Looing for info on sleep study mask selection
Question:
Where did you have your titration done? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Tom Devlin wrote: > NormC <no…@socal.rr.com> wrote: > >I think there are number of us who would like to get a better picture of what you can > >expect, or what you might be able to ask for, in the way of a CPAP interface (nasal >mask, full face mask, pillows) for use during a sleep test. > There was a plastic box full of masks (at least six types) sitting on > the end table when I got to my room. I only took a close look at the > Breeze, just to see if it was different than mine, but I’m sure that I > recognized both Mirage nasal and full-face versions. I’m not sure > about the others, but they were all clear plastic, not a gel mask in > the bunch. > >Has anyone been given the opportunity to try/select an interface before crawling into > >bed? (Different day, earlier in the day, etc.) > They seemed to be fitting everybody except me, I brought my own > Breeze, whether they were there for a diagnostic test (and might fall > asleep soon enough for a split-test) or, naturally, for titration. > >Has anyone been given the opportunity after crawling into bed? > >Has anyone had an opportunity to try different interfaces during the test? > I tried three during my initial titration, the Breeze, Mirage > nasal,and Mirage full face. > Tom
Response:
Otter Perry <otter…@earthlink.net> wrote: >Where did you have your titration done?
St. Joseph Mercy Sleep Disorders Center, in Auburn Hills MI. Tom
Response:
this is a very good idea — I am going to try the new pressure tonite but I am going to ask my doc … when she responds about my new headset (hopefully today or tomorrow) about the autopap. I am sure the sleep lab must have one around. Or maybe the dme has one? He seemed to say that it was the sleep clinic department head’s opinion that in most cases, increased pressure or the appropriate pressure relieves open mouth. I don’t know if that’s true but I suspect it might be true for me since in the first months of my usage, I had no such problems unless I had a cold or something and in fact, I was rarely troubled by colds. So …. I appreciate your insistence. I will consider and I think you could be right. This is hard … the waiting and the … worry and the not knowing. I am thinking of investing in a little computer video cam so I can view what goes on! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -NormC wrote: > Susan Williamson Hill wrote: > > Norm, > > One more thing … we adjusted the size of the nasal pillows that nite too. She got larger or > > smaller ones for me, I can’t remember. I am seeing that I did have a good experience and I’m glad > > of it. Now I just wish I could get my pressure regulated after 8 months. I guess change just > > happens. > No! Be proactive. Don’t wait for another night in the sleep clinic. Request to use an > autpPAP, NOW, to fine tune your pressure requirments. I will be doing this today. > > Hope your appt. goes well… keep us posted. > > NormC wrote: > > > I’m very, very envious. There’s not one single use thing I can tell anyone about. My > > > experience was as short and sour (not sweet) as anything could be. It makes me angry that > > > my internist sent me to that lab and even angrier that the lab didn’t do one single thing > > > like you mention. > > > If you don’t mind, I’d like to forward your post to my internist and take a copy of it > > > with me to the neurologist sleep doc tomorrow. It was his clinic that did nothing! > > > Susan Williamson Hill wrote: > > > > When I had my test I had already visited this site and heard so many good things about the > > > > Breeze. My doc sent me to the sleep lab the day before the test to see where I would be and > > > > have an orientation with the sleep technician. A very nice and knowledgeable woman, tho a > > > > bit convicted about her choice of head gear. > > > > She gave me pamphlets and told me many things, most of which I was too sleepy to follow at > > > > the time. Then she let me try the cpap sitting in a chair that partically reclined. First > > > > she tried the Simplicity mask (her favorite) and I was pretty happy but asked for the Breeze > > > > and we even happier. We tried two or more pillow sizes which I felt a little guilty about > > > > because they have to sterilize them after, but I still "stood up" for myself. I wanted to > > > > stay there all afternoon and maybe rest a bit– if she had let me lie down I would have > > > > stayed all nite. > > > > She described the cpap to me in a very nice way. She asked me if I had ever walked on the > > > > beach. Thankfully I have — and if I had done this with a strong wind blowing in my face — > > > > which I have and if I didn’t breathe out against or with that wind. And that, she said, in a > > > > more concentrated manner is the way the cpap functions. Wow — I spent my time thinking > > > > beach instead of plastic, metal, pumps and hoses and it was nice. > > > > Since the Breeze fit well and