CPAP n00b here

[Guest]

Hey guys,

I am new to CPAP. I do not have health insurance and am unemployed. I purchased a ResMed S8 Autoset Vantage. I started the autoset with a range from 5-15 and have been gradually increased the min pressure while my AI, HI, and AHI have all fallen. Around 8/15, my AHI was around 4-6 and yesterday I bumped it up to 9/15 and my AHI dropped to the lowest it has ever been of 3.

What general advise do you have in my situation? I realize that this is not as good as going to a doctor, but at this time I do not have the money for a sleep study. I am trying to adjust this slowly and use the pressure that the autoset uses and use that as a guide to slowly increase it.

Thanks guys.

[Lizistired]

Sounds like you are your own sleep doc, for a fraction of the cost!

[Hueffenhardt]

It looks to me like you have the basic idea. Your AHI is now below 5 which is the goal of effective treatment. Is there anything in particular you want help with?

[Guest]

It looks to me like you have the basic idea. Your AHI is now below 5 which is the goal of effective treatment. Is there anything in particular you want help with?

Well, I guess I wanted to know what to watch out for or potential dangers. For example, it could be possible that my AHI is dropping because I am getting used to my mask or the pressure. I havent tried going back down in pressure to see if my AHI increases.

I would also like to see the data plotted over time. I would like to see if the events are in the middle of my sleeping or more come at the beginning or end of my sleeping when I am already awake.

Basically, there are problems that might arise that I cannot predict.... thoughts?

[Hawthorne]

If you register and put your equipment in your profile (text not pictures) we can make more suggestions.

BE SURE TO PUT IN THE EXACT MAKE AND MODEL OF YOUR MACHINE. That is seen right on the top of your machine. It is important for us to know that information because some machines are fully data capable and some are not.

With many fully data capable machines, you can get software that will allow you to see exactly what is going on while you are sleeping. You will be able to see your events, what they were, when they happened, your leak rate, your AHI, etc on your computer.

With that information you can monitor and make changes that will help your therapy.

There are lots of people here able and willing to help you. Please register and let us know your exact equipment.

[cpapdisco]

OP here:

Sorry for the confusion. I didnt know it would allow you to post w/o logging in.

The software for my machine seems to be hard to come by. Will some docs read the data and give me cheap medical advice?

BTW, my numbers were even lower today AHI of 2.

------

On a side note, I have noticed some changes in my sleeping, but nothing like I was expecting. They could be attributed to my approach, but I am not sure.

1: I have a more normal sleeping schedule now. I tend to go to bed around midnight and wake up around 7. I used to stay up all night and even days when I would go to bed early I could sleep until noon. I havent slept in like that since I started CPAP (it has been about 3 weeks now). I am not on a real schedule yet, but it is much better. I vary my bed times from 10PM-1AM and wake from 7-830. Occasionally I take off my mask and snooze until 9-930.

2: I get sleepy mid day. Without fail, almost every day, I have a strong urge to take a nap around 3ish. I havent napped though.

3: I havent noticed any major changes in energy. I know this can be a slow process (sleep debt I guess...), but I was hoping to wake up and pop out of bed.

[Hawthorne]

I don't know a lot about Resmed machines so can't help you with the software but having yoru equipment there will bring people who do know about Resmed machines to the thread. Some Durable Medical Equipment providers have the software and can read your data card for you. You could ask at the place where you bought the machine and also your sleep doctor about that. Many will read the card every so often (not often enough mostly) and some will even print you out a copy. There is sometimes a nominal copying charge. The machine you list is certainly fully data capable.

Getting a better regular sleep schedule, which you have done, is a very good step to letting your therapy work better for you.

Some people take to cpap right from day one but others take a while to get it all going for them. It takes some patience and trial and error.

Keep coming back and asking!

[cpapdisco]

I don't know a lot about Resmed machines so can't help you with the software but having yoru equipment there will bring people who do know about Resmed machines to the thread. Some Durable Medical Equipment providers have the software and can read your data card for you. You could ask at the place where you bought the machine and also your sleep doctor about that. Many will read the card every so often (not often enough mostly) and some will even print you out a copy. There is sometimes a nominal copying charge. The machine you list is certainly fully data capable.

