Okay ... So I guess it's official ... I'm getting old (at least in mileage terms)

[FuzzyWuzHe]

So .. How do I know this?

The glasses didn't bother me much.

The hearing Aides not so much either.

The aches and pains from arthritis ... bother me, but I was warned to expect lots of pain when I was "older" due to football, fighting and good times in general.

Then the dagger.

On a recent in the wind trip that I met up with some of my buds, I shared a hotel room with a fairly close friend. During the night he shook me awake and scared the snot out of me. He said, "You were breathing fairly heavy while you were sleeping, then all of a sudden nothing. You did not breathe for about a minute."

Well, I thought he was nuts, but, he insisted that I actually stopped breathing. Needless to say, I couldn't sleep at all after that and neither could he. We stayed up and talked and rode home the next day.

When I got home I called the VA and talked to my nurse and she set me up with a sleep study.

Afterwards, I got sent to Cardio/Pulmonary for the results. I was told I made the top 5 on the hit parade. Of course I assumed I won some kind of prize. Careful what you wish for.

Some stats:

90 episodes an hour averaging 22.5 seconds each. Do the math, 1/3 of every hour I'm not breathing in my sleep.

The longest was 85 second.

The shortest was 15 seconds.

Between 2am and 3am, I had 4 episodes in excess of 70 seconds.

So ... what did I win? My very own fancy new CPAP Machine. Good news ... it fits in it's own bag that fits in a saddlebag. My new Mac Book fits in the pocket on the side on the bag ... so duel duty for the CPAC bag.

The tech was explaining that this particular machine "broadcasts" your sleep info to the cloud. From there she can look at my data and even "tweak" the settings on the machine as needed to dial it in for my needs. She jokingly said, "Just like pacemakers, I'll know when you have sex."

I thought about it for a minute and said, "First Off, I don't have a partner, and secondly, If I did have a partner and I tried to have sex with that mask on, I wouldn't have a partner for long! Well ... unless she had a Silence of the Lambs fetish"

I've had it 4 nights now and there is a huge learning curve. I'm having a rough time getting used to the mask. I guess in time I will be good with it.

I gotta admit, the CPAP makes me realize the miles have not been good to me.

The good news, I checked the Obits today ... and I am not listed in them ...

[rhino 2]

I read the whole post.......Yep you are getting old.....

[BillR]

Welcome to the club.

I got mine last Wednesday. Five nights for me.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Getting used to it yet?

[Rmitchell55]

Welcome to the club. I've had mine for 14 years now.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Welcome to the club. I've had mine for 14 years now.

Are you used to it yet?

[Rmitchell55]

Must be used to it for now. Can't get to sleep without it. Be aware of swallowing air during the night. It can cause some embarrassing situations during the day. Smells really bad too.

[BillR]

Getting used to it yet?

Actually doing better than I expected. The air tube hooks up on top of my head. Not really in the way.

I'm averaging 6.7 hrs per night so far. The rep. that called today to follow up with me said that was good for such a short time.

[desertclassic]

About 5 years of usage. I now have a new type of machine, bipap. It adjusts the pressure based upon how much you need. I just recently added oxygen. I am up to sleeping 7 to 8 hrs. I don't think I will ever get used to it but I sure sleep better, especially with the added oxygen. Jim

[consitter]

I've had mine for 5 years now. I'm so used to it that I can't sleep without it. Don't WANT to sleep without it. Not even for short naps. It was a life changing event for me--to the good. Like you, I was told by the nurse at my sleep study that I woke up an average of 88 times per hour, and wouldn't breathe at times for over a minute. Waking up to pee 5-6 times a night became a thing of the past. Once or twice is about all since I started on the CPAP, and the only reason for that many times is my diabetes. My blood pressure has lowered into almost normal levels.

So yeah, I love my CPAP. I predict soon you will too. If you don't like the type mask you have, ask about a nasal pillows mask. That type is nowhere near as restrictive and does the same job IMHO.

[consitter]

Oh--by the way--if getting a CPAP means you're getting old, then I got old at 44.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Oh--by the way--if getting a CPAP means you're getting old, then I got old at 44.

I always knew that about you ....

In my case ... I'm convinced it's the miles ... not the years.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Must be used to it for now. Can't get to sleep without it. Be aware of swallowing air during the night. It can cause some embarrassing situations during the day. Smells really bad too.

Hmmm ... I already have that issue .. .. might make it worse .. .

I am "used to it", I guess ... I'm getting 6.7 hrs per night, an had one night at 8.2 with the CPAP. I'm not tossing and turning as much, and I haven't got up to use the head since wearing it. I have found that I get it "adjusted" better and it's more "comfortable" if I put the mask on in front of a mirror, then attach the hose. Still not used to looking at the "Hannibal Lecter" looking back at me in the mirror. I thought I was scary looking before ... but now ... I'm down right frightful.

[Big Juice]

I'm on my 4th CPAP, get a new one ever 5 yrs. and due for another one next year..........oh hell, I been old for a longgggg time!

I use the nasal pillows, sure like them better than the mask. My CPAP is like an American Express......never leave home without it! Oh, and I have turn around after leaving for an overnight trip when I forgot the CPAP, then left again for my trip with thoughts of a good nights sleep. Hate sleeping without it, because I don't get sleep without it.........

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Hate sleeping without it, because I don't get sleep without it.........

I'm starting to feel the same ... I played with the ramp up settings. Instead of auto, I put it to 30 minutes. Allows me to nod off before I get to full pressure of 12# ... in Auto I was getting their in about 5-8 minutes and it would wake me when it blew the air down my throat. I'm liking that much better.

[BillR]

Still not used to looking at the "Hannibal Lecter" looking back at me in the mirror. I thought I was scary looking before ... but now ... I'm down right frightful.

I am using the nasal mask. Kinda like the pillows, but without the "pillows".

[Hot Rod 1]

I have been using a Bipap Machine for the last 14 years. There was a learning process when I first started using it but now I can't sleep without it. I use a mask with nasal pillows.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I am using the nasal mask. Kinda like the pillows, but without the "pillows".

Man, that looks comfortable. The big plus would be that I could get a drink during the night.

On one of my nine knee surgeries, the spinal was put in between the wrong vertebrae and went up instead of down (major simplification, but I'm not a doctor). Bottom line I died and needed to have a ventilator and defibrillator to bring me back (heart and lungs quit). I guess the doc was not very gentle when putting the tube down my throat. I have bad scar tissue in my throat that tends to dry out and require moisture. Without the CPAP, I can drink 32 oz of water during the night without waking up. I'm never without a drink of something because of this.

With the CPAP and the mask I get moisture all night and I've noticed my 32 oz drink is still full when I wake up. Guess there's pros and cons with everything. Besides, nobody will ever see the "Hannibal Lecter" Look.

Last night, I slept 8.57 hours ... best nights sleep in probably three years. Guess I'm getting used to the beast.

[Hot Rod 1]

Sounds like you are adjusting to the CPAP , you will be surprised how much better you will feel.