Is it me or is my only benefit stop snoring?

[hotrod53]

Insurance paid for the machine and I believe that this machine is the same as the original last minus the reader. I wonder if my provider would swap it for me?

[NightHawkeye]

Insurance paid for the machine and I believe that this machine is the same as the original last minus the reader. I wonder if my provider would swap it for me?

Unfortunately, the Remstar Plus only records the number of hours you slept, not "useful" info, except for insurance purposes.

I believe the Remstar Pro model records "useful" data, such as the apneas and hypopneas along with when they occur. It also provides AHI, which is a measure of how effective your therapy has been. A lot of folks here seem to do quite well with the Pro. If I were you, I'd try to pin the DME down on the exact model you used to have, as the Plus and Pro are identical externally, as is the Remstar-auto APAP as well.

Any chance you save a receipt of the transaction? If not, then checking with insurance might provide an answer.

If you have to buy out-of-pocket though to get a data machine, for the small difference in price, an APAP makes a lot more sense than the more basic Pro model, at least to me.

Regards,
Bill

[cflame1]

If you go with an M Series... then the Pro will record all the data. If you go with a non-M series... it has to be a Pro 2 to get all the data.

[Country4ever]

Hotrod,
How does your doctor know that your treatment is or isn't working? Were you just given the machine, and sent on your way?
I can't imagine a doctor doing that. You may not be getting much benefit at all from this treatment. I'd hate to think you've wasted a year. You just HAVE to find out if your apnea is really even being taken care of. That could explain why you don't feel any different. CPAP treatment can take alot of adjustment before you find the "right" setting. Good luck in your search.

[Guest]

The doctor turns the treatment over to a provider, I get periodic calls asking if everything is OK and do I need supplies..... of course, they make $$ on that. They have been very responsive when I have called in the past, I started out with the nasal pillows and they were giving me problems. They have a hotline that I can call 24/7, maybe I need to get agressive with my own treatment.

[hotrod53]

I looked into getting a different machine, I called my provider and they refused to change it to something else. I guess the problem is that the insurance company purchased this machine so I own it. I also had two of these fail and they replaced it with the same thing.

Recently my insurance changes again and it sucks big time, I have to spend $3000 before they contribute a dime. I do know how to adjust the settings, I'm wondering if I should up teh settings.

[ozij]

I looked into getting a different machine, I called my provider and they refused to change it to something else. I guess the problem is that the insurance company purchased this machine so I own it. I also had two of these fail and they replaced it with the same thing.

Recently my insurance changes again and it sucks big time, I have to spend $3000 before they contribute a dime. I do know how to adjust the settings, I'm wondering if I should up teh settings.

I would really like to help you -- I'm sure others do too, but what do you need from us?

How can we help?

O.

[hotrod53]

I guess not knowing what to expect and hearing from the doctors that I "was going to feel like a new person" had kind of dissapointed me when I didn't. I have been using my machine for about 2 years now and I still feel as much like crap as I did before I started. Admitidly, I don't feel like dozing off at a red light as much any more. Others have suggested that maybe my setup isn't right. I can't remember the last time that I woke up in the morning feeling great, which is what I hoped would happen. Waking up all night with leaks, twisting and turning dragging this darn hose with me, waking up with my eye stuck shut because the air leaked and dried my eye out and made it stick closed, that's the reality. As I said though, my wife can sleep in the same room with me now which makes it worth it.

Can you explain what effect pressure has? On rare occasion that my wife reports that I was snoring, but not often. I would guess that it is an indication of too low pressure. What happens if the pressure is too high?

I see these plastic things that you put in your mouth at night that shifts your lower jaw forward... If I shift my jaw forward I can breath and I'll bet that I wouldn't snore. I wonder if we're approaching my treatment wrong. I wonder if there would be any long term effect of shifting your jaw like that, after all that's how they straighten your teeth, maybe I would end up snoring and having an over bite too...LOL!

[ozij]

Waking up all night with leaks, twisting and turning dragging this darn hose with me,

You can find tips on hose management that will solve the leak and the hose dragging

waking up with my eye stuck shut because the air leaked and dried my eye out and made it stick closed,

That too can be solved with a mask that is the right size and shape for your face.

Can you explain what effect pressure has?

It stents your airway -- keeps it form collapsing.

On rare occasion that my wife reports that I was snoring, but not often. I would guess that it is an indication of too low pressure.

Makes sense.

What happens if the pressure is too high?

You can't sleep well, and sometimes you have gas.

