Re: Vicki and CPAP again

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/13/2005 11:56:41 PM Eastern Standard Time,

whimsy2@... writes:

CPAP with humidifier who also has

Sjogren. Anyone out there like that?

***********************************

Nope. My husband has a cpap with a humidifier. It is always quite humid

and yet he wakes up congested sometimes in the middle of the night.

Remember the vendor who supplied the cpap unit is supposed to take other

health problems into consideration. The machines can be adjusted. You might

want to have your doctor

phone the cpap people to come out to your home. They should be coordinating

the prescription for the cpap so that you get the best result possible.

My husband loves his. He has the oxgenator as well and he gets a restful

sleep. I can't even tell you what it was like before the cpap. I was thinking

of tendering an offer to buy the neighbor's house so I could get a decent

night's sleep.

The cpap has been a wonderful improvement for him and he just doesn't sleep

without it.

Even a little nap.

Dee

[Guest guest]

Okay, this is a big list.. There are a LOT of lurkers out there and I

need to hear from someone who's on CPAP with humidifier who also has

Sjogren. Anyone out there like that?

My problem, after 3 nights on CPAP and a full face mask, is that I'm

still having MAJOR drymouth, even with full face mask, sleeping with

mouth closed, and humifier turned way up. So I'm thinking that the

drymouth is totally the result of Sjogren. And the full face mask makes

it almost impossible -- unless I take the whole apparatus off -- to get

relief with artificial saliva, which really does help.

I'm thinking that maybe I need to forget about the nose/mouth mask and

just go for nose pillows so at least I can deal with the drymouth

without totally waking myself up.

Anyone out there who has the same situation?

I sure hope so! It's been 3 nights on CPAP and a LOT of frustration. Not

getting any sleep and the untreated drymouth is simply horrid. Please

help!

Vicki

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/14/2005 9:32:35 AM Eastern Standard Time,

whimsy2@... writes:

But apparently I

sleep better when I switch positions now and then. All side sleeping or

all back sleeping just doesn't work well for me.

************************************************************

Yeah, I'm a wiggle worm when I sleep too.

My husband was a walking dead man before he got the cpap. Congestive heart

failure and

a humongous weight gain and he was developing diabetes ending up in the

emergency room with his blood sugar level 850. He hadn't had a refreshing

night's sleep in a year or more and was snoring like a buzz saw.

The cardiologist told him all of these problems developed as a result of the

sleep apnea.

At first, I thought the doctor was a quack.

Proof is in the pudding as they say.

He sleeps through the night, diabetes is under control, has started to lose

some weight he gained, he is alert now and his other symptoms are mild and

manageable.

Hang in there. Just make sure your doctor and the cpap people are aware of

your problems and let them figure out what to do. Our guy from the cpap

place is really aware of what the problems are and how to fix them.

Hope the same happens with you.

Dee

[Guest guest]

Nasal Pillows are tough. Depending on your pressure, mine is high, they can

dry out your nose very fast.

Which chin strap did you get? If it is a heavy black one that has a hole by

your chin, don't put you chin in the hole, put the hole just behind you chin

or it will slide off. Everyone assumes that the hole is there to line up

your chin but it isn't.

Les

-----Original Message-----

From: whimsy2

Well, I went in today and got a chin strap that I'm going to try tonight

in addition to the nose/mouth mask and humidifier...I'll try it out

tonight and see how that works. I also got a nose-only mask to try.

And if those don't work, he said we can try the nose pillows, which I've

been told make it easier to stomach sleep.

Vicki

[Guest guest]

Nasal Pillows are tough. Depending on your pressure, mine is high, they can

dry out your nose very fast.

Which chin strap did you get? If it is a heavy black one that has a hole by

your chin, don't put you chin in the hole, put the hole just behind you chin

or it will slide off. Everyone assumes that the hole is there to line up

your chin but it isn't.

Les

-----Original Message-----

From: whimsy2

Well, I went in today and got a chin strap that I'm going to try tonight

in addition to the nose/mouth mask and humidifier...I'll try it out

tonight and see how that works. I also got a nose-only mask to try.

And if those don't work, he said we can try the nose pillows, which I've

been told make it easier to stomach sleep.

