I officially know what Darth Vadar felt like

[LynneSin]

Seriously.

I've been doing a sleep study and they found mild apnea. Last night I was in for another sleep study so they could test out the equipment they are ordering for me.

I don't know if anyone here has ever slept with a CPAP, but yikes it felt weird having this mask straped to my face.

:scared:

[Dogmudgeon]

1. I was a sleep tech for six years

If the mask feels weird, ask for Puritan-Bennet "Nasal Pillows". You won't even know they're there.

There's nothing to fear, really, and your sleep will improve so much and so quickly you'll wonder how you slept before.

You will probably also lose weight if you're more than 20% overweight.

Where did you get tested? Christiana Hospital?

--p!

[LynneSin]

2. I had to use the whole face mask

the nasal was just too weird for me to sleep with, plus they have to add a humidifier into it.

I went to UPenn for my testing. They have a great program and they actually have you stay overnight at the local Sheraton Hotel. Even though you're sleeping at the Sheraton, UPenn actually has a wing on one floor for their sleep center. They found that the patients sleep better outside of the hospital setting

[Dogmudgeon]

8. I'm familiar with Penn

I worked at Penn with some of those guys when I was doing EEGs and similar tests. I also had a sleep study there before the sleep program got its own floor; they tested a new machine on me. (Everybody gets to be a guinea pig!)

The nasal pillows were weird for you? Maybe it was the model they tried. There are dozens of different mask designs, and most people find at least one they can use.

I also found, when I was working as a tech, that most people who are claustrophobic or uncomfortable with the mask are afraid they'll "do something wrong" or break it. After you wash it a few times, and shake it around, you'll realize that for a light plastic and silicone gadget, a CPAP mask is actually pretty sturdy.

And don't let the CPAP overpower you mentally. Your breathing is always stronger than the CPAP airflow. It's wasy to get intimidated by it, but it's your servant, not your master. Taking an aggressive attitude toward the treatment can do a lot of good.

Anyway, depending on your Apneic Index, I'd persevere with the CPAP treatment. Anything over 5/hr is robbing you of sleep, and if your index is over, say, 20/hr, you really must use CPAP since your health is at risk.

Penn ought to be running a CPAP patients' support group, too -- at least, you can pester your doctor about any problems you may have. Good luck with it.

--p!

[WildClarySage]

3. My husband sleeps with one. He doesn't care for it much,

but he loves me.

[Selatius]

4. Did you also feel anguish at the loss of Padme or someone close?

If so, wow, you really know how Darth Vader felt. ;)

[LynneSin]

7. No, but the damn mattress made gave me dreams of rolling in a field

I had the room with the craftmatic mattress and I felt like I was falling off of it

[Zuni]

5. my father had severe apnea for years

that is terrible...damn sleep disorder practically killed him. His snoring couldve waked the dead too

[gate of the sun]

6. my brother just told me he went through this

in regards to my 5 year old who has night terrors and screams in his sleep since he was 1, mild sleep apnea