Lost 42 lbs & wonder if I need new sleep study

Hi, everyone!

Just found this forum and registered.

I've just lost 42 lbs. and wonder if I should have another sleep study.

Why do I think I might need a new one?

Not sure if my pressure needs to be adjusted due to losing weight.

Lately, I am back to feeling like I was before I had the first sleep study -- waking up with headache, nodding off easily if I'm sitting on the couch watching TV or on my computer.

Right now, it's 2:00 a.m. and I'm sitting here with a headache due to falling asleep while I sit on the couch.

Also, I had never heard of Cheyne-Stokes breathing until I was reading some posts on her tonight. Just in the last couple of weeks, I've been waking myself up because my breathing pattern has changed. My mouth kind of pops open because the exhale is not able to get out, and then the air comes out in a really weird way. It's similar to the demonstration in this video at the :40 point. http://youtu.be/bDebRCRVN08 I'm not saying it is Cheyne-Stokes. I'm just saying the way her mouth pops open is similar to what is happening with me lately.

This is even with my chin strap on, which I have always worn with CPAP because, without the chin strap, my mouth hangs open.

Once again, I'm at a new job with new insurance so I can get a sleep study if I need to.

I gained weight after getting the CPAP, but I've been working really hard to lose weight for about nine months.

I've had three sleep studies since about 2005 due to changing jobs and insurance, and new insurance would require new studies.

Been wearing CPAP faithfully each night since I got it in 2005.

It was adjusted at the last sleep study, about four years ago.

I'm not able to get any kind of readings fro the CPAP machine, like I've seen in other posts here.

What machine (full name & model #) are you using? At what pressure(s)? What mask? Do you know you can download SleepyHead software (works on Macs too) free from the forum and it's easier to use than the old Encore?

It's pretty unlikely you will be able to just stop using Cpap because of the weight loss - it's a good thing, but not that radical as those go, plus you say you don't feel well (you stopped using your machine?) but apparently have no program to self test with. A new sleep study may not be necessary if you can consistently (week or two anyhow) get results using SleepyHead, but only if your machine records and reports more than compliance or AHI alone - so let us know what it is (you may need to empty the humidifier, turn the machine over and find model #'s underneath... e.g. Ref, etc.). An 'Escape' or "Plus' model won't give you results unfortunately.

him8nc wrote:I'm not able to get any kind of readings fro the CPAP machine

Get a good machine so you can actually see what is going on with your breathing at night.

If your mouth is opening, you need to switch to a full face mask (FFM).

Some people require MORE pressure after losing weight.
Since you have a brick rather then something useful (you were ripped off) you have to go the trial and error route.
Go online and find the clinical manual for your machine. Increase your pressure by .5 cm and leave it there for a couple of days. Write a journal everyday recording how you feel physically and mentally, changes can be subtle. Stop adjusting pressure once you begin to feel a change.

Next - get a decent machine with data.

I got my machine 4 months ago. Since then I've lost 100 lbs, now run (well elliptical) 4 miles a day, lift weights, eat healthier than ever, and get actual sleep every night... I feel like a teenager again after I get moving. The joints still need some warm up time lol.

BUT my average pressure is a full cm higher now than it was during the first month of therapy...

Hope I didn't just crush thousands of dreams about getting off CPAP after a big weight loss.

If your machine can't auto adjust or give you the data.. a sleep study will give you the answers you want and need to feel better again. Go for it! Then get rid of the brick and get a smart machine. Always fun to have a new toy.

If your machine can't auto adjust or give you the data.. a sleep study will give you the answers you want and need to feel better again. Go for it! Then get rid of the brick and get a smart machine. Always fun to have a new toy.

him8nc, The correct approach is to get a new machine. Then you most likely can optimize your CPAP therapy without spending money on a sleep study.

If you have the sleep study first, then you will also want a new machine. So you pay for the sleep study (deductibles, copays, whatever) and a machine.

If you take the first approach, you most likely will save the cost of a sleep study.

Julie wrote:What machine (full name & model #) are you using? At what pressure(s)? What mask? Do you know you can download SleepyHead software (works on Macs too) free from the forum and it's easier to use than the old Encore?

