Newbie needs help

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
ainsleypruitt@gmail.com

Newbie needs help

Post by ainsleypruitt@gmail.com » Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:41 am

I have known for a long time that I have trouble breathing while I sleep, as does my brother and father. Both of them are on CPAP. My husband tells me that I scare him to death at night because I go so long without taking a breath, and then I gasp. I also wake up at night with my heart racing terribly. Recently I had a procedure done at the hospital and the doctor scolded me for not telling them that I had sleep apnea. I told them I had not been diagnosed and he said, "Well you have now". He told me it was severe. I had my general doctor refer me to a sleep clinic who wants 600 dollars just to talk to me and 5,000.00 for the sleep study. I am uninsured so that is out of the question. Recently my friend gave me a top of the line machine that has never been used. It was bought for her father but he passed away before using it. My question is, do I go ahead and try this thing without seeing a Dr as I know that will never happen or do I risk dying in my sleep? If I start on my own, what is the best way to start?

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Julie
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Re: Newbie needs help

Post by Julie » Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:44 am

If you can give us the full name & model # of the machine, it could well be one that lets you diagnose what level of air pressure you need, so give us all the wording on the top of the machine (or of course if your friend has the manual that would help much more), and any numbers (esp. a possible 'Ref' #) from underneath. IF it's a machine that can help you, we'll give you advice on what to do from there.

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Mr Nifty
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Re: Newbie needs help

Post by Mr Nifty » Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:54 am

Sucks not having insurance. What machine do you have. Some have more auto functions than others. My brother has been using a cpap machine for a couple decades. He has never had a sleep study. He buys his machines used. He currently has a Remstar m series cpap. With a O2 concentrator. The pressure set at 14. He does not use a humidifies. He uses a nasal mask.

What is your age and state of residence. Some states have better resources for low income than others.
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AirFit F10-FFM, AirFit N10-Nasal, Mirage Liberty-Hybrid FFM, Mirage Quattro-FFM, Swift FX Nano-Pillow, Mirage Activa LT-Nasal, ComfortGel Blue-FFM, Amara View -FFM, Pilairo Q -Pillow, Dreamwear -Nasal

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chunkyfrog
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Re: Newbie needs help

Post by chunkyfrog » Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:58 am

Where do you live that a consult costs $600 and a sleep study $5000?
In the US, there should be better choices.

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Sleeprider
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Re: Newbie needs help

Post by Sleeprider » Mon Jan 25, 2016 11:03 am

You can get a prescription very inexpensively. The doctor that told you "you're diagnosed now" can write the prescription for you, as can your primary care doctor. Either one can do this as part of their care of you and knowledge of your medical history. Another alternative is Easybreathe.com who offers a prescription service for as little as $99.00, and a full home sleep study with prescription at $400.

You don't need a sleep study! With a prescription for an auto CPAP it is most likely you can self-titrate and be effectively treated. A new Philips Respirionics System 1 60-Series Auto CPAP can be very inexpensively acquired for under $400 today. This is because the manufacturer is introducing a newer model "Dreamstation". Anyway, check out Amazon or Secondwind.com for these very good prices for an auto-CPAP that will give you full efficacy data that you can use to optimize your own treatment. The members of this forum will help you to do this if you want the help.

Please register for an account, and avoid using your email or real-name as a user-name for privacy reasons. Once you have an account, you can use posts and private messages to communicate and maintain your privacy. Good luck!

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Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
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Janknitz
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Re: Newbie needs help

Post by Janknitz » Mon Jan 25, 2016 11:25 am

You already have a diagnosis and once we know what machine we can help you figure out what settings to try. Turn the machine over (NEVER do this if there is water in the humidifier tank, though!) and tell us the make and model number.

You will need a mask that fits your face, not your friend's dad's face. Any doctor can write an RX for a mask. It will be cheaper online but you need to be sure to buy return insurance in case it does not work out. A good mask to start with us the Air Fit P 10 if you can breathe through your nose easily.
What you need to know before you meet your DME http://tinyurl.com/2arffqx
Taming the Mirage Quattro http://tinyurl.com/2ft3lh8
Swift FX Fitting Guide http://tinyurl.com/22ur9ts
Don't Pay that Upcharge! http://tinyurl.com/2ck48rm

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palerider
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Re: Newbie needs help

Post by palerider » Mon Jan 25, 2016 5:35 pm

ainsleypruitt@gmail.com wrote:Recently my friend gave me a top of the line machine that has never been used. It was bought for her father but he passed away before using it. My question is, do I go ahead and try this thing without seeing a Dr as I know that will never happen or do I risk dying in my sleep? If I start on my own, what is the best way to start?
I'll add to the chorus of voices saying "yes, we probably can help!"

let us know *exactly* what machine it is, as mentioned, look on the back, or bottom of the part where the power cord and filter are for a REF number (that's model number in medical parlance) and post it here.

