New and a little intimidated....

[luvscats]

Good morning all .
I'm brand new at this and more than a little obsessed in trying to get information. I found this board and have bookmarked for future help!
Here's the story...diagnosed but don't really know any numbers as I haven't actually seen my sleep study. My doctor (neurologist) sent me
for the sleep study and now I have a machine and am getting started. I have Aetna insurance with a very high deductible so basically everything
comes out of my pocket (oh well)..Aetna only rents machines and this is what I've been set up with.
Remstar Auto Aflex model DS560S with DS6H Humidifier and Swift FX nasal mask. The pressure is preset 6-16cm. I started this past Tuesday so have used for 3 nights.
I keep the mask on all night and for me that is usually midnight-5:30am...yes, I go to bed late and get up early most days . I'm going to try
and work on going to bed earlier. I didn't get a instruction book for the DS560S and am searching the internet for one but so far no luck.
This is the info the machine gives me on it's "info screen".
SD Card - unlocked
Therapy - 16.2
Blower - 16.2
Days greater than 4
Comp 24070
TH 7 day average 5.06
90% pressure 7 day avg 14
I don't really know what all that means but it must be important .
Sadly, I feel much worse after these three days than before starting. I have headache pretty much all day and I didn't have headaches before. Tiredness seems
worse but I can live with it.
I don't know what I expect but was hoping someone could tell me if I'm doing anything wrong...perhaps the answer is just keep doing it.
Thank you in advance for any advice or thoughts that you might have.
Oh and my supplies come through a local place - Apria Healthcare.

[greatunclebill]

before you go any further, you need to find out how much total you will pay for rental before the rental period ends and the machine is yours. you can probably give the machine back and get the doc to fax a prescription to cpap.com. at cpap.com your machine should cost apprx 600-700 total price. do your math.

[Bons]

Good morning all .
I'm brand new at this and more than a little obsessed in trying to get information. I found this board and have bookmarked for future help!
Here's the story...diagnosed but don't really know any numbers as I haven't actually seen my sleep study. My doctor (neurologist) sent me
This is the info the machine gives me on it's "info screen".
SD Card - unlocked
Therapy - 16.2
Blower - 16.2
Days greater than 4
Comp 24070
TH 7 day average 5.06
90% pressure 7 day avg 14
I don't really know what all that means but it must be important .

Your SD card is unlocked, which means you can change your pressures and download your data if you get software.

Therapy hours and blower hours are 16.2, meaning you had the machine turned on for 16.2 hours and it was attached to your face the entire time it was on (blower hours could be higher than therapy hours if you pulled your mask off in your sleep or left the machine on and laid it on your bed when taking a potty trip).

TH 7 day average shows that over the last seven days, you averaged 5.06 hours per night (insurance companies insist on at least 4 to pay for the machine)

90% pressure 7 day avg 14 means that over a 7 day period your pressure was 14 OR LOWER 90% of the time.

It is not uncommon to feel more tired for awhile after starting therapy. Your body has to get used to sleeping with the machine and dealing with being attached to a mask and hose. Your body is starting to get decent sleep and wants more! Your lungs are getting a workout from the air pressure being pumped in. Lots of adjustments. It will get better eventually!

[luvscatss]

Bons - Thank you for explaining that for me. I have a call into Apria as this headache is just killer and 3 days in...well,
I feel like I'm doing my part by wearing the mask but wow this headache makes me not want to put it on tonight!
I, so far, have not turned on the humidfier as I haven't felt I needed it - do you think that could be part of the problem?
On the "getting software"...is that something I can buy and set up myself? I'm sorry for the questions...please anyone feel
free to step in

Greatunclebill - For a year the price of rental will run roughly $500, so yes I should look into just buying a machine instead of
using my insurance...in the long run it would be cheaper.

[Julie]

What mask - make, model and anything else - are you using?

[luvcatss]

Julie - Here's what I have
Remstar Auto Aflex model DS560S with DS6H Humidifier and Swift FX nasal mask. The pressure is preset 6-16cm

[mayondair]

Dryness can cause nasty headaches, you may want to turn on the humidifier, try 2 or 3 for starts, it's a very individual thing.to much can cause congestion, to little can make you miserable also. It takes time, youll get lotsof help here! kathy

[luvscatss]

Just wanted to report back - hugs & thanks for those that said to turn on the humidifier .
It's not perfect yet, but I'm doing better and the headaches are not as severe AND I've
had 2 days in a row without one. So I'm optimistic...now onto the real goal of hopefully
losing some weight (months I know) and retesting and maybe, just maybe not needing the machine ,
Thanks!

[Pugsy]

If you will register here at the forum and send me a private message I will get you some information about the software that will work with the PR S1 60 series APAP...model 560 that you have.
SleepyHead normally works with the PR S1 APAPs but the 60 series is new and SleepyHead is not yet compatible.
There is another software that is compatible though.

You can request the provider's manual for your machine here at this link. Down at the bottom of the page are the instructions on how to do it. Make sure you specify the 60 series PR S1 Auto Cpap.

http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p ... tup-manual

[luvscats]

Pugsy - HI! - I registered and I tried to send PM...so hopefully I did it right and you've received it . Thank you for trying to help!