CPAP Fun! has metamorphosed into an ebook on Amazon called CPAP Confidential! It's available here for purchase as a Kindle book at a very attractive price.
This will be the last post on this blog. Thanks for reading!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Losing weight; need new settings?
The last time I visited my sleep therapist, she lowered the pressure on my apap a few notches. I wondered how much I'd have to lose to lower it even more.
CPAP pressure settings are pretty cut and dry: you give it enough pressure to relieve your apnea. You don't want it any higher than that because more pressure can lead to more pain in your sinuses and making it harder to wear your mask every night. So it's kind of a judgement call about exactly what pressure to use.
My APAP has a range of pressure, say 9 to 12, and this is adjustable. It puts out a pressure between 9 and 12 depending on how much I need on that particular inhalation or exhalation. It's all working quite well and I don't want to tinker with it.
Still, as I continue to lose weight, I'll go in to have the setting adjusted lower. The therapist thought the settings should be changed with a gain or loss of about 20 pounds. I think I'll be ready for a re-adjustment pretty soon.
CPAP pressure settings are pretty cut and dry: you give it enough pressure to relieve your apnea. You don't want it any higher than that because more pressure can lead to more pain in your sinuses and making it harder to wear your mask every night. So it's kind of a judgement call about exactly what pressure to use.
My APAP has a range of pressure, say 9 to 12, and this is adjustable. It puts out a pressure between 9 and 12 depending on how much I need on that particular inhalation or exhalation. It's all working quite well and I don't want to tinker with it.
Still, as I continue to lose weight, I'll go in to have the setting adjusted lower. The therapist thought the settings should be changed with a gain or loss of about 20 pounds. I think I'll be ready for a re-adjustment pretty soon.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Fun with CPAP! e-book now available
Fun with CPAP! is for people who are recently diagnosed with sleep apnea or have CPAP equipment they are reluctant to use. I'd like to encourage them to use CPAP by making it a little more tolerable.
Here's what you'll find:
It's all real, useful information from a three-year CPAP user who quit a few times but is now a full-time CPAP convert. It also includes a printout of sleep study data so you can get a better idea how sleep apnea is diagnosed.
Find out more at www.cpapfun.com.
Here's what you'll find:
Chapter One: What is CPAP?
Chapter Two: The Sleep Study
Chapter Three: CPAP Equipment choices
CPAP machines
APAP machines
BiPAP machines
Filters
Mask Types
Hose
Hose cozy
Chin strap
Pillow
Miscellaneous
Extra cushions, masks, and hoses
Chapter Four: Sleeping with CPAP
Chapter Five: Caring for your CPAP equipment
Washing Regime
Chapter Six: The DME
Local DME vs Online
Insurance
Chapter Seven: Other issues
Setting Heated Humidifier Temperature
Insomnia
Sinus pain and headaches
Traveling with CPAP
Is surgery right for you?
Dental devices
Weight issues
APPENDIX — Details of a sleep study
It's all real, useful information from a three-year CPAP user who quit a few times but is now a full-time CPAP convert. It also includes a printout of sleep study data so you can get a better idea how sleep apnea is diagnosed.
Find out more at www.cpapfun.com.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Uvulations!
You know the uvula is that hangy down part in the back of your throat. Normally it minds its own business and just hangs back there, getting out of the way when you swallow or talk.
What would you do if your uvula started to misbehave? Instead of hanging back meekly it grew to outlandish proportions and started to make a nuisance of itself?
Well, it happened to me last week. Twice before that, actually, but last week was the worst. Somehow, I must have fallen asleep without my CPAP mask (not too hard to believe since I took a sleeping pill) and then began to rip and snore, flapping my uvula like a pennant in a regatta in a gale. Let's say the Americas Cup.
I slept though all this, at least for an hour. I remember waking up intermittently through the night thinking that my throat was awfully sore, suspecting is was a damaged uvula, and noting that I was wearing my mask. It didn't make sense that I could be snoring while wearing the mask.
The next day I awoke to major uvula stress. I couldn't talk in a normal voice for fear the uvula would jump up out of my throat. Every time I bent over that warm meaty hangy thing flopped into the back of my mouth. Kinda nauseatin' actually. Then there was was the pain in the entire back of my mouth and throat.
This went on for the past week. Only now, seven days later, are things feeling back to normal.
The first time this happened was on Christmas morning three years ago. I went to the emergency room. They treated me but the only cure is to wait it out. Eventually it will shrink back to normal size.
