Newly diagnosed with sleep apnea

[Skibadee60]

Hello
I have this afternoon been diagnosed with moderate to severe sleep apnea.
I am waiting for a CPAP machine which apparently there is a shortage of !
my study showed I stopped breathing 15-20 times a hour .
Am interested to hear others experiences .

[Reno]

Hello and welcome to the forums.

Looks like you have moderate sleep apnea. It’s a shame your clinic has a shortage. I wonder if it’s because of the Philips field safety notice. They’re a big player in CPAP equipment, but there’s an issue that has panicked many people, so lots of people are desperate to get off them. A smaller CPAP manufacturer, DevilBiss has just recently announced their withdrawal from the market as well. I wonder if that’s why you’re clinic is struggling.

I did write about my first night on CPAP if you’re curious. Now I swear by it. It’s helped me have such a high quality of sleep I don’t even want to nap without a machine, now. Also found my anxiety dropped considerably since CPAP and my concentration improved noticeably too. My sleep apnea is quite severe, though.

Before treatment I had 109.6 apnea events an hour (according to my sleep study), average spo2 86% with lowest point at 55%! Before treatment I found it very hard to make even a sandwich! I’m a lot more capable now.

Since treatment, my AHI has dropped from 109.6 to 3-4. Huge improvement.

- Reno

[Kelly @ Intus]

Good Morning

Thank you for your post.

There is a national CPAP machine shortage at present, due to the Philips recall of their CPAP machines.

Can I kindly ask if you are waiting for a CPAP machine from the NHS or looking to purchase one privately?

If you are looking to purchase privately, are you after a specific CPAP machine? We do have some CPAP machines in stock, and are waiting for others to be delivered. If you let me know which one you are looking at purchasing, I can check availability for you on our system - https://www.cpap.co.uk/shop/cpap-mac...-machines.html

Kelly

[Skibadee60]

Good Morning

Thank you for your post.

There is a national CPAP machine shortage at present, due to the Philips recall of their CPAP machines.

Can I kindly ask if you are waiting for a CPAP machine from the NHS or looking to purchase one privately?

If you are looking to purchase privately, are you after a specific CPAP machine? We do have some CPAP machines in stock, and are waiting for others to be delivered. If you let me know which one you are looking at purchasing, I can check availability for you on our system - https://www.cpap.co.uk/shop/cpap-mac...-machines.html

Kelly

I am waiting for a NHS machine

[Skibadee60]

Hello and welcome to the forums.

Looks like you have moderate sleep apnea. It’s a shame your clinic has a shortage. I wonder if it’s because of the Philips field safety notice. They’re a big player in CPAP equipment, but there’s an issue that has panicked many people, so lots of people are desperate to get off them. A smaller CPAP manufacturer, DevilBiss has just recently announced their withdrawal from the market as well. I wonder if that’s why you’re clinic is struggling.

I did write about my first night on CPAP if you’re curious. Now I swear by it. It’s helped me have such a high quality of sleep I don’t even want to nap without a machine, now. Also found my anxiety dropped considerably since CPAP and my concentration improved noticeably too. My sleep apnea is quite severe, though.

Before treatment I had 109.6 apnea events an hour (according to my sleep study), average spo2 86% with lowest point at 55%! Before treatment I found it very hard to make even a sandwich! I’m a lot more capable now.

Since treatment, my AHI has dropped from 109.6 to 3-4. Huge improvement.

- Reno

Thank you, wow you really have severe sleep apnea !!
I just read your post about your first night with CPAP.... gosh sounds like it was very difficult initially.
I suffer from chronic anxiety too.....so hope when I finally get my machine it doesnt cause a panic attack getting used to it.
My consultant did say the reasons for the shortage and I remember him saying someting about Phillips.
Thank you for replying to me I'm sure I'll have more questions.

[Reno]

gosh sounds like it was very difficult initially.

It’s was a bit unpleasant, I must admit. I needed to adjust 2 things before I become completely comfortable with CPAP therapy.