I myself have never been to a sleep doctor, not have I had a sleep study, I learned how to set up my machine, and to interpret the data from it in order to give myself very effective treatment for my sleep apnea.

I'm not the only person here who's done that. it beats choking to death in your sleep

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Accounts to put on the foe list: dataq1, clownbell, gearchange, lynninnj, mper!?, DreamDiver, Geer1, almostadoctor, sleepgeek, ajack, stom, mogy, D.H., They often post misleading, timewasting stuff.

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Re: Newbie needs help

Post by ainsleypruitt@gmail.com » Thu Feb 11, 2016 6:56 am

I'm sorry it took me so long to respond guys. I am not "forum Savvy", so I have been waiting on an email alert. Guess what... The machine I have is a ResMed S9 Auto set.

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OkyDoky
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Re: Newbie needs help

Post by OkyDoky » Thu Feb 11, 2016 7:43 pm

Here is a copy of your Clinical manual. http://www.resmed.com/ja-jp/dam/documen ... ow_eng.pdf
ResMed Aircurve 10 VAUTO EPAP 11 IPAP 15 / P10 pillows mask / Sleepyhead Software / Back up & travel machine Respironics 760

ainsleypruitt

Re: Newbie needs help

Post by ainsleypruitt » Fri Feb 12, 2016 6:37 pm

Thank you so very much. I have been trying to get it set up, but it blows to0 hard. I can't get it to step down. It actually takes your breath!

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OkyDoky
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Re: Newbie needs help

Post by OkyDoky » Fri Feb 12, 2016 6:57 pm

ainsleypruitt wrote:Thank you so very much. I have been trying to get it set up, but it blows to0 hard. I can't get it to step down. It actually takes your breath!

Do you know what pressures are set on the machine? You probably need to do an erase data so the SD card and machine data will be erased so if there were any previous data it will be gone. It may have been set on CPAP mode even though the machine is APAP. Go into the Clinical setup. It is explained in the manual linked above. In the setup menu click on configuration and you will see Erase data. Select yes.
After erasing, you can set your pressures on APAP. To begin with I would set the APAP at 6 minimum and leave the top maximum at 20 to see where the machine takes you. You can also set the EPR at 3 if Exhalation is difficult and you will have a 3cm decrease on exhalation except if your pressure remains at 6 the decrease will only be 2cm because the machine cannot go lower than 4cm.
Go here and learn how to get Sleepyhead. https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead then after you get some data you can post a screenshot by following these instructions. https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead/shorganize There are 3 pages so at the bottom of each page be sure and click to go to the next page.
ResMed Aircurve 10 VAUTO EPAP 11 IPAP 15 / P10 pillows mask / Sleepyhead Software / Back up & travel machine Respironics 760

ainsleypruitt

Re: Newbie needs help

Post by ainsleypruitt » Mon Feb 15, 2016 12:09 pm

I can't thank you enough for your help. You have been amazing! My husband has me all set up now and I am looking forward to actually breathing while I sleep! I am a bit claustrophobic, So I will have to work my way into using all night.

Sleeprider
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Re: Newbie needs help

Post by Sleeprider » Mon Feb 15, 2016 8:48 pm

ainsleypruitt wrote:I can't thank you enough for your help. You have been amazing! My husband has me all set up now and I am looking forward to actually breathing while I sleep! I am a bit claustrophobic, So I will have to work my way into using all night.
It would be nice to hear how you are all set up now. Where you got equipment and what you got. Register for an account and stay in touch. You're just starting, and the forum can continue to help as you adapt and adjust the equipment to your needs..

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Additional Comments: Sleepyhead software. Just changed from PRS1 BiPAP Auto DS760TS

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Re: Newbie needs help

Post by zoocrewphoto » Mon Feb 15, 2016 8:59 pm

chunkyfrog wrote:Where do you live that a consult costs $600 and a sleep study $5000?
In the US, there should be better choices.

My split study was billed at over $6,000, and between insurance and my copay, they got over $4,000. If i had known in advance, I probably would not have done it, so I'm glad I didn't know. The sleep study went very well for me. Best night of sleep in years, and that gave me a great start with cpap since I knew what a good night felt like, and i know what mask would work for me despite my struggles with it. So, for me, it was worth. But I know most people had much cheaper sleep studies than mine.

Image

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Who would have thought it would be this challenging to sleep and breathe at the same time?