Vicki

[Guest guest]

First night with chin strap...the brand is Tiara and it's red and fits

snugly and felt reasonably comfortable. I didn't have any problem

wearing it. However, last night, my first time using it, I found my

mouth STILL fell open enough to cause drymouth. Darnit. Guess I need a

lock and key on my lips to keep 'em closed!

My pressure is 10, that's pretty high so maybe I'll forget the nose

pillows.

Do you use a humidifier too?

Vicki

RE: Vicki and CPAP again

>

>

> Nasal Pillows are tough. Depending on your pressure, mine is high,

> they can

> dry out your nose very fast.

>

> Which chin strap did you get? If it is a heavy black one that has a

> hole by

> your chin, don't put you chin in the hole, put the hole just behind

> you chin

> or it will slide off. Everyone assumes that the hole is there to line

> up

> your chin but it isn't.

>

> Les

>

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: whimsy2

>

>

> Well, I went in today and got a chin strap that I'm going to try

> tonight

> in addition to the nose/mouth mask and humidifier...I'll try it out

> tonight and see how that works. I also got a nose-only mask to try.

> And if those don't work, he said we can try the nose pillows, which

> I've

> been told make it easier to stomach sleep.

> Vicki

>

[Guest guest]

Well, my dear friend I'm still around but haven't been posting much. I've

been on the CPAP and humidifier and oxygen for about 3 years now. I was so

miserable with the full mask and I called the company. They came back out

and brought the nose pillows and " THEN " I REALLY " KNEW " what misery really

was! I just said " to heck with it " and put my full face mask back on and

TRIED to quit bitching about it. That's just about all of the advice that I

can offer on the subject.

Great big hugs to my good ol' buddy!

Tootie

Re: Vicki and CPAP again

I'm thinking that maybe I need to forget about the nose/mouth mask and

just go for nose pillows so at least I can deal with the drymouth

without totally waking myself up.

Anyone out there who has the same situation?

Vicki

[Guest guest]

Vicky, what form Benadryl do you take? I think I might like to try this.

Jo in MN

Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog

would go in.

Mark Twain 1835-1910

[Guest guest]

Vicky, what form Benadryl do you take? I think I might like to try this.

Jo in MN

Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog

would go in.

Mark Twain 1835-1910

[Guest guest]

I buy the generic 25 mg hot pink pills from Costco. (Called " Kirkland

allergy medicine " on the label). Ingredient is just one:

diphenhydramine hydrochloride. I take 2 of them about a half hour

before bedtime. They work about 80% of the time for me in terms of

falling asleep; they work 100% of the time for me with help getting back

to sleep after I wake up from drymouth or to pee in the middle of the

night. I do not feel groggy in the morning at all but that's just me. I

open my eyes at 5:30 and I'm instantly awake.

I've been taking these nightly for at least 2 years now. My doctor said

it was okay.

Vicki

Re: Vicki and CPAP again

>

> Vicky, what form Benadryl do you take? I think I might like to try

> this.

>

> Jo in MN

>

> Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and

> your dog

> would go in.

> Mark Twain 1835-1910

[Guest guest]

I go with two generic sudafed nightly. Either get them at BJ's, like Costco

if you don;t know it , or Shop-Rite.

Les

Re: Vicki and CPAP again

I buy the generic 25 mg hot pink pills from Costco. (Called " Kirkland

allergy medicine " on the label). Ingredient is just one:

diphenhydramine hydrochloride. I take 2 of them about a half hour

before bedtime. They work about 80% of the time for me in terms of

falling asleep; they work 100% of the time for me with help getting back

to sleep after I wake up from drymouth or to pee in the middle of the

night. I do not feel groggy in the morning at all but that's just me. I

open my eyes at 5:30 and I'm instantly awake.

I've been taking these nightly for at least 2 years now. My doctor said

it was okay.

Vicki

[Guest guest]

I go with two generic sudafed nightly. Either get them at BJ's, like Costco

if you don;t know it , or Shop-Rite.

Les

Re: Vicki and CPAP again

I buy the generic 25 mg hot pink pills from Costco. (Called " Kirkland

allergy medicine " on the label). Ingredient is just one:

diphenhydramine hydrochloride. I take 2 of them about a half hour

before bedtime. They work about 80% of the time for me in terms of

falling asleep; they work 100% of the time for me with help getting back

to sleep after I wake up from drymouth or to pee in the middle of the

night. I do not feel groggy in the morning at all but that's just me. I

open my eyes at 5:30 and I'm instantly awake.