worked better for me (less claustrophobic) the night of the > > > > test I asked for that and I asked for humidification and heat because I had heard about that > > > > here and it helped me so much. I don’t think I would have been as successful without the > > > > heat and humidification. The sleep technician was a good one, very attentive and very > > > > knowledgeable. I think she was surprised when I asked for humidification and later for heat > > > > during the second part of the test (split study). I was glad that it all went so well > > > > because I can see how it could be a total nightmare. > > > > I have heard of there being a laryngeal monitor that you have to swallow being used … ack > > > > I’m not sure if I would have done well with that. > > > > That’s my experience share…. > > > > NormC wrote: > > > > > I think there are number of us who would like to get a better picture of what you can > > > > > expect, or what you might be able to ask for, in the way of a CPAP interface (nasal mask, > > > > > full face mask, pillows) for use during a sleep test. > > > > > Has anyone been given the opportunity to try/select an interface before crawling into > > > > > bed? (Different day, earlier in the day, etc.) > > > > > Has anyone been given the opportunity after crawling into bed? > > > > > Has anyone had an opportunity to try different interfaces during the test? > > > > > Bottom line is what have your experiences been in this very important matter? In most > > > > > cases there is bound to be one or more titrations. Let’s figure out how to get what we > > > > > need! > > > > > TIA
Response:
Susan Williamson Hill wrote: > Norm, > One more thing … we adjusted the size of the nasal pillows that nite too. She got larger or > smaller ones for me, I can’t remember. I am seeing that I did have a good experience and I’m glad > of it. Now I just wish I could get my pressure regulated after 8 months. I guess change just > happens.
No! Be proactive. Don’t wait for another night in the sleep clinic. Request to use an autpPAP, NOW, to fine tune your pressure requirments. I will be doing this today. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hope your appt. goes well… keep us posted. > NormC wrote: > > I’m very, very envious. There’s not one single use thing I can tell anyone about. My > > experience was as short and sour (not sweet) as anything could be. It makes me angry that > > my internist sent me to that lab and even angrier that the lab didn’t do one single thing > > like you mention. > > If you don’t mind, I’d like to forward your post to my internist and take a copy of it > > with me to the neurologist sleep doc tomorrow. It was his clinic that did nothing! > > Susan Williamson Hill wrote: > > > When I had my test I had already visited this site and heard so many good things about the > > > Breeze. My doc sent me to the sleep lab the day before the test to see where I would be and > > > have an orientation with the sleep technician. A very nice and knowledgeable woman, tho a > > > bit convicted about her choice of head gear. > > > She gave me pamphlets and told me many things, most of which I was too sleepy to follow at > > > the time. Then she let me try the cpap sitting in a chair that partically reclined. First > > > she tried the Simplicity mask (her favorite) and I was pretty happy but asked for the Breeze > > > and we even happier. We tried two or more pillow sizes which I felt a little guilty about > > > because they have to sterilize them after, but I still "stood up" for myself. I wanted to > > > stay there all afternoon and maybe rest a bit– if she had let me lie down I would have > > > stayed all nite. > > > She described the cpap to me in a very nice way. She asked me if I had ever walked on the > > > beach. Thankfully I have — and if I had done this with a strong wind blowing in my face — > > > which I have and if I didn’t breathe out against or with that wind. And that, she said, in a > > > more concentrated manner is the way the cpap functions. Wow — I spent my time thinking > > > beach instead of plastic, metal, pumps and hoses and it was nice. > > > Since the Breeze fit well and worked better for me (less claustrophobic) the night of the > > > test I asked for that and I asked for humidification and heat because I had heard about that > > > here and it helped me so much. I don’t think I would have been as successful without the > > > heat and humidification. The sleep technician was a good one, very attentive and very > > > knowledgeable. I think she was surprised when I asked for humidification and later for heat > > > during the second part of the test (split study). I was glad that it all went so well > > > because I can see how it could be a total nightmare. > > > I have heard of there being a laryngeal monitor that you have to swallow being used … ack > > > I’m not sure if I would have done well with that. > > > That’s my experience share…. > > > NormC wrote: > > > > I think there are number of us who would like to get a better picture of what you can > > > > expect, or what you might be able to ask for, in the way of a CPAP interface (nasal mask, > > > > full face mask, pillows) for use during a sleep test. > > > > Has anyone been given the opportunity to try/select an interface before crawling into > > > > bed? (Different day, earlier in the day, etc.) > > > > Has anyone been given the opportunity after crawling into bed? > > > > Has anyone had an opportunity to try different interfaces during the test? > > > > Bottom line is what have your experiences been in this very important matter? In most > > > > cases there is bound to be one or more titrations. Let’s figure out how to get what we > > > > need! > > > > TIA
