Snout machine update

[minx]

I got the machine last week.  I am in the middle of the sleep apnea range - pressure is at 10.

The DME technician was very nice and did a good walk-through of how the machine and mask work, and also helped me set the mask up and adjust it properly so I didn't have to screw with it a lot.  She also mentioned that they have special pillows for people who wear full face masks (like me) and suggested that I look on Amazon for one, because the equipment manufacturers charged $$$ for them.

So, I pack up the gear and head for home (mind you, BC was willing to cough up the entire price of the machine, even though we don't know if it's the final answer or not).  Being proactive, I found a pillow company, and purchased one (they had a money-back guarantee for the first 5 days of use).

Day one - made it a whopping 5 hours before I had to take the mask off.
Day two - made it 2 hours (wide awake the whole time) before I threw in the towel
Day three - didn't even bother
Day four - called the DME company to ask for a new mask (I get one free switch during the first 90 days).  Dude was very, very nice.  He did offer to switch the mask, but noted that I was able to sleep with the same mask in the sleep lab.  He also recommended that I get a new pillow, but said that he thought the humidity on the machine was set too high.  We adjusted it, and he told me to call today if it didn't help.

Pillow has arrived, and the combination of the new pillow (It has cutouts on the side, so that when you sleep on your side, the hose and mask don't dislodge) and lower humidity seems to have helped.  I've been able to use the machine properly for the past three nights.  Can't say that I'm bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, but I do feel somewhat better.  I figure the true test will be this weekend - will I want to nap it away, or will I want to go do something?

[Dave's Not Here Man]

That's great to hear. I use a regular pillow and try to sleep on the "edge" of it. Our headboard has posts right up against the wall that are perfect for running the hose behind so it essentially keeps the hose out of the way no matter how much I toss and turn.

I still hate the fucking thing and was glad to have a break from it last week when the power went out.

[minx]

This pillow was not cheap (about $60), but it does have removable inserts (so you can raise or lower it), and a tether so that the hose doesn't get tangled up when you sleep.

Only complaint I have about it is that it's memory foam, and very firm. I slept with a larger/softer pillow in the past, so this one is still taking some getting used to.

[k9krap]

I hate memory foam and that temporpedic crap. It’s hot and not comfortable at all to me.

[minx]

This pillow has a 'warm' side and a 'cooling' side. So far, I have been using the 'cooling' side. Like I noted above, not bad, but definitely not the best pillow I have ever owned either.

OTOH, the machine has registered that I have successfully used it for more than 6 hours for 4 days now, and that's what matters. If it doesn't work, and I can't prove I've used it, then I'm screwed. And yes, it has technology built in that can register if the mask has been attached to someone's face, so you can't just turn the machine on and let it go.

[Dave's Not Here Man]

Well it's not a leaf blower.

[No. 1 son]

I'm thinking Quentin Tarantino to direct this. Minx (Jody Foster, of course), who is trying to get her specialist ( Steve Buscemi) to quit seeing her as a conquest, and recognize her as in very real need and interact with her insurer (Bruce Willis). Unbeknownst to her, a secret admirer from Wal Mart where she gets her prescriptions (The Rock) helps her achieve her princess dreams of sleeping for 8 hours. This helps her, and only energizes her ambivalence towards men.

[minx]

Hahaha!

I have used the machine for a week now. Sleep is a little deeper at night, but I still could use a good nap.

[No. 1 son]

Give it time to work.

[minx]

Well, I have to give it at least 2 months before the insurance company will pay for more testing, and since the little thing is spying on me, and saves my personal breathing onto an SD card, it's kind of hard to cheat.

Damn internet of things.....


Seriously though, now that I've gotten the hang of the damn thing, I do hope it makes a difference. I read up on what else can cause excessive sleepiness during the day, and there's not much they can do for most of those conditions except to prescribe something like Ritalin to keep me awake. That is not an option for me - it will screw up all of my other meds. So basically if the CPAP does nothing, I'm afraid the answer will be to suck it up and get a comfortable pillow.

[Dave's Not Here Man]

3 or 4 years in and I still hate it with a passion.

[minx]

I lied - woke up at 6am. Took the mask off, went to the bathroom and got back in bed for a bit.
Woke up at noon. FML.

[No. 1 son]

This discussion is useless without video.

[minx]

Well, I took a nice looooooong nap yesterday. Big mistake as I didn't sleep much last night.

I guess I am going to have to take an ax to the nap agenda. This saddens me, because naps are one of God's great inventions.

[No. 1 son]

May 27, 2018 12:03:55 GMT -5 minx said:

I lied

Why do we lie? Naps are a tool, use them too much, lose a finger. Give it time to work and your body to adjust. If we can't have nighty cam videos, how about one of those cgi animations like in the OJ case?

[minx]

I could try some claymation animation if you'd like.
If not stick figures?

[No. 1 son]

It's your well being we're talking about. I was just thinking about your getting better, and if it means cameras being used like in "Paranormal Toots-(the Bumpass Chronicles)", then that's what it needs. Just my professional opinion. John would finance it.

[minx]

I'm tired as shit right now, and still have another hour of work left to go - I'm telling myself that by volunteering for duty, I'll get a day off that's sunny, but right now it's not working.
All I can think of is how comfy the couch would be right now.
We have an old beater of a couch that I swear came from the 60s. It belonged to my BILs parents. They gave it to him when he got married in '89. He and my sister moved and decided it was time for a new sofa. We had small kids and thought it would be the perfect thing for them to jump on and destroy. Twenty years later, it's still going strong, and is perfect to nap on. I don't know what we'll do when it finally meets it's maker.

One thing for sure - they don't make furniture like that anymore.