Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
Akri0816
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Joined: Thu May 29, 2014 11:29 pm

Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by Akri0816 » Thu May 29, 2014 11:37 pm

Hi! I from Singapore.... Been helping a friend who was recently diagnosed to have sleep apnea to buy a second hand Devilbiss IntelliPAP AutoAdjust Dv54D.... Does anyone have a place or suggestion where I can go to get it? He is not on insurance or anything so couldn't get the expensive model n since this is the model the doc put him on, he wanted to stick to it!

Any help is much appreciated!

Julie

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Pugsy
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by Pugsy » Fri May 30, 2014 6:04 am

Akri0816 wrote:Hi! I from Singapore.... Been helping a friend who was recently diagnosed to have sleep apnea to buy a second hand Devilbiss IntelliPAP AutoAdjust Dv54D.... Does anyone have a place or suggestion where I can go to get it? He is not on insurance or anything so couldn't get the expensive model n since this is the model the doc put him on, he wanted to stick to it!
Cpap.com has that model machine and I think they can still ship it out of the country. Need copy of the RX though. It will be new though.
Might also check with secondwindcpap.com to see if they have that model at a discount with low hours of use on it. They sometimes do. If short on funds...secondwindcpap.com and a gently used machine might be a good alternative to try.
The will ship internationally. They don't always have all models though. I haven't checked their web page lately to see what they offer so you might check.

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sleepymags
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by sleepymags » Wed Jun 11, 2014 9:52 am

Couple questions from a newbie.

1. Data program to understand nightly sleep - my hubby recommended some other software called Wakeup or something like that (sorry I'm not at home and cannot remember. I was looking under the Edit Equipment for Software options and noticed there are a number of programs to use. I have the link to Sleepytime and to Resmed software but I'm wondering who updates the drop down menu as it doesn't contain the newest version of Resmed nor does it contain Sleepytime at all. That being said, which one offers the easiest to use?

2. EPR settings: I have a S9 Elite and my hubby and I were poking around in the settings (things they don't show you at the store) because I was having difficulty exhaling and was making me feel like I was sufficating. Can you please explain what EPR is and why I would want to change that setting and/or turn it off completely?

3. Ramping - I understand that ramping sets the time it takes the machine to get up to my flow settings (which is 10) and the tech had it set to 20 mins and it started at 5. We changed that to 8mins at 8 flow and I was more comfortable and didn't feel like I was gasping or sucking for air. Since I'm not always sure how long it takes me to fall asleep should I be setting this at a low time or is 10mins average?

By the way I'm loving this forum, you guys rock

Plecoman
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by Plecoman » Thu Aug 07, 2014 9:47 pm

Brand New to this site.

madisonmama
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by madisonmama » Tue Aug 19, 2014 8:04 am

Thanks! FYI first link ,to resmed Understanding OSA, is broken

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dannythemuppet
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Location: California

Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by dannythemuppet » Sun Oct 12, 2014 4:04 pm

Hey all,

Just signed up, after reading the info here for the past week or so. Like many others, I have a story that's varied, and indicative of the terrible health care system here in the USA.

I've had sleep issues dating back to my childhood, but only in the last decade or so have they really impacted my life, so I started looking into it. Originally, diagnosed 6 or 7 years back with moderate sleep apnea. I was sold over $2k (out of pocket) studies, equipment, and all the other stuff they say you need. I ended up with a Remstar M-Series A Flex machines. Hated every second of it.

I was also told (of course after they sold me everything) that I should check with an ENT for allergies to see if that would help me breathe. Of course I followed through, and the first ENT I saw was all "Hey, you have a badly deviated septum, we could fix that and possibly fix your sleep apnea!" I'd had my nose broken on more than one occasion, but figured because I don't look like I belong in the ring, my nose was fine, guess not.. The doc was honest about the possible outcomes of the surgery, and I trusted him so I did the surgery. I never realized how bad I was until after the packing came out and the doc told me to inhale, it felt like I had two massive gaping holes in my nose, not nostrils.

I got the boost in energy levels that people talk about, but I'd still fall asleep during the middle of the day and have other weird things going on, so went back for more studies. Sleep apnea was gone (over multiple sleep tests) so they told me I had hypersomnia, weaksauce. Insurance companies don't really recognize hypersomnia (nor does autocorrect it seems), which meant all the doc could do was give me speed AKA amphetamine salts, to try to stop me falling asleep in the middle of the day/while driving. I later learned that doc probably should have ordered the MSLT for me, but not until years later.

Fast forward to this year, and I finally get a great doctor, and do the MSLT, and confirmed that I have narcolepsy. However, while I was doing the MSLT (worst sleep study ever, be prepared to want to kill the guy waking you up), my apnea reemerged. My insurance refuses to take the numbers from the doc since I wasn't being tested for sleep apnea (months of fighting this). This means I'd probably have to do another sleep study specific to sleep apnea, which I'm just not sure I can handle right now.

