British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

While my consultant told me that I will have another overnight stay while they monitor the air pressure required to keep the airways open and fit me for the machine.

I read somewhere above that there seems to be a postcode lottery, there also seems to be a great difference in how this condition is handled and the level of importance placed upon it.

I know this might sound completely daft as well, but I'm actually sleeping worse since the diagnosis cause I keep panicking that I can't breathe properly and waking myself up.

This reminded me that last night I was having a really bad time sleeping, I am off on holiday at 4am this morning so I think that was on my mind, I had heartburn and was stupidly wide awake.

I got up after 2 hrs trying to sleep, and then mucked about on the internet for an hour before deciding to try and hit the pillow again.

My boyfriend woke me up this morning and said "you were snoring for Britain glen". hmm.......I think that was in his imagination since I was awake for a good 4 hours while he himself was snoring!!!!

(All that aside he is pretty supportive really!)

Had the results of my Sleep Study today. I stop breathing 52 times each hour, my Oxygen levels fall to 92.7%.

Got my RESMED CPAP and full face mask today - this is the trial machine with variable output, back to clinic in 2 weeks to hopefully get a nice little resmed s8.

Cannot wait to try the machine tonight. I will of course report back.

Stuart

I wonder how Stuart got on last night

I'm still waiting for my next appt to get "fitted" for the CPAP. It's been a month since diagnosis now.

Well,

after locating suitable socket for CPAP and deciding that I was almost ready I tried a new ritual item of a mug of horlicks (normally cup of tea man!)

I strapped myself into full face mask, and pressed the button and then tried to get comfortable so that during th 30 minsutes ramp up I would be asleep as quick as possible.

Don't know if I made it in 30 minutes but the night went much better than expected, yes i woke a few times as I turned over and garrotted myself on the hose. The mask did not leak (as far as I could tell) and I only needed to get up twice for the loo.

Woke 5 minutes before my alarm feeling better than normal, no headache etc.

I had been waking on and off for hour or so before this and noted how cold the air was.......... too soon to tell re need for humidifier.

All in all a less daunting experience than expected. Will try again tonight.

Stuart

I am pinning so much hope on this thing......I shouldn't have high expectations really but it is good that one night and you felt some benefit, even if it wasn;t 100% comfortable.

I might have to phone the hospital and see whereabouts on the list I actually am now.

Good luck for tonight!

Well it has now been 3 nights and things are getting better.

Have found a way to sleep comfortably without hose problems.

Last two nights only needed to get up once for the loo, this is a major improvement.

Feeling less tired during the day already, but I think this will just continue to improve. I do have a fair amount of sleep to catch up on!

Machine is quiet and does not disturb and not having any air leak problems.

Overall a much happier person.

Glen, keep chasing them up but remember that they do have limited resources - it will be worth it in long run.

Good luck.

Stuart

My husband has just been diagnosed this week with OSA, and had only been using the CPAP for one night before we went camping for a weekend. He asked the company that supplied the CPAP to provide an adaptor so that he could run his CPAP off a leisure battery (posh car battery with a carry handle). UK campsites are very good about allowing you to charge the battery at their main office we found, but leisure batteries can last for three nights use of CPAP.

I hope this helps if you are a caming sort of person.

XX

Thanks Ryebase! This will broaden my horizons considerably (narrowboat holidays were a happy memory of the past, so I can try again!). Many thanks and hope you both enjoy your holidays!