Being told something different than here

[kcarlee]

I got my s8 Elite II today to replace the s8 escape. They said it is not capable of having a daily readout on the LED about my apneas. Also had to pay $155 extra and they weren't interested in my prescription because the procedure code for all the machines is the same? Also have gone from a comfort gel to a quattro full face mask and now going to try a resmed mirage activa and resmed chin restraint. Tired, very glad for this site.

[BlackSpinner]

Maybe you should go somewhere else next time where they actually know there products or are capable of reading a manual. I have and S8 elite II and look at that data all the time.
Just hold down the two buttons until the menu shows and look for results.
I am sure someone will link you to the place where you can get the full manual and you can read for your self everything it can do.

[KatieW]

Here is a link:

http://www.apneaboard.com/CPAP%20Adjustment.htm

Also, check your Private Messages.

[rested gal]

The DME is wrong if he/she is saying you can't view the readout in the LCD window on your machine.

The following screenshots are from the clinical manual for the ResMed S8 Elite II cpap:





You need to look for the data before 12 noon of the next day. If you try to view overnight data later than noon, it will say "No data" because it has reset itself to be ready to record for the next sleep session.

[Pad A Cheek]

I am telling you, what would we do without the wisdom of Rested Gal?

Thank you for all you do. I appreciate your abilities to really explain to the newbies and any one else here exactly how to go about getting the very most from the CPAP machines. Without your wisdom and taking the time and patience to share it, there would be many many people giving up and just not even trying to do this.

Thank you Laura,

Karen

[rested gal]

Oh gosh, Karen. Your words are much too kind. Others on this board are helping as much and more than I do.

I seem to have heard you've helped a lot of needy people with donations of your Pad-A-Cheek strap covers. You're a good person, Karen.

[kcarlee]

Welllllll. I have accessed my machine , am more comfortable with the activa mask and slept! my Ahi was 6.2. I took smartstart off, changed the mask setting, they still had me as a standard mask, turned on leak alert, probably won't use epr at this time, my HI was 6, AI .2. Am cutting a sleep zssss from a tshirt because the mask leaves marks. Don't know how to thank everyone!

[OutaSync]

You are off to a great start! Good job!

Bev

[Slinky]

Too bad the lying sack of horse turds got away w/scalping you that extra $155. I'd dump those sheisters first chance I got once I fulfilled my insurance purchase agreement w/them!

[DreamOn]

kcarlee,

I assume you have insurance. The insurance billing code (E0601) is the same regardless of whether it's a CPAP or APAP machine, basic model or more sophisticated. It shouldn't have cost you more for the Elite II than the Escape.

Not understanding how it worked, when I first approached my sleep doctor/DME about getting an APAP I offered to pay him extra if he would provide me with with an APAP (rather than a CPAP). He refused and told me that it would be illegal for him to accept more money (may have had to do with insurance). He never would give me an APAP either, but that's another story....

Perhaps someone here knows more about the legality of what they did. I wonder what your insurance company would think of that. Is it worth fighting?

You're out a little extra money, but at least you got a machine that's capable of reporting full data. This will help you to optimize your therapy. It sounds like you're making your way around the LCD menus just fine, despite the fact that it's not supposed to be capable of giving a daily readout on the LCD! When set up properly, you can access your daily results via Review by pressing the left and right buttons simultaneously. Good to hear you changed the machine's mask setting. We can't rely on the DMEs!

Your results are good. Give it a little time and you may see them get even better, without making any changes. It does take some time for our bodies to adapt. I hope you'll be feeling better during the day. Good to hear that you like the Activa mask. I've been using the Activa LT since I started CPAP about 4 months ago. I like it a lot. You should be able to wear the straps quite loose with that mask and it'll still seal well. I also use several nasal pillows masks for variety.

Glad you're off to a good start with your therapy!

~ DreamOn

[kcarlee]

OK, I guess I spoke too soon. So much thanks to everybody. The activa mask makes my sinuses hurt terrible and are inflamed even though i turned down the pressure to 7. The mask is so comfortable otherwise. Im going back to the DME to get a full face to use till I can buy one off the auction. I turned up the humidification.... I would really like to use this mask. If I had EPR on would that help??? Thanks

[KatieW]

OK, I guess I spoke too soon. So much thanks to everybody. The activa mask makes my sinuses hurt terrible and are inflamed even though i turned down the pressure to 7. The mask is so comfortable otherwise. Im going back to the DME to get a full face to use till I can buy one off the auction. I turned up the humidification.... I would really like to use this mask. If I had EPR on would that help??? Thanks

Sorry you're having a hard time, but making small changes can make a big difference, if you can analyze what's going on.

