Do I need a doctor?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
dancinci
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Do I need a doctor?

Post by dancinci » Sat Jan 24, 2015 9:11 pm

Hello. I just signed up. I have been reading a lot here, lots of good info.
I have several questions.
I would like to know if anyone is treating themselves, without the help of a family doctor or sleep therapist? Would self treating be better then no treatment, any hidden danger?
As you might guess I am trying the self treatment route but my first numbers are discouraging.
PLEASE don't criticize my spelling. First it's rude. Secondly I chose not to explain. Thanks :)

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chunkyfrog
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Re: Do I need a doctor?

Post by chunkyfrog » Sat Jan 24, 2015 9:39 pm

If you can afford it, some professional input is generally advisable.
Not everyone needs it, but you never know if you are the exception.

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palerider
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Re: Do I need a doctor?

Post by palerider » Sat Jan 24, 2015 9:41 pm

dancinci wrote:Hello. I just signed up. I have been reading a lot here, lots of good info.
I have several questions.
I would like to know if anyone is treating themselves, without the help of a family doctor or sleep therapist? Would self treating be better then no treatment, any hidden danger?
As you might guess I am trying the self treatment route but my first numbers are discouraging.
yes, yes, no dangers worse than not treating yourself.

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LSAT
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Re: Do I need a doctor?

Post by LSAT » Sat Jan 24, 2015 9:42 pm

You need a sleep test in a sleep center or...at least a home sleep test to see if you really do have OSA. After you have the test and know what your Oxygen levels are and how bad your OSA is, you might consider treating yourself. You need a lot of reading to treat yourself. How did you get your machine without a prescription?

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grayghost4
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Re: Do I need a doctor?

Post by grayghost4 » Sat Jan 24, 2015 9:56 pm

Hello and Welcome to cpaptalk.
You have a data capable machine, and along with sleepyhead software and some advice from the many people here you can take control of your tharapy. There are many people here that will help you.
I have done that for mywife and myself ... the doctors I have had contact with were not much help.
If you have not done it yet ... download sleepyhead software and start you adventure to better health.
If you're not part of the solution you're just scumming up the bottom of the beaker!

Get the Clinicians manual here : http://apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-press ... tup-manual

Sleeprider
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Re: Do I need a doctor?

Post by Sleeprider » Sat Jan 24, 2015 11:13 pm

I was diagnosed with severe OSA in a sleep study in which I barely slept. Rather than a titration study, I was given an auto cpap and figured it out for myself. So go for it. It's pretty easy to determine if you're responding to auto CPAP therapy, and easier with today's machines and data software.

I have worked with my family doctor to let him know I am on the APAP therapy, and it's going well. He writes prescriptions for any supplies I need, so it's not like we're some kind of apnea underground here. You can work with a doctor you trust and avoid the whole sleep specialist scene. Up to you.

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kaiasgram
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Re: Do I need a doctor?

Post by kaiasgram » Sat Jan 24, 2015 11:36 pm

dancinci wrote:Hello. I just signed up. I have been reading a lot here, lots of good info.
I have several questions.
I would like to know if anyone is treating themselves, without the help of a family doctor or sleep therapist? Would self treating be better then no treatment, any hidden danger?
As you might guess I am trying the self treatment route but my first numbers are discouraging.
It sounds like you've already been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. If you give us more information we can do a better job of helping you. When you say your numbers are discouraging what do you mean -- if you're not ready to post some SleepyHead reports, could you give us some of the numbers you're seeing from the machine -- especially leak and AHI numbers.

If you have plain old OSA then you can usually find your pressure settings at home on your own with an APAP machine. When you start posting your data we can certainly help troubleshoot.

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palerider
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Re: Do I need a doctor?

Post by palerider » Sun Jan 25, 2015 12:30 am

dancinci wrote:Hello. I just signed up. I have been reading a lot here, lots of good info.
I have several questions.
I would like to know if anyone is treating themselves, without the help of a family doctor or sleep therapist? Would self treating be better then no treatment, any hidden danger?
As you might guess I am trying the self treatment route but my first numbers are discouraging.
to elaborate, there are a number of us here that either never saw a doctor, or gave up on them and manage our own treatment.

self treating is much better than no treatment, as long as you learn what you need to be looking for, and how to manage your treatment. it's not that difficult.

first step is to examine your data in detail.

read the first post in the announcement section on the front page of the forum to start.

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archangle
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Re: Do I need a doctor?

Post by archangle » Sun Jan 25, 2015 10:35 am

There are some risks of self treatment.

- You might fail doing it yourself vs. doing it with professional help. Unfortunately, the standard of quality of the "professional" help is pretty darn low in many cases. It's not rocket science, but it's not just turn it on and forget it, even with an auto CPAP.

- You might blame some unrelated problem on apnea or CPAP and fail to get proper treatment for some other serious medical condition. Even the doctors sometimes make this mistake.