Getting a better regular sleep schedule, which you have done, is a very good step to letting your therapy work better for you.

Some people take to cpap right from day one but others take a while to get it all going for them. It takes some patience and trial and error.

Keep coming back and asking!

I bought the machine used off Craigslist and have never spoken to a doctor. For all I know, I could have tonsil problems or a deviated septum. I am not overweight and my father has undiagnosed sleep apnea as well. I am planning on seeing a doc as soon as I can. In the mean time, I am doing the best I can for my health. From what I have seen, the couple doctors I have tried to contact either ignore me or will not give me ANY advice unless I come in for an evaluation costing hundred of dollars.

I actually kind of like the CPAP though. It is pretty comforting and the pressure is nice. Besides the occasional mouth problems, I am getting very used to it.

[DoriC]

I would just add to keep any pressure adjustments for at least a week, check your data, and notice how you're feeling. It looks like you're getting into the zone! Keep us posted.

[Lizistired]

1: I have a more normal sleeping schedule now.
2: I get sleepy mid day. Without fail, almost every day, I have a strong urge to take a nap around 3ish. I havent napped though.
3: I havent noticed any major changes in energy. I know this can be a slow process (sleep debt I guess...), but I was hoping to wake up and pop out of bed.

I noticed the same things.
It seems strange to be able to just go to bed and go to sleep. I look forward to it now because it isn't such a battle.
I took a few of those naps, but always with the mask on. The urge passed after about 2 weeks.

[KatieW]

I sent you a Private Message. Click on "new messages", right under the Search Box.

[Pugsy]

2: I get sleepy mid day. Without fail, almost every day, I have a strong urge to take a nap around 3ish. I havent napped though.

3: I havent noticed any major changes in energy. I know this can be a slow process (sleep debt I guess...), but I was hoping to wake up and pop out of bed.

Lots of things can affect quality of sleep and fatigue levels outside of OSA, so just hooking up to a machine and getting good numbers doesn't always equal a cessation of the need to nap or give you the desire to run a marathon when you first wake up.
It would be so nice if that was all we had to do. Some people do experience the immediate "miracle" and some people don't and it is a very gradual improvement.

You don't mention your age or if there are any other factors possibly affecting things. Since you are short on funds a good physical with lab tests to rule out other issues is not feasible at this time. You may need to do some detective work yourself.
Look at your situation and see if there could be anything else that affects how rested you are. Try going to bed just a bit earlier and see if your body needs a bit more sleep. Do you wake often, toss and turn, have pain or discomfort anywhere that might be a factor? CPAP will effectively treat sleep apnea but it doesn't help us if we have other issues that also factor into the equation.

For example, myself. Nearly 2 years on the machine. 100% compliant and very good numbers. Bad, bad arthritis in my back and neck. Lots of pain that caused me to wake every time I would turn over in bed (which was often). My OSA was being treated effectively but I just couldn't manage to get more than 6 hours of sleep due to the pain even with meds to help me sleep through some of the pain. My bed was the culprit. I got a new bed last month and the improvement was noticed immediately. I don't toss and turn so much, I don't wake nearly as often and I now can stay in bed and sleep for approx 7 1/2 hours. My need for afternoon naps has disappeared. Still don't want to run a marathon but I am content with this improvement for now.

I am not suggesting that you get a new bed or that you even need one. I am only suggesting that while your body adjusts to using the machine that you be aware that there may be other factors affecting how you feel. Finally, if no other factors are present it may be that you are one of those people that the improvement is ever so gradual. While we are a society that likes to see immediate results, we don't always get them. Some do and that is wonderful. If you don't then try to see the other positive side to treating OSA, you are preventing further damage to your body and that counts for a whole lot.

Good luck, sounds like you have a good head for things. Its tough to self treat but it can be done and it is certainly better than no treatment.