Torn about what CPAP to select

Hi all,

I have been reading for quite some time and know there are some models that are recommended over others. I'm going to do my best to keep this short. Skip to the Sleep study and then the last paragraph if the rest is too windy.

Sleep study
Had it done last Tuesday. I still don't have the report I asked for but AHI was only 3.6, which means I don't qualify for an insurance covered cpap. P.A. thinks the result was likely skewed because I didn't sleep on my back...I had one central sleep apnea, 13% REM 3(or 4?); which she said optimal is 20%ish, BUT my O2 sats hovered around 83% while sleep and I woke up 38 times, all due to what I believe she said were respiratory events? Forgive me, this is all memory recall. I am surprised they got anything because that night was fraught with restlessness - I felt like I was awake all night. If only I could have stayed on my back !

She offered to send me home with an auto and if I liked it she would give me a prescription that I would have to cover with my own $$$. Ok, fine. I've used their auto with a nasal mask for 3 nights now. Not the most comfortable of masks; but that will change once I'm able to select my own. I've not noticed anything much as far as changes (not like what I've read on the forum). Sleeping is still quite fragmented but somehow I am more alert during the day and I'm not as angry. I don't want to start flipping over tables when someone asks me to do something above/beyond at work. Overall I feel like I am breathing deeper even during the day. Still emotionally flat although I did have a really good laugh over something really corny last night, which was unusual. So...though I'm not sure that I "need" a cpap due to not being diagnosed with even mild apnea. I am at my wits end and do not know what else I could do to get some relief.

Symptoms: Excessive daytime sleepiness. Clinical depression, non responsive to medication. Very poor memory, delayed reaction times...etc.

There's more but I'm sure I've said enough. I am well aware that cpap is not be the "cure" for all that ails me. I was set on getting the Resmed s10 Autoset, but do I really need it? I have the funds to cover whatever it is I choose to buy & I know I need to get an APAP...but do I really need to get the most expensive machine? It looks like I will be monitoring myself so I feel I should have something that can do pretty much everything...but how much data do I really need to have access to? I hate to spend the money on more functions than I need...or discover I don't need cpap at all. But I'm so desperate I will try anything at this point!

Thanks for reading. I appreciate any and all advice.

my O2 sats hovered around 83% while sleep and I woke up 38 times

You need something...that O2 alone points to needing something.
Anyway you could get your doctor to add an overnight pulse oximeter test along with the AutoSet to see if the oxygen issues were helped with the machine? That might give you an easy clear cut answer to the "do I need it?" question. Unless you have other lung issues that need to be addressed and have low O2 during the day as well as at night.

I would also look at the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet for Her as it has a special algorithm designed for issues very similar to what you are describing which sounds like it might fall into the UARS realm.
Google Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome. Low AHI but lots of arousals and potential desats...meaning lots of stuff going on that don't meet the criteria for a full grown apnea event but still enough to disrupt sleep and mess with your body.

I know that the typical diagnosis for apnea is 5+ events, but is it true that insurance won't cover if oxygen is hitting 83%?! Question is not directed at the thread starter but at others. Seems like there has to be some way for the doctor to get the machine covered if it would fix that?!

FiveTwo wrote:I've not noticed anything much as far as changes (not like what I've read on the forum)... Sleeping is still quite fragmented but somehow I am more alert during the day and I'm not as angry....

OK but just to be clear, while it's easy to find stories here of how someone used their CPAP and suddenly woke up and felt like dancing, if you read more you'll find that your situation is probably far more the norm, for many of is it's a very slow and/or gradual process. Heck, in my case it's been about a month and even now my sleep is still improving. So please know that IF cpap is what you need to address your condition, improvement doesn't just happen all at once, nor does it happen in a nice even upward line.

It sounds like you may have multiple problems.
I would start by getting blood work showing as many vitamin and mineral levels as possible (B12, B6, D, magnesium, calcium,etc).
I would not accept minimum numbers as normal. For example vitamin D level of 30 is considered normal, but 60-80 is considered optimal.
Find out where you need supplementation and do what you can to get to desired levels.
As to APAP, a Resmed S9 or PRS1 series 60 will do almost everything an S10 will do for a bit less money, since they are now out of production. You do need the auto models, which will have full data.n
I agree with jumping. I have been a hose head for 5 years and still don't feel like jumping out of bed every morning, but I no longer nod off behind the wheel or in front of the TV or as quickly when reading (still have to work on that one).