- You can induce central apnea with CPAP in some people. It's critical to monitor your results in the home and watch for central apnea. Yet another thing many doctors miss.

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Pesser
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Re: Do I need a doctor?

Post by Pesser » Sun Jan 25, 2015 12:05 pm

Getting a sleep study may tell you that you have OSA. If it does then you got it. If the study says you do not have OSA you may still have OSA. (And of course there is always some type of UARS, and few test detect this.) That’s because the test is only for one night and it’s certainly never a “normal” night. Because even asleep, many people will not sleep “normally” when monitored. Then there is the test where they try to determine you optimal pressure. That doesn’t work very well because that’s for one night too. Like it or not even with all the test you will need, on you own judgement, to adjust pressure, adjust mask, find the right mask, get the right pillow, etc… I pray a lot in the evening and I have developed a routine before going to sleep. Helps a lot. My doctor stands there with his note pad and takes my order….just like a waitress.

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chunkyfrog
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Re: Do I need a doctor?

Post by chunkyfrog » Sun Jan 25, 2015 12:35 pm

Common sense is one of the things that separate good doctors from bad.
Due to unequal distribution of this resource, we patients may need to use our own common sense.
Heed all the wise words above, and keep your wits about you.

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dancinci
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Re: Do I need a doctor?

Post by dancinci » Sun Jan 25, 2015 3:15 pm

I'm reasonably sure I have obstructive sleep apnea because I lose the ability to breath before I fall asleep. My mouth is open and I'm snoring loudly whenever I'm relaxed enough to sleep. I bought the machine in hopes of a easy fix (naïve I know)

I set the pressure min at 6cm and the max at 12cm. Per the Sleepyhead software, and 3 nights with the machine the daily AHI numbers were 33, 56, 32.

I usually get up half way through the night (bathroom). The first half of the night goes well. I wake up comfortable with the machine running at about 8 to 10cm. Best sleep I have had for as long as I can remember.

Second half of the night not good. I wake up several times with the machine on my set max of 12cm. My mouth opens and the extra pressure, now flowing out my mouth, gives me a drowning, feeling. Sleepyhead shows constant apneas, hypopneas during this second half of the night.

Not sure if I should crank up the pressure, or maybe try same pressures but sleeping in a chair. I could also try a full face mask in case sinuse(sp?) nasal problems are part of the problem. I'm not sure I can tolerate 16 or 18 of pressure or if I should jump into the more extreme settings.

Any thoughts? Thanks

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kaiasgram
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Re: Do I need a doctor?

Post by kaiasgram » Sun Jan 25, 2015 3:22 pm

dancinci wrote:I'm reasonably sure I have obstructive sleep apnea because I lose the ability to breath before I fall asleep. My mouth is open and I'm snoring loudly whenever I'm relaxed enough to sleep. I bought the machine in hopes of a easy fix (naïve I know)

I set the pressure min at 6cm and the max at 12cm. Per the Sleepyhead software, and 3 nights with the machine the daily AHI numbers were 33, 56, 32.

I usually get up half way through the night (bathroom). The first half of the night goes well. I wake up comfortable with the machine running at about 8 to 10cm. Best sleep I have had for as long as I can remember.

Second half of the night not good. I wake up several times with the machine on my set max of 12cm. My mouth opens and the extra pressure, now flowing out my mouth, gives me a drowning, feeling. Sleepyhead shows constant apneas, hypopneas during this second half of the night.

Not sure if I should crank up the pressure, or maybe try same pressures but sleeping in a chair. I could also try a full face mask in case sinuse(sp?) nasal problems are part of the problem. I'm not sure I can tolerate 16 or 18 of pressure or if I should jump into the more extreme settings.

Any thoughts? Thanks

FIRST THOUGHT -- You need to check the "central" or "clear airway" component of those high AHI numbers. If you have a lot of centrals being flagged then turning up the pressure is not the way to go right now. Let us know before you do anything with your pressure(s).

And it would also be useful to post screenshots of the SleepyHead reports for those three nights.

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Sleeprider
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Re: Do I need a doctor?

Post by Sleeprider » Sun Jan 25, 2015 3:34 pm

Dancini, I agree with kaiasgram. Your machine has the capability to produce data of your sleep apnea events, pressure, etc. I have a link in my signature that shows where to download the latest Sleepyhead software. Please do that and let us take a look at what is going on. AHI in the 30s to 50s is a big concern when using CPAP. Something is not adding up, and your pressure range of 6-12 should have a much more therapeutic effect.

Be sure you have a SD card in your machine, and get the software here: http://sleepfiles.com/SH/index.html?TestingVersions

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Julie
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Re: Do I need a doctor?

Post by Julie » Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:03 pm

Are you sleeping on your back? Do everything you can not to do that as it provokes many more apneas (and encourages mouth breathing).