For the non Star Wars Fans (like me) and if you don't know what Vader looks like without his famous mask, here it is. By the way, I'm not really a fan but I've been blessed to have boyfriends and now a husband who ARE fans, so... now I know more then I ever cared to about the Dark man...On Monday afternoon, I met with some type of therapist re. my sleep apnea problem… I got a CPAP; a machine that helps me breath when I “forget” to do so as I sleep. We spent almost two hours with her, very nice lady that explained everything, made me try the mask and off we were. Hubby came with me, as he tends to retain more info than I normally do.
That night was my first try with my brand spanking new “Resmed S8 Autoset Vantage”. I got ready for bed, set everything up, put my nasal mask on, connect the tube and let’s try to sleep…
I tend to breath through my mouth (awake and asleep) and supposedly it is because of apnea . When “connected”, I should not. If my mouth opens it feels as is I’m on a plane when the cabin pressure is going down – really strange feeling in my ears and back of my throat. So, in order to avoid that sensation, I decided to wear my “night guard” – which I hadn’t worn in months, so at first it felt like all my teeth were misaligned. This was going to be a fun night!
There I was, on my back (which is NOT at all my position to sleep in – I like to be on my belly), breathing through this tube. At some point (must have fallen asleep) I felt too much air – when my airways restrict the machine blows me air – so I woke up, with this need to burp or something – weird!
At around 4am I got fed up and removed the mask and unplugged the machine. I needed to sleep, even if my “natural” sleeping isn’t that great, at least I feel like I slept! In the morning after taking the pooch out for her morning duty call, I went back to bed and put the mask back on. Again, whenever the machine kicked in, I felt it. I’ll need to figure the adjustment that is right for me – there is some serious adaptation to be made on my part… I’ll try to make it happen… I have to think that this gizmo will help me in the long run…
Tuesday night wasn’t really much better. At one point I woke up ripped everything off and rolled over.
Last night was a bit different. When I put on the mask it felt snug. I made sure everything was on properly, etc. At some point during the night I had to go to the washroom so I took it off. When I put it back on I felt weird about it, because it wasn’t feeling like the two other nights, strange, very strange. This morning just before I took it off I looked at everything and all was connected properly. I read my stats for the night; pressure used, leak, indication of apnea or hypopnea, etc. For the first time it showed an apnea index, which means that during the night I had stopped breathing! The previous nights it only showed hypopnea, basically that my airways were restricted.
Either I’m getting used to this or the previous nights I had not put it on properly. Whichever one, in a strange contorted way, I’m happy to see that all the discomfort and sleepless nights might pay off in the long run… I just hope it won’t be too long, I’m getting tired… and sleepier than usual… (*big yawn*)
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Photos: Darth Vader, without his mask and Sleepy
10 comments:
My Dad has to use the same thing and it took him a little while to get used to it as well. Stick with it, it will be worth it in the long run.
That is scary that you stopped breathing! I hope you get used to the machine and get some good sleep.
My mom had to have surgery for her sleep apnea! I'd probably prefer that over sleeping with some crazy machine hooked up to my face, though. I am bratty like that.
d b: That's what I keep telling myself...
-r-: My dad used to do that, and I remember as a kid I would go to my parents' room and poke him and he'd start breathing again. Hubby says I'm not "that bad", he pokes me for other reasons! ;-D
gg: Welcome!! I'll try the machine first, since there was no mention of surgery. Trust me, I'm not enjoying this AT ALL, but if I need it to feel better, I guess I'll tolerate it... :-(
I know quite a few people who have the CPAP machine. It's funny when you see them for the first couple of hours in the morning, and they still have a little line on their face from the mask. Hee hee.
Sorry... not making it any easier, am I? I'm sure you look much nicer than Darth V in your mask. :-)
dcmm: Didn't even think about those little lines... Thanks for the encouragement!
One thing I know for sure I'm not as white as the dark Lord and have more hair! ;-)
Stick with it!
It works great!
nikki: I sure hope so, but it's not obvious at this time!
You really want to learn to use it because by not using it (and continuing to have apnea) your heart has to work extra hard each night and it could eventually cause congestive heart failure.
At least that is what happened to my step dad. He used to snore so badly and then stop and then gag, cough, choke, and then go back to snoring again. We just thought it was funny and annoying we had no idea of the damage that was happening.
He's been using the CPAP and it's helped a lot. Another one of my friends who is just 35 has had to start using one recently. She said like you that it has taken several nights to get used to it. Without it she wasn't getting quality sleep though so she is feeling positive about using it.
Good luck, sorry to write such a long post here.
Weird! I answered princess diaree yesterday and I can't find my answer anywhere - At times I REALLY hate Blogger!!!
pricess diaree: Welcome! Thanks for the encouragement, I just have to get used to it. I've been noticing a slight improvement in the fact that I don't have headaches in the mornings (for the last 3 days), which is good. I'll get use to it... eventually!
Thanks for dropping by and you can comment as long as you want! ;-)
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