Newbie to the CPAP World, Also a few questions...

[ChicagoCpap]

Hi all, I have been monitoring this forum for the past few months, ever since I thought I had OSA. A lot of your information has been invaluable and I want to thank you all!

I was sent in for a sleep study, and diagnosed with Severe OSA, had to fight for the CPAP machine that my doctor thought I needed, but my insurance finally sprung for a Respironics RemStar Pro with CFLEX & SmartCard.

I have had the machine for just over a week, and WHOA, what a difference it makes. I am used to being exhausted in the shower, then getting ready, then almost falling asleep on my (one hour) commute to work (you have to love Chicago traffic!) Now, I wake up and I am ready to take on the world, it is amazing guys!

Because I am a newbie... I have some questions. I have a ComfortSelect mask for now, what happens if I have a cold and my nose is stuffed up? What do I do then? I don't want to sleep without my CPAP!

Another question would encompass my SmartCard. If my fiancé wanted to talk to me either in the middle of the night or when we are falling asleep. I have found the only way to respond back to her would be to plug my nose, to stop the airflow and then talk to her. Would this show up on the card as an obstructive apnea event?

One more point. I just was notified that my ComfortSelect is enroute. It will be here within the next few days, but I will be traveling for my job, so I will not get it until next Monday. I will let you know how it goes!!

Finally, any tips or tricks for a new CPAP user? Anything would be greatly appreciated! Thanks again for everything you have done for me!!!

[There]

Well, from one newbie to another, welcome! I'm excited for you that you're already noticing a big improvement in a week's time. I've been struggling a bit finding a comfortable mask that will let me sleep long enough to really benefit. But I am noticing *some* difference, definitely enough to keep me going.

From what I hear from other posters on this forum, many of them have gotten full face masks (either really full face or just those that cover mouth and nose) to use when they are sick or suffering from allergies because that's when they're most likely to mouth breathe. I imagine there are also different medications you could take to keep the congestion at bay - I swear by Nyquil - it's the only good thing about being sick

I don't have a SmartCard, so I can't say how plugging it up would show up on the log. I would plug your nose, record when you did it, then see what turns up on the log. I usually just lift my mask away slightly so the air spreads across my face, but the hubster's gotten better at asking questions that don't require much more than yes/no or gesture answers.

Good luck!

[Grant I]

Chicago,
Lombard here...
Your CPAP machine's smart card only records compliance data--hours used, nights used--no event data like obstructions. The Respironic RemStar Pro 2 CPAP and the AutoPAP smart cards record events. So, talk away!

Other advice: Get/use the heated humidifier--it REALLY makes a difference. Don't get discouraged if you have some bad nights/weeks--even after having a great start like you have--this therapy can take a LOT of adjusting to. Keep reading this forum. There is a TON of great practical information here. I only wish I'd known about it 2 years ago when I started treatment!

Keep us posted!

Grant

[littlebaddow]

Great to hear you're feeling better so quickly. Many of us take much longer to get used to PAP-life, so celebrate your success It might be worth keeping a journal of how you feel, so that if you do have any setbacks you can look back and see the progress you've made.
Good advice from the other respondants.
A full face mask (not literally as it only overs the nose and mouth ) is an option for when you're congested, though they can be more prone to leakage. The Ultra Mirage seems a popular choice.
A heated humidifier will help reduce congestion, and there are a number of nasal sprays that can help - I've used one called Nasonex to good effect.

[Nitro Dan]

Congrats on your fast response, it's always nice getting your life back!

[ChicagoCpap]

thanks all for your input folks!

Grant, I was a bit generic with the "Chicago" thing, I am actually living in Aurora!! I have an encore pro SmartCard. I was under the impression that my machine will show any types of events. You mentioned that Only the REMstar Pro 2 with C-Flex will monitor my events...

My doctor perscribed a machine that would record my events because my initial diagnosis with my sleep study was Central Sleep Apnea. He was not all that conviced that I don't suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea, so he wanted my CPAP machine to record any apnea events to determine if indeed my CPAP was effectively treating my "CSA".

Did he mess up? How do I know if it is a Pro or Pro 2??

So many questions.... dying for answers............................................

-mark

[jashmir3]

What is Central Sleep Apnea? Am new here too and seen that a few times, but don't know what it is. Thanx

[Liam1965]

What is Central Sleep Apnea? Am new here too and seen that a few times, but don't know what it is. Thanx

I may not be exactly right here, but close enough.

OSA is Obstructive Sleep Apnea. You stop breathing because your throat closes (thus causing an obstruction).

A Central Apnea is when your brain "forgets" to send the message to your lungs to breathe. It can happen for a number of different reasons, and CAN be caused by higher pressures (although usually not the pressures at which CPAP operates. Patients differ, however...)

The point is that pressure therapy will not help centrals, and in fact may make them worse. Pressure therapy works by forcing open the obstruction, thus allowing air to pass again. When there's no obstruction, there's no cure.

(An iron lung would help with centrals, because it helps keep you breathing even when you can't on your own, but you really don't want an iron lung. )

Liam, wondering what an iron maiden would treat.

[jashmir3]

Liam Thanx for the info.

[Grant I]

I have an encore pro SmartCard. I was under the impression that my machine will show any types of events. You mentioned that Only the REMstar Pro 2 with C-Flex will monitor my events...