Machine is ResMed S8 with HumidAire 3i.

Pressue has been 12 since 9/28/11.

Mask is Respironics True Blue (over nose only) + chin strap.

As I stated before, I can't download any software to work with this machine. At least no one ever mentioned the ability to do this when I got the machine.

Huh? wrote:Get a good machine so you can actually see what is going on with your breathing at night.

I thought I had a good machine.

Had no idea it was possible for a CPAP to work with software to tell me anything until I found this forum last night and started reading.

Huh? wrote:If your mouth is opening, you need to switch to a full face mask (FFM).

I can't use a full-face mask. It took a long time and a lot of trial-and-error to get to a mask that is comfortable (Respironics True Blue).

That's why I have the chin strap -- to keep my mouth closed.

ChicagoGranny wrote:

him8nc, The correct approach is to get a new machine. Then you most likely can optimize your CPAP therapy without spending money on a sleep study.

If you have the sleep study first, then you will also want a new machine. So you pay for the sleep study (deductibles, copays, whatever) and a machine.

If you take the first approach, you most likely will save the cost of a sleep study.

There will be no way around spending the money on deductibles and co-pays and having a new sleep study. I called the insurance company to see if I need a referral for a new study and they said yes, even though everything else in my insurance booklet says I don't need a referral.

They also said I must get a new machine if the sleep study indicates I need to be on a machine, and I would have to pay a portion of the rent for the machine each month. When I called about this last week, I had no idea the CPAP machines exist that work with software. Didn't know about that until last night when I found this forum and started reading. So I was thinking, "Why in the world won't they just adjust this machine and send it off for any repairs it might need like before? I don't want to pay monthly rent for DME when I own this one."

Oh, well. Guess it's time to start the process of getting an appointment for a new sleep study.

him8nc wrote:

Julie wrote:What machine (full name & model #) are you using? At what pressure(s)? What mask? Do you know you can download SleepyHead software (works on Macs too) free from the forum and it's easier to use than the old Encore?

Machine is ResMed S8 with HumidAire 3i.

Pressue has been 12 since 9/28/11.

Mask is Respironics True Blue (over nose only) + chin strap.

As I stated before, I can't download any software to work with this machine. At least no one ever mentioned the ability to do this when I got the machine.

An "S8 WHAT"??? There were several models back then......the "Autoset", the "Elite", the "Escape" and the "Compact". The first two (Autoset and Elite) are fully data-capable and the last two (Escape and Compact) are not.

You'd be money ahead by buying a newer, fully data-capable machine than spending the money on a sleep study.


Den

.

Welcome to the forum. The newer machines are awesome!

Wulfman... wrote:

An "S8 WHAT"??? There were several models back then......the "Autoset", the "Elite", the "Escape" and the "Compact". The first two (Autoset and Elite) are fully data-capable and the last two (Escape and Compact) are not.

You'd be money ahead by buying a newer, fully data-capable machine than spending the money on a sleep study.

Den[/quote]

Sorry!

ResMed S8 Compact

Can't get around doing the sleep study. New job and new insurance company, so the new sleep study (and new machine, and a rental payment I must contribute to rather than owning like I do with this machine) will be required, even though I'll be going to the same doctors and same hospital. Fun, fun, fun for me.

I feel like the last person in the United States to move from having car windows that had to be cranked to getting those new-fangled buttons that roll the window up for you, only I had no idea they existed.

Except I knew the automatic car windows existed, of course.

Now I'm kind of pissed off that the last sleep study people hooked me up with the machine that doesn't do anything except blow air.

him8nc wrote:Oh, well. Guess it's time to start the process of getting an appointment for a new sleep study.

Noooo, you need to start calculating what that sleep study is going to cost you in terms of deductibles, copays, time and energy.

Then compare that to just buying a new machine. I recommend this one https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... idair.html

You can use your current script to purchase it.

I do believe you are relying too much on the people, doctor/DME/insurance co, who got you into this fine mess to start with.

him8nc wrote:I feel like the last person in the United States to move from having car windows that had to be cranked to getting those new-fangled buttons that roll the window up for you, only I had no idea they existed.

More like they sold you a car that has no instrument panel.