Newbie results after144 days of CPAP. There is hope :)

[greenguru]

First let me say thanks to everyone who posts here. I have learned the majority of everything I know about apnea, from all of you. I should have learned more from my doc, but we all know about that.

I had toe surgery (Big toe. Wore out cartilage from being flat footed) in November 2011. After the surgery the anesthesiologist told me I should be checked for apnea because I stopped breathing twice. I like most newbies, went through some denial and finally called my doc in January 2012. I did not have the symptoms yet that most apnea patients have. I didn't fall asleep in car or other places, morning headaches, etc. etc. I went to the doc. His RN had me fill out the questionnaire. She said my score was so low that insurance would probably not pay for a sleep study. She called and the insurance authorized. They gave me a Watermark Medical Home Sleep test. At the time I thought this thing was ridiculous but it was really pretty accurate. The results were

Overall AHI - 72
Overall RDI - 77
% time < 90% SpO2 - 37.6%
Mean SpO2 - 90%
% time snoring > 30 dB - 49%

Diagnosis : very severe non-positional obstructive sleep apnea.

I was given these results 1/23/2012. The doctor that gave me the results not my normal GP. This doctor was another one in the office that the other docs had designated as the "sleep doc". Needless to say, he did not explain much, did not deliver diagnosis well, did not convince me he knew to much about apnea. I told the doc I was going in for surgery on a partially torn rotator cuff that had plagued me since I was 27 (Now 58), that Friday 1/27/2012, and I would call him back in a week or 2.

After the surgery I did call my docs office. The doc called APRIA. Apparently APRIA has convinced the DOC to use them exclusively. I have read everyone' s trials and tribulations with APRIA and other DMEs. I am convinced that the DME and my goals are not aligned. My goal is to get better, their goal is to make money.

APRIA showed up with a nice new full face mask and a new machine. I had to learn how to sleep with this new apparatus while wearing a sling. 3 masks (F&P 631 and Forma) later, and a red mark on my nose I finally got some sleep with Sleepweaver (self prescribed and I had to demand) I use today.

The O2 Concentrator is another long story. APRIA gave me this rental Invacare Perfecta 2. You didn't have to worry about sleep apnea with it on, because it was so loud you were not going to sleep. APRIA of course tries to bill the monthly rental at what I can buy the machine for. The insurance company says no no, but my copay in 3.5 months pays for a new Respronics EverFloQ. The machine is really quiet.

Now the hope part, since I have rambled on too long. Last nights numbers after 144 days of CPAP, pressure set to 10 by me (DOC wanted 12.5), are:

AHI - 3.59
Hypopnea .46
Obstructive .45
Clear Airway - 2.78

Once again thank you all. If just let my "sleep doc" do this I would be in the AHI of 9.53 range, but because of what I learned here my numbers are lower and I feel better.

[123.Shawn T.W.]

Good for you, glad your feeling better!

I haven't got my machine yet, looking forward to feeling like a real person again!

[greenguru]

I am trying to fight the waking up too many times now. I wake up between 9-15 times a night according to ZEO.