First Appt with Dr

[Chitownbabs]

I have my first follow-up appointment with my Dr. after I have been using my CPAP for about a month. Do I need to bring my CPAP machine with me so they can get the readings from it? My machine is set so I cannot see the Detailed Menu so I cannot keep track of what has been happening for the last month. I did leave a message at the Dr's office, but they have not called me back yet.

Is there anyway that I can change the machine so I can see the detailed menu or do I have to have the Dr's office change it?

Also on masks, I have been through 3 of them and I still do not feel comfortable with them. My first mask was the Swift LT, which I could not stand the nose pillows, then they sent me a Large in the Mirage Micro and that was too big, now I have a small Mirage Micro and I seem to get leaks into my eyes from it when sleeping. I have not gone yet to get a new pillow (I am a side sleeper) but I plan to do it this week and see if that helps me with the mask. I do have my mask with me to take to the DR's as I think I do not have it set right as it seems so tight on my face.

What a great forum this is and I am glad I found it. I have been reading many of the posts and I am learning alot. One thing I do not get is the mouth taping. Is that to stop leakage from your mouth? If so, then why not get a full mask instead of going through all of that?

Barb

[Slinky]

Ha! You've got a GREAT fully data capable CPAP device and it sounds like your sleep doctor is too ignorant to have any idea or inclination to take advantage of that data!!! If he had any interest at all you would have been told to bring your data card w/you or to have your local DME supplier do the download and FAX it to the sleep doctor. Don't expect much this visit or from this sleep doctor and you won't be disappointed.

I'd call my local DME supplier and ask if they would do a download for you. If they will, take it with you, spread it out in front of the doctor and say: "I have some questions". If you get a "deer in the headlights" stare .... ... you will have a good idea of just how much this sleep doctor doesn't know or understand.

[DreamStalker]

Yes. You have to eliminate mouth leaks. Otherwise, your treatment leaks right out and you sleep as if you were never treated.

Some cannot find FF masks that are both leak-free and comfortable. In general, FF masks have more facial surface area to seal and therefore they are a bit trickier to fit. When a FF mask is not possible, then folks have to go to other extremes like taping mouth shut.

[roster]

...... Is that to stop leakage from your mouth? If so, then why not get a full mask instead of going through all of that?

Yes, it is to stop mouth leakage. Full face mask should be the first option even trying several over a long period of time. Taping is a last resort.

[Chitownbabs]

Well I saw the Dr today along with the representative there about my machine and masks. I did not know I needed to find a computer card, put it in my machine and bring the card to the Dr for them to read. I just brought my whole machine there. The rep pulled the info from my machine and gave me a few pointers. He also gave me a new mask to try called an ResMed Activa Nasal Mask. Does anyone have any experience with this one? I have the problem of being a side sleeper and the mask moving on my face or even falling off my head which makes it leak. So now I am on my fourth mask. Hope this one works out for me.

By the way, someone said something in this forum about your Dr and his interest in you. This Dr told me not to come back for about six months or so. Is that normal for someone who just started doing CPAP? It takes me all of about 5 minutes with him and I am out the door. I just don't get a fuzzy wuzzy with him.

[Slinky]

Yeah, its typical. Unfortunately too many doctors take on sleep medicine as a "cash cow" subspecialty.

Yer pretty much on your own now so you're gonna have to access the Clinician's Menu and turn on the advanced patient menu.

You might want to give serious consideration to trying a nasal pillows mask for the side sleeping. The Resmed Swift LT is new and seems to be garnering a lot of fans.

You can also try a PAPpillow or even a really soft down pillow that you can punch a hollow into for your mask to fit. With the PAPpillow you sleep w/your face at the edge of the pillow so the mask isn't really touching the pillow.

If I were you I would also seriously consider purchasing the software and cable reader to monitor your therapy.

[Snoredog]

Is there anyway that I can change the machine so I can see the detailed menu or do I have to have the Dr's office change it?

Yep, just hold down the right and down buttons for 3-5 seconds, should get you to the menu, then enable Smart Data and Auto appear. To see the detailed data hold down the left and right buttons for 3-5 seconds.

[Slinky]

BEFORE you do as SnoreDog suggests, be sure to have a pen and paper handy!!! The first time you go thru WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING on the LCD screen before changing ANYTHING or moving on to the next screen. That way if you accidentally or intentionally change any of your settings you will KNOW what they were and/or should be.

Turn SmartData ON when you get to that screen and from then on in you don't have to go into the Clinicians Menu but rather can just do a Left and Right button press for 3-4 seconds to see all your data WITHOUT ANY RISK of accidentally altering your data or therapy settings.

Whilst in the Clinicians Menu NEVER do anything in the EraseData screen except Down arrow to the next screen or Right arrow to Exit.