I think the return of the sleep apnea is my own fault, lack of exercise and poor diet. I broke my hand and tore ligaments while playing ultimate Frisbee just over a year ago which stopped me from being able to lift anything properly with my hand so I stopped lifting weights, and then a further groin injury stopped me running, so I put on about 25lbs, which I'm pretty sure is why the sleep apnea is back. At 167 my sleep study showed no apnea, less than a year later, at 192 I'm at the mild/moderate level. My goal is to lose the weight again, and ultimately laugh derisively at my Remstar as it sits on the shelf gathering dust.

I found out that my machine was set to ramp over an hour and the basic setting wasn't powerful enough, which meant I was ripping the mask off after 15 minutes. Although because of the narcolepsy, I was out like a light and didn't know this until I figured out how to read the settings on the machine. This went on for weeks until I decided to turn to the internet and find this site. I found a thread from 2012 here that had instructions on how to change the settings on the Remstar. I honestly believe that it was probably badly programmed right from the start so I'd have to pay more money to the sleep center to keep going back and have it adjusted, they did sell me 3 different masks, which was nice of them (is the sarcasm obvious?). Thanks to this site, I made adjustments, and instantly went from 15 minutes, to 2.5 hours a night, and with some more tweaking (and probably getting used to it) I am now up to 7 hours a night, hooray!

That brings me to now, once again I am here I am with my horrible machine, contemplating whether to throw down on a newer machine, or suffer with what I have. Anyone make a jump similar? Was it worth it? I've been looking and there are definitely advancements since I got my machine, I'm just not sure if it's that much of a difference. I'm more than happy to spend money, I'd rather live healthy and poor, than die rich and young, but I'd also like to not throw money away (tell that to the 3D TV mocking me). I'm finally able to run again after 8 months of injury, and my hand has sufficiently healed enough to be able lift weights again so my hope is that in 3-4 months I may not need the machine again..

Danny

TL;DR Used to have sleep apnea, surgery fixed, put on weight, it's back. Should I upgrade my aging Remstar, which I hate with a passion?

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Pugsy
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by Pugsy » Sun Oct 12, 2014 4:48 pm

dannythemuppet wrote:once again I am here I am with my horrible machine, contemplating whether to throw down on a newer machine, or suffer with what I have. Anyone make a jump similar? Was it worth it?
First...you will get more responses if you copy this post you just made and start a new topic/thread in the main body of the forum so that it is devoted to you. This thread and where it is at doesn't get much traffic.
You will have more people see your post if it is in it's own thread instead of buried deep in this old thread.

Now...about your main question...what specifically do you hate about the M series AFlex Auto machine?
My very first machine was that same machine 5 plus years ago....and I have used pretty much every model since that M Series was discontinued. There are some differences but I don't know if the differences or improvements are related to what you hate about it.

This would be comparable to your M series APAP. This is the latest version.
If one of your "I hate it" things was condensation in the mask or hose..the optional heated hose makes it worth it.
It is quieter...it does have easy access to the data and software to see what is going on is also free (links in my signature line)...the data is more comprehensive.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... chine.html

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... ifier.html

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

edgonzalez75
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 10:57 am
Location: So Cal

Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by edgonzalez75 » Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:08 am

I too was just diagnosed with severe sleep apnea.

I just received a call from my DME for a machine and was offered the Remstar Plus. He referred to it as EO601. I googled it and I believe it is their System One machine.

My insurance will supposedly cover 50% of the cost and I will need to pay $550 in payments. I asked if I could pay it up front at a discount and was told it will be the same.

I get the machine on Friday.

My question to the group is that a good machine and price?

I tried at home a Resmed S9 and was fine with that one but I would like something a little more portable as I travel alot.

Thank you very much in advance for your help.

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Pugsy
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by Pugsy » Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:32 am

edgonzalez75 wrote:I just received a call from my DME for a machine and was offered the Remstar Plus. He referred to it as EO601. I googled it and I believe it is their System One machine.
Don't accept it. That's the basic model 260 that doesn't offer any useful data beyond hours of use.

With your limited insurance coverage you would be better buying a better machine that offers full data for essentially the same amount of money.

This is what they are offering
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... chine.html

and this would be a much better machine and is full efficacy data machine
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... chine.html

both would use this humidifier for $229 (and includes the heated hose in that price)
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... ifier.html

or if gently used doesn't bother you...secondwindcpap.com offers gently used at a discount.

You can still use that DME for masks and other supplies if you wish even if you don't get a machine from them.
They might not like it but tough...they want to sell you a cheaper basic machine so that they make the most money.
Read this
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/

If you want to spend a little more money you can get a full data ResMed machine like this one
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... chine.html
humidifier extra

or this which is the latest model from ResMed and includes humidifier
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... idair.html
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... idair.html

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

edgonzalez75
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 10:57 am
Location: So Cal

Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by edgonzalez75 » Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:44 am

Pugsy wrote:
edgonzalez75 wrote:I just received a call from my DME for a machine and was offered the Remstar Plus. He referred to it as EO601. I googled it and I believe it is their System One machine.
Don't accept it. That's the basic model 260 that doesn't offer any useful data beyond hours of use.

