New on Cpap. Some questions and need help

[resaco]

Hello

I'm new to CPAP for 3 days and forgive my poor English. I am Spanish and my first post in the forum, and I have many doubts. I have operated for tonsils, UPPP, nasal septum, turbinates, but I still have sleep apnea, particularly in my last study came out that had an index of 15 or so. Discuss what more I have are hypopneas, had a total of 100 and then 10 central apneas, obstructive 10. That is, what but I have are hypopneas by far.

As with the operations did not solve the problem, I have sent a cpap, the model is https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/Respi ... -CPAP.html, is a fairly simple model but it has given me the insurance, and normal nasal mask. The doctor has put me a pressure of 5 cm seeing the results, and not whether it will be correct because I do not notice any improvement, it is more, these three days have been horrible, I have not slept practically, so I'm very depressed. If normal and poor sleep due to sleep apnea, with the machine have reached appalling levels. I have no desire for anything and I'm shattered.

I should also say that every day I have very dry nose and a lot of postnasal drip (this forever, before and after operations)
I do not know what else to do. I get a lot of anguish to know that tonight I will have to wear the CPAP again and know that I will not sleep a wink, a lot less with the CPAP on.

Can anyone give me some advice? Is it normal that happens to me? Will having the biggest problem in the hypopneas, CPAP can help me? Also clarify that the doctor gave me 5 cm of pressure, as if he put 20 cm or whatever, I think that put me at random and is what most concerns me.

Please help me

[Pugsy]

Did you get a humidifier with your machine?
Your nasal issues sound like not enough humidity or moisture being put back into the nasal passages.

This is what the humidifier for you machine looks like.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... ifier.html

Most people need the added moisture that the humidifier provides. If you have a humidifier...turn it up and if you do not have one...need to get one.

Regarding your pressure....we have no way to know if it is set at the pressure that is needed without seeing the data available. Pressure needs vary between people and there is no one set pressure that works for most people. The M Series machines do have a smart card available to gather the data that the machine gathers. In the back of your machine....do you see a smart card? It will look sort of like a card card but blue with a gold box on one end.
There is even some limited data on the machine's LCD screen. To see what your AHI averages are.
There is software available to see more data than what is shown on the LCD screen but you need a special card reader to use the software.
I can help you with getting the software but you need the smart card and the card reader.
I know of a source in the US...so where are you?

[resaco]

Hi Pugsy, thanks a lot for your help!

No, I don't have a humidicador, but the technician who gave me the machine told me that if I needed it, I only need to ask the doctor and they will install it, so here I'll ask to see if that improves things somewhat.

And about the card, there is a gap to get a special card, but there is no card, so I think it they dont gave me . But hey, I'm from Spain, and if you can tell me where to get the software and the special card you would be very grateful

And the las thing. I think my insurance have Auto CPAP. Do you think I would come best Auto CPAP machine that the machine I'm using now? I say this because if so, I can comment to my doctor to see if I can breastfeed the Auto CPAP instead of the normal.

Thanks again!

[Pugsy]

If you could get the APAP model of your machine then you could set a range of pressures and evaluate the reports. It would be a definite plus if you could get APAP model.

The M series machines are discontinued models. There are newer models which make getting the available data much easier and don't require the special card reader to utilize the software.

The newer models are called PR System One Remstar xxxxxmachines. They use a SD card for gathering data and no special card reader is needed unless your computer doesn't have a SD card slot. At worst a cheap generic card reader is needed.
For some reason where you are at.....is dispensing the M Series machines.

For sure get the humidifier and use it. I think that will help your nasal symptoms a lot. A couple of times I forgot to add water to my machine and I had horrible post nasal drip, congestion, and sneezing.
It's weird that the nasal mucosa responds to drying out by producing excess fluids...but it does.

This is the smart card that is needed for the M Series machine.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... -card.html
This is the card reader and it must be this particular card. I think I know of a source that is only $40 but I don't know if they ship outside the US...I will check...but for now this is for information.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Respir ... r-USB.html

I can help you with the software itself. I will send that information to you in a private message in just a few minutes.
I will also send you a link (gotta go find it) for the provider manual for your machine..It will explain how to get to the clinical setup and view the data that is available on the LCD screen on the machine.
I only have English version...Hope you can understand enough of it...I know they have a Spanish version somewhere but I don't have access to it.

