For Dummies Version?

tom2112 · Post by **tom2112** » Fri May 12, 2006 1:40 pm

OK, I just found this forum, and I've been surfing around reading things. But I'm having a hard time understanding a lot of it, since I don't know the terms. (such as: what's a DME?)

Is there a "For Dummies" version or a FAQ available to get people started? I've started being treated for sleep apnea about a year ago, and I would really like to "take charge" of my treatment (no one else is, that's for sure).

I have a ResMed S7 unit, but I don't know if it is BiPAP, CPAP, AutoPAP, SuperDuperWonderPAP, or what. I don't think it records data, but I would love to know if it did.

Anyway, the reason I'm reading up on it is that over the last few months, the effectiveness of my PAP seems to be waning. I've been exhausted lately and I'm having a hard time figuring out why. It almost seems like my PAP isn't providing the pressure it should. When I first got the machine, it would puff out my cheeks there was so much pressure. I didn't care, because I slept like a baby. But now it seems like I'm not getting the pressure. I've tried to check my machine for leaks, but can't find any. I even took it back to the place I got it, and they said it was working fine - they did manage to break my mask too. But they gave me a new one, so that's OK. But I don't know what to do. I'm tired and frustrated.

Thanks in advance,
Tom

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): resmed, bipap, CPAP, DME

Sleepless in St. Louis · Post by **Sleepless in St. Louis** » Fri May 12, 2006 2:01 pm

Don't despair. Just keep reading the forum, asking questions, participating, etc. I was in the same boat a few months ago. I was new to this, did not know anything more than what the docs and sleep techs told me. Read up on your particular machine, mask and humidifier. In my short time reading this forum I've seen people come and get as much help as they need if they approach it correctly. There are alot of people here ready and willing to help if you do your part to get yourself educated, tweaked and on your way to feeling as good as you should.

Tim

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Fri May 12, 2006 2:03 pm

Welcome, Tom.

You've come to the right place.

tom2112 wrote:Is there a "For Dummies" version or a FAQ available to get people started?

Yep, just click on the big red ? near the top of your screen. Next to it is also the CPAPopedia which can provide you definitions for lots of words which may seem foreign to you.

tom2112 wrote:But I don't know what to do. I'm tired and frustrated.

That happens a lot with newcomers here. Not sure why their medical professionals don't pick up on it . . .

I expect you'll like it here. Take it at your own pace. Take charge of as much of your therapy as you are comfortable with.

Again, welcome.

Regards,
Bill

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Fri May 12, 2006 2:03 pm

See that line under postings that says "CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier" Click on the words in blue and the meaning will be displayed.

laurabel · Post by **laurabel** » Fri May 12, 2006 7:16 pm

Another dummy needs help. I recently purchased a remstar auto to use as a2nd machine. Can I get detailed info thru encro pro or just compliance? Am having areal problem installing encore pro and would appreciate any help. Thank you very much.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri May 12, 2006 7:50 pm

laurabel,

At the top of the threads on the forum page are two announcements and two "sticky" posts.

The bottom one says: Sticky: Rested Gal's Encore Pro Links
That would be a good place to start to try to understand how to install the Encore Pro software.

Best wishes,

Den

tom2112 · Post by **tom2112** » Fri May 12, 2006 9:57 pm

Wow! How did I miss the BIG red ? at the top. Now I do feel like a dummie.

Thanks All!!!

Gidgie · Post by **Gidgie** » Fri May 12, 2006 10:11 pm

Welcome, Tom2112..........you have come to the right place........and we'll even tickle your funny bone once in a while, too.......it's all part of the therapy....

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat May 13, 2006 12:58 am

tom2112, the full name of your ResMed S7 machine will be written on top of the machine. S7 Elite, maybe. Welcome to the board!

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Sat May 13, 2006 1:55 am

Re feeling a drop off in effectiveness. That happened to me an was causing me quite a bit of concern.

All had gone so well for the 1st 3-4 months, then two things began to happen

1) I started feeling tired again in the afternoons

2) My wife began telling me I was once again stopping breathing at night (one of the issues that prompted me to do a study in the 1st place).

Wife said she would be woken by the noise of the air rushing from the airholes in my mask while I was lying there blissfully inert (not breathing).

So for me - 4 months on CPAP (using a Remstar AUTO) and finding myself going back to pre cpap.

I did several things, I tried a few different machines (S7 Elite, S7 Auto spirit, a F&P HC221, etc:) Nothing changed, on many nights wife would push me & say 'breathe'

The other thing I did was to obtain the software & start analysing the data. My 1st surprise was how vastly different the data was from 2 different brands AUTOs but that aspect was just a side show.

Then I was given a chance to buy a BiLevel that had timed control & after obtaining it, I found my therapy was back to being good again.

The critical factor for me was that by experimenting, I concluded I needed a BiLevel with timed control - I obtained one almost immediately resumed the good results I had had early on.

This xPap therapy is a lottery, a good sleep doc can make a difference, an indifferent one can be useless. Also a place like this forum can prove very helpful but after a while you may conclude that some of the advice you get given here is biased or tainted or even plain wrong. In time you will hopefully learn who among us peddles great advice & who peddles agendas & sometimes if the two seem to be intermixed.

My best advice is always trust your own good judgement & listen to the collective wisdom.

Good luck

DSM

Darth Vader Look · Post by **Darth Vader Look** » Sat May 13, 2006 11:07 pm

Hi tom2112,

Another quick method of understanding words in posts is by looking towards the end of each post, a section appears as follows:

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition):

Any words that appear after that appear in blue. If you click on each of them it will take you right to the words meaning. Just another reason why this site is the best.

tom2112 · Post by **tom2112** » Tue May 16, 2006 2:02 pm

Once again, thanks to all that chimed in. That FAQ and CPAPopedia are THE bomb!

DSM: thanks for the support. I appreciate hearing from someone who had simlilar experience. Unfortunately, I don't have anyone around while I'm sleeping to tell me that I'm having apnea events again. But I am starting to wake up with headaches and I'm tired all of the time. I thought I was dealing with a bought of depression until I noticed the pressure issue with my CPAP. Good think I didn't go to a doctor, or I would end up on Prozac!

I really think it's my humidifier. It seems like all of this started when I got my humidifier. Also when I mess with the humidifier while wearing the mask I notice significant pressure differences. Unfortunately, my DME kept the front end of my CPAP unit when I got the humidifier add on. So I can't try it without the humidifier. I may stop at the hardware store and pick up a female to female adapter so I can plug direct into the CPAP without the humidifier and see how that goes for a few nights. I can live with being dried out if I can get a good night's sleep.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, CPAP, DME

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, CPAP, DME

laurabel · Post by **laurabel** » Tue May 16, 2006 8:27 pm

Noone hasoffered any help with Encore Pro installation. The program installed but will not open because the database will not install. HELP!!!

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue May 16, 2006 8:39 pm

laurabel wrote:Noone hasoffered any help with Encore Pro installation. The program installed but will not open because the database will not install. HELP!!!

Have you created the "patient"?
Have you downloaded data from your card with the card reader?
The database doesn't necessarily "install".....it is created and added onto with Encore Pro as you download from the card.

Den

For Dummies Version?

For Dummies Version?

Re: For Dummies Version?

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dummies

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