Alright, I finally got my new CPAP! The M Series Auto CPAP (A Flex) by Respironics. I’m totally digging this machine. The features and quality are way, way better than my old Resmed.
The Respironics M is an auto CPAP, meaning it adjusts the pressure automatically based on how apnic you are during sleep. It also records all data (e.g. leak levels, apnea, sleep time, pressure, etc) on a smart card, which we’re allowed to look at.
Pretty neat, eh?
My sleep apnea can be tracked every single day so my sleep doctor can make adjustments accordingly.
For the first few nights, I hated this auto CPAP stuff! I couldn’t sleep well, and went through about half a dozen masks (no joke) before going back to my old standby, the nasal sleep apnea CPAP pillow mask by Mirage–I use the often hated Swift II. It works for me, what can I say.
Anyway, after those first few days, wow, talk about some great sleep! I had like five huge dreams in one nights sleep. No sleep apnea to speak of, and no problems sleeping. Pressure is averaging 15.X whatever the medical term is for that thing. 
Auto is the only way to go. It has the benefits of a BIPAP (Bi-Level CPAP).
Check one out
Sleep Apnea Causes High Hematocrit & Strokes?
I forgot to mention something important during my previous post about Sleep Apnea Sit-ups:
Skyrocketing Hematocrit & Stroke Risk!
Seriously though, I found the reason did the sleep apnea sit-ups were because I wasn’t breathing.
Scary, huh?
Yeah, it really is. It’s still hard to believe what poor sleep can do to one’s health. If you’re reading this, we all know first hand or care for someone who does, right?
Medically speaking, the lack of oxygen during REM sleep caused my hematocrit to skyrocket. How high did it get? Only 4 measurement points away from a stroke. Yep! I forget the measurement name, but it doesn’t really matter. My hematocrit (HCT) was 48; 52 or so means if you haven’t had a stroke yet, then you must be immediately admitted to an emergency room.
Life is full of ups and downs, and blood chemistry is no different. I’m no doctor, but I believe the reason I haven’t had a stroke was due in part to my blood platlet count being normal. Blood platletts determine blood viscosity. Think “stickiness” or molasses.
High hematocrit + high platlets = death.
All this from sleep problems. Amazing. It’s not like over weight men–the majority of CPAP machine users & sleep apnea diagnosed people–already have enough traditional health problems, you know?
Talk about a true nightmare…
Apnea Bound: In The Beginning
I am so disorganized. Damn. It’s probably a good idea to talk about the sleep apnea symptoms I’ve encountered before I used a CPAP machine or even was diagnosed with sleep apnea.
Fat Man Sit-ups
Here’s a weird one: I’d sit-up on the edge of my bed and stay asleep! keep in mind, I did this while I was asleep on my fat back. Wow this is almost alien-stuff right?
My Mom and girlfriend have found me asleep sitting there on my bed edge, swaying too and fro, keeping my balance while I snored in a deep sleep completely unaware of what was going on. My ex-girlfriend, would just walk over and push me down onto the bed. LOL! I have to laugh at this. My whole sitting on the bed while snoring asleep thing totally freaked them out the first time they saw it.
My neck was sore as a mofo when I woke up. I was told my neck just hangs straight off my shoulders (I don’t have much of a neck anyway) where it’s about to fall off. And I’ve got one big ass head. It weighs over 50 lbs. How do I know? I weighed it on a fruit scale at the grocery store when I was a kid.
CPAP use among over weight people with excessive snoring, waking up early, high or elevated hematocrit, restless leg syndrome (RLS) and other symptoms may be a sign of sleep apnea. As mentioned, a CPAP machines are used to increase positive airflow, and induce positive REM sleep.
Expect more soon — go back to sleep.