[-tim]

5 cm seems low. I have an auto machine and its set to 6 minimum and will ramp up to 11 or so. Your pressure seems low which would make it seem like your not getting enough air. Is that the case?

Did you do two sleep studies or just one? In many countries its typical for one test to find you have problems and then a second night to see what pressure works right for you.

It will take some getting used to but many people get used to it faster than 3 nights.

Get the humidifier. If your breathing through your mouth, your mouth will be very dry in the morning. If that is the case, you need a full face mask.

Do you live in a dry or very humid area?

[Pugsy]

Check your private message box....Up by the User Control panel upper left of page.

When you have time..go ahead and click on the User Control Panel and add your equipment to your profile like I have mine (see the bottom of my post here to see what it looks like).

[resaco]

Pugsy

Thank u so much again!!

I will try to get the Auto CPAP. On Monday without fail I will go to my doctor to discuss this, because as I say I think that my insurance have these machines.

Besides, I'll ask the humidifier, as I have always had problems with postnasal drip and nasal dryness, so to see if it improves anything.

The problem is that I think about https://www.cpap.com not sent to Spain: (I'll have to find another site, but hey, first of all, speak to my doctor about the Auto CPAP to see what he says. Will try to convince him somehow.

Thank you very much for the help they are giving me! And I will read the pm right now!


-tim

My technician also told me that 5 cm is very low, but that's what my doctr sent my to start. Although seeing how badly they've spent three days is likely to be a very low pressure. I'll talk to my doctor as soon as possible.

I just had a sleep study, only for detect the apnea problem, but I have not had any study for pressure. Is this wrong? He will also say to my doctor.

As I say, I have three nights with the machine and have not improved at all, just the opposite

When I get up in the morning, I have mucus in the throat of postnasal drip, which I have during the day, but something more when I get up in the morning. Can this be caused by opening the mouth during sleep? I do not know if I open my mouth to sleep, really.

In my city it rains from time to time, but I have always this postnasal drip. I have no allergies or anything. So I dont know!

Thanks!!!

[Pugsy]

I thought cpap.com would ship internationally.....are you sure they won't ship to Spain?

Perhaps it has to do with customs going into Spain. Some countries have some odd customs requirements.

A second sleep study to determine optimal pressure is "better" than guessing at it with starting out at 5 cm...but it can be done if doctor uses software to see if there are still apnea events BUT without the smart card there is no way to use the software..so your doctor is guessing and only has your reported "how do I feel" as a guideline...obviously not ideal. You aren't feeling so great and we have zero way to know if your pressure is optimal...if you are leaking excessively..or anything.

[Pugsy]

Oops... I found out why no ship to Spain. Do you know anyone in Portugal?

"
Spain does not allow the direct import of medical equipment to patients. Portugal does permit such shipments."

In view of this problem....any way you can get your hands on a PR S1 machine?

[Grand-PAP]

Hola,

If you need any translation help, give a yell!

[resaco]

Pugsy

The first thing I will do is try to get an Auto CPAP by my doctor before anything else.
I will try this first and after that, I will see.

Do you think that with an Auto CPAP would be easier to detect how much pressure do I need?

Grand-PAP

Thanks for your help hehe . But dont worry, you can speak in English because I understand almost everything

You are right, I have an older machine, but is the machine that gave me my insurance. As I said before, I will try to provide me with an Auto CPAP, and if they give the machine to me, I'll have to see that model is, and I ask you for help to see if is good or not.

Tomorrow I will go to my trust doctor (other than the one he sent me the CPAP) to see if he can help me get the Auto CPAP.

Thank you so much friends!!

[Pugsy]

Do you think that with an Auto CPAP would be easier to detect how much pressure do I need?

Yes, easier and faster along with a few other benefits BUT it can be done with a cpap machine...just takes a bit more work and time to fine tune it.