This is driving me nuts

I was doing some reading and I saw some conflicting info on wither or not to put the mask on before or after starting the machine. Does it matter or is the advice to not put your mask until after the machine starts just a hold over from before machines had auto start?

If you plan to look at your data using SleepyHead, I would put on the mask before starting machine. Also, turn off the machine before removing the mask.

Here is my reasoning: when your machine blows without everything intact, it blows like hell. When it blows like hell, the leak data will rescale such that you can see that maximum value (e.g., 0 to 160). Unfortunately, it makes it difficult to read the values of leak data down in the 0 to 40 range. It really doesn't matter to the machine. I do it this way because I want to easily read leak rate values from the plots. Earl

poppi2 wrote:If you plan to look at your data using SleepyHead, I would put on the mask before starting machine. Also, turn off the machine before removing the mask.

Here is my reasoning: when your machine blows without everything intact, it blows like hell. When it blows like hell, the leak data will rescale such that you can see that maximum value (e.g., 0 to 160). Unfortunately, it makes it difficult to read the values of leak data down in the 0 to 40 range. It really doesn't matter to the machine. I do it this way because I want to easily read leak rate values from the plots. Earl

That might be an issue for me, I have loft bed and I will have to put the machine on the shelf below where I sleep. Unless they make like 15 foot tubing there is no way I could reach the machine while having the mask connected.

poppi2 wrote:when your machine blows without everything intact, it blows like hell. When it blows like hell, the leak data will rescale such that you can see that maximum value (e.g., 0 to 160). Unfortunately, it makes it difficult to read the values of leak data down in the 0 to 40 range. It really doesn't matter to the machine. I do it this way because I want to easily read leak rate values from the plots. Earl

you can right click on the x axis in SH and change the min/max values on the scaling.

pettyfan45 wrote:I was doing some reading and I saw some conflicting info on wither or not to put the mask on before or after starting the machine. Does it matter or is the advice to not put your mask until after the machine starts just a hold over from before machines had auto start?

it doesn't really matter... that said, the start/stop button on mine isn't located conveniently, so I always use smartstart. and on the resmeds at least, they're smart enough to normally not show the seconds between mask off and shutdown as a leak.

How about mask cleanding, a lot videos on YouTube show taking the maks totally apart, cleaning everything individually, let it all air dry, and then put all back back together or can just wipe the parts that touch my face (like with a with a damp soapy cloth or with one of thouse cpap cleaning wipes)? Can I throw the headgear in my weekly laundry or do I have to hand wash it? How do clean the humidifier: wash it like I do regular dishes (hand washing, I don't have a dishwasher), use vinegar and water (through all I can seem to find around here is 5%), or if I get cpap wipes can I use them? How often should I clean the tubing (if I need too at all) and can I just rinse it out with some tap water or do I need a brush and some type of cleaner?

pettyfan45 wrote:a lot videos on YouTube show taking the maks totally apart

I wash the cushions every five days in a mild soap and let them air dry. The hard plastic frame, which doesn't touch my face, gets washed infrequently. YMMV.

pettyfan45 wrote:Can I throw the headgear in my weekly laundry or do I have to hand wash it?

I wear a Buff, so the headgear doesn't touch my hair or face. I wash the headgear by hand infrequently. YMMV.

pettyfan45 wrote:How do clean the humidifier

I never clean the humidifier. YMMV.

pettyfan45 wrote:How often should I clean the tubing

I never clean the hose. YMMV.


Are you overthinking this?

ChicagoGranny wrote: Are you overthinking this?

...Probably, but I learn in steps so instead of having this all thrown at me all at once by my DME when I get my machine (or worse they just metaphorically throw me to the wolves) I would like to know this stuff ahead of time to cut down on me getting frustrated and confused and just wanting to give up.

So, it seems that the reason I will have to pay $200 for an Auto CPAP is because Medicaid doesn't pay them more for it... Hopefully I can make it in payments, if I could spontaneously produce $200 I would have bought a CPAP off craigslist to use for now or something like that. ( That kinda confuses me though, you would think that Auto CPAP should the standard, I know they cost a little more but I doubt it is more than another sleep study if someone losses or gains a lot of weight and need a significant pressure adjustment)

So I guess I should think about picking a DME I have it narrowed down to 2:
The first one sells Resmed machines and masks from Resmed, Respironics, and Fisher-Paykel. No mask exchange, unless it has a factory defect (But a friend of the family told me they try to do everything they can to make sure it fits right and you are comfortable with it before you leave the shop, so in theory I shouldn't need to exchange it).
The second one only has masks and machines from Respironics in stock, but they can special order some masks from other companies. One mask exchange from 30 days of getting the first mask.

They both are fairly close to my house and offer free home delivery and aside from the $200 for an Auto CPAP there should be not be any extra out of pocket.
At the risk of a possible flame war... is there much of a noticeable difference between a Resmed or a Respironics. I know the Airsense 10 has a built in modem so I would not have to worry about taking the SD card to the doctor or DME, but I don't know anything about Respironics.

Oh man, less than 2 days my second sleep study. I am still am a bit nervous about this one (more so than the first one). Partly because (at the time of posting) they haven't called to confirmed the appointment (this is a bit concerning because this hospital has lost appointments before and I don't want to wait another 2 months because they screwed up), another issue is that I don't know if this is a titration study or a regular study (if it is a regular study there is chance they can just tell me that I am still too fat and I should just lose more weight or have me wait till I get another study to titrate me).

pettyfan45 wrote:Oh man, less than 2 days my second sleep study. I am still am a bit nervous about this one (more so than the first one). Partly because (at the time of posting) they haven't called to confirmed the appointment (this is a bit concerning because this hospital has lost appointments before and I don't want to wait another 2 months because they screwed up), another issue is that I don't know if this is a titration study or a regular study (if it is a regular study there is chance they can just tell me that I am still too fat and I should just lose more weight or have me wait till I get another study to titrate me).

Many people have the study and titration the same night. If you sleep for a couple hours, the tech can often put a mask on you during the night and complete the titration. Ask about this.

LSAT wrote:

pettyfan45 wrote:Oh man, less than 2 days my second sleep study. I am still am a bit nervous about this one (more so than the first one). Partly because (at the time of posting) they haven't called to confirmed the appointment (this is a bit concerning because this hospital has lost appointments before and I don't want to wait another 2 months because they screwed up), another issue is that I don't know if this is a titration study or a regular study (if it is a regular study there is chance they can just tell me that I am still too fat and I should just lose more weight or have me wait till I get another study to titrate me).

Many people have the study and titration the same night. If you sleep for a couple hours, the tech can often put a mask on you during the night and complete the titration. Ask about this.

I know about that, but they apparently only do that for people with severe apnea, they have others come back for another separate night, though the person who told me this had their sleep study about 6 years ago.

So I had my sleep study (it was normal study). Not only did they not try me on CPAP, but the tech told me that I might not even need CPAP. Of note apparently my blood pressure and heart rate where really high and same as the last study I didn't sleep well. Also if they decide to put me on CPAP they I will have to come back for another study (glad I have insurance or this would horrifically expensive).

So how long should it be to get the results from the study?

pettyfan45 wrote:So how long should it be to get the results from the study?

it should be within a few days.