Testing CPAP working correctly on one's own?

max6166 · Post by **max6166** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 12:16 pm

My doctor said that he wanted the DME to verify that my CPAP is working properly using some special device they have. My DME said that this service will cost $100.

Is there anyway I can verify my CPAP is working accurately myself? Basically, he just wants to doublecheck that the pressure is accurate for the given setting. Is the device the DME uses very expensive? Can I purchase one? Are there any homebrew methods for testing the output pressure of my machine?

What is the likelihood that my machine wouldn't be accurate? It is a 1-year old Respironics REMstar M Series Basic and my pressure is at 9.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 12:20 pm

It is called a manometer

You can make your own just google "how to make manometer"

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 12:31 pm

DreamStalker wrote:It is called a manometer

You can make your own just google "how to make manometer"

Here's some links on how to make your own:

viewtopic.php?p=34193#34193

viewtopic.php?t=4193&sid=a3e5469f688e0f ... d8aacca803

Den

JeffH · Post by **JeffH** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 12:42 pm

That's just nuts! I took my old Sullivan in to have checked and they didn't charge me anything. It takes about 1 minute to do. Like everyone said, make your own. I did.

JeffH

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 12:43 pm

The best way would be to get the software and reader to check how your treatment is really doing, if your unknown XPAP collects useful data. If it doesn't take that $100 and get a XPAP that does online.

Sounds like your Dr. & DME, have a new racket going. A decent DME that you buy equiptment from have clinics that will check them free. (Lincare) here anyway.

Or just build a manometer and check your own, and without software guess if your treatment is correct. Jim

Mile High Sleeper · Post by **Mile High Sleeper** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 12:44 pm

Most DMEs will check your pressure with a manometer for free. It's absurd that your DME wants to charge $100. Call local hospital sleep labs and/or other DMEs in your area to see if they will check the pressure if you bring in your machine. It takes only seconds.

While you're at it, read the article under the light bulb icon above, on Checking Your CPAP Machine Settings (yourself) at cpaptalk-articles/checking-CPAP-machine-settings.html

max6166 · Post by **max6166** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:22 pm

Thanks everyone.

Aarrrgghhhh!!!! The way my doctor worded it, I am pretty sure he thought it was free too. I can't believe it is so simple.

I complained to the DME before reading this thread, and they dropped the price to $35! Forget that. I'll just build one myself.

The explanations are really great. I just have 2 questions:

1. Does the inner diameter of the tubing make a difference? One of the instructions mentioned 1/8" tubing. I assume the cm is scaled to match a tube with an inner diameter of exactly 1/8" then?

2. What are some likely places that I could buy tubing? I have no idea what stores would carry tubing, or even what types of stores...

Thanks again everyone!

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:33 pm

Lowe's here sells plastic tubing in various sizes!

Jerry

max6166 · Post by **max6166** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:40 pm

I should mention that I am in Toronto, Canada.

Thanks Jerry. There is a Lowe's just outside the city I think, but unfortunately I don't drive.

What is the tubing usually sold for? Is it usually found with building supplies then?

roster · Post by **roster** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:49 pm

max6166 wrote:............

What is the likelihood that my machine wouldn't be accurate? It is a 1-year old Respironics REMstar M Series Basic and my pressure is at 9.
.........

The probability that your machine is not accurate is small.

The probability that the prescribed pressure is not optimal for your therapy is high. You need to spend your energy and money as Goofproof suggested.

Good luck.

max6166 · Post by **max6166** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 2:07 pm

rooster wrote:
max6166 wrote:............

What is the likelihood that my machine wouldn't be accurate? It is a 1-year old Respironics REMstar M Series Basic and my pressure is at 9.
.........
The probability that your machine is not accurate is small.

The probability that the prescribed pressure is not optimal for your therapy is high. You need to spend your energy and money as Goofproof suggested.

I didn't think my machine captured any data to read? I looked into upgrading to an XPAP that did, but really can't afford it, i.e. I literally don't have the money and won't for quite a while, no matter how much I scrimp.

