Need help with type of machine, mask, etc. as I have been just diagnosed

Hi All, Good day to you! Looks a great forum for people like us. I have just been diagnosed with AHI of 86 with RI being 88 , Oxygen desaturation Index of 69 with minimum odi of 46. How bad it is. Have been told that I must be having OSA for the last nine ten years. Need help on the next steps...is the customised denture a solution, or is a cpap machine the best solution if yes which type of cpap machine, with or without humidifier, type of mask, etc. What precautions to take. And how to go about titration of air pressure, etc. Is OSA reversible with cpap usage. I Have had BP for last ten years and am pre diabetic. And right now despite high medication, BJP hovers around 160/100. Thanks in advance for your help, guidance and assistance

Hi, and welcome. Your diagnosis means you are in the 'severe' range, but Cpap can definitely help with that (you won't believe how much how fast ), but... it won't 'cure' OSA any more than wearing glasses cures nearsightedness. If you wear them, you can see. Don't wear them and you can't. It's a condition, not a passing disease. And do make every effort to make Cpap (actually Apap - auto adjusting type) work as dental appliances, surgery, other 'fixes' have all been found wanting - temporary, and almost all who've tried them end up back on Cpap anyway, and sometimes worse off as a result. You asked about titration - are you not then scheduled for a second lab study - presuming you were tested in a lab? If not, let us know and we'll address it then. And don't get 'just' an auto machine (they can also 'do' cpap if necessary, but plain cpaps won't do auto), make sure you get one that provides full data that can be collected on an SD card that should come with the machine and which you will then use with appropriate software (we'll help) to track many features of your overnight sleep and if ncessary tweak things if needed. Stay with this thread so we can follow your story here.

Welcome to the forum.

Time to do some reading.
Start here
http://adventures-in-hosehead-land.blog ... -test.html

http://adventures-in-hosehead-land.blog ... -with.html

Those dental devices...iffy and with your AHI of 86 might get it cut in half but even with 50% reduction still leaves you with an AHI in the severe range. They seem to work better for those people who have mild to moderate OSA.
Yours is far from moderate and the Oxygen level drops are severe.

What kind of insurance do you have and if you have a deductible that needs to be met how much is it?

Can you normally breathe through your nose just fine or do you have chronic serious nasal congestion issues of some sort and you just can't breathe comfortable through your nose only? Answer to this question will give you a starting point in what kind of masks to look at first.

Hi Julie and Pugsy,

Thanks much for your quick responses.

Julie : Hi...I just mentioned about titration of air pressure as I read it here. No I am just starting. Sure I will look forward to much needed guidance and support here. I will probably have to rent out a cpap for a month as I don't know which machine to go for. But I guess it will be an automatic one. Should it be with humidifier. I am based out of India and here insurance doesn't cover cpap machine nor sleep study. I have heard cpap machine is quite expensive. So it will have to be trial on rent for a month. Don't know which automatic machine it will be. The vendor will let me know tomorrow. Should I go with humidifier. Which type of face mask should I go for. How much air pressure should I start with. Thanks and look forward to your guidance and support. Have a great day ahead!!

Pugsy: Hi...Yes I would go through the links that you have forwarded. Thanks so much. No I don't have insurance that covers cpap machine. Ok. So cpap is the way forward. Yes I have problem breathing from left nostril as it appears somewhat blocked all these years due to a polyp perhaps and sinus issues as well. Should I first get an ENT check up done? Which face mask would be suitable for me. Thanks and look forward to your guidance and support. Have a great day ahead!!

Hi, And would appreciate if you could let me know the other relevant questions that I might have missed out and that need to ask the machine vendor before I start with cpap. Thanks and regards.

Mana wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 19, 2018 2:37 pm

problem breathing from left nostril as it appears somewhat blocked all these years due to a polyp perhaps and sinus issues as well. Should I first get an ENT check up done?

Yes, by all means, get an opinion from an ENT. CPAP is easier to use if the nasal airways are open.


ResMed is a leading brand of CPAP machines. I recommend the newest model ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet with Heated Humidifier or an older model ResMed S9 AutoSet with Heated Humidifier.

You can view these models (and masks) on the ResMed India webpage: https://www.resmed.com/in/en/consumer/p ... ml#Devices
and
https://www.resmed.com/in/en/consumer/p ... vices.html

The others are correct in what they have said in my opinion. You also will want a unit with the built in humidifier.
If you think about what a CPAP machine does is provide a continuous supply of pressurized air (the entire time you use it) to keep your soft palate open for easier breathing, which can be as much as 10-12 hours depending on how much you sleep. That inevitably dries out your sinuses, mouth, throat......you get the picture.
I may have stated in other posts that I normally sleep approximately 6 hours per night. Even with the CPAP machine I had previously, that was still my average. I have had my new BPAP machine for about a month now, and am starting to sleep over 7 hours a night. I am still averaging over 6 events/hour now which is much better than the 40+/hour I was tested at initially.

45011ohio wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 19, 2018 2:55 pm

keep your soft palate open

CPAP keeps your airway open.

Thanks so much.