Pugsy wrote:

my O2 sats hovered around 83% while sleep and I woke up 38 times

You need something...that O2 alone points to needing something.
Anyway you could get your doctor to add an overnight pulse oximeter test along with the AutoSet to see if the oxygen issues were helped with the machine? That might give you an easy clear cut answer to the "do I need it?" question. Unless you have other lung issues that need to be addressed and have low O2 during the day as well as at night.

I would also look at the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet for Her as it has a special algorithm designed for issues very similar to what you are describing which sounds like it might fall into the UARS realm.
Google Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome. Low AHI but lots of arousals and potential desats...meaning lots of stuff going on that don't meet the criteria for a full grown apnea event but still enough to disrupt sleep and mess with your body.

I am lucky to have gotten so much done in the last few weeks, as this office is booked - and my deductible will reset in just a couple of weeks. I had to drive out of town to get to the people (because the local office would have been a 4 month wait ) and getting them to return a call is just about impossible. I wonder if this is something I can rent locally?

I will do some UARS research.

Thanks everyone for your responses.

bwexler wrote:It sounds like you may have multiple problems.
I would start by getting blood work showing as many vitamin and mineral levels as possible (B12, B6, D, magnesium, calcium,etc).
I would not accept minimum numbers as normal. For example vitamin D level of 30 is considered normal, but 60-80 is considered optimal.
Find out where you need supplementation and do what you can to get to desired levels.
As to APAP, a Resmed S9 or PRS1 series 60 will do almost everything an S10 will do for a bit less money, since they are now out of production. You do need the auto models, which will have full data.n
I agree with jumping. I have been a hose head for 5 years and still don't feel like jumping out of bed every morning, but I no longer nod off behind the wheel or in front of the TV or as quickly when reading (still have to work on that one).

I have these labs drawn once a year. All are within normal limits except vitamin D...he prescribed 50,000 IU weekly for 3 months and I am on 2000/day after.

I understand I may not get the outcome I would like to get in such short time (if at all). It's just that I have a limited amount of time to make a decision regarding whether this is the right path for me so I guess I'm looking for something that points to it being a good fit. They were ready to give me yet another sleeping pill and dismiss me back to my regular doc & I had to bring up the cpap trial. I get the feeling they want to rid themselves of me as quickly as possible since I don't qualify. Thanks for your input.

Buy the Auto Cpap that is the most affordable and that has adjustments or fine tuning software to help you achieve good results.
I have used Respironics and Resmed products and they are reasonable, my knowledge on the other MFG's is limited.
Buy the newest one that has a good track record could help avoid issues- SD reader card is nice also.
Also if O2 has to be added in future that the machine can accommodate that.

If you are comparing prices ... here is one to compare : I will sell this one for $550 inc shipping to US

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/hab/5361399130.html

In this situation I would try for the AirSense 10 AutoSet for Her if at all possible because of that special algorithm available...it has cpap mode...regular apap mode and the special apap algorithm.
Like 3 machines in one.

While I don't know that this special algorithm will help or is even critically needed I would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it and the situation here is what that algorithm was designed for.

Now if cost is a critical issue then one of the other models would still be a viable choice and in most instances I would say go with cheaper....but in this situation with low AHI and high arousals and the possibility of UARS being a factor I would want that special algorithm if it were me and it was within my reach to get one.

you said you have a loaner auto machine ... which one is it ... you can download Sleepyhead software and read the data on the card in the cpap ... and some here can help you interpret what is happening now .

Then you will have a better idea what machine you need

grayghost4 wrote:you said you have a loaner auto machine ... which one is it ... you can download Sleepyhead software and read the data on the card in the cpap ... and some here can help you interpret what is happening now .

Then you will have a better idea what machine you need

Good idea. I will work on that tonight...although my macbook is an older model that doesn't have an sd slot. I will get access this weekend. It's only got 3 nights on it.

It's a Phillips Resperonics autopap. It looks like this - http://www.thecpapshop.com/pr-system-on ... oCK3Lw_wcB


I know it is a system one, but not sure what year.

Unless you are posting something that is private in nature ... you should post and ask questions in an open thread.
That way you will get a quicker answer from someone who knows the answer to your question.

post your charts this way :

https://sleep.tnet.com/reference/tips/imgur

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