This is probably a dumb question

[CoupleCpapUsers]

How do I obtain my own mask and SD card? Can I call the medical supply company and explain what I'm doing or is there somewhere else to get them?

[Malinalli73]

3. You need to change the card morning and night as you say.

Why?

Be aware that, technically we're not supposed to fiddle with the clinical settings

Reference?

Why? Cause some doctors want to see your card and upload it to your file. Mine does. I have to go to the sleep clinic every 6 months and bring my card, for example. They have all the results in my files....and send the insurance the info that I'm using the darn thing, so they can pay money for replacement masks and so on. Off course if you're doing it on your own and don't plan to ever go back to your prescribing physician that won't matter and you don't need to change the card.

The fiddling?...I don't remember where I read that it was against the law. Dr and technicians are responsible for any outcome on your health only if the settings are what they put in. If you move something and that makes you sick or anything like that they're off the hook.

[Pugsy]

How do I obtain my own mask and SD card?

Any generic SD card will work but you might as well save your money because the machine doesn't separate the data it stores on its internal memory and any usage that takes place will be stored in the internal on board storage and will get put right back onto any SD card you put in the machine.
You will end up with 2 SD cards with the same exact data on each card.
Separating the 2 users will need to be done in SleepyHead software...you can't separate it with the SD cards.
Do you have SleepyHead installed yet?

You can check with your equipment supplier for the cost on a mask for you and compare it with the cost online if you just purchase on your own.
Did you have to return the first mask your husband tried? If you didn't return it you might try it and see how you like it.

[palerider]

3. You need to change the card morning and night as you say.

Why?

Be aware that, technically we're not supposed to fiddle with the clinical settings

Reference?

Why? Cause some doctors want to see your card and upload it to your file. Mine does. I have to go to the sleep clinic every 6 months and bring my card, for example. They have all the results in my files....and send the insurance the info that I'm using the darn thing, so they can pay money for replacement masks and so on. Off course if you're doing it on your own and don't plan to ever go back to your prescribing physician that won't matter and you don't need to change the card.

what you clearly don't "get" is... ONE machine, ONE set of data. the data that the doctors and insurance companies care about is in the machine and will be written to whatever card gets stuck in there.

The fiddling?...I don't remember where I read that it was against the law. Dr and technicians are responsible for any outcome on your health only if the settings are what they put in. If you move something and that makes you sick or anything like that they're off the hook.

make a note, you really don't know anything about what you're talking about, please stop, then go watch this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys9aYadSbT4

[palerider]

How do I obtain my own mask and SD card? Can I call the medical supply company and explain what I'm doing or is there somewhere else to get them?

might be cheaper to get on ebay or amazon.

[zoocrewphoto]

3. You need to change the card morning and night as you say.

Why?

Be aware that, technically we're not supposed to fiddle with the clinical settings

Reference?

Why? Cause some doctors want to see your card and upload it to your file. Mine does. I have to go to the sleep clinic every 6 months and bring my card, for example. They have all the results in my files....and send the insurance the info that I'm using the darn thing, so they can pay money for replacement masks and so on. Off course if you're doing it on your own and don't plan to ever go back to your prescribing physician that won't matter and you don't need to change the card.

As soon as you put in ANY card, it will upload ALL summary data to the card. You can put in 10 different cards, and they will end up with the SAME data. You can put in a blank card, and it will upload a year's worth of summary data (if the machine has been used for a year). Having different cards will NOT do anything to help.

There is no law that you can't change your settings. The DME needs the doctor's permission. The user does NOT.

[CoupleCpapUsers]

Ok I understand now that we don't need two SD cards We haven't set up anything with the software yet. I will look into that today.

We had to return his old mask to get the new one.
I think the mask would be over $100 with insurance. Is that normal?

Do we need separate tubing as well?

[palerider]

Ok I understand now that we don't need two SD cards We haven't set up anything with the software yet. I will look into that today.

We had to return his old mask to get the new one.
I think the mask would be over $100 with insurance. Is that normal?

Do we need separate tubing as well?

look it up on amazon, or ebay. or cpap.com. see what the 'without insurance' price is.

[palerider]

3. You need to change the card morning and night as you say.

Why?

Be aware that, technically we're not supposed to fiddle with the clinical settings

Reference?

Why? Cause some doctors want to see your card and upload it to your file. Mine does. I have to go to the sleep clinic every 6 months and bring my card, for example. They have all the results in my files....and send the insurance the info that I'm using the darn thing, so they can pay money for replacement masks and so on. Off course if you're doing it on your own and don't plan to ever go back to your prescribing physician that won't matter and you don't need to change the card.

As soon as you put in ANY card, it will upload ALL summary data to the card. You can put in 10 different cards, and they will end up with the SAME data. You can put in a blank card, and it will upload a year's worth of summary data (if the machine has been used for a year). Having different cards will NOT do anything to help.

There is no law that you can't change your settings. The DME needs the doctor's permission. The user does NOT.

unfortunately, it's becoming clear that Malinalli73 is that worst of new users, the "I'm new and don't know I know anything, and I'm going to share it with the world!" type

[D.H.]

might be cheaper to get on ebay or amazon.

Theoretically, they're not supposed to sell CPAPs. However, they do, so go ahead!

[Guest]

might be cheaper to get on ebay or amazon.

Theoretically, they're not supposed to sell CPAPs. However, they do, so go ahead!

and you mention this because why?

[palerider]

might be cheaper to get on ebay or amazon.

Theoretically, they're not supposed to sell CPAPs. However, they do, so go ahead!

speaking of "worse of new users".

if you had a brain, and used it to read you might have noticed the question was about masks.

[CoupleCpapUsers]

My husband has been using the Cpap regularly. The first week he kept taking it off in the middle of the day. He finally keeps it on all day.
It seemed to make a difference in his fatigue at first but he still talks about being so tired all the time. He sleeps an average of 6.5 hours a day and usually 7 on Saturdays and sleeps Sunday nights.

Obviously his sleep time is not ideal - but he does work two jobs and we have 2 kids and 1 on the way. I don't know how much we can improve that.
Should he still be feeling so tired? I check on him a couple times and the pressure is usually around 8. Sometimes it has gone up to 9.5 but that is a lot less common.
I don't really know what I am asking for here.

[Julie]

Lost track of the whole history, but are you using Sleepyhead? Getting an AHI of each night? What about leaks? And has he been tested for possible other problems not Cpap relate, like depression, hormone problems, Vit. D, blood sugar, etc. etc?

[Pugsy]

Ask him about sleep quality itself. Is he waking often during the night and if he is ask if he knows of anything that is causing the wake ups.
It's possible that he simply needs more than 6.5 hours of even really good sound sleep to feel less tired.
Any medications? If there are some medications check for potential side effects that either mess with sleep architecture or cause fatigue.

About all you can do is rule out other potential culprits and go from there. I know I need close to 8 hours of good sleep or my butt is dragging and I am not working 2 jobs and dealing with small children at home.

If he is waking often during the night then trying to isolate and fix whatever is causing the wake ups is something you can try. Fragmented sleep really messes with how we feel during the day even if we are getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep. It's just not good solid sleep.