This all was the result of my recent sleep study. The doctor bumped my pressure up from 8 to 9, but said that I should have been getting very good results even with 8.

The doctor asked me to check the machine to be thorough, but didn't think it was likely that there would be any problem with it. I think he assumed it was free and couldn't do any harm.

Instead, the doctor believes that I have other sleep issues in addition to apnea which he believes is resolved with my current CPAP therapy.

He is sending me to see their "sleep psychiatrist", whom I will not see until September. It takes me hours to get to sleep, and I don't sleep for very long which is certainly not helping things.

To be honest though, even with that, I am still feeling 100x better than a year ago, before I started CPAP! This is a cakewalk in comparison to how I used to feel.

Hawthorne · Post by **Hawthorne** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 2:33 pm

Anyone with a cpap machine, anywhere in Canada (Ontario, for sure) should not pay one cent to have this checked!

roster · Post by **roster** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:08 pm

max6166 wrote:...........

He is sending me to see their "sleep psychiatrist", ........

Max,

That's good. Too bad you can't go sooner.

Sleep deprivation, high cortisol levels, high adrenalin levels and low blood-oxygen levels can make you mentally ill. Are you aware that many of us who went for years undiagnosed/untreated were damn mentally ill when we finally started treatment? So when you start a good cpap therapy, you should immediately feel improvement but it may take some time for many of the mental issues to heal. Hopefully you have an enlightened sleep psychiatrist who can help speed up this process.

One thing you are saying I caution you about because of my own experience. I had much insomnia for two years on cpap. The sleep doc kept giving me prescriptions for sedatives and sleeping pills. When I would question the pressure setting his reply was, "I know the lab has the pressure correct." Well guess what, after two years I got an A-Flex and software and found the pressure was way off and I was still having 30 to 40 apneas per hours.

After I titrated the correct pressure with A-Flex machine my insomnia greatly improved. See the sleep psychiatrist but know why I am telling you if you have any problems with insomnia, fatigue or daytime sleepiness, you need to make sure your apnea is really under control.

Good luck,

Rooster

max6166 · Post by **max6166** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:31 pm

I agree 100% with you, Rooster. My apnea was actually discovered by my psychiatrist after 8 years of treating its psychiatric symptoms! I was eventually hallucinating and becoming psychotic. 4 weeks of CPAP and almost everything vanished, leaving me with just a very mild depression.

I definitely want to get an APAP with data capabiltities, etc. but years of sleep deprivation eventually devastated my income and destroyed my credit. I am self-employed and could barely function near the end of it.

I am barely keeping the wolves from my family's door each month now, and there is just no money to be had for a new machine in the foreseeable future.

My sleep is "good enough" for now. Hopefully in a year or so, I will be in a better position. It's not optimal, but I can't see any realistic alternatives...

roster · Post by **roster** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:46 pm

[quote="max6166"]I agree 100% with you, Rooster. My apnea was actually discovered by my psychiatrist after 8 years of treating its psychiatric symptoms! I was eventually hallucinating and becoming psychotic. 4 weeks of CPAP and almost everything vanished, leaving me with just a very mild depression.

I definitely want to get an APAP with data capabiltities, etc. but years of sleep deprivation eventually devastated my income and destroyed my credit. I am self-employed and could barely function near the end of it.

I am barely keeping the wolves from my family's door each month now, and there is just no money to be had for a new machine in the foreseeable future.

My sleep is "good enough" for now. Hopefully in a year or so, I will be in a better position. It's not optimal, but I can't see any realistic alternatives...

Testing CPAP working correctly on one's own?

Testing CPAP working correctly on one's own?

checking your pressure

Re: Testing CPAP working correctly on one's own?

Re: Testing CPAP working correctly on one's own?

Checking cpap

Re: Testing CPAP working correctly on one's own?

Mask

Additional Comments: Equipment isn't correct, S9 ASV w/H5i