My husband keeps teasing me about looking like Darth Vader’s sister, so I figured that would be a good title for my entry today!  Yesterday was the day I went to be outfitted with my new CPAP equipment.  For the uninitiated, that involves a two hour appointment where they introduce you to the machine that provides the pressure and a humidifier that works with ti, as well as the other attachments.  I definitely need the humidifier as I am a person who is dry almost all the time – to the point that I get gaggy when I scuba dive and breathe through a regulator or if I’m already less hydrated than usual then have to exert myself (ie running for a train in Europe!).  I also get too dry from something as simple as turning the ceiling fan on medium instead of low during the night.  Anyhow, no doubt the humidifier is important on the CPAP for me.  There are a couple of different types of tubing you can get, but I got one that helps regulate the temp of the humidity coming through the system for me.  Then there were 4 different types of masks that I tried.  Any of them would work for my needs, it was just a matter of choosing one that felt most comfortable and fit my face the best.  I had one picked out that seemed pretty good, then I tried the last one just to be sure and I was shocked at how much better the last one was for me.  Suddenly, I wasn’t even sure if the machine was on (it was!) because it was so comfortable and no leaks!   It was hands down the best fit for me.  I found out that I had 103 obstructed breathing incidents per hour during my sleep study which means I am considered to have severe sleep apnea!  Wow!  That was a shocker.  Apparently I don’t generally have complete cessation of breathing, but significant obstruction.  During the study I never entered REM sleep until I had the CPAP going.  I wonder if that means I haven’t had REM sleep in years?  I don’t know how that works but it will be something to ask the doctor on my follow up.  I know REM sleep is important, so I don’t know if you can go for years without it.  I need to study up on what happens during REM sleep to find out how that could have/has affected my health.  

Last night after I got home, I made sure that I could connect all of the pieces of the CPAP machine properly and get it all working for me. The person that programmed if for me told me to put it on when I am reading in bed before I go to sleep.  There is something called ramping where it starts at a slightly lower pressure than you need, but gradually builds (in a preset amount of time) to full pressure.  They set the ramp for me at 30 minutes.  When I went to bed, I dutifully put my mask on when I was supposed to, made sure my heater for the humidity was on and at the proper setting, and waited for the auto start to begin.  Once it did, I went to put on my reading glasses and realized that I can’t wear them with the mask.  There is a plastic piece that rests on my forehead and comes down my nose!  I was reading on my Nook, so I adjusted the font to read without my glasses for the time.  I will wait to put it on until after I read tonight and change the ramp time to 15 minutes instead!  I was fairly comfortable using the machine.  It takes a little getting used to – for me it was mostly getting used to having something on your head and face and being connected with a long tube.  I was able to sleep on my back with just one pillow and also roll over onto my side during the night without any problem.  My back was sore today when I woke up, but I’m guessing that’s just because I’m not used to sleeping that way.  It’s weird, but when the machine first started I noticed significant pressure and adjusted my breathing accordingly, but as it ramped up higher and higher, it seemed to get easier rather than harder.  I know the pressure increases, so I guess you just get used to it and don’t really notice it anymore.  There was even a time or two I wondered if the machine was still on, but when I opened my mouth or moved the mask it obviously was.  It just didn’t seem like the pressure was all that much at that point.  I guess that’s part of why that mask is good for me – it’s pretty comfortable.  Chet worked a midnight shift last night, so he came home around 6am.  He told me that the he didn’t hear the machine at all.  Obviously I don’t either, so that part won’t be a problem for us.  Chet is also a little hard of hearing – not as much as me, but some, so I guess that works in our favor!  

I am not sure how much I’ll be posting over the next few days.  Tomorrow my lovely daughter graduates from college with a 2 year degree and we are gearing up for that.  We also leave for Oklahoma on Friday morning so there is much to do to get ready for that trip.  I’ll try to post from Oklahoma at least a time or two, but can’t promise.  I will be taking my CPAP along and also trying to keep my diet consistent on the trip so that my Coumadin will remain effective (oh yes, AND sporting my lovely black compression stockings! ).  Looking forward to a fun trip with Chet, Kinsey, Jessi, Nicole and Owen and to visiting with the Oklahoma family and celebrating my niece’s graduation and also Kinsey’s later in the week.  Lots to do before we leave, especially since Kinsey’s big grad party here will be the Saturday after we return and I will only have one day to get ready for that!

After the grad party here, I will have a few days to regroup and then I will be heading to Florida for my twin nieces graduation parties.  Looking forward to visiting with everyone down there, too.  It will be a busy time, but so good to see everyone!