newbie - almost at the 4 week mark

gagging · Post by **gagging** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 10:11 pm

Thanks for your replies. I turned the machine over and realise its a HC234.

I spoke to the technician today and he said i should bring my machine in and he can set an alarm to go off if there is air leakage.

He also said that when the nasal pillows are on - i "think" im mouth breathing because i am awake when i notice. That if my mouth was open, the sleep study would have picked it up. Since it didnt - i can asume i dont mouth breathe. Again - he said what i "notice" while awake does not corretlate to what happens when asleep. He told to me ask a partner to watch me sleep and see. But i live alone so i dont know.

He also said that if i exhale out of my mouth, that doesnt matter. The obstruction gets cleared on INHALATION..and that my mouth is probabvly closed on inhalation.

he never heard of "taping" and didnt like the idea but was open to "checking into it". I told him to read this website, he said he often surfs here, never saw mention of taping and will look again.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:19 pm

He also said that when the nasal pillows are on - i "think" im mouth breathing because i am awake when i notice. That if my mouth was open, the sleep study would have picked it up. Since it didnt - i can asume i dont mouth breathe.

Wrong wrong wrong, and I have the data to prove it.

I didn't mouth breathe on the sleep study.

I can spend some nights without taping and without mouthbreathing.

And the I wake up with the kind of parched painful mouth that I have never experienced in my life before cpap - and the minute by minute data on my fully data capable machine will show I have been mouthleaking for half an hour or longer.

You tech has never slept with a cpap, or else has never had the misfortune to mouthbreathe.

He also said that if i exhale out of my mouth, that doesnt matter. The obstruction gets cleared on INHALATION..and that my mouth is probabvly closed on inhalation

And he is a fool if he assumes that people open their mouths on exhale and close it on inhale.

With an open mouth giving the pressurized air an easy out the air will flow into the room, and do nothing to open your obstructions. Think of trying to fill a baloon with a hole - it won't fill, the air goes "that-a-way".

Sorry for sounding so brusque: but your tech is both foolish, and ignorant. Drop him.

O.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, Nasal Pillows

Pilot_Ron · Post by **Pilot_Ron** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 8:35 am

gagging wrote:Thanks for your replies. I turned the machine over and realise its a HC234.

I spoke to the technician today and he said i should bring my machine in and he can set an alarm to go off if there is air leakage.

He also said that when the nasal pillows are on - i "think" im mouth breathing because i am awake when i notice. That if my mouth was open, the sleep study would have picked it up. Since it didnt - i can asume i dont mouth breathe. Again - he said what i "notice" while awake does not corretlate to what happens when asleep. He told to me ask a partner to watch me sleep and see. But i live alone so i dont know.

He also said that if i exhale out of my mouth, that doesnt matter. The obstruction gets cleared on INHALATION..and that my mouth is probabvly closed on inhalation.

he never heard of "taping" and didnt like the idea but was open to "checking into it". I told him to read this website, he said he often surfs here, never saw mention of taping and will look again.

I thought I wasn't mouth breathing until last night, it woke me up, and I realized I was doing it. Once your mouth opens, it is more than likely to stay open until you are concious enough to close it. You may not remember doing it when you wake up, but it is not likely to be an involuntary reaction. I just ordered a chin strap to keep it from happening again. When I get home from work tonight, I'm going to have to make something temporary. Your tech sounds a little ignorant to me.

goose · Post by **goose** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:31 pm

I haven't found that chinstraps work well for me. They don't seem to move my jaw upwards as much as back causing problems with my temporal mandibular joint -- but that's me!!! Panty hose tights seemed to work the best, but I don't use any straps anymore.....
I really don't mouth breathe all that often, so it's not one of my major concerns.

Your tech sounds like an ignoramus!!!!! I'd be looking into a replacement as soon as I could -- may depend on insurance!!!

