The very first week I used swift-FX pillows the inside of my nose was sore. I used some vitamin-E oil and after a while (about two weeks) things settled down. I now use the mask without any discomfort or irritation at all. I also keep it fairly loose -- just tight enough to get a reliable seal, noth...

I give my hose a rinse every couple of weeks. I squirt some soft soap into one end, add some hot water, and swish back and forth by holding both ends, letting the hose droop in a U shape and alternately seesawing each end up and down. Dump out the soapy water, and give a good flushing. Although I'm ...

Alright, so I was looking around on the internet about AHI and what it means. I found a guideline that showed mild, moderate, and severe apnea, I then compared it to my own results and saw that I usually have between a 1.0 and a 2.0. Does this actually count for anything? Is the CPAP even needed in...

I'll check the model # again -- I was working from memory, which is probably not a good idea. It is definitely a CFLEX+ model, as it's my favourite feature. The machine has been working for almost a year and a half without any problems, but it needs to hang in there for 5 years before my insurance w...

450 PR System One REMstar Pro CPAP Machine with C-Flex Plus. When I questioned the $75 for the SD card (I also do a lot of digital photography, so I've bought more than a few CF and SD cards over the years) the DME said the fee was more to cover their cost to produce the physician's reports from the...

Which specific model did they give you? Is it data-capable? Den . Respironics System One. Yes, it's data capable using a regular SD card. I can pop the card into my laptop and view the data using SleepyHead. I can also view AHI data on the display itself (after I activated the Clinician's menu.) As...

Since my username is "Ontario CPAP" I thought this post was directed to me... Anyway, the process I went through was this. I went for a sleep test (no machine) hooked up to all the bells and whistles (EKG, EEG, O2 monitor, breathing monitor, video of sleeping position through the night, etc.) Based ...

Are you in Canada? If so, you can get a Snoreguard over the counter (e.g., at Shoppers or Rexall.) I use one when travelling instead of CPAP. It doesn't work as well as the machine, but it's better than nothing.

I don't believe it is available in the US (they require a prescription.)

I had to perform chemical titration studies in first year engineering. You take a beaker of liquid A, and add miniscule quantities of liquid B one tiny drop at a time, taking measurements as you go (pH, etc.). Drip. Take a measurement. Drip, take a measurement. Incredibly boring. Only the most dilig...

I'll give you my story and let you draw your own conclusions as to how to use your machine. My family doctor scheduled me for a sleep test after I was complaining of poor sleep. When I went for the test, I was hooked up to a bunch of instruments (EEG, respiration, ECG, oxygen level) but not a CPAP. ...

I find the pillows do not need to be pushed very hard against my nose. Just enough pressure to make a seal. I suppose the higher the CPAP pressure, however, the tighter the pillows need to be pushed against the nose... My setting is 9 cmH2O, and my pillows are actually in fairly light contact with m...

I've been using a CPAP for around a year now -- first an auto unit for 2 months and later a fixed pressure unit. Recalling the first few nights, an early challenge was getting used to having positive pressure inside your nose and throat. At first my cheeks would expand like a chipmunks until I learn...

Cooling the air reduces the amount of water vapor it can carry. At 15C, air can hold a maximum of 11g of water vapor per kg of dry air. At 20C, air can hold a maximum of 15g of water vapor per kg of dry air. At 25C, air can hold a maximum of 20g of water vapor per kg of dry air. (I used this psychro...

One key aspects of OSA that you won't be able to determine at home is your depth of sleep. OSA does NOT always result in waking up, but can keep you from achieving a deep sleep, which is just as bad over the long term as waking up. If you have a look at the Wikipedia article on sleep stages ( http:/...

I live in Toronto, therefore its summertime and its hot out. Do other Canadians, living in a climate such as mine, feel the need to use the Climate Controlled tube that i have or should I just be using the regular white cheaper hose??? I don't want to be creating a problem using that hose in the su...