CPAP

I just recently got my CPAP machine and I've been sleeping with it for about a week.  Going into this, I knew I snored (and have since I was a kid), but I never thought I was actually having breathing issues during sleep.  Turns out I was experiencing sleep interruptions about 40 times an hour.  Maybe that's why I'd wake up with a headache?  :D  

So far things are going pretty well with the device.  I have the nasal mask--not the pillows which I tried and did not like.  It's a "for her" one so the straps are pink.  :P  The unit itself is really nice.  It's very small and comes apart in two pieces with the control unit and then the water reservoir. The hose is heated and the temp is adjustable so you don't have freezing or jungle air blowing on you all night.  It's very quiet and so far hasn't bothered me or my husband.  The first couple of nights I had to mess around with the straps and such to get a good fit, but I think I've just about got it now.  I'm not normally a back sleeper and have been able to sleep on my side reasonably well with the mask.  My main problem is the straps cover part of my ears and will cause some soreness after sleeping on them all night.  

I think I'm sleeping better with it--I definitely feel more rested than I did before and I haven't woken up with a headache since I started using it.  

Regarding your sleep study, be prepared to not sleep or to sleep terribly!  At mine, I was wired up with a ton of electrodes all with a really gross paste all in my hair and all kinds of tape all over my face.  The place I was at had the sleep number beds, which was nice, but again, not a back sleeper and they wanted me to sleep on my back as sort of a worst-case scenario.  I made it through (twice!) though and I have to say that it was worth it.

Also, love your name and icon.  I love Tenchi Muyo!

Oh thank you!! I love Tenchi Muyo tooooo. Washu is the greatest XD. Hehe, that aside, I had my second part of the sleep study last night with a full mask and only woke once in a panic because of the mask. Feel better than I have in years and all of the issues I had during the study were not present once I was properly titrated. I can't tell you how relieved I am to have validation of my sleeping issues and even better, a solution! I can't wait for my machine to arrive at the end of the week. I really cannot wait! 

Most people can find a proper mask.  I am the oddity with the extra small nose.

Oddity? Pssshaw ..... small noses are cute as a button. XD

I have mild sleep apnea then it turns into moderate at REM time the "dream state" I have been on cpap since August 2012 but my machine is owned by me now i finally paid it off.. It's a resmed s9 autoset like a $1,500 machine and i paid my portion to own it like $250. Lots of insurance make you rent it for over 6 months to make sure you will be in compliance with using it every night or they will not pay it. They provide your machine with a SD card so your therapist through the agency you go through can report to insurance if you have been using it. I did so my agency contacted my insurance to prove it and to prove it was helping and they let me buy it without proving the over 6+ months of renting it first.

I still use mine every night but i honestly hate it! It's uncomfy especially with a huge tube and trying to sleep on your side. I am also using a full face mask because the nose ones made me feel uncomfortable and the nose mask only made me feel like my throat was closing when i swallowed. FF is the best fit for me but i still hate it. I am hoping and wishing to be off of it soon forever!

My surgeon required 2 months of usage with the cpap before she would do surgery. Also everyone in my program is required to get tested for sleep apnea. I also was required to bring it to the hospital. I guess i fell asleep the 2nd night there without it and i was woken very quickly by a nurse because my heart rate had dropped... yeah that was scary being woken like that in the middle of the night.

Oh wow, sounds like it hasn't been that great for you. I wish comfort for you. I was a-okay with using the full mask last night thankfully. Only one time I woke started trying to remove it, to which I realized it makes it even harder to breathe once that seal around your face is broken and the panic got worse. This passed and the rest of the night was smooth sailing. The way I feel today after real sleep for the first time in years makes me really anxious and ready to have the  machine NOW! I really am excited to feel better like this everyday. 

It really does help most of the time. It usually typically takes at least 2 weeks to start feeling overall better. I still use mine everyday though i just got new stuff for it too.. headmask, filters, etc. Be aware though you may pull it off in the middle of the night and not realize it when you wake up without it on your face. I did this quite a bit and was confused as to when this happened. Soo glad you are feeling better though.