1. I needed A-Flex turned off. It’s a technology the reduces the pressure when you exhale. It freaked me out. Every time I finished exhaling, I felt the pressure ramp up. Made me feel I wasn’t breathing for myself but the machine was forcing me to breath. I did not like it and it made falling asleep difficult.
2. I needed a higher starting pressure. 4cm is too low for me. I can inhale all that pressure faster than the machine can blow it. Even though it’s impossible to suffocate in a cpap mask (whether the machine is on or off) it added just enough resistance to my inhale to make me “think” I couldn’t breathe very well. At 6cm, I was much more comfortable and felt I had all the air I needed.

That’s why I had to distract myself on the first night with breathing exercises or music. Once I identified what wasn’t working for me, I didn’t need those things anymore.

Each person is unique, what might work for me may not for another. For example a lot of people need A-flex to feel comfortable, I’m the opposite. I’ve also read many experiences where starting a 4cm made the process easier, while others need at least 5cm of pressure for the ramp.

My point is this, when you get a machine, take your time to find what works best for YOU, and it may possibly take time.

As for the anxiety I had over have the mask/machine on, this youtube video helped me relax considerable.

I am very comfortable with CPAP now. So much so that I bought a second machine in case my main one breaks. I’d hate to not have a CPAP machine on hand and that way, no matter what happens, I can have a good night’s sleep.

- Reno

[Skibadee60]

It’s was a bit unpleasant, I must admit. I needed to adjust 2 things before I become completely comfortable with CPAP therapy.

1. I needed A-Flex turned off. It’s a technology the reduces the pressure when you exhale. It freaked me out. Every time I finished exhaling, I felt the pressure ramp up. Made me feel I wasn’t breathing for myself but the machine was forcing me to breath. I did not like it and it made falling asleep difficult.
2. I needed a higher starting pressure. 4cm is too low for me. I can inhale all that pressure faster than the machine can blow it. Even though it’s impossible to suffocate in a cpap mask (whether the machine is on or off) it added just enough resistance to my inhale to make me “think” I couldn’t breathe very well. At 6cm, I was much more comfortable and felt I had all the air I needed.

That’s why I had to distract myself on the first night with breathing exercises or music. Once I identified what wasn’t working for me, I didn’t need those things anymore.

Each person is unique, what might work for me may not for another. For example a lot of people need A-flex to feel comfortable, I’m the opposite. I’ve also read many experiences where starting a 4cm made the process easier, while others need at least 5cm of pressure for the ramp.

My point is this, when you get a machine, take your time to find what works best for YOU, and it may possibly take time.

As for the anxiety I had over have the mask/machine on, this youtube video helped me relax considerable.

I am very comfortable with CPAP now. So much so that I bought a second machine in case my main one breaks. I’d hate to not have a CPAP machine on hand and that way, no matter what happens, I can have a good night’s sleep.

- Reno

I've just recieved my report from the Consultant,
Moderate sleep Apnea 16.7, Mallampati score 3, Friedmam tonsil score 0 and no retfrognathia.
Epworth sleepiness score 14, apnea/hypopnea index moderately raised at 16.7.
Avarage saturation of 89.8% not toolow to wprry about at the moment.
Not obeses no worry of obesity hypoventilation syndrome..
But as I;m a smoker the low sats could be related to a element of COPD.

I have a assesment wit the Stop Smoking clinic next week.

The Consultant also has also asked my GP if there is a possibility of reducing my medications for my mental health as thinks these could be contributing to sleep quality......I do not want any of those reduced as as I struggle with my mental health.

[Reno]

I think the biggest change you'll notice is actually getting a decent nights sleep. Hopefully you wont need a high pressure, either. (Most people don't)

The Consultant also has also asked my GP if there is a possibility of reducing my medications for my mental health as thinks these could be contributing to sleep quality......I do not want any of those reduced as as I struggle with my mental health.

Whenever some says this to me I just ignore them. Took 8 hellish years to find something that actually works and don't make me gain a ton of weight. I'm not tampering with it without a very compelling reason.

- Reno