Auto pap

Sleep doc wants to put me on a auto pap machine without any Triation study is that normal? Thanks.

Evidently so, or is becoming more that way. /it's far cheaper than a sleep lab. Beware, though. You will probably have to do a lot of modification of his/her orders. I would assume the device will be set to full range (which is never good) and will have to be adjusted several times before anything happens (beneficial to you). Good luck and keep reading the forum - several have been through the same thing, or at least similar.

That's what I was afraid of will I just use the data from the device to dial it in or is it just a guessing game tell I find the right settings?

Just make sure they give you a data-capable machine. Depending on how involved you choose to be, search the forum for Sleepyhead. Its software you can use to summarize your results and get advice on the forum. Register on the forum so you can post the data. Masks seem to be the biggest problem, so be prepared for that.

Good Luck!

RD

It is definitely becoming the norm, has the doc said anything about having the DME titrate? I had my sleep study 3 years ago; after the study, my doctor sent the prescription to the DME, who set me up with my AutoSet and scheduled a couple follow up visits (and the sleep doc was never seen again -- his services weren't needed). At the follow-ups, the RT for the DME reviewed my data from the SD card and narrowed my range accordingly, and after 2-3 visits over about 4-6 weeks I was sleeping a baby. Now I know that I was extremely fortunate to have a decent DME, as well as a RT who was also a Cpap user!

But the good news is that as an informed patient you can do the titration yourself, with a little bit of data and some common sense. Keep reading here, get familiar with SleepyHead, think positive, and you can do it too!

Dgriffin wrote:That's what I was afraid of will I just use the data from the device to dial it in or is it just a guessing game tell I find the right settings?

No, not a guessing game at all. At first the pressure range will likely be wider than you'll end up with but decisions to adjust it will be made based on data from the machine, with possibly one adjustment getting you honed in. Complicated cases can be more problematic, but most with garden variety OSA will find it pretty straightforward. As we've seen on this board, even those who are titrated in a lab can find there's a need to further hone in their pressure at home.

Dgriffin wrote:That's what I was afraid of will I just use the data from the device to dial it in or is it just a guessing game tell I find the right settings?

Adjusting an apap based on accumulated data is *less* of a guessing game than a titration study of a few hours in a strange bed all wired up.

kteague wrote:

Dgriffin wrote:That's what I was afraid of will I just use the data from the device to dial it in or is it just a guessing game tell I find the right settings?

No, not a guessing game at all. At first the pressure range will likely be wider than you'll end up with but decisions to adjust it will be made based on data from the machine, with possibly one adjustment getting you honed in. Complicated cases can be more problematic, but most with garden variety OSA will find it pretty straightforward. As we've seen on this board, even those who are titrated in a lab can find there's a need to further hone in their pressure at home.

+1.
The OP is lucky to get an auto-pap machine without delay.
My friend is still waiting for a script for a machine.
His home test results from September 15 were clear. The doctor insisted on a titration study ("since home tests tend to underestimate"). That was performed on 10/11 which concluded that he needs a CPAP=13cm-h2o. He just got the titration results today. Next step is for his doctor to read the report and write a script. Then the DME will contact him to make an appointment to come to his house to give him a machine. Total BS for most patients.

Congrats to the OP. See the three links below for help on how to see your data - every breath.

Thanks for the help guys!!