Response:
Norm, One more thing … we adjusted the size of the nasal pillows that nite too. She got larger or smaller ones for me, I can’t remember. I am seeing that I did have a good experience and I’m glad of it. Now I just wish I could get my pressure regulated after 8 months. I guess change just happens. Hope your appt. goes well… keep us posted. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -NormC wrote: > I’m very, very envious. There’s not one single use thing I can tell anyone about. My > experience was as short and sour (not sweet) as anything could be. It makes me angry that > my internist sent me to that lab and even angrier that the lab didn’t do one single thing > like you mention. > If you don’t mind, I’d like to forward your post to my internist and take a copy of it > with me to the neurologist sleep doc tomorrow. It was his clinic that did nothing! > Susan Williamson Hill wrote: > > When I had my test I had already visited this site and heard so many good things about the > > Breeze. My doc sent me to the sleep lab the day before the test to see where I would be and > > have an orientation with the sleep technician. A very nice and knowledgeable woman, tho a > > bit convicted about her choice of head gear. > > She gave me pamphlets and told me many things, most of which I was too sleepy to follow at > > the time. Then she let me try the cpap sitting in a chair that partically reclined. First > > she tried the Simplicity mask (her favorite) and I was pretty happy but asked for the Breeze > > and we even happier. We tried two or more pillow sizes which I felt a little guilty about > > because they have to sterilize them after, but I still "stood up" for myself. I wanted to > > stay there all afternoon and maybe rest a bit– if she had let me lie down I would have > > stayed all nite. > > She described the cpap to me in a very nice way. She asked me if I had ever walked on the > > beach. Thankfully I have — and if I had done this with a strong wind blowing in my face — > > which I have and if I didn’t breathe out against or with that wind. And that, she said, in a > > more concentrated manner is the way the cpap functions. Wow — I spent my time thinking > > beach instead of plastic, metal, pumps and hoses and it was nice. > > Since the Breeze fit well and worked better for me (less claustrophobic) the night of the > > test I asked for that and I asked for humidification and heat because I had heard about that > > here and it helped me so much. I don’t think I would have been as successful without the > > heat and humidification. The sleep technician was a good one, very attentive and very > > knowledgeable. I think she was surprised when I asked for humidification and later for heat > > during the second part of the test (split study). I was glad that it all went so well > > because I can see how it could be a total nightmare. > > I have heard of there being a laryngeal monitor that you have to swallow being used … ack > > I’m not sure if I would have done well with that. > > That’s my experience share…. > > NormC wrote: > > > I think there are number of us who would like to get a better picture of what you can > > > expect, or what you might be able to ask for, in the way of a CPAP interface (nasal mask, > > > full face mask, pillows) for use during a sleep test. > > > Has anyone been given the opportunity to try/select an interface before crawling into > > > bed? (Different day, earlier in the day, etc.) > > > Has anyone been given the opportunity after crawling into bed? > > > Has anyone had an opportunity to try different interfaces during the test? > > > Bottom line is what have your experiences been in this very important matter? In most > > > cases there is bound to be one or more titrations. Let’s figure out how to get what we > > > need! > > > TIA
Response:
