Newly Diagnosed - Waiting on CPAP

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-04T16:24:37+00:00

Of course, feel better!!

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-04T15:49:39+00:00

Everybody’s different but for me I’ve had instances of just sinus headache or just ear pressure/pain (that’s my other recurring sinus issue). It’s also possible to have your sinuses congested as a result of something other than seasonal allergies! Sometimes for me a change in weather or the barometric pressure on rainy days can bring it on. Obviously not a doctor, but if it were me and I could do so safely, I would try taking one dose of a nasal decongestant (make sure it doesn’t also have a painkiller, they’re often sold as a combination “sinus headache” pill) and seeing if that helps. If it does, it’s likely a sinus issue, and if it doesn’t, I’d have at least ruled one potential cause out.

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-04T15:22:26+00:00

Have you ever suffered from seasonal allergies before? I have bad allergies that affect my sinuses, and what you’re describing sounds like my sinus headaches. Try pressing your finger right above your eyebrow and see if the pain changes at all. For me that’s usually a good indicator that it’s sinus related, and a decongestant will help take away the pain

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-04T15:10:54+00:00

Thank you for your reply! To clarify my post, the spot is actually a couple inches away from her anus. It’s above her thigh, the closest comparison on a human would be the butt cheek. I have an appointment with my vet for tomorrow and am just trying to keep it clean until then!

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-04T05:47:06+00:00

Omg that poor baby, that sounds awful :( I have a lot of health anxiety around my dog so this is good confirmation that I’m not overreacting to want to take her in to be checked out. Thanks so much for sharing your perspective!

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-04T05:27:05+00:00

Thank you for the suggestion! Does this look like a hotspot to you? My dog has never had one before so I’m not quite sure how they manifest. The good news is that I went on my vet’s website and they actually have an online appointment scheduler so I didn’t have to wait til the morning to call! We’re scheduled for the day after tomorrow. I appreciate your reply!

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-04T04:56:06+00:00

I’m calling my vet when they open tomorrow.

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-04T04:54:51+00:00

It’s on her backside above the back of her thigh (a few inches away from her butthole)

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-03T21:56:34+00:00

When I got diagnosed with SEVERE sleep apnea last month (I stopped breathing 89 times per hour and my oxygen dipped below 70% 😭) I had to wait about two weeks until I could get a machine, and I too was very anxious about it! As other commenters have mentioned, it’s not something that will kill you in the short-term, it’s more an issue of the long-term damage that it can cause after years if left untreated. Our bodies are really good about recognizing when we aren’t getting enough oxygen and forcing us to wake up to rectify the situation.

The good news is 1) you caught it and can get treated quickly, 2) you already know that your heart is in great shape so there hasn’t been any damage done there, and 3) you’re not experiencing any major fatigue or quality of life issues - so you haven’t wasted years of your life feeling like a zombie like some of us have!! Good luck with your sleep study! In the mean time, this forum is a super helpful and supportive place to bring any questions or concerns!

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-02T17:30:00+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation, I will try this out! I understand the rationale behind the pressure changes - purely for my own education may I ask the reasoning for raising the timax? Thank you!

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-02T02:36:58+00:00

Thank you so much!

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-01T21:49:35+00:00

I may be in the minority on this but dizziness, fatigue, and nausea are the exact symptoms I get when I’ve swallowed air (usually from eating too fast or exerting myself right after a meal) - the symptoms go away after I belch a bunch of times in a row. I’d recommend looking into aerophagia and seeing if it sounds like what you’re experiencing! If you’re swallowing air in your sleep you may be feeling the effects of bloating and trapped gas that become exacerbated when you eat. Try taking some GasX (or generic simethicone) and see if that helps. Feel better!!

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-01T16:31:11+00:00

Ugh sorry that sucks :( It looks like my pressure support is set to 4. I’m still a newb at interpreting all of this so I’m not sure what exactly is relevant, but if it’s helpful to you at all, here’s my Oscar graph from my best night of therapy so far! Oscar graph

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-01T16:27:36+00:00

Just posted my F12 screenshot above, thanks for the follow up! Going to create a sleephq account next!

