Compliance & downloading data

[keithintx]

Before I ask my question let me give a little background on my situation. I'm a 42yr old male and I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 15yrs ago. Instead of being treated with a cpap machine, I underwent surgery as treatment. I had my tonsils, uvula, and adenoids and any other obstruction that the doctors could find removed. By the way, a very painful recovery, but well worth it. Since that time I have not experienced any apnea episodes (to my knowledge). I also was diagnosed at age 15 with nasal polyps, which I have had removed on three separate occasions in my life. I still suffer from nasal congestion and postnasal drip. Now with all that being said, let's fast forward to the present. I work for a global package delivery company (wear brown uniforms). We as drivers have to pass the D O T physicals periodically. During my last physical I was asked (for the first time ever), if I snored. I answered yes, I always have (even after the surgery). This answer prompted the doctor to only sign off on a three month D O T card and will not extend it until I've gone through sleep studys and return to him all the data and findings from the studys and doctor's visits. I've done all that and now have a cpap machine. My study showed that I averaged 32 (192 times per 6hr period) apnea episodes an hour. When I went in 15yrs ago, I was averaging 60 an hour.(300 times per 6hrs of sleep)
In order to recieve my D O T card, I have to use the cpap machine for a week and average 4hrs a night. Then I must take the machine to the sleep center and have the data "downloaded" and then visit my doctor, where he will "translate the data" and sign a piece of paper that then must take back to D O T doctor.

My question is this: How does this machine know that I have or have not been wearing my mask or even using the machine? My machine has no "mask on" or "mask off" alerts. There are no sensors in the mask or on the machine.

I am using the machine, however, I'm sleeping less each night. Mask isn't comfy, waking up more frequently and feeling worse morning after morning.
I want it to work out for me and help me. But at the same time, I can't stand this f*%king machine.


Keith

[Wulfman]

Before I ask my question let me give a little background on my situation. I'm a 42yr old male and I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 15yrs ago. Instead of being treated with a cpap machine, I underwent surgery as treatment. I had my tonsils, uvula, and adenoids and any other obstruction that the doctors could find removed. By the way, a very painful recovery, but well worth it. Since that time I have not experienced any apnea episodes (to my knowledge). I also was diagnosed at age 15 with nasal polyps, which I have had removed on three separate occasions in my life. I still suffer from nasal congestion and postnasal drip. Now with all that being said, let's fast forward to the present. I work for a global package delivery company (wear brown uniforms). We as drivers have to pass the D O T physicals periodically. During my last physical I was asked (for the first time ever), if I snored. I answered yes, I always have (even after the surgery). This answer prompted the doctor to only sign off on a three month D O T card and will not extend it until I've gone through sleep studys and return to him all the data and findings from the studys and doctor's visits. I've done all that and now have a cpap machine. My study showed that I averaged 32 (192 times per 6hr period) apnea episodes an hour. When I went in 15yrs ago, I was averaging 60 an hour.(300 times per 6hrs of sleep)
In order to recieve my D O T card, I have to use the cpap machine for a week and average 4hrs a night. Then I must take the machine to the sleep center and have the data "downloaded" and then visit my doctor, where he will "translate the data" and sign a piece of paper that then must take back to D O T doctor.

My question is this: How does this machine know that I have or have not been wearing my mask or even using the machine? My machine has no "mask on" or "mask off" alerts. There are no sensors in the mask or on the machine.

I am using the machine, however, I'm sleeping less each night. Mask isn't comfy, waking up more frequently and feeling worse morning after morning.
I want it to work out for me and help me. But at the same time, I can't stand this f*%king machine.


Keith

Exactly, WHICH machine do you have? (Brand and specific model and any other information you can provide.)
Also, which specific mask (brand and model) are you using and the pressure setting(s).

I encourage you to register on the forum and list all of your equipment.

Many of the machines have data capabilities. If it is fully data-capable and has a data card, they can download the card to see your nightly sleep data. Many of us on the forum have the software to monitor our own therapy by that method. We take our therapy SERIOUSLY.


Den

[keithintx]

Thanks wulfman for your response. I've registered with the forum and registered my equipment as well. I have a SleepStyle 604 w/built-in humidifier and a flexi-fit 432 mask. My machine came with no software, that's why I have take the machine to the sleep center for downloading.


