Tonight is the night...Titration!

Finally...get to do my Titration test tonight. While I'm looking forward to getting it done, I understand the importance of it...i'm not looking forward to being wired up and laying in a strange bed...at an early hour...for me anyways....21:00 is really early for me...I normally don't crawl into bed until a lil after 23:00.

I'm looking forward to trying a different mask too. I think i'm about done with the Dreamwear FFM...i'm tired of the leaks...and for some reason, when I do wear that one...the pressure is almost max at most times.

For tonight use the mask that is simply the most comfortable for you to use so less chance of fiddling with the mask issues causing wake ups.

Number one goal tonight....sleep... and it's hard enough to sleep all wired up without adding in known mask leak/comfort issues into the mix.
Put the FFM experiment on hold. I don't think you really need one now anything. No evidence of mouth breathing to speak of to warrant devoting more time to the FFM. Worry about that later.

With your apparent pressure needs....I do suspect bilevel in your future. Some nights you push that 20 cm mark a lot and some parts of the night you don't need as much.
I am hoping they opt to give you auto bilevel instead of fixed bilevel....that way you won't have to use the worst case scenario pressures all night...it will auto adjust and let you use those really higher pressures only when needed.

I will do that in regards to the mask.

Do they typically let you know after the test is complete or am I gonna go home not knowing what i need....guess it just depends on the center and/or Dr.

It depends on the tech, lab and what the doctor is okay with the tech telling the patient.

The tech has nothing to do with the machine that the doctor will decide to write the order for.
He just reports what he does and the doctor interprets things and makes the recommendation.

If the doctor is specific in his recommendation...the insurance/DME combination won't have much choice in what to dispense.
If the doctor is wishy washy..the DME might try to give you a fixed bilevel machine...because it would cost them less wholesale but insurance pays by HCPCS code and the code is the same for a fixed bilevel as an auto adjusting bilevel.

My recommendation is to communicate with the doctor and voice your preference for the auto adjusting model. It can always be set initially at fixed bilevel if that's what the doctor wants.
Regular bilevels (without back up rates which you don't seem to need) come with these modes

Fixed bilevel...has cpap mode and fixed bilevel mode
Auto Adjusting bilevels...have cpap mode, fixed bilevel mode and auto adjusting bilevel mode.
Makes sense to get 3 machines in one and not 2 machines in one....your insurance pays the same amount for either.

You don't always need the higher pressures which is why I stress auto adjusting...there might be times in the night (REM or supine sleeping) where you need a lot more pressure and other times you don't.
Your doctor may or may not realize this and opt for auto anyway. I quit second guessing doctors a long time ago.
Some are keen on auto adjusting and some aren't.

Also...your mention about full face masks seem to cause you to reach max of 20 more often than with a nasal. That's common.
For some people when people use a nasal mask they don't need as much pressure as with a nasal mask. Not everyone of course but common enough it is generally accepted.

I will definitely mention that if it's possible, that I want the auto version if given a bilevel.

Take your mask with you but remember....they will have a lot more mask options for nasal masks than you have.
They may have one of the ones we talked about that you want to try out and don't have yet. If they do have something that feels better...hey...go for what they have.

You don't have to use the one you bring.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 18, 2018 8:46 am

Take your mask with you but remember....they will have a lot more mask options for nasal masks than you have.
They may have one of the ones we talked about that you want to try out and don't have yet. If they do have something that feels better...hey...go for what they have.

You don't have to use the one you bring.

That sounds like a plan...hell, they might even be able to properly size it for me too..lol

AirMech74 wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 18, 2018 10:17 am

they might even be able to properly size it for me

One would hope...but you might have the bad luck I had and the tech was the tech from hell when it came to knowing anything about masks except maybe they sit on the face somewhere.
I still say if I saw him in the crosswalk I would be tempted to run him down.
Long story there that would serve no one to go into. He didn't know his masks and his only solution to a problem with a fit was crank that sucker down ..never mind that it would fit Goliath and never would fit a small woman. Dumb ass.

Trust your instincts about masks...while your experience is limited you do have some experience to draw upon and that's a plus.

So far, the couple of people that i've dealt with were very friendly and able to answer all my questions. I hope to get some good results tonight.