Help a newbie adjust / Is my machine working right?

[jcr159]

So... definitely the FOT that is keeping me from getting good sleep. It seems there’s no way to disable?

Are there other options (a different machine perhaps) that don’t use FOT? It seems the ResMed and Philips are the most popular and both have some form of it...

[Pugsy]

No way to disable FOT.
It wouldn't engage if your awake breathing pauses weren't confusing the machine into thinking you were having some sort of apnea.
It doesn't do it unless there is a reduction or cessation of air flow (your breathing).
All the newer machines that flag central apneas will use something to help them distinguish between open or close airway events.
You would have to step way back in terms of technology and get a long ago discontinued machine that didn't use it to not have it available. Those machines can be found but they have limited data and older algorithms and louder...they come with their own baggage.

[palerider]

It seems the ResMed and Philips are the most popular and both have some form of it...

Only Resmed has FOT.

[jcr159]

It seems the ResMed and Philips are the most popular and both have some form of it...

Only Resmed has FOT.

My mistake, I was referring to the Respironics system that essentially works the same by using Pressure pulses to determine if an apnea is central or obstructive... I haven’t seen a trademark name for it other than PP or Pressure Pulse on various discussions....


At any rate, the pulsing is clearly an issue for me... not sure if the Respironics method would be better, worse, or a wash. At the end end of the day I’d rather not have any pulses to determine apnea type when there are other ways to do it that don’t involve changes to the airstream delivery.

I know I’m on the minority as being so bothered, but if haven’t had a good night sleep since getting this machine. In fact a lot worse and suffering with some sleep deprivation symptoms. I just find it bizarre that a medical device would alter its medicine dosage to determine effectiveness....

Anyway, calling my primary care dr Monday for next steps. Seems like this whole process is about determining that an APAP, isn’t well tolerated (read- not delivering expected outcomes, one being improving quality of sleep), then moving to the next step up the n treatment.... I’ll post back when I figure out what’s next, and thanks for all the help and support so far. Wish my DME was more helpful, but once the check cleared and I signed off on the orientation of the machine it’s useless calling them...

[palerider]

At the end end of the day I’d rather not have any pulses to determine apnea type when there are other ways to do it that don’t involve changes to the airstream delivery.

I'm curious, what do you think would be another option, short of belts on your chest and stomach?

[jcr159]

At the end end of the day I’d rather not have any pulses to determine apnea type when there are other ways to do it that don’t involve changes to the airstream delivery.

I'm curious, what do you think would be another option, short of belts on your chest and stomach?

Analysis of the data waveforms we all see when pulling data ... the same technique used by the more expensive machine/ bi level machines, etc. they don’t need to determine the type of apnea to realize pressure needs reduced like required for a central, they have analysis of your breathing waveform and can cal calculate when inspiration and expiration should occur and adjust pressure accordingly.

Shorter answer: a timer

Seem that a lot of the more expensive machines that also treat other conditions, include features that let them track using a type of timing mechanism for when expiration should start and if it doesn’t within a threshold, they back pressure down (what the Resmed FOT result does when it detects a central).

Again, I get that I’m apparently in the minority, but I can’t believe I wasn’t even told about this feature as a new patient, or told it was normal and to expect it. And since I see enough comments about it online, why aren’t suppliers prepping new patients about it and letting them know it may impact the quality of their treatment and if it seems to be an issue, lay out next steps... it gets you to a more expensive machine after all...

[palerider]

At the end end of the day I’d rather not have any pulses to determine apnea type when there are other ways to do it that don’t involve changes to the airstream delivery.

I'm curious, what do you think would be another option, short of belts on your chest and stomach?

Analysis of the data waveforms we all see when pulling data ... the same technique used by the more expensive machine/ bi level machines, etc. they don’t need to determine the type of apnea to realize pressure needs reduced like required for a central, they have analysis of your breathing waveform and can cal calculate when inspiration and expiration should occur and adjust pressure accordingly.

You are confused about reality.

Bilevel machines from Resmed use *the very same FOT* to determine whether an apnea is central or obstructive.
Bilevel machines from Respironics use the same pressure pulses.
There is *no way* to determine whether an apnea is central or obstructive (without chest belts) without doing *something* with the air pressure to attempt to determine if the airway is open or blocked.

Shorter answer: a timer

Not how it works.

Seem that a lot of the more expensive machines that also treat other conditions, include features that let them track using a type of timing mechanism for when expiration should start and if it doesn’t within a threshold, they back pressure down (what the Resmed FOT result does when it detects a central).

Nope, doesn't work that way. Did you not watch the autoset technology video?

Again, I get that I’m apparently in the minority, but I can’t believe I wasn’t even told about this feature as a new patient, or told it was normal and to expect it. And since I see enough comments about it online, why aren’t suppliers prepping new patients about it and letting them know it may impact the quality of their treatment and if it seems to be an issue, lay out next steps... it gets you to a more expensive machine after all...

Your RR when you're trying to go to sleep is abnormally slow.