The last two times it happened I researched "enlarged uvula" on the internet and found a few home remedies. Like mixing turmeric with honey and licking it off a spoon. Feels kinda good on the old uvula. I also like drinking ginger ale.
So if it happens to you, keep your head up, try a little home therapy, and wait it out.
What would you do if your uvula started to misbehave? Instead of hanging back meekly it grew to outlandish proportions and started to make a nuisance of itself?
Well, it happened to me last week. Twice before that, actually, but last week was the worst. Somehow, I must have fallen asleep without my CPAP mask (not too hard to believe since I took a sleeping pill) and then began to rip and snore, flapping my uvula like a pennant in a regatta in a gale. Let's say the Americas Cup.
I slept though all this, at least for an hour. I remember waking up intermittently through the night thinking that my throat was awfully sore, suspecting is was a damaged uvula, and noting that I was wearing my mask. It didn't make sense that I could be snoring while wearing the mask.
The next day I awoke to major uvula stress. I couldn't talk in a normal voice for fear the uvula would jump up out of my throat. Every time I bent over that warm meaty hangy thing flopped into the back of my mouth. Kinda nauseatin' actually. Then there was was the pain in the entire back of my mouth and throat.
This went on for the past week. Only now, seven days later, are things feeling back to normal.
The first time this happened was on Christmas morning three years ago. I went to the emergency room. They treated me but the only cure is to wait it out. Eventually it will shrink back to normal size.
The last two times it happened I researched "enlarged uvula" on the internet and found a few home remedies. Like mixing turmeric with honey and licking it off a spoon. Feels kinda good on the old uvula. I also like drinking ginger ale.
So if it happens to you, keep your head up, try a little home therapy, and wait it out.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Last week for free ebook download!
This will be the last week to download a free copy of the Fun with CPAP! ebook. Beginning January 17 Fun with CPAP! will go on sale. We'll still ask for feedback because we want to keep the book as up-to-date and useful to readers as possible.
Meanwhile, to get a free pre-release copy, click here.
All we ask for the free download is that you take a few minutes to send us some feedback. Your suggestions will be incorporated into the book as it evolves.
CPAP Fun!
Meanwhile, to get a free pre-release copy, click here.
All we ask for the free download is that you take a few minutes to send us some feedback. Your suggestions will be incorporated into the book as it evolves.
CPAP Fun!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Holiday Fun!
Hope all your holidays are going well. Aside from another DME episode, we're doing fine.
I'm trying out the ResMed Activa soft gel mask cushions. At first they didn't seem like much of an improvement over the standard Activa cushion (those transparent ones that puff up and seal against your face).
After a few months, I'm starting to like the new soft gels. I'm a terrible side sleeper and the soft gels seem to stay on better when the side of my face is pressed into the pillow. The standard ones are good, too, because they kind of slew to the side.
The gels have a narrower side profile so they don't push against the pillow quite as much. They don't balloon up like the standard cushions so they feel more compact against your face.
Everybody has their own favorite mask but I've been using the Activa for a few years now and it works good for me.
I'm trying out the ResMed Activa soft gel mask cushions. At first they didn't seem like much of an improvement over the standard Activa cushion (those transparent ones that puff up and seal against your face).
After a few months, I'm starting to like the new soft gels. I'm a terrible side sleeper and the soft gels seem to stay on better when the side of my face is pressed into the pillow. The standard ones are good, too, because they kind of slew to the side.
The gels have a narrower side profile so they don't push against the pillow quite as much. They don't balloon up like the standard cushions so they feel more compact against your face.
Everybody has their own favorite mask but I've been using the Activa for a few years now and it works good for me.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
NEW CPAP e-book available for free download!
The new e-book "Fun with CPAP!" is available for a short time as a free download for CPAP users willing to give me some feedback on this "beta" version.
It's about 40 pages, illustrated and will take about an hour to read and couple of minutes to feed back your impressions. It's intended for those who are new to CPAP and may be having a hard time getting into all the fun and excitement of CPAP use.
To download the pdf file, go to www.cpapfun.com.
Feedback has already been coming in and is very much appreciated.
Yours,
CPAP Fun!
It's about 40 pages, illustrated and will take about an hour to read and couple of minutes to feed back your impressions. It's intended for those who are new to CPAP and may be having a hard time getting into all the fun and excitement of CPAP use.
To download the pdf file, go to www.cpapfun.com.
Feedback has already been coming in and is very much appreciated.
Yours,
CPAP Fun!
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