Re: questions for the group - Hi and welcome

[Guest guest]

Adrienne,I have obstructive sleep apnea. My sleep study was ordered through Apria and I did it at home for one night. I had to wear headgear that had a small cables, like a cannula that rested in my nostrils and the top of my lip an oximeter and a small recorder box that fit around my chest or back, I can't remember. It was a lot of wires, but very simple to use and fall asleep. I stopped breathing 10x per hour while sleeping on my side and 37x per hour when on my back. I use CPAP now and it has helped. No more falling asleep during the day. C_53_Familial IPF_5/09WashingtonTo: Breathe-Support Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 11:13:43 AMSubject: Re: Re: questions for the group - Hi and welcome

Hi S,

Thanks for the info. You gave much detail but I believe the more you know the better informed you are. I don't know how I'd do in a strange bed, but I guess I'd adjust.

AB

From: lsmith7892006 <lbsmith789@sbcgloba l.net>Subject: Re: questions for the group - Hi and welcomeTo: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comDate: Monday, September 7, 2009, 9:42 PM

Well they put all these wires on your head, eyes, chest, legs, nose and other places for guys. They monitor eye blinking to determine REM sleep, breathing, leg movement, EEG activity, heart rhythm and probably other things I can't remember. There were 30 or so wires hooked up. At my center, there was a camera in a bubble in the sky that monitors & records from the waist up. All the machines are in another room where the technician watches all the squiggles you make. They typically don't come in unless some wire comes off. There was a speaker in the room where he could talk to me. They are used to body noises so you don't have to feel uncomfortable about that, or being there in night clothes, or having to get up for the restroom. There was a television and I took my portable CD player.The first test I slept 35 minutes during the night. It was supposed to be half natural sleep and half CPAP sleep because they already knew I was a lung

patient and almost positive there was apnea.With 35 minutes, who can tell anything? They didn't even try the CPAP.Thus we had the second night about a month later. Same wires, equipment, etc, but all night with CPAP. It was the best sleep I've had in a long time. It took so long between studies because the pulmodude that reads the studies took a vacation.If you are insured and your insurance is willing to cover, sweet. If you are not insured or on Medicare, you might expect $6000 to $7000 for the study. And worth every nickel if you are having apnic episodes.If you are prescribed a CPAP, hold out for one that is quiet and also humidified. The respiratory therapist at your home health can add a small tube insert for oxygen tubing if you need it.This is probably more information than you wanted but we aim for accurate experience. My 2 studies were this summer so it is pretty fresh for me.BTW, welcome. So sorry you

needed to look for us but glad you found us. S, Lubbock, TXNSIP w/PF 12/2006 et al> >> > Hi all,> > My wife has

noticed since I went on oxygen at night that I have> several episodes where I have rapid breathing - actual panting. She> thought maybe it was the result of perhaps my breathing through my mouth> and therefore am not getting enough oxygen. But when she checks I am> actually breathing through my nose. Have any of you experienced this?> She said there are also times I sleep on my back and when doing so> breath through my mouth - somewhat defeating the attempt to keep my> oxygen levels where they belong. I have spoken to a therapist at Apria> and she says I could use a facemask but it would require using twice the> dosage of oxygen due to the CO2 buildup in the mask. I guess I could use> the same tape I use to keep my canolla in my nose to keep my mouth shut.> Any suggestions?> >> > Mike>

>>

[Guest guest]

When I had my sleep studies (I have had 3) I wore my comfy pajamas and brought my own pillow. I spent 30 minutes with the technician before even going to bed. I had probes from the top of my head (my hair was very gooey the next day) to the bottom of my leg. Then , after getting in the bed, I was hooked up to an oximeter on my finger. After getting settled in the bed, the technician goes back to their station (after closing your "bedroom" door) and proceeds to have a "check" with the speaker, etc. There is a small camera that films the study With all the wires, etc. & the oximeter it is a little challenging to turn over, etc. But it is possible. The night that I was going to try the CPAP for the first time, the technician showed me how to try them on and she picked one for me. I got to wear it for about 15 minutes before I got "gooey" ( all those probes!) all over me. I was a little anxious about the mask and the technician very patiently explained it all to me. Now you can go on the internet and looks at all kinds of CPAP masks, etc. When you are having the study while you are wearing the mask, the technician is adjusting the flow of air to decide what would be appropriate for you. After the first study, I was prescribed a flow of 12. After the second study, I went down to 7. The third study that I had was one that I had while I was only wearing the cannula and no CPAP. This study did not really prove anything for me, so I still wear the CPAP because I sleep better when I wear it. One of the problems with the CPAP mask is: there is air that blows out of the mask and I was warned to make sure that I did not let this air blow into my eyes or nearby, etc. After I had my eye surgery on my left cornea this summer, I have had to tape my left eye shut every night because the doctor thought the CPAP air might be blowing somewhat in the left eye. I hope that when I go back on Friday to the cornea surgeon that I won't have to do that anymore. My CPAP does have the humidifier and it is adjustable from 1 to 5. Once I put it on 5 and I have never done that again because I was so wet.

I hope this info helps.

Toodles!

Jane UIP/IPF 12/1998 Dalton, Georgia aka pianolady_musicgirl> > >> > > Hi all,> > > My wife has noticed since I went on oxygen at night that I have> > several episodes where I have rapid breathing - actual panting. She> > thought maybe it was the result of perhaps my breathing through my mouth> > and therefore am not getting enough oxygen. But when she checks I am> > actually breathing through my nose. Have any of you experienced this?> > She said there are also times I sleep on my back and when doing so> > breath through my mouth - somewhat defeating the attempt to keep my> > oxygen levels where they belong. I have spoken to a therapist at Apria> > and she says I could use a facemask but it would require using twice the> > dosage of oxygen due to the CO2 buildup in the mask. I guess I could use> > the same tape I use to keep my canolla in my nose to keep my mouth shut.> > Any suggestions?> > >> > > Mike> > >> >>