My mama has Sleep Apnea!

(Previous post: My mama GOT a sleep study - viewtopic/p430348/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=47168)

Well, my mama has apnea (not surprised). I think he said that overall she had 14 episodes per hour, but when in REM, it went up to 60 per hour! Apneas were avoided at a pressure of 8 cm.

Her doctor wants her to call Apguard (?) to get her machine. Here's what she wrote:

My Mama wrote:He is going to have Apguard contact me about the machine. He said he would tell them what kind I needed (I think he said automatic CPAP) and I asked him if I could ask for the things I wanted. He also said that you could talk to them if you wanted to. I asked about data-capable and he said there is a digital card in it that you can send in every few weeks (both of us weren't sure if that's the same thing as data-capable). He said most of the machines have the heated humidifier now. That's about all I can remember for now. He will want to see me after I've been on the machine for a couple of weeks.

I am going to tell her that the prescription should read:

• Data-capable Auto-PAP machine @ 8 cm, ramp @ 8 cm for 15 minutes.
• Heated humidifier
• Mask (patient's choice)

Dispense as prescribed only!

My mom is on Medicare. Any special things she needs to do for that insurance?

Turns out that Apguard is a local DME here in Los Angeles. They carry the two "biggies", although they don't have the Autoset II listed on their site. They list the ResMed Auto Vantage... isn't that discontinued?

Anyway, I recommended to her either the ResMed S8 Autoset II, Respironics System One (or RemStar M Series Auto w/C-Flex if they don't have the new one). Sound okay?

I seem to remember our DME not accepting just cpap pressure and wanting a setting range before they'd dispense an auto. Don't know if it was the DME just giving us a hard time or is it a regulatiion. We had to have our Dr change the RX.

Hi Tattooyu

It look like your Mum will be well cared for as she follows your suggestions.

My only consideration would be that the best machine for her would probably be the same one you have, for obvious reasons.

cheers

Mars

Might want her to start ramp at 6 IF she has any issues exhaling against pressure.

A few suggestions,
If your not too far from her, go help her set it up. Get her a hose cover and some type of hose management system to hold the hose up. Anything that you found you needed she will probably need too. Her learning curve should be quick since you went through all this.

So is she going to join us or not?

Gerry

My mama has her machine!

Machine: Respironics M-Series Auto w/Heated Humidifier
Pressure range: 6-12
Mask: Swift LT

She got what *I* wanted, except the brand, but that's okay.

I have a bad pinched nerve in my neck, so I can't help her physically set it up. I offered to help her set it up over the phone for sure. She gets very overwhelmed with setting up gadgets. I will get her a hose mgmt. system and cover (Padacheek the best!). Eventually, I'd like to get her the PurSleep scents too.

I told her that I'd try to help her but since I don't have a Respironics, I urged her to ask any questions on here (wink wink, nudge nudge).

Good for you! Your Mom is so fortunate to have a son like you!

Do you think if Mom comes here she'll be incognito or will she introduce herself as your Mama? I hope she does,nudge,nudge!

I imagine she would introduce herself. I'm curious to see how she did on her first night at home!

REPORT:

First night, my mom kept the mask on for 5 hours or so.

Last night, she kept it on ALL NIGHT!

I'm so proud of her. She is doing great. She hasn't fell a huge difference yet, but when asked of her, she was surprised that she actually didn't have to get up to pee. We've all been there!

How do I check the leaks on an M-Series Auto?

The M series doesn't have that kind of feature like your machine, where you push a button and it runs up to pressure and reports mask leak.

Where is your mom we haven't seen her on here yet?


Tell her we are waiting.....

Don't worry we won't let her send out your childhood pictures.

Gerry

Sounds like your mama is off to a good start, thanks to her good son!

Do you have the Provider manual for that machine?

Welcome to your mom and good luck to her.

I just don't know if my mom will join. We'll see...

rested gal wrote:Sounds like your mama is off to a good start, thanks to her good son!

Do you have the Provider manual for that machine?

I actually don't have the provider manual. You can PM me a link for it if you want. I'd certainly appreciate it!