Keith

[shambharwani]

Keith

The software for your machine is available from https://www.cpap.com - https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisher ... tware.html. Sometimes these softwares are also available for download from various websites for free, though I believe they may be an illegal copy.

Sham

[ozij]

Welcome, Keith.
The machine has all the sensors inside - and it can distinguish breathing - which is why it can record how many hours you use it at night. Don't even try to run it without you on the other side -- that will be recorded immediately -- not something you want.

As Den (Wulfman) said, we take our sleep seriously, and would like nothing than to help you have your machine give you good therapy.

There are many types of masks -- and many ways of making masks work for you, including how you route the hose.

Your machine is very basic - it will tell the sleep center you've been using it -- but not the effect of that use your AHI.

If any if your deliveries are done in changing altitudes, you have reason to march back to the clinic and tell them : "This basic machine doesn't even adjust to altitude chaged automatically!!!" (Did anyone ask you about altitude? Show you how to change?)

My study showed that I averaged 32 (192 times per 6hr period) apnea episodes an hour. When I went in 15yrs ago, I was averaging 60 an hour.(300 times per 6hrs of sleep)

Now that is classic example what ENT's call successful therapy, your AHI got 50% better <cynical gasp>. An AHI of 30 is still considered severe sleep apnea (that's being choked every 2 minutes) -- but ENT's ignore that.

[Wulfman]

Thanks wulfman for your response. I've registered with the forum and registered my equipment as well. I have a SleepStyle 604 w/built-in humidifier and a flexi-fit 432 mask. My machine came with no software, that's why I have take the machine to the sleep center for downloading.


Keith

Hi Keith.

As ozij said, they gave you a "basic" machine.....no data other than hours used. Software won't help.....data isn't there.

https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/fishe ... -cpap.html

Fisher & Paykel recently came out with some other data-capable machine models, but I'm not familiar with their reporting characteristics or how good the software is.


Den

[reitzell]

Keith,

They know:



When I clean my CPAP on Sunday sometimes I let it just run to dry it out and sometimes I let it run a little before I put it on each night. You can see in black where breathing is not detected in the downloaded data.

Work with the people here to fix the problem and work on making it more tolerable/comfortable for you.

Good luck!
Rob

[drubin007]

I can tell you from experience the F&P HC254 (auto) will show all data and the software is out there....

It is not readily available, meaning if you google it, you will find it for sale in Austraulia. However if you search this forum for info on it you might find a little more.
Then again, if you are only going to be on it for a week so they can police you and make sure you are wearing it,
seems somewhat pointless to go thru the trouble.

[keithintx]

I would like to thank everyone who responded to my post. I have received some valuable information. And you've all been a great help, thanks again! I do want everyone to understand that I am SERIOUS about my therapy and I want to control my apnea. I know that in my original post it may have sounded like I was only doing the this for my D O T card and nothing else. That's just not the case! I know what sleep apnea does to the body, otherwise I wouldn't have had the surgery 15yrs ago. Which, by the way, was completely successful. After the surgery, I had several follow-up studies done and they showed no apnea. I only became aware that the apnea returned due to the D O T physical, which was performed only a month ago. I came on this forum for advice and help. And I have received just that, good advice and helpful information. Again, let me say Thank you and I will continue to visit this site regularly.

[ozij]

[quote="ozij"]Welcome, Keith.
The machine has all the sensors inside - and it can distinguish breathing - which is why it can record how many hours you use it at night. Don't even try to run it without you on the other side -- that will be recorded immediately -- not something you want.

As Den (Wulfman) said, we take our sleep seriously, and would like nothing than to help you have your machine give you good therapy.

There are many types of masks -- and many ways of making masks work for you, including how you route the hose.

Your machine is very basic - it will tell the sleep center you've been using it -- but not the effect of that use your AHI.

If any if your deliveries are done in changing altitudes, you have reason to march back to the clinic and tell them : "This basic machine doesn't even adjust to altitude chaged automatically!!!" (Did anyone ask you about altitude? Show you how to change?)


Edited to add: In his next post, Keith makes it clear that he had 0 apneas after the surgery -- I therefore deleted a comment I meant about his present AHI of 32.

O.