I've been taking these nightly for at least 2 years now. My doctor said

it was okay.

Vicki

[Guest guest]

I go with two generic sudafed nightly. Either get them at BJ's, like Costco

if you don;t know it , or Shop-Rite.

Les

Re: Vicki and CPAP again

I buy the generic 25 mg hot pink pills from Costco. (Called " Kirkland

allergy medicine " on the label). Ingredient is just one:

diphenhydramine hydrochloride. I take 2 of them about a half hour

before bedtime. They work about 80% of the time for me in terms of

falling asleep; they work 100% of the time for me with help getting back

to sleep after I wake up from drymouth or to pee in the middle of the

night. I do not feel groggy in the morning at all but that's just me. I

open my eyes at 5:30 and I'm instantly awake.

I've been taking these nightly for at least 2 years now. My doctor said

it was okay.

Vicki

[Guest guest]

Mine tends to fall off sometimes during the night. I have had a few

different ones and none really worked all that great but they were all

better than nothing.

If you think the pressure is too high at 10 for nasal pillows, try 18, where

I am now. Within 15 minutes my nose felt like it was burning.

Les

Re: Vicki and CPAP again

First night with chin strap...the brand is Tiara and it's red and fits

snugly and felt reasonably comfortable. I didn't have any problem

wearing it. However, last night, my first time using it, I found my

mouth STILL fell open enough to cause drymouth. Darnit. Guess I need a

lock and key on my lips to keep 'em closed!

My pressure is 10, that's pretty high so maybe I'll forget the nose

pillows.

Do you use a humidifier too?

Vicki

[Guest guest]

> I go with two generic sudafed nightly.

Check the ingredients of sudafed. It contains pseudoephedrine, which is a

decongestant that makes BGs go up.

Gretchen

[Guest guest]

no thank you...

Re: Vicki and CPAP again

>

>

>

> First night with chin strap...the brand is Tiara and it's red and fits

> snugly and felt reasonably comfortable. I didn't have any problem

> wearing it. However, last night, my first time using it, I found my

> mouth STILL fell open enough to cause drymouth. Darnit. Guess I need a

> lock and key on my lips to keep 'em closed!

>

> My pressure is 10, that's pretty high so maybe I'll forget the nose

> pillows.

> Do you use a humidifier too?

> Vicki

>

[Guest guest]

whimsy2 wrote:

> I buy the generic 25 mg hot pink pills from Costco. (Called " Kirkland

> allergy medicine " on the label). Ingredient is just one:

> diphenhydramine hydrochloride. I take 2 of them about a half hour

> before bedtime.

Dr. Bell treats significant number of fibro patients, and he has

said that he routinely prescribes up to 300 mg before bed for his fibro

patients. Apparently, diphenhydramine HCl is one of the few meds that

actually deepens stage 4 sleep, which is what is disturbed in fibro

patients.

--

el (andreafrankel at sbcglobal dot net)

" wake now! Discover that YOU are the song that the morning brings... "

[Guest guest]

whimsy2 wrote:

> I buy the generic 25 mg hot pink pills from Costco. (Called " Kirkland

> allergy medicine " on the label). Ingredient is just one:

> diphenhydramine hydrochloride. I take 2 of them about a half hour

> before bedtime.

Dr. Bell treats significant number of fibro patients, and he has

said that he routinely prescribes up to 300 mg before bed for his fibro

patients. Apparently, diphenhydramine HCl is one of the few meds that

actually deepens stage 4 sleep, which is what is disturbed in fibro

patients.

--

el (andreafrankel at sbcglobal dot net)

" wake now! Discover that YOU are the song that the morning brings... "

[Guest guest]

whimsy2 wrote:

> I buy the generic 25 mg hot pink pills from Costco. (Called " Kirkland

> allergy medicine " on the label). Ingredient is just one:

> diphenhydramine hydrochloride. I take 2 of them about a half hour

> before bedtime.