My doctor perscribed a machine that would record my events because my initial diagnosis with my sleep study was Central Sleep Apnea. He was not all that conviced that I don't suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea, so he wanted my CPAP machine to record any apnea events to determine if indeed my CPAP was effectively treating my "CSA".

Did he mess up? How do I know if it is a Pro or Pro 2??

Mark,
My original machine was the RemStar Pro with Cflex which records only compliance. The label on the top of the machine will read either "Pro" or "Pro2". If you have the Pro, there are no event data recorded. This machine will not fulfill your doc's requirements. If it's the wrong machine, call your DME, and do the following:
1. Have them read your prescription. Does it specify a "recording" CPAP? If not, explain what your doc told you about why he wanted event data.
2. Read them the machine description from this page on CPAP.COM: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/1608
3. Ask what time tomorrow they'll switch your "Pro" for a "Pro2" or better yet, just bring you the AutoPap with Cflex!!

Hope this helps!
Grant

[christinequilts]

The point is that pressure therapy will not help centrals, and in fact may make them worse. Pressure therapy works by forcing open the obstruction, thus allowing air to pass again. When there's no obstruction, there's no cure.

Liam- Just a little clarification on CSA (Central Sleep Apnea) & PAPs. All PAPs are forms of pressure therapy and because CSA can have so many different (and often unknown) causes different types of pressure therapies work for different people. Some people with centrals do fine with a straight CPAP pressure- often they have mixed apnea and the centrals are more of a symptom of the OSA then a separate problem. A lot of people with CSA due well on regular BiPAP (BiPAP S) that spontaneous follows the users breathing changing from higer inhale (IPAP) to lower exhale (EPAP) pressure. The BiPAP is not making them breath- they are actually triggering it and if they don't breath the BiPAP stays at the lower (EPAP) pressure indefinantly. I'm not sure if doctors really understand how it works...maybe its like getting an annoying song stuck in your head & you end up humming all day except you are the one who was signing the song in the first place.

In some cases neither straight CPAP or regular BiPAP (BiPAP S) is enough to keep a person with CSA breathing regularly and they need a kick start every so often. You will hear it referred to as Timed BiPAP or BiPAP ST- it Spontanously switches from IPAP to EPAP with the users breathing but if the user doesn't breath for a predetermined number of seconds the TIMED function kicks in to change the pressure to IPAP & back to EPAP until the user breaths on their own, spontaneously triggering the pressure changes. The Timed rate is in the number of breaths per minute- mine is set at 10 breaths per minute so if I don't start inhaling within 6 seconds of completing a breath my BiPAP ST takes over control until I start breathing again which may take a few cycles.

Just a friendly Public Service Anouncement to help you (and others) understand about CSA a little more....Christine

[dankazoo]

Hey Mark-

Greetings from South Aurora (95th & Eola).

Dan

[IWannaSleep]

Wow Chicago, that's so great. I'm so jealous of those who see such quick benefits. I'm more like "There" in that I think I can feel a difference... and I think it's improvement, but the jury is still out. I definitely felt worse the first few days after finally straightening out congestion problems and all the fittings adjustments and masks and stuff. It's almost like my body was having withdrawals or something. Anyway I'm still hopeful and keep at it, mostly because of the great success stories like yours. I can't wait for a day without the dull headache and having that refreshed feeling in the morning.

[littlebaddow]

Anyway I'm still hopeful and keep at it, mostly because of the great success stories like yours. I can't wait for a day without the dull headache and having that refreshed feeling in the morning.

That's the vital ingredient, if you stick at it and don't let the setbacks get to you, then the headache-free mornings will creep up on you

[ballast949]

If your CPAP has a smart card, then presumably it is capable of recording some information. At a minimum, it probably records "compliance" data - when and for how long you used the CPAP and what pressure it is set at. Also calculates some averages, like average nightly use etc. Assuming this is the case, what your doctor will see when you tun the CPAP off to go get a drink or whatever, is a break in the bar graph which starts when the machine is turned on and stops when you turn it off. If you just shut down for a minute, the graph's bar just has a narrow black line. If you turn it off for half an hour while you go fix yourself a snack, you get a more obvious break in the bar with some white space separating the segments. In any case, the interruptions do not show up as AHI events. I don't see your model listed in my Encore reader software - just generic CPAP. I have the BiPAP (an an interest in an APAP) and just discovered a few days ago that the BiPAP records pretty much the same data as the APAP. To see the data yourself, you need to invest $200 in the reader & software.

I find it gives me a feeling of control to be able to see the events for the prior night's sleep and relate those readings to how I feel the next day. It also gives me a better idea what effect different sleeping positions and mask leak problems are having on my events. For example, I have already been able to see that during ramp-up to full pressure, I am far more likely to have snoring events and Obstructive Apneas - a whole string of them for 15-20 minutes. Once I hit full pressure, my mask leaks increase, but the snoring and OA's pretty much disappear. The charts don't really show the ramp-up pressures, but they are pretty obviously related to the mask leakage, which is graphed. The higher the pressure the higher the leaks. Consequently I have shortened my ramp-up time from 25 minutes down to 15 and raised my ramp-up starting pressure to 10. (I'm heading to full pressure at 23). Of course I'm cheating and playing with pressures to see if I can get correct results with a lower (more liveable pressure - even dropping to 20 would help)

If you would like to see what the charts look like, let me know and I can arrange to email you some samples. Also a convenience note: if you access your profile and list your equipment including mask & humidifier details in your "signature" then everyone can automatically tell just what equipment you have.