ARGHHHHH!!!!!

[janetlee]

Well Folks,
I got my new mask today and it's a petite size full comfort gel nasal mask by respironics. But would you believe that when I brought up that my cpap machine is just a BASIC one and does not record full data, the RT seemed puzzled by my remarks. She was like "the only time that info like your apneas, hypopneas, etc., are needed is while your getting your sleep study. It tells you that. It's what the sleep study is for." She actually acted like she didn't know of any better cpap machines than what I have! I assured her that there are ones as I'd read up on them and you folks here had told me about them. But she was acting like it didn't matter either way. So I'm fed up! I've decided to wait and see how I feel after a week or so on the new mask and go from there. I go to the doctor on the 22nd and will see what she says. I'm at the point where I'm just sick of the whole mess. I hate dealing with all the equipment as it is. I have to use an oxygen machine with the cpap. Thankfully I don't need a humidifier.
The RT also told me that if this mask doesn't work, there's not too much more to be done as I can't wear a pillow mask because my setting is 14, which she says is pretty high, and they usually don't recommend the pillow mask for folks whose settings are above 10. She says it'll feel like my nose is being blown off at 14.
My nasal mask is a petite-size and she said that respironics is the only one that puts them out in that small size.
So that's where it all stands for now.
Thanks for listening!
jl

[timbalionguy]

I feel very sorry for you. I would have been talking to her supervisor in very short order. And if that didn't help, the State health board who oversees places like that. I have very little tolerance for idiots

[Pugsy]

The RT also told me that if this mask doesn't work, there's not too much more to be done as I can't wear a pillow mask because my setting is 14, which she says is pretty high, and they usually don't recommend the pillow mask for folks whose settings are above 10. She says it'll feel like my nose is being blown off at 14.

Bull hockey...

I just now tried 14 cm with nasal pillows just so I could say I did it..
I have slept using 12 cm pressure with zero problems and it most certainly is doable at 14 cm.

[twokatmew]

Aaargh is right! That RT outright lied to you. I'd ask the doc about a fully data-capable machine at your next appt. The doc can write a new script for a specific machine. Just be sure you know which one you want when you go to the doc. (BTW, I hope you have a good doc.)

I started out with a non-data-capable ResMed Escape, and the good folks here convinced me to do battle with the RT. She swapped my machine for the Elite II. Using that machine's data, I was able to determine that my titrated pressure was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to low. In fact, my doc just switched me to auto BiPAP. Had I not had the data from the Elite II, I never would have had a clue as to what my problems were, short of another sleep study. My titrated pressure was 7cm, and data has shown that I need a pressure range of about 12-16cm to adequately treat my OSA! I usually hear about people being titrated with higher pressures than they need, but only a few patients who were under-titrated like me. Needless to say, there's no guarantee another sleep study would have been more accurate. I just wanted to tell you my story so you'd know how important that data was in my case.

Further, I use the Swift LT for Her, and my pressure has gone over 15cm with no problems whatsoever with the pillows. In fact, it seems to seal better with the higher pressure!

[Kiralynx]

Your RT was either appallingly ignorant about CPAP machines, or she was lying to you in order to increase the DME's profits.

I don't know the Resmed machines well enough to recommend one, but someone else can -- get your doc to write you a prescription for a full data capable machine when you see him/her next week... and make them take the data-less one back.

Without full data capability, I would have had no idea that my EPAP (exhalation pressure) on my Bipap was too high, and was actually causing issues. With the data capability, I was able to get my prescription changed to pressures which work for me, not against me.

[Wulfman]

Remember what I said back in this thread.

viewtopic/t45817/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=45 ... 26#p409826

When dealing with lying ignoramuses you have to be very assertive......or find another one who WILL work with you.
How long has it been since you got your equipment?

I really feel sorry for the "victims" of those DMEs.


Den

[jweeks]

The RT also told me that if this mask doesn't work, there's not too much more to be done as I can't wear a pillow mask because my setting is 14, which she says is pretty high, and they usually don't recommend the pillow mask for folks whose settings are above 10. She says it'll feel like my nose is being blown off at 14.

Janetlee,

I sorry to hear about your struggles with your DME. After reading similar stories from other folks, I now realize how lucky I was to find a good doctor and a reasonable DME the first time out.

I use the Swift LT, which is a nasal pillow mask. My pressure levels are 13.5/20 on BiPAP (20 on inhale, 13.5 on exhale). I have no leak or fit problems with that mask despite the higher pressure levels. In fact, I don't even notice the pressure, and don't use the ramp feature. In contrast, I found straight CPAP at these pressures to be intolerable, and a full face mask was a challenge to get use to at this pressure. I can confirm that a nasal pillow mask at 14 would be very comfortable and will not blow your nose off.

The only odd thing about converting to a nasal pillow mask from a full face is the first time I opened my mouth--the air rushing through felt like I was caught in a tornado. It was so unexpected that I ended up disoriented for a moment. I had to learn to keep my mouth closed, which is assisted by a chin strap.

-john-

[robertmarilyn]

I'm sorry you had to run into such a brick wall of a person who is either lying to you or really doesn't have any idea what she is talking about. I fired my first sleep doctor/DME because I had found this forum and the folks on it and knew that I was getting the run around about equipment and my sleep test and machine settings, etc. The resmed Quattro (I may have spelled that wrong) comes in petite. And more than a few folks have been able to use pillows with a pressure of 14. I'd be hesitant believe anything that person told you...she is either very misinformed (what a shame considering her occupation) or makes things up just to make her job easier.

Anyway, don't let her be the reason you give up,
mar

[tattooyu]

I use an autopap set at 14-17 (rarely goes above 14.5). No problems at all.