New to CPAP/Question

Many of you seem to be so knowledgeable - seems no need for a sleep tech or a doctor. My ResMed H5i was set up for me after my sleep study and I started using it about three weeks ago. If I had not read so much here, I would have never thought about what all the numbers meant -- leaving that up to my doctor and tech. Last week the tech read the card and said everything was okay and to keep doing what I'm doing. Isn't that enough to know? I'm seeing my doc on 8/10, and tech said she would read it before once again.

Is it really necessary to learn exactly what all these numbers mean? It is enough dealing with how to use the machine and the mask...

If you don't feel the need to know and understand this stuff then there is no need to do so! There are those of us who feel the need to know and those of us that don't feel that need. So each of us should do as our interest dictates.

If you trust your doctor, then yes you should take their advice to heart. For many of us, our sleep doctors are not all that involved in their patients' lives. Mine hasn't even called back to see if I'm still using the thing, much less what the numbers are. My primary doc keeps tabs on me, but she's not a sleep disorder expert. So I have decided to keep an eye on the numbers, and actively go to my sleep doc whenever something is out of whack, instead of having them pretend to check the numbers when they've proven they don't care.

It's a personal choice. I could get a new sleep doc, but that doesn't seem necessary right now. If I'm not doing well on treatment, then yes I will get a new sleep doc immediately; but for now, I just check the numbers and make sure the therapy is working for myself.

You may find that your sleep doc is GREAT with follow-up and compliance, and that you don't need to check the numbers yourself. That's fine! Do what you feel most comfortable with.

In the meantime, the forum can provide you with a place to ask questions about non-numbers related stuff, like mask choices; dealing with cleaning/maintenance, etc.

I assume you have either a Resmed S9 Autoset an Elite machine. Both give data to go by. It's your choice, but since you're askin'. Minimally, I would monitor my AHI, total AI and CI incidents and leak rates on a daily basis. Do some research. If I can learn this stuff, and I am dumber than a sack of light bulbs, you can learn the basics. Don't wait for Doctors. Take charge. Just sayin'

Sheriff

Welcome to our community, ems.

You'll get much better treatment if you know what's going on. You'll probably see your doctor once or twice a year. Your treatment needs could vary in the times between doctor visits. If you learn to read your own results, you may notice problems he doesn't.

As several people have said, "you wouldn't be happy if you were a diabetic and you just checked your blood sugar twice a year, would you?"

You have information the doctor doesn't. You know how you feel when you wake up each morning. You know how well you slept last night. You can evaluate things like this every day. If you have a bad night, you can look at your data and get some idea why. If you know what you're doing, you can avoid a lot of problems.

None of this needs to interfere with your doctor's treatment.

Please look on your CPAP machine next to the power button. It should say Escape, Elite, Escape Auto, or AutoSet. Let us know which. By the way, your CPAP machine is probably a ResMed S9. The Hi5 is just the humidifier.

Unfortunately, the standard of care from DMEs (Durable Medical Equipment provider, really just a CPAP salesman, "tech", etc.) is really bad in the US. A lot of trickery goes on. Most people get ripped off in one way or another by their DME.

The standard of care from doctors, even "sleep specialists," is pretty bad as well. Far too often, they're just pushing people through the system, keeping them in the dark. Some of them are good at making you happy, but not that good at managing apnea.

Unfortunately, you have to take an active role in managing your own apnea.

I use the data a great deal.

I figure that no one will ever care as much about my health as I will. Doctors are often pressed for time and seem to look only at general trends. And, being human, they make mistakes.

The hard numbers make discerning cause and effect and persuading your doctor to make changes (should you see the need for it) much easier.

Thanks to all of you for taking the time to reply. I guess I'm going to have to learn the basics - like it or not. I'm so not computer literate... took me several weeks to register correctly here.

My machine is the ResMed S9 Elite with climate control humidi ... heard it was a good machine, tho I wouldn't know one from another. Mask is Swift FX for her.

Last nite (early morning) I heard this loud noise which woke me up. I thought it was coming from the machine itself, tho I really don't know. I turned the machine off, put the mask back on and turned it on again. Anyone have any idea what this was. Maybe it was me not breathing properly?? Geeze... so much to learn and don't like any of it. My diag was severe obstructive sleep apnea. So, at this point, the only thing that keeps me from not using it is that I'm afraid not to!

Thanks again... really appreciate your responses. Nice not to be alone in this.

What kind of noise? might it have been something like a car backfiring?

Ha ha... no, it wasn't a car! More like a loud swishing noise.

Could have been a leak. In the middle of the night, air rushing out of the edges of the mask can sound REALLY LOUD!

I will check it out before I go to sleep tonight. I guess it could have been a leak. Also wondering if maybe I had an "apnea" moment??

That's also possible, your AHI numbers will give you more info on that =)

Some large mask leaks have earned the name "face farts". And with good reason. That's exactly how they sound. Fortunately, no odor!!!

Mine is the nose pillow thing tho... and female to boot.

ems, please fill in the equipment you have in your profile. Go into "User Control Panel."
https://www.cpaptalk.com/ucp.php?i=prof ... pment_info

The swishing noise is probably air escaping around the mask, or through your mouth. You can also hear a noise if your hand, pillow, or whatever gets into the airstream from the vent on your mask.