Do you have the Activa or Activa LT? I think I've reviews that the Activa LT is the updated version, and more comfortable. In any case, are you saying that the mask pushed on your sinuses and that made them hurt? The Activa or Activa LT should be worn very loosely.

Sometimes turning up the humidification can cause sinus problems. I find that I need to adjust the humidifer according to the temperature and humidity in the room. Right now, for 70 degrees, 40% humidity, I have my humidifer set at 2.5 for the Activa LT mask. I also use the heated Aussie hose.

Sinus congestion is a problem I had, when I 1st started. I now use a saline nasal spray just before bed, and also take 1/2 of a Zyrtec (OTC non-sedating antihistamine).

I find EPR is very comfortable for me, I have it set at 2. My pressure is 10.6, so that means pressure of 10.6 on the inhale, but the exhale is reduced by 2 = 8.6. Try it and see if you like it, everyone is different.

[Tielman]

OK, I guess I spoke too soon. So much thanks to everybody. The activa mask makes my sinuses hurt terrible and are inflamed even though i turned down the pressure to 7. The mask is so comfortable otherwise. Im going back to the DME to get a full face to use till I can buy one off the auction. I turned up the humidification.... I would really like to use this mask. If I had EPR on would that help??? Thanks

I absolutely concur with Katy, check your humidity , your EPR, and even your ramp settings. Prior to CPAP I was on 2 sinus medicines, including a prescription (flonase) that did at times nothing for me re: relief. I had these huge black swollen bags under my eyes (and I mean black as coal!), and terrible sinus headaches, and the occasional sinus infection (yes, with blood, yellow puss, etc). Now the color is coming back to the areas around my eyes, and the headaches are 90% GONE! Now, I have completely dropped the second medicine, and have forgotten to take my flonase on occasion because it's becoming so much better. CPAP has been a HUGE relief on my sinuses!!

Please note that it took some time (about a month) to see some major improvements. My pressure is 11.

[kcarlee]

thanks for the info, the first night I used the Activa Mask( and it is not LT) I turned humidification up and got water in the hose. Room probably gets down to 65 or a little lower at night. Last night I put the hose under the covers and got the humidity up and no water formed in the hose.

[DreamOn]

OK, I guess I spoke too soon. So much thanks to everybody. The activa mask makes my sinuses hurt terrible and are inflamed even though i turned down the pressure to 7. The mask is so comfortable otherwise. Im going back to the DME to get a full face to use till I can buy one off the auction. I turned up the humidification.... I would really like to use this mask. If I had EPR on would that help??? Thanks

kcarlee,

Sorry to hear that you're having some difficulty with your sinuses. The Activa LT is lighter than the Activa mask, and many people prefer it because of that.

As the others have suggested, you may want to try several things before switching masks, especially since the mask you're using now does seem to be comfortable to you. I'm not sure how long you've been using CPAP, but it could be that your nasal passages/sinuses just need a little time to adjust to the incoming air. Or you may need more moisture in your nasal passages. I sometimes use Simply Saline nasal mist or Ayr saline nasal gel inside my nose and that seems to help a lot. As others mentioned, try the humidification at various levels. Everyone's needs are completely different in that regard due to climate, room temperature, and personal preference. Mine stays between 1.5 and 2.0 most of the time. Some prefer it higher, while others don't need any. If you are getting condensation in the hose, try insulating the hose with a hose cover if you decide you don't want the hose under your covers.

What is your prescribed CPAP pressure? You mentioned that you "turned down the pressure to 7." If you haven't been using CPAP for very long, you may want to go with your prescribed pressure for a while. Don't be in a hurry to change things. Give your body a week or so (at least) to get used to any changes.

Regarding Ramp settings.... If your Ramp starting pressure is too low, that can make it difficult to breathe. If you use a pressure of 7, you probably don't even need Ramp. I started out at a prescribed pressure of 6 with the Ramp starting pressure set by the DME at 4. I felt like I was suffocating at that low pressure and tended to hyperventilate a bit! Also, my Activa LT cushion would bellow in and out at the low pressure, which was annoying. I turned Ramp off after a short time.

As far as EPR goes, that's a comfort feature that's also very individual. Keep in mind that if you do keep your pressure at 7, any EPR that you use will be decreasing the pressure on exhale by that number. If your pressure is 7, an EPR of 2 would mean that your pressure will be at 5 on exhale. Just be aware that many people find it very difficult to breathe at pressures that low. It may work fine for you but if not, that may be why.

I hope you'll let us know how you're doing as you get things worked out.

~ DreamOn