every three months i am sent supplies for what wears out, A new mask every six months, a new cushion every month, new headgear every three months, new hose and filters for the machine and a new water tank for the humidifier about every six months. other then my Dr. copay there has been no out of pocket expense. I have purchased a couple of the newer masks on my own, but that was my choice! I have insomnia and do not fall asleep easily, over half of my time in bed is awake. I have asked my Dr. for a non habit forming sleep med, after trying a couple, I am able to fall to sleep relatively quickly. It has taken about Three months for me to get used to having something on my face, while sleeping. I have many times wondered if any of this is worth the trouble, I live and sleep alone, have now for a couple of years. I am feeling the benefit of a good nights rest with being able to go to sleep and actually get good sleep from not waking in an o2 starved panic. Athena 1965, keep trying, in my experience it has been a struggle, but in time it has been worth it.

Hello, PracticalTanMandrill.

" It seems like it has to do with oxygen being closed off."

My Dr. had me do an at home test to monitor my spo2 during the night while I slept to determine if I needed to have oxygen during my sleep study, I did. This was a wired monitor that clips to the finger, I used some tape to make sure it did not fall of. I was also prescribed home o2 therapy for use only at night while sleeping. I did notice less waking in a panic during the night with just the o2 before my sleep study. It may be that you do not have apnea but do have low o2 levels while sleeping, I am not a Dr. of any sorts, just my experience through this journey. I also have insomnia so do not go to sleep without some aid, I do understand the feeling of not being rested and tired after a nights sleep. I will see a sleep Dr next month for the insomnia. Good luck in your journey, it takes time to find the right solution, people are not cookies so a cookie cutter approach to sleep disorders don't work! Be your own advocate when dealing with your care.

Thank you Sleep, I got some input from the people who supply my cpap machine, the respiratory people that took care of me while in the hospital ordered a Bi-Level machine for me, the company called and asked why no prescription with the order, I explained about the upcoming sleep study, the supply company then told me what they would be looking for in a prescription for the Bi-Level machine, so I could talk to the Tech about what was going on. Again [thank you for the info.

Thank you Wiredgeorge, I did receive a call from Apria, the people who supply my cpap machine. They were wondering why they had an order for a Bi-Level machine for me but no prescription to go with it. After some investigation this order was placed by the respiratory folks at the hospital who were treating me while there, I informed Apria about my upcoming sleep study, they were helpful and gave me some information to talk to the Tech about so that they would be quicker to try bi level rather then just a cpap titration. All Greek to me but will pass the info on. So far I have had some success with two different masks, the F&P Simplus and the Respironics Amara View. Unfortunately, i have trouble getting a seal with both after removing and putting the mask back on, even if I reset the ramp function, end up waking up fully and getting frustrated with the whole thing, I then turn the whole thing off and try to get back to sleep.

Hello All, I am new to this community, have been reading some of what you all are saying, over the last week. I do appreciate the advice! My problem is I don't sleep much. I always have trouble going to sleep, and with the apnea I am not getting much rest either. I had a sleep study about 5 years ago, got set up with a machine and a mask. Went home and tried to use this set up but it was too much pressure, I could not exhale against it. I did not use it for almost 4 years when my Dr. told me of bad things in store for me if I remained non compliant. Well last month the bad things started, I had AFib and didn't even know it! I manged to get a few nights of sleep while in the hospital with their machine and mask, and I felt great when I woke up! This started me on the path of compliance, although I had to hack into my machine and found i could reduce the pressure at when I exhale. I have another sleep study towards the end of Jan. but am trying to be able to get to sleep while on my machine at home, not much luck though. If I can get more then 27 minutes of sleep during this next study I will have the machine set up at the correct pressure again. (I did a sleep study last year, The Tech told me I only slept for 27 minutes during the six hours I was there)