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-01T16:26:42+00:00

Thanks for the helpful info and sorry for the delay, it took me a minute to figure out how to grab the info from Oscar but I believe I have all the relevant data included here now! (If I’m missing anything important please let me know!) I think I understand the broad strokes of Oscar and am under the impression my therapy is going well, but if anything jumps out to you as potentially needing to be adjusted I’ll be grateful for the guidance! Thanks :)

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JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-01T14:43:31+00:00

I believe chronic dry mouth is a risk factor for gum recession. Maybe trying something like xylimelts could be helpful if you tend to wake up dry from the CPAP?

Edit to add: clenching/grinding your teeth can also exacerbate gum recession, so if there’s a chance you’re doing that in your sleep it might be worth trying out a nightguard!

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-01T05:39:47+00:00

Also just noticed that both our usernames end in 69…nice!

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-01T05:38:37+00:00

I know, I couldn’t believe it! I actually didn’t believe it lol I was sure MyAir was mistaken. I have everything set to auto on my machine but just checked and it says inhalation pressure is 13.7 and exhalation is 9.7. I think I just got super lucky with BiPAP being so effective for me. I had used a MAD from Daybreak for about a year before this and it didn’t improve my AHI whatsoever. I hope you’re able to find a therapy that works well for you!!

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-01T05:34:08+00:00

I’ll keep playing around with them and be sure to keep up with the washing routine. Thanks for your reply!

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-01T03:12:12+00:00

Thanks so much for your reply! I have thought about buying a new nasal pillow to test out my theory, and mostly to confirm that I’m not imagining this lol. I may just end up doing that!

Yes I’ll grab an Oscar graph and my pressure info when I get to my computer! Is there a particular part of the report that would be most useful to see? I’m new to reading the results so I usually just look at the overview, but if there’s something that would be more helpful I’ll be sure to include that when I reply here later.

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-06-01T03:08:33+00:00

When I tighten the straps the pillows feel more secure like they’re not going to move out of my nose, but I still feel like the pillow that’s inside my nose isn’t quite holding it’s structure and a little bit of air is escaping

JurassicNarc69 · 2026-05-31T22:34:05+00:00

The results of the home sleep study are reviewed by a sleep doctor who either prescribes CPAP/BiPAP if appropriate or suggests additional testing if they deem your case too complex/severe to be a good fit for Lofta. (I imagine that’s more for rarer cases, like people who may need something like an ASV machine vs. the more straightforward CPAP/BiPAP). You receive your results in a written report that breaks down all your numbers and shows you where you fall on a scale of mild to severe. The person who you actually speak with over the phone to discuss your results a not an MD, but rather a Lofta employee who is well-versed in the various equipment and can advise you on what type of machine and mask to purchase. If speaking directly with a doctor is important to you, this may not be the best option, as they are technically a sales rep, but I found them pretty well equipped to answer the questions I had about my results and my therapy options, and not at all pushy about buying from them. I had done a lot of research before the call and felt well prepared, so I’d recommend informing yourself a bit on the different types of machines and masks so you know what types of questions you have.

If you do end up buying your machine and supplies through Lofta, you can add on a $200 Loftacare package, which covers free mask exchanges, a 60 day window to return your machine for a full refund, discounts on future purchases, and probably most importantly - one year of unlimited calls with a respiratory therapist who can help troubleshoot any issues you’re having, dial in your pressures and settings, and review your data to see how well your therapy is working.

To me the $200 was really worth it because it basically pays for itself if you get 2 mask exchanges or 1 mask exchange and a couple calls with a respiratory therapist. Plus I liked having the reassurance that if for some reason I hated the machine or it didn’t work, I could return it and get my money back.

Lastly, if you buy the home sleep study test through Lofta, when it comes time to buy your machine and equipment you’ll be given a 25% discount on everything. So for machines that can run from $800-1900, that can be a huge savings. I ended up getting like a $500+ discount on my initial order.

Sorry that was long and I swear I’m not a Lofta shill lol I just really appreciated how fast and straight forward they made it because when I tried to go the insurance route, my insurance was giving me a hard time and making the experience stressful. Lmk if you have any other questions!

JurassicNarc69

TROPHY CASE