Sleep apnoea?

[Galvonaut]

That's great Dnar! Proper sleep will do you wonders

Keith

[buffo]

Took a 3 hour nap with it today and already feel better. I am amazed I can now sleep with my mouth closed. Looking forward to tonights sleep.

Attaboy Wayne!

Adam

[no-esc]

I got my official results today, extreme sleep apnea. I now have a CPAP machine on 30 day trial, its a top of the line Philips machine with humidifier. Took a 3 hour nap with it today and already feel better. I am amazed I can now sleep with my mouth closed. Looking forward to tonights sleep.

Make sure you use distilled water with the humidifier and congrats on getting some real restful sleep.

I found that I can sleep for 4 hours with my bipap machine and wake up feeling 1000 times better than gasping for 8 without it.

Again congrats and welcome to the machine assisted breathing club.


LOL

[mixedgas]

The real trick with humidifiers is to keep the water out of the machine. In some machines there is a humidity sensor and it can result in a permanent shutdown if the motherboard gets wet from an upset. That was an expensive mistake for me. A extra long hose works gangbusters for this, lets you decouple the sleep motion from the sleep machine. I usually loop it over the headboard.

I went to using a small room humidifier in the winter. The cost is 40$ US, they are quiet, and it was less mess. My sinuses feel much better and there is no moisture condensing in the mask.

Looking forward to having a more normal Dnar around here.

Steve

[hakzaw1]

Good to hear Wayne- you will never regret doing the sleep study -- at first my CPAP made falling asleep harder but that goes away if you just keep using it. - Now when I get asked if I snore I can say NO- as with my cpap that is not possible-
When I fly I pack mine into to carry-on- as I have experienced lost luggage and do not want to be w/o even for a short time- also the first mask I got was less comfortable than the one I use now- but they sure think a lot of these as the cost is way more than I expected- Len

[mixedgas]

I fly with mine weekly. Rules that work for me:

1. Never let the TSA/Security have it for a wet wipe-down test, it can be x-rayed. TSA killed one of mine while doing this, motherboard error from humidity sensor.
2. It does not count as a carry-on, its essential medical gear, so airlines cannot demand you stow it in the hold.
3. Never let it out of your sight, even with TSA/Security persons, because getting a replacement part on the road can be ugly.
4. Most hotels will accept a package for you, so you can get replacement parts on the road.
5. Set it on a clean pad in the hotel room, never the floor.
6. In the US, make sure your vendor has a current copy of the prescription on hand, thus they can drop ship you masks etc.
7. Clean it when you get home. CPAPUSA.COM sells a nice, non-allergenic, cleaning kit.

8. Get the battery pack for long, international, flights, Airlines used to provide power for CPAP with prior arrangements, but now calling ahead just results in harassment. This is because they often code-share international flights, and almost never know which plane will be used.

9. Carry a extra power cord in your packed luggage.

10. If security is being stupid, request a witnessed, hand inspection. This slows them down so much, they will generally wave you through.

11. With TSA, declare up front you have a "breathing machine". Some one must have sued them, so they have learned to behave when this is declared.

12. Never let it get wet, and never feed it after midnight, least it develop Gremlins.



Steve

[hakzaw1]

Thanks Steve
i did not know most of that--

One thing tho-- the last time i flew with it a TSA guy came up to me after my bag went thru the Xray and asked me to allow him to see my CPAP so-- that fact MUST be in the TSA computer from other times I flew with it. -- N/P he also had my ticket- so after he looked it over he pointed me to the guy who was ready to 'feel me up' I made a pamela Anderson joke about me being Very happy to be searched by her- and the guy did not even smile- So after that my ticket was handed back - I put my shoes back on repacked my CPAP & put 'my' ticket into my carry on outer pouch and was about to proceeded to my gate when i overheard this lady ask who Leonard was??

as she had HIS ticket-

and it turned out I was given hers-

sweet-

who knows where her gate was- AND would there be time to swap tickets and still make my flight that was about to board passengers- you would think at least one of the TSA people would say SOMETHING like 'sorry' but NO - not even a smile--

One good thing I learned that day --while you are not allowed to carry a bottle of water on-board apparently the TSA is fine if the water is frozen- I was trying to get the last bit of liquid from mine as a TSA lady walked past and I happened to ask here when we would be allowed to bring bottled water along and she told me mine, being mostly ice, was OK?/ weird

hak

[mixedgas]

Hak, if you ever loose a ticket airside, just have a new one printed by the gate agent before boarding.

Steve

[kitatit]

Hey guys,
I just came across this article in the link and thought I'd post it here.

http://medcitynews.com/2013/11/lesso...nts-feel-cool/

The article is mostly focused on how medical device manufactures market their products to patients.
It may be of little value but then again I might be.

They mentioned a CPAP device that was well suited for traveling through airport security and I know a few of you guys travel a lot. Some of you might already use it.

I hope it's of some help or at least an interesting read.

It reminded me about how there has been a big change in the marketing and product design of safety glasses.

Once upon a time you could only buy a very limited range of pretty dorky looking safety glasses and it was a real challenge to get people to where them.

Theeeen... One manufacture decided "why don't we make cool looking safety glasses and safety sunglasses that people actually want to wear?"

And they sold millions.

Good luck
Kit

[dnar]

Thanks Kit, that does look cool.

Update, following a 30 day trial, I am a new man. My apnea count dropped from 62/hour to 3.2. Having now returned the unit I miss it already... Need a job before I can afford the $2100 to buy a unit/mask...