O.

[torontoCPAPguy]

Well, here's all I can really tell you without drivelling on and on about my experience. CPAP HELPS. APAP is even better as a unit like the ResMed S8 Autoset II is going to provide you with the minimum pressure to keep that airway open. In my case it is not so much sleep apnea/snoring that is the problem although I was a snorer and probably never made it to REM sleep anyway... but it was a matter of simply not getting sufficient air into my lungs and having my blood pressure shoot sky high. Another story for another day.

The answer is that the only benefit is definitely NOT to stop snoring. When you begin to read the literature and white papers on sleep apnea, whose main signal is snoring, you will realize that those afflicted have a significantly greater chance of other afflictions such as stroke, heart attack, high blood pressure and whatnot, than otherwise. The CPAP/APAP machine is going to help resolve that.

And as a matter of interest, if you are not seeing a good respirologist now you should get a referral and see one asap. I find, personally, the APAP like the Autoset II to be much more comfortable than a bottom of the line machine like the Escape II CPAP which has a fixed pressure. On top of that you will be able to become your own advocate with the MD's and sleep tech's as you will have much of the information that they have. A biggie for me is that the Autoset II uses the m inimum pressure needed to keep my airway open and I know from my respirologist that I need a minimum of 9cm of air blowing to ensure that my lungs are inflating sufficiently to keep my blood oxygen saturation sufficiently high to keep my blood pressure down. And the Autoset is set for a max of 14 cm right now to ensure that I do get sufficient air coming in even if my airway collapses... and the good thing about the APAP is that my airway never collapses now. No more waking up in a cold sweat witha pounding heart from high blood pressure. REM sleep. Starting to feel like a human being again. The Autoset II senses vibrations in your air flow indicating an oncoming collapse of the airway (i.e. snoring and then collapse) and increases the pressure momentarily or as long as needed to ensure no collapse.... no APNEA event.

If all you are concerned with is snoring then earplugs are a much cheaper solution, no?

You are going to have to take the word of your respirologist and the other more experienced members of this board (the best!) as opposed to mine, but I am so sold on the Autoset II or at least on APAP versus a fixed pressure CPAP that I have ordered a second one for standby and am going to either keep my Escape II CPAP for no good reason or put it up for autction and let someone else get the use of it. For me it is APAP all the way.

There is much knowledge on the internet and on this board. Make use of it and educate yourself. Consider it an investment in a longer and happier life. Don't be one of the "he died peacefully at home in his sleep" crowd please. If you do, make sure that it is at the age of 118 and from a round of buckshot from a jeleous husband (or wife). And not from skyrocketing bloodpressure, the silent killer.

This is YOUR life on the line. Time to get going!

Our sponsor https://www.cpap.com has the best prices and widest range of gear that I have been able to find by the way. If you live in Canada you are going to be forced to deal with someone else or have your gear shipped to a friend stateside as they will not do it. And you are going to have to get a prescription from your MD/respirologist to order even a mask, let alone a blower although I am thinking that it is getting to the point where the pateients are more knowledgeable than the physicians with regard to sleep apnea lately. At least that is my case. And the cost of the gear stateside is 1/4 of the cost of the gear in Ontario.... funny that the sleep clinics should refer one to a specific provider of equipment, eh? Wonder what that's all about?

[torontoCPAPguy]

By the way, I pulled my data of the Autoset II this past week and my apnea events were ZERO. Not a one. Is this not marvellous? I am sleeping better as I get used to the machine and mask and I no longer wake up in a sweat.

In fact, with the advice of the members of this board and their learned experience, I went ahead and (as suggested) continued to use my APAP through a horrid cold that I have had all week. The results were exactly as the members of this board suggested they would be.... I slept better; I had less nose congestion; I had little to no chest congestion and if it were not for a desire not to spread the cold I would be out and about. The trick was, as suggested, to crank the heated humidifier up as high as I could comfortably use, which I did. And I hung my hose above the level of the humidifier and put an insulating 'blanket' on it.

And still, zero (0) apnea events and tons of REM sleep. I don't feel great yet, but I am feeling better than I have in ages.

Thanks guys.

[Muse-Inc]

By the way, I pulled my data of the Autoset II this past week and my apnea events were ZERO. Not a one. Is this not marvellous? I am sleeping better as I get used to the machine and mask and I no longer wake up in a sweat...And still, zero (0) apnea events and tons of REM sleep. I don't feel great yet, but I am feeling better than I have in ages.

Congrats! Great news!