By all means share away — I want to say that the sleep study is a difficult thing regardless of how nice anyone is but I was determined to make mine as good an experience as it could be and get to the bottom of the problem. I think I was fortunate to be able to work this way with the people and as tired as I was, it was just a miracle something didn’t go wrong. I realize now that this study was actually my second study. The first was 5 years ago now, one where the technician came to my home with computers and monitors and all manner of gear. They studied me with problems all night and I was a nervous wreck and had a lot of trouble settling down to sleep. I never was tried on cpap on that first study. That time, the ent I was referred to misinterpreted my test results. I had severe apnea at that time — my oxygen saturations went down in the high sixties and I had numerous apneas. The doc told me I had mild apnea and that it wasn’t recommended to use the cpap. He made me understand that cpap worked through the throat, something I couldn’t imagine working for me as I have a strong gag reflex. I ended up trying to correct the problem with a dental device and every kind of alternative therapy you could imagine (acupuncture, herbs, homeopathy, craniosacracral therapies) to no avail. TMJ and headaches and earaches and panic attacks that took my attention away from the real problem took me 4 years to sort out and come back to sleep apnea as the first problem to solve. So Norm — please forward away … and use this experience if it will help you or anyone else. It’s really hard to understand and communicate about what happens to you when you sleep — especially this stuff and we need all the kind help and expert intervention we can get. take care… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -NormC wrote: > I’m very, very envious. There’s not one single use thing I can tell anyone about. My > experience was as short and sour (not sweet) as anything could be. It makes me angry that > my internist sent me to that lab and even angrier that the lab didn’t do one single thing > like you mention. > If you don’t mind, I’d like to forward your post to my internist and take a copy of it > with me to the neurologist sleep doc tomorrow. It was his clinic that did nothing! > Susan Williamson Hill wrote: > > When I had my test I had already visited this site and heard so many good things about the > > Breeze. My doc sent me to the sleep lab the day before the test to see where I would be and > > have an orientation with the sleep technician. A very nice and knowledgeable woman, tho a > > bit convicted about her choice of head gear. > > She gave me pamphlets and told me many things, most of which I was too sleepy to follow at > > the time. Then she let me try the cpap sitting in a chair that partically reclined. First > > she tried the Simplicity mask (her favorite) and I was pretty happy but asked for the Breeze > > and we even happier. We tried two or more pillow sizes which I felt a little guilty about > > because they have to sterilize them after, but I still "stood up" for myself. I wanted to > > stay there all afternoon and maybe rest a bit– if she had let me lie down I would have > > stayed all nite. > > She described the cpap to me in a very nice way. She asked me if I had ever walked on the > > beach. Thankfully I have — and if I had done this with a strong wind blowing in my face — > > which I have and if I didn’t breathe out against or with that wind. And that, she said, in a > > more concentrated manner is the way the cpap functions. Wow — I spent my time thinking > > beach instead of plastic, metal, pumps and hoses and it was nice. > > Since the Breeze fit well and worked better for me (less claustrophobic) the night of the > > test I asked for that and I asked for humidification and heat because I had heard about that > > here and it helped me so much. I don’t think I would have been as successful without the > > heat and humidification. The sleep technician was a good one, very attentive and very > > knowledgeable. I think she was surprised when I asked for humidification and later for heat > > during the second part of the test (split study). I was glad that it all went so well > > because I can see how it could be a total nightmare. > > I have heard of there being a laryngeal monitor that you have to swallow being used … ack > > I’m not sure if I would have done well with that. > > That’s my experience share…. > > NormC wrote: > > > I think there are number of us who would like to get a better picture of what you can > > > expect, or what you might be able to ask for, in the way of a CPAP interface (nasal mask, > > > full face mask, pillows) for use during a sleep test. > > > Has anyone been given the opportunity to try/select an interface before crawling into > > > bed? (Different day, earlier in the day, etc.) > > > Has anyone been given the opportunity after crawling into bed? > > > Has anyone had an opportunity to try different interfaces during the test? > > > Bottom line is what have your experiences been in this very important matter? In most > > > cases there is bound to be one or more titrations. Let’s figure out how to get what we > > > need! > > > TIA
Response:
i thought looing was what was happening before CPAP going to a loo every 2 hours all night. Warren
Response:
Warren wrote: > i thought looing was what was happening before CPAP going to a loo every 2 > hours all night. > Warren
Whoops! Should have been "Looking". Maybe this is why there hasn’t been but one response.
