Do I need a sleep study?

[Dkc04]

A bit of history. 10 or 12 years ago I had a sleep study and it was determined I had sleep apnea. I did not use the machine. I found it uncomfortable. I am now age 60 and know that I should be using a machine.

Prior to COVID-19 I had an appointment with a Doctor Who set me up with a home sleep study. Unfortunately after Covid happened I did not follow through since I had to pick up the equipment for the study from a hospital.

I was talking to a vendor who sells equipment and he indicated with the new ResMed AirSense AutoSet 10 type equipment
I do not need to do the sleep study as the equipment is self adjusting. I am not looking to self diagnose myself. But I am wanting to use up my HSA savings funds towards the purchase of a ResMed AirSense AutoSet 10.

The vendor indicated that with the computerization changes that have occurred that the equipment basically determines the pressures.

I would be curious to hear if anybody else has gone this route with CPAP equipment.

[Pugsy]

Sure...I went that route. Actually bought my machine privately and figured out pressure needs on my own.

Your supplier is not quite totally correct in his/her assumption that the machine will always find the right pressure...sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't and needs a little help. All depends on how much pressure is need to hold your airway open.
Not to worry...there is free and easy to use software to help you figure out the optimal pressures.
We sometimes have to increase the minimum pressure to give the machine a better head start because they don't increase the pressure in the blink of an eye.

OSCAR https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.ph ... stallation
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.ph ... rpretation

[Dkc04]

Thank you for the reply. I guess I should get a sleep study but I want to use the HSA dollars before they expire.
I believe the difficult thing would be picking the right mask.

[Julie]

You are so right.

[Miss Emerita]

About the mask: everyone's facial contours and sleep habits are different, so you may need to do some experimenting, as Julie is suggesting. But here's a question: do you breathe through your nose during the day? If yes, I would recommend that you try a nasal-pillow mask for starters, maybe the ResMed P10. Masks get harder to fit the more places they touch your face, and pillows are a good bet from that perspective. For a new user, the P10 might be especially comfortable: it is quite minimalist. If you breathe through your mouth, though, you will want a full-face mask.

[Dkc04]

Thank you for the best recommendation. I noticed last night that when I am on my side I am breathing through my nose when I’m in bed. So I guess I’m a nose breather.