Given a CPAP with no help from the DR

So, I’ve been looking through this support page and reading everything, but I’m still overwhelmed. I’m hoping you can all help and offer some firsthand advice.

After years of bugging my husband to get tested for apnea, he finally did the studies. The sleep center called him up saying that he did indeed have apnea, and called him in for a repeat study with the cpap. Fast-forward a month and the machine is brought to our home and set up with instructions. Here’s the problem. My husband has still never even spoken to the Dr.! In fact, he doesn’t have an appointment with him for another month! We didn’t even realize that he had “severe apnea” until the machine representative came over to set everything up for us. So here we are, completely lost with only the internet to guide us along the way.

We’re one week in with the full-face mask and he’s miserable. His mask fits perfectly, but he wakes up constantly because of how uncomfortable the mask is on his face. He did try the nasal mask during the sleep study, but quickly found out that didn’t work since he’s a mouth breather. During my research, I saw that you can use a chin strap for mouth breathing with the nasal mask, but wouldn’t that be incredibly uncomfortable? I mean, it’s bad enough having the straps of the mask, but then to add another one? He’s using the AirFit F10 mask but finally rips it off after about 4 hours.

I’m also confused about a few things with obstructive apnea. My husband has had a problem snoring years ago. At first, the ENT said he had a deviated septum and had that fixed… but that didn’t work. Then he had his tonsils, adenoids and part of his soft pallet removed. Still that didn’t work. He’s also not overweight. I don’t understand how he could be having obstructive apnea. How could he possibly be obstructed- what could be obstructing him? Based on his morning read outs, we see that he’s also having clear apneas. I’ve read about this, but still don’t understand what could be causing it. He’s otherwise perfectly healthy with no other medical history.


Thank you in advance for reading this and helping. On average, he becomes apneic approximately 60 times in only 4 hours. He’s at his wits end, and I’m scared of him not using this. he’s more tired now than ever before and

Do I understand correctly that your husband has only been on cpap for a WEEK?
One week in with his wearing the mask for four hours is quite good, but still just a start.
Getting used to this rarely happens overnight.
We have all been there, and the "honeymoon" is often a trial by fire.
Register, fill out his equipment, and hang around.
The amazing people here helped me--and it has changed/saved my life.
Even the grumps!

That's correct, only a week. I had no idea that this was something that would take so long to get use to. I'm sorry, but what do you mean by register and fill out his equipment? Didn't I have to register on this site before I could post? I was wondering how you could see which machine and masks people were using, but can't seem to find out where to do that.

In the upper right there is a link to "Register Username" where you can register.
After you are registered & logged in, there is a link in the upper right "User Control Panel".
After you select that, choose the Profile tab.
Now choose "Edit Equipment".

Got it. Thanks

The way it seems to work is that once the sleep center/Dr do the diagnosis and pass the prescription off to the DME then making the darn thing workable is the responsibility of the DME. They are required to have respiratory therapists on staff to consult, and the insurance company pays ultra premium rates to provide this non-service. Bottom line is the sleep Dr only follows up in a 30-90 day period, and mostly it's on the DME, which means it's really on us as users.

Can you please confirm the machine your husband is using please?
You show the DreamStation CPAP machine yet you say

Based on his morning read outs, we see that he’s also having clear apneas.

and the DreamStation CPAP machine doesn't report clear apneas separately.
It only gives a generic AHI that doesn't include the breakdown into each event category like Clear airway events, or Obstructive Apnea events or Hyponeas.

There should be a number on the bottom of the blower unit...starts with DSX.....
Can you tell us what that number is? Hopefully you have just chosen the wrong machine in the equipment profile. Give us that model number and we can tell the exact model name.

The code is DSXHCP. We don't get the read out on the machine, but download the info via Bluetooth to the Philips DreamMapper app.

mariab12566 wrote:The code is DSXHCP.

I think that's the humidifier code and not the blower code.
Blower code should be something like DSX400 with 2 or 3 letters after it or DSX200 or if you have DSX500 that would be especially nice because it's like 2 machines in one.

Doesn't matter where you get the read out...if the machine doesn't record it you can't get the read out.
You are probably using the DreamMapper software. There is free easy to use more detailed software available that you might want to look in to.
https://sleep.tnet.com/equipment
There's a lot more information available than what you are seeing on DreamMapper.

OK, I've got it. Thank you for being so patient with me! DSX400H11C

Okay...you have a better machine than what you have chosen in your profile.
When you have time you can edit the the equipment profile to reflect the correct machine.
The choice you need to make is
DreamStation Pro CPAP machine.
The "Pro" part is real important.

You can use SleepyHead software and see the detailed data that the machine will gather.

This therapy does take a bit of time for some people to get adjusted to. Let's face it ..it's just not "normal" to go to sleep with an alien planted on our face blowing air up our nose and in our mouth.
While some lucky people do take to this therapy like a duck to water...most people have had to go through growing pains getting to where they are comfortable and sleeping well with the mask and machine.

There are some videos available online for fitting pretty much all the cpap masks out there. You might watch a couple to see if there is something your husband is missing that might make him more comfortable with this mask.
Also check with where you got the equipment to find out what mask swapping policy they have just in case this mask he can't get to a point where he is happy with it. Make use of any mask swapping time the DME might offer.

Thank you so much. I really do appreciate your help