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Hi all
Last year I was diagnosed with moderate apnoea (20 incidents per hour) and was set-up with a ResMed Escape S8.
Now bear in mind my local sleep clinic have been completely useless - one classic example was back in april when I was given the CPAP I asked does this mean I needed to inform the DVLA, the nurse said "No, we don't know if you have apnoea until you try this machine and benefits you, a little like how people with asthma don't know for certain they have it until they use a pump that clears their problem". This seemed logical enough so I left it. I spoke to them a few weeks ago about arranging a follow-up and the very same nurse asked if I've informed the DVLA, I replied that I hadn't as they had not yet told me if I officially had apnoea. She replied "Of course you have apnoea, that's why we gave you the CPAP device" and blindly denied ever telling me the above.
Anyway I digress - I've never fully got used to the machine. I can't describe it but sometimes I can't get off to sleep with it on, other times I'll drop off but wake up a few hours later and not be able to get back to sleep until I take it off. Other times I'll go about 7 to 10 days with it on. Reading the info log on the device, I've had it 330 days and used it for only 180. The mask generally seems ok (I was given a nasal and full-face one, I can't use the nasal one so I only ever use the other.
I've tried changing the ramping from zero to 20 minutes but that makes no difference.
Other times I occasionally wake up gasping for air, what's that about? Also I sometimes burp and fart like thunder in the morning once I've been using it, I hope that's not damaging me?
All in all I feel disappointed by it - OK I'm sure there are silent benefits (less stress on my heart, no blood pressure issues etc) but I'm not feeling any more energetic or less tired. My last machine reading said I have gone from 20 incidents an hour down to 5 and the clinic want to tweak the pressure up a little to get it as close to zero as possible and I don't really have any confidence in them to answer my questions.
Last year I was diagnosed with moderate apnoea (20 incidents per hour) and was set-up with a ResMed Escape S8.
Now bear in mind my local sleep clinic have been completely useless - one classic example was back in april when I was given the CPAP I asked does this mean I needed to inform the DVLA, the nurse said "No, we don't know if you have apnoea until you try this machine and benefits you, a little like how people with asthma don't know for certain they have it until they use a pump that clears their problem". This seemed logical enough so I left it. I spoke to them a few weeks ago about arranging a follow-up and the very same nurse asked if I've informed the DVLA, I replied that I hadn't as they had not yet told me if I officially had apnoea. She replied "Of course you have apnoea, that's why we gave you the CPAP device" and blindly denied ever telling me the above.
Anyway I digress - I've never fully got used to the machine. I can't describe it but sometimes I can't get off to sleep with it on, other times I'll drop off but wake up a few hours later and not be able to get back to sleep until I take it off. Other times I'll go about 7 to 10 days with it on. Reading the info log on the device, I've had it 330 days and used it for only 180. The mask generally seems ok (I was given a nasal and full-face one, I can't use the nasal one so I only ever use the other.
I've tried changing the ramping from zero to 20 minutes but that makes no difference.
Other times I occasionally wake up gasping for air, what's that about? Also I sometimes burp and fart like thunder in the morning once I've been using it, I hope that's not damaging me?
All in all I feel disappointed by it - OK I'm sure there are silent benefits (less stress on my heart, no blood pressure issues etc) but I'm not feeling any more energetic or less tired. My last machine reading said I have gone from 20 incidents an hour down to 5 and the clinic want to tweak the pressure up a little to get it as close to zero as possible and I don't really have any confidence in them to answer my questions.
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