Response:
When I had my test I had already visited this site and heard so many good things about the Breeze. My doc sent me to the sleep lab the day before the test to see where I would be and have an orientation with the sleep technician. A very nice and knowledgeable woman, tho a bit convicted about her choice of head gear. She gave me pamphlets and told me many things, most of which I was too sleepy to follow at the time. Then she let me try the cpap sitting in a chair that partically reclined. First she tried the Simplicity mask (her favorite) and I was pretty happy but asked for the Breeze and we even happier. We tried two or more pillow sizes which I felt a little guilty about because they have to sterilize them after, but I still "stood up" for myself. I wanted to stay there all afternoon and maybe rest a bit– if she had let me lie down I would have stayed all nite. She described the cpap to me in a very nice way. She asked me if I had ever walked on the beach. Thankfully I have — and if I had done this with a strong wind blowing in my face — which I have and if I didn’t breathe out against or with that wind. And that, she said, in a more concentrated manner is the way the cpap functions. Wow — I spent my time thinking beach instead of plastic, metal, pumps and hoses and it was nice. Since the Breeze fit well and worked better for me (less claustrophobic) the night of the test I asked for that and I asked for humidification and heat because I had heard about that here and it helped me so much. I don’t think I would have been as successful without the heat and humidification. The sleep technician was a good one, very attentive and very knowledgeable. I think she was surprised when I asked for humidification and later for heat during the second part of the test (split study). I was glad that it all went so well because I can see how it could be a total nightmare. I have heard of there being a laryngeal monitor that you have to swallow being used … ack I’m not sure if I would have done well with that. That’s my experience share…. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -NormC wrote: > I think there are number of us who would like to get a better picture of what you can > expect, or what you might be able to ask for, in the way of a CPAP interface (nasal mask, > full face mask, pillows) for use during a sleep test. > Has anyone been given the opportunity to try/select an interface before crawling into > bed? (Different day, earlier in the day, etc.) > Has anyone been given the opportunity after crawling into bed? > Has anyone had an opportunity to try different interfaces during the test? > Bottom line is what have your experiences been in this very important matter? In most > cases there is bound to be one or more titrations. Let’s figure out how to get what we > need! > TIA
Response:
I’m very, very envious. There’s not one single use thing I can tell anyone about. My experience was as short and sour (not sweet) as anything could be. It makes me angry that my internist sent me to that lab and even angrier that the lab didn’t do one single thing like you mention. If you don’t mind, I’d like to forward your post to my internist and take a copy of it with me to the neurologist sleep doc tomorrow. It was his clinic that did nothing! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Susan Williamson Hill wrote: > When I had my test I had already visited this site and heard so many good things about the > Breeze. My doc sent me to the sleep lab the day before the test to see where I would be and > have an orientation with the sleep technician. A very nice and knowledgeable woman, tho a > bit convicted about her choice of head gear. > She gave me pamphlets and told me many things, most of which I was too sleepy to follow at > the time. Then she let me try the cpap sitting in a chair that partically reclined. First > she tried the Simplicity mask (her favorite) and I was pretty happy but asked for the Breeze > and we even happier. We tried two or more pillow sizes which I felt a little guilty about > because they have to sterilize them after, but I still "stood up" for myself. I wanted to > stay there all afternoon and maybe rest a bit– if she had let me lie down I would have > stayed all nite. > She described the cpap to me in a very nice way. She asked me if I had ever walked on the > beach. Thankfully I have — and if I had done this with a strong wind blowing in my face — > which I have and if I didn’t breathe out against or with that wind. And that, she said, in a > more concentrated manner is the way the cpap functions. Wow — I spent my time thinking > beach instead of plastic, metal, pumps and hoses and it was nice. > Since the Breeze fit well and worked better for me (less claustrophobic) the night of the > test I asked for that and I asked for humidification and heat because I had heard about that > here and it helped me so much. I don’t think I would have been as successful without the > heat and humidification. The sleep technician was a good one, very attentive and very > knowledgeable. I think she was surprised when I asked for humidification and later for heat > during the second part of the test (split study). I was glad that it all went so well > because I can see how it could be a total nightmare. > I have heard of there being a laryngeal monitor that you have to swallow being used … ack > I’m not sure if I would have done well with that. > That’s my experience share…. > NormC wrote: > > I think there are number of us who would like to get a better picture of what you can > > expect, or what you might be able to ask for, in the way of a CPAP interface (nasal mask, > > full face mask, pillows) for use during a sleep test. > > Has anyone been given the opportunity to try/select an interface before crawling into > > bed? (Different day, earlier in the day, etc.) > > Has anyone been given the opportunity after crawling into bed? > > Has anyone had an opportunity to try different interfaces during the test? > > Bottom line is what have your experiences been in this very important matter? In most > > cases there is bound to be one or more titrations. Let’s figure out how to get what we > > need! > > TIA
Response:
I think there are number of us who would like to get a better picture of what you can expect, or what you might be able to ask for, in the way of a CPAP interface (nasal mask, full face mask, pillows) for use during a sleep test. Has anyone been given the opportunity to try/select an interface before crawling into bed? (Different day, earlier in the day, etc.) Has anyone been given the opportunity after crawling into bed? Has anyone had an opportunity to try different interfaces during the test? Bottom line is what have your experiences been in this very important matter? In most cases there is bound to be one or more titrations. Let’s figure out how to get what we need! TIA
Response:
On Mon, 25 Mar 2002 20:48:56 GMT, NormC <no…@socal.rr.com> wrote: >Bottom line is what have your experiences been in this very important matter?
They first tried me with the Mirage… back in the Dark Ages (pre-Breeze, pre-Ultra Mirage), it had a lot of good commentary. — Things would be a lot happier on Sesame Street if they’d just toss some Zoloft in Oscar the Grouch’s trashcan. 
Response:
NormC <no…@socal.rr.com> wrote: >I think there are number of us who would like to get a better picture of what you can >expect, or what you might be able to ask for, in the way of a CPAP interface (nasal >mask, full face mask, pillows) for use during a sleep test.
There was a plastic box full of masks (at least six types) sitting on the end table when I got to my room. I only took a close look at the Breeze, just to see if it was different than mine, but I’m sure that I recognized both Mirage nasal and full-face versions. I’m not sure about the others, but they were all clear plastic, not a gel mask in the bunch. >Has anyone been given the opportunity to try/select an interface before crawling into >bed? (Different day, earlier in the day, etc.)
They seemed to be fitting everybody except me, I brought my own Breeze, whether they were there for a diagnostic test (and might fall asleep soon enough for a split-test) or, naturally, for titration. >Has anyone been given the opportunity after crawling into bed? >Has anyone had an opportunity to try different interfaces during the test?
I tried three during my initial titration, the Breeze, Mirage nasal,and Mirage full face. Tom