Good luck!!
cheers
goose

gagging · Post by **gagging** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:44 pm

Hi,

Just thought id update since i had my second appt today since being given my CPAP machine 5 weeks ago. I told the Dr/tech about my concerns about air leakage. They reiterrated their contention that im not really losing much air through my mouth. They asked if im feeling better (which i relied that i was - but still was anxious that im losing air and not getting full benefit)

Long story short -
1) they gave me a chin strap.
2) they will look into switching my machine to the RESMED S8 which they said will provide me with the "data" to determine for certain if im leaking.
3) they offered to let me come in when there is a cancellation and sleep at the clinic without electrodes etc..but with my machine. The tester/techie will zoom his camera and watch my mouth for signs of mouth breathing.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap machine, resmed

shardebhow · Post by **shardebhow** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:14 pm

I have a Fisher and Paykel 640. If I am correct, none of the Fisher Paykel machines have data capabilities other than compliance. Ironically, I am also waiting to swap out for a Resmed S8 hopefully an Elite. I thought I was going to swap out for a Respironics Apap with aflex but found out they would not go for it as it is not warrented and my insurance will not pay for it. I have heard from several on this sight that the Resmed S8Elite is a good data capable machine.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 3:20 am

shardebhow wrote:I have heard from several on this sight that the Resmed S8Elite is a good data capable machine.

So is the Respironics REMstar Pro CPAP with C-flex. If they are not going to let you have an autopap, then this is the CPAP machine I'd get. The EncoreViewer software it uses is very informative.

shardebhow · Post by **shardebhow** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:27 am

rested gal wrote:
shardebhow wrote:I have heard from several on this sight that the Resmed S8Elite is a good data capable machine.
So is the Respironics REMstar Pro CPAP with C-flex. If they are not going to let you have an autopap, then this is the CPAP machine I'd get. The EncoreViewer software it uses is very informative.

Sigh. In my case, I think my only option will be the Resmed S8. I can only hope that it is the Elite as I believe that is the only one that is fully data capable of in the Resmed S8 series. Since the DME is swapping out my F&P as a favor to the doc and my insurance said the F&P is almost paid. . .I am at their mercy with what they will give me.

gagging · Post by **gagging** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:44 am

The ResMed s8 elite is out of stock. So until it comes in they gave me a (Respironics m-series Remstar Auto A-flex). It will tell me if there is leakage. They told me I won't know by looking at the machine if there is leakage, but when i send the data card in, they will see it. It wont tell me/them how im leaking or be specific (air leaking through mask or through mouth) just that a general leak occured.

I suspect i mouth breathe. This will confirm or deny leakage. If it shows leakage - i will have to give up the nasal pillows and try a full face mask.

ps - this machine will also shift (supposedly) the pressure levels from 4 - 16 depending on whats needed when i sleep. that sounds pretty cool. My old machine was permanently set at 10.

And this machine seems very noisy. But thats easier to get used to.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:53 am

gagging wrote:The ResMed s8 elite is out of stock. So until it comes in they gave me a (Respironics m-series Remstar Auto A-flex). It will tell me if there is leakage. They told me I won't know by looking at the machine if there is leakage, but when i send the data card in, they will see it. It wont tell me/them how im leaking or be specific (air leaking through mask or through mouth) just that a general leak occured.

I suspect i mouth breathe. This will confirm or deny leakage. If it shows leakage - i will have to give up the nasal pillows and try a full face mask.

ps - this machine will also shift (supposedly) the pressure levels from 4 - 16 depending on whats needed when i sleep. that sounds pretty cool. My old machine was permanently set at 10.

And this machine seems very noisy. But thats easier to get used to.

That may sound "pretty cool", but a bottom pressure of 4 is a BAD idea when you NEED 10. You're going to have A LOT of apneas occurring before the pressure can get up to where it needs to be.
Thay SHOULD have set it in CPAP mode at your prescribed pressure of 10.

But......if you can hang on to that machine instead of having to give it up for the Elite......THAT would be "pretty cool".

Den

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:46 am

Thanks for the reply Wulfman. I see what your saying....
I called my tech and asked him your exact question. He said 4 - 16 is prettty standard and that having a range is quite useful, since when i shift from my side to my back etc..the pressures natually change. And that getting from 4 to optimal wont take very long.

I tried the machine last night and i woke up a few time and checked the display. it was 7.5, 8.1, and 11.5 the three times i happened to awaken and check.

I will ask him if the range can be changed from 4-16 to...6-16 to diminish those early apneas from occuring until i get up to optimal pressure.

Is this machine better than the S8 elite?? you indicated it was.

Thanks

newbie - almost at the 4 week mark

Gagging

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