Dr. Bell treats significant number of fibro patients, and he has

said that he routinely prescribes up to 300 mg before bed for his fibro

patients. Apparently, diphenhydramine HCl is one of the few meds that

actually deepens stage 4 sleep, which is what is disturbed in fibro

patients.

--

el (andreafrankel at sbcglobal dot net)

" wake now! Discover that YOU are the song that the morning brings... "

[Guest guest]

Hey, Dianne, did you read this?

Surely worth a try!

Vicki

Re: Vicki and CPAP again

>

> whimsy2 wrote:

>

>> I buy the generic 25 mg hot pink pills from Costco. (Called " Kirkland

>> allergy medicine " on the label). Ingredient is just one:

>> diphenhydramine hydrochloride. I take 2 of them about a half hour

>> before bedtime.

>

> Dr. Bell treats significant number of fibro patients, and he has

> said that he routinely prescribes up to 300 mg before bed for his

> fibro

> patients. Apparently, diphenhydramine HCl is one of the few meds that

> actually deepens stage 4 sleep, which is what is disturbed in fibro

> patients.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Fifth night: Pleased to report I think I finally got the right

combination: The nose mask only and chin strap. It worked so well that

at one point I actually rolled over on my stomach in my sleep and the

tubing came undone and the resulting no-air through my nose woke me up

since the chin strap was being very efficient about keeping my mouth

closed.

I didn't wake up because of drymouth. I didn't need to use the

artificial saliva. I didn't even wake up to pee. This is great!

I do sorta wonder why the mouth-nose combination mask didn't work with

the chin strap (mouth fell open anyway) and the nose-only did (mouth

stayed closed).

Vicki

[Guest guest]

Vicki, one more benefit I guess would be: if a burgler decides to come in your

place, he

would run right back out as he sees the space person there, LOL!!!!!!!!!!! At

least from

the pic I see and comments, I guess that would be so. However I would never wish

that

awful situation for you. Carry on and breathe well.

ml

whimsy2 wrote:

>

> Fifth night: Pleased to report I think I finally got the right

> combination: The nose mask only and chin strap. It worked so well that

> at one point I actually rolled over on my stomach in my sleep and the

> tubing came undone and the resulting no-air through my nose woke me up

> since the chin strap was being very efficient about keeping my mouth

> closed.

>

> I didn't wake up because of drymouth. I didn't need to use the

> artificial saliva. I didn't even wake up to pee. This is great!

>

> I do sorta wonder why the mouth-nose combination mask didn't work with

> the chin strap (mouth fell open anyway) and the nose-only did (mouth

> stayed closed).

> Vicki

>

[Guest guest]

Vicki, one more benefit I guess would be: if a burgler decides to come in your

place, he

would run right back out as he sees the space person there, LOL!!!!!!!!!!! At

least from

the pic I see and comments, I guess that would be so. However I would never wish

that

awful situation for you. Carry on and breathe well.

ml

whimsy2 wrote:

>

> Fifth night: Pleased to report I think I finally got the right

> combination: The nose mask only and chin strap. It worked so well that

> at one point I actually rolled over on my stomach in my sleep and the

> tubing came undone and the resulting no-air through my nose woke me up

> since the chin strap was being very efficient about keeping my mouth

> closed.

>

> I didn't wake up because of drymouth. I didn't need to use the

> artificial saliva. I didn't even wake up to pee. This is great!

>

> I do sorta wonder why the mouth-nose combination mask didn't work with

> the chin strap (mouth fell open anyway) and the nose-only did (mouth

> stayed closed).

> Vicki

>

[Guest guest]

Gretchen,

I hadn't realized that. Are there any OTC decongestants that are ok for

diabetics? I need to take something at night or I have problems with

congestion which is not too good with the cpap.

Les

Re: Vicki and CPAP again

> I go with two generic sudafed nightly.

Check the ingredients of sudafed. It contains pseudoephedrine, which is a

decongestant that makes BGs go up.

Gretchen

[Guest guest]

Gretchen,

I hadn't realized that. Are there any OTC decongestants that are ok for

diabetics? I need to take something at night or I have problems with

congestion which is not too good with the cpap.

Les

Re: Vicki and CPAP again

> I go with two generic sudafed nightly.

Check the ingredients of sudafed. It contains pseudoephedrine, which is a

decongestant that makes BGs go up.

Gretchen