With your limited insurance coverage you would be better buying a better machine that offers full data for essentially the same amount of money.

This is what they are offering
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... chine.html

and this would be a much better machine and is full efficacy data machine
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... chine.html

both would use this humidifier for $229 (and includes the heated hose in that price)
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... ifier.html

or if gently used doesn't bother you...secondwindcpap.com offers gently used at a discount.

You can still use that DME for masks and other supplies if you wish even if you don't get a machine from them.
They might not like it but tough...they want to sell you a cheaper basic machine so that they make the most money.
Read this
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/

If you want to spend a little more money you can get a full data ResMed machine like this one
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... chine.html
humidifier extra

or this which is the latest model from ResMed and includes humidifier
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... idair.html
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... idair.html

Pugsy,

Thank you very much. I appreciate your help. This is exactly what I needed. I will cancel my appointment and discuss with my doctor to specifically ask for the Airsense 10.

If I do get one of these online, I assume it has everything I need other than a mask?

Thanks again.

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Pugsy
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Location: Missouri, USA

Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by Pugsy » Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:19 pm

edgonzalez75 wrote: discuss with my doctor to specifically ask for the Airsense 10.

If I do get one of these online, I assume it has everything I need other than a mask?
Yes, everything you need except the mask.

Be sure to know the AirSense models.

AirSense CPAP Elite...full data
AirSense AutoSet ...either of them...full data

AirSense CPAP (without the mention of Elite)...not full data near as we can tell....looks like AHI only and no event category break down and no leak data...and knowing if leaks are an issue is pretty darn important because if there are big leaks going on then the AHI can be inaccurate.
It is cheaper but avoid it any way.

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

Margaret_Yakoda
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Nov 21, 2014 10:43 pm

Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by Margaret_Yakoda » Sat Nov 22, 2014 8:16 pm

edgonzalez75 wrote:
Pugsy wrote:
edgonzalez75 wrote:I just received a call from my DME for a machine and was offered the Remstar Plus. He referred to it as EO601. I googled it and I believe it is their System One machine.
Don't accept it. That's the basic model 260 that doesn't offer any useful data beyond hours of use.

With your limited insurance coverage you would be better buying a better machine that offers full data for essentially the same amount of money.

This is what they are offering
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... chine.html

and this would be a much better machine and is full efficacy data machine
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... chine.html

both would use this humidifier for $229 (and includes the heated hose in that price)
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... ifier.html

or if gently used doesn't bother you...secondwindcpap.com offers gently used at a discount.

You can still use that DME for masks and other supplies if you wish even if you don't get a machine from them.
They might not like it but tough...they want to sell you a cheaper basic machine so that they make the most money.
Read this
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/

If you want to spend a little more money you can get a full data ResMed machine like this one
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... chine.html
humidifier extra

or this which is the latest model from ResMed and includes humidifier
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... idair.html
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... idair.html

Pugsy,

Thank you very much. I appreciate your help. This is exactly what I needed. I will cancel my appointment and discuss with my doctor to specifically ask for the Airsense 10.

If I do get one of these online, I assume it has everything I need other than a mask?

Thanks again.
And thanks you from me also!

I just got my machine yesterday. I did exactly what I've read one should never EVER do. I walked into the DME supplier. They'd scheduled me an appointment. And the man told me "This is your machine" almost like he was handing over a Christmas puppy. AND he measured my face and brought me ONE mask. I was ... skeptical.

But he answered all my questions. We kept the mask on for a long time, and he showed me everything and made sure I was comfortable with it. Not only all that, but he went through the charges and why it's billed the way it is (responding to one of my questions)

Anyhow, what I was given was the ResMed AirSense 10 For Her Autoset that you linked to. And the heated hose, and an Airfit F10 (large) which fit MUCH better than whatever it was they used in the sleep study. I used it last night and slept until nearly 11! Which isn't so unusual, but I didn't have to drag myself out of bed. That WAS unusual.

gudhkarh
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by gudhkarh » Mon Dec 22, 2014 8:34 pm

Thanks

billbaggins
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by billbaggins » Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:25 am

Wow, this is a good place for a newbie to start Thanks!

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Gaspin4Air
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Re: Where A CPAP Newbie Should Start

Post by Gaspin4Air » Tue Mar 24, 2015 1:22 am

Hi everyone, I just recently found out that I have sleep apnea and am kinda bummed out. I started researching by checking out cpap websites (reading spec's on machines) and youtube recordings. I see its gonna take a lot of time just to learn a fraction about what sleep apnea does to the body. If there is any information of certain sites to check out, please let me know. I did find out by watching youtube that you some cpap's can be adjusted and you may need to make those adjustments to be able to sleep a full nite. I guess that comes with time.