Just got new machine - First night on CPAP

[wytco0]

Hi all, yesterday I picked up my CPAP machine from the hospital and last night was my first night on the treatment.

I have been supplied with:

Resmed S8 CPAP with Humidifier
Resmed Mirage Swift II Nasal Pillows

At the hospital when I tried the machine I thought I might struggle to get used to the pillows when under pressure (set to 11) but in practise I found the mask very comfortable and I seem to have got used to the pressure already.

The hospital technician did say that once I was asleep I would have no problems with the pressure and this was true, even though the ramp ended before I fell asleep I still found it fine.

One minor problem, I woke up at about 0700 and felt as though I had had an apnoea event and I was not sure why, it was the only time I remember waking during the night (normally I remember many events), and I noticed that I had run out of water, I only half filled it last night.

Its early days but so far the CPAP seems OK and I do feel more awake today than normal.

[chelseauk]

hey and welcome.

it's great the first night went so well - if you keep having apneas the machine may need to be turned up a bit..

[Tigers Fan]

On your back

Hi wytco0

Perhaps you are like me in that when I start to wake I roll onto my back for some reason. Soon as I'm on my back, I have an apnoea. After a while, this is not a problem - I know what has happened and just turn onto my side, good for a lay-in, bad for early appointments.

And hey! are you boasting or complaining that your apnoea event didn't occur till 07.00? To sleep straight through till 7 o'clock sounds like bliss to me!!

Welcome to the Hose Club and I'm glad your first experience was a good one - makes acceptance and compliance a whole lot easier!

Tigers Fan

[wytco0]

Second Night

Hi all thanks for your words of encouragement and advice.

Re the pressure I will see how it goes over the next fews days and speak to the technician when I am sure whats happening.

Re sleeping on my back, before I had the machine I never slept on my back but I am still getting used to having the mask and hose with me in bed and I find laying on my back more comfortable, however I have woken up both days on my side as normal.

Well got through night 2 fine, I had a little problem getting asleep as I didn't bother with the ramp, I find that when the machines in ramp I am not sure its working, I think its just a matter of getting used to the mask etc. when I am falling asleep.

Again I slept through to about 0700 and awoke thinking I was having an apnoea event but I am not sure if it is actually and event or if its just waking up quickly. My girlfriend says she didn't notice any events (or snoring).

Other things I have noticed, my legs often ache when I awake, they haven't for the last few days, could be a coincidence?

I am feeling more awake than normal but still lagging a bit by about 1700, definitely better than before but I hope for more to come.

[Sleep2Snore]

How are you getting on now that you have used it for a few nights?

You might find that things get loose and air pressure escapes later on during the night, this may cause you to have a few events in the morning, I had to get them to increase my pressure when on nasal pillows, so has everyone I know that has them after using a mask.
The sleep labs tend to use masks to do their tests, so if they did and you have pillows, you may need a slight increase in pressure.

It takes a while to get used to the machine and pressure.

Sore legs in the morning and restless legs will sound familiar to a lot of Apnea sufferers.

[wytco0]

After 10 Days

Hi All,
Thanks for your info and advice its much appreciated.

Its now 10 days since i started using the CPAP.

I had hoped to update this thread each day but I stopped trying as I have noticed that some of my posts don't appear for many days, and this makes any sort of 'diary' impossible.

Overall its been fine and I am definitely sleeping much better.

Most nights I fall asleep and wake up in the morning, hopefully the days of nearly waking up many time are over!!!

I have noticed a few things:
1) I do sometimes still feel a bit tired in the afternoon, however most of my non OSA friend also do!
2) I Seem to be waking up fairly early (for me) but I am normally having 6-7 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
3) Legs don't ache most days!
4) I sometimes wake up with the hose wrapped round me, I know I do turn during the night.
5) I have been getting a slightly blocked note, the hospital technician warned me that this might happen but that it normally goes away.
6) The Nasal pillows are very comfortable and I am not aware of any major leak problems.
7) Although I am happy with the CPAP machine that I have I do need a smaller and lighter one for travel, I tend to only have 1-2 nights in a row in the same place, although the Resmed machine packs away nicely it is fairly large when packed (about the size of a laptop case but twice as thick). Advice from any other frequent travelers would be appreciated.

Lets see how the next few days go.

[James @ Intus]

I had hoped to update this thread each day but I stopped trying as I have noticed that some of my posts don't appear for many days, and this makes any sort of 'diary' impossible.

Apologies, I was away from my desk for a week but now back at regular duties! And after a while (anti-spam measures), your posts become 'trusted' so they don't get moderated anymore but appear instantly.

Overall its been fine and I am definitely sleeping much better.

Most nights I fall asleep and wake up in the morning, hopefully the days of nearly waking up many time are over!!!

Sounds like you're doing well so far.

1) I do sometimes still feel a bit tired in the afternoon, however most of my non OSA friend also do!

A lot of OSA people got there in the first place partly due a sub-optimal diet. This is the fuel you'll need to last through the day, on top of good sleep. So aside from now better sleep, many CPAP users also need tweaks in their diet and exercise.

2) I Seem to be waking up fairly early (for me) but I am normally having 6-7 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

6 hours of uninterrupted sleep is MUCH more valuable than 11 hours of apnoea-ridden sleep.

4) I sometimes wake up with the hose wrapped round me, I know I do turn during the night.

If you drop me a PM with your address and are willing to provide some feedback on this particular product we are considering, I may just have the solution to this problem for you.

5) I have been getting a slightly blocked note, the hospital technician warned me that this might happen but that it normally goes away.

The slightly pressurised air of a CPAP machine tends to irritate the lining of people's noses slightly, which causes swelling and make them more prone to blockages. A humidifier and/or some form of nasal cleansing help a lot.

7) Although I am happy with the CPAP machine that I have I do need a smaller and lighter one for travel, I tend to only have 1-2 nights in a row in the same place, although the Resmed machine packs away nicely it is fairly large when packed (about the size of a laptop case but twice as thick). Advice from any other frequent travelers would be appreciated.

Do you always have mains power where you go? Do you need it to work in-flight and/or in 110V areas such as the Americas?

[wytco0]

The slightly pressurised air of a CPAP machine tends to irritate the lining of people's noses slightly, which causes swelling and make them more prone to blockages. A humidifier and/or some form of nasal cleansing help a lot.

OK thanks for the info I do have a humidifier and I have gradually turned it up, this blocked nose thing is starting to go away but one night I did have one nostril that felt completely blocked. I will see how this goes over the next few days.

Do you always have mains power where you go? Do you need it to work in-flight and/or in 110V areas such as the Americas?

As far as in flight is concerned although I do make some very long trips (Australia) I think I wont bother trying to get a machine working on the plane. I may well try the Mouth thing that you mentioned in another thread.

I will have access to mains normally 230v but sometimes 110, I am also a keen camper so a machine that can handle 12v would also be good.


PM will be sent in next few mins re hose.

[James @ Intus]

The Zzz-PAP is the smallest you'll find anywhere, it really is tiny. It needs mains though and can't easily run off a battery or in a plane. It's one of the most affordable ones too (though due to the dollar, may go up soon). Humidification is problematic though as its specific humidifier only exists in 110V form so you can't get it to work in Europe (bit silly, I know).

M Series Remstar machines are very small too and come with a travel bag it drowns in. They switch automatically and could relatively easily run off 12V or the plane's circuit.

The SleepCube is a bit bigger than both of those but smaller than the ResMed and easily runs off 12V, 240 or 110 without inverters etc. If you expect nights without mains access, the BreatheX Journey can be a saviour as it has its own built-in battery.