Hubby apnea and the VA

[SusieG]

So... the VA set my husband up with all the gear for a home apnea test (pulse ox, nasal canula, heart monitor, etc. and found that he does, in fact, have apnea (I tried to tell them but I am just the wife!). So tomorrow we are on our way to LA (yup, 5.5 hours round trip) to pick up his machine without an over night titration. I am assuming (dangerous) that they are going to give him a Auto PAP and then ask him to come back in 2 weeks (another 5.5 hours) so they can read the machine and make adjustments. Does that sound about right or should I be concerned that they are not doing an overnight titration (not that I can do anything about it... this is the VA after all)?
My CPAP experience (now in it's 9th month) is going great and I really want this to work for my husband as well... I am sort of used to having him around. I will get him on this forum soon.
Any comments and/or advice would be a appreciated... that means you, Pugsy!!!
Thanks in advance!

[Pugsy]

If your husband has plain jane vanilla obstructive sleep apnea using the assumed APAP machine to find optimal pressure should be fairly simple. I wouldn't worry about that at all. Kaiser does the same thing.
Should things work out that plain vanilla OSA isn't the problem the that's fairly easy to spot on the data that the APAP machines gather assuming he is getting one of the new technology machines...either the ResMed S9 AutoSet or the equivalent Respironics PR System One Auto CPAP (probably model 560).
Odds are he will have plain jane OSA and to be honest if this was my husband I think I would prefer doing it this way.
I had an in lab titration and they got close with the pressure but they missed it by 2 cm.

Make sure you get a new technology machine though. The older technology machines don't flag centrals and that is an important factor because we want to make sure that cpap pressure doesn't trigger centrals since there was no titration study.

[SusieG]

Thanks for the response, Pugsy! The VA uses Respironics, but I don't know which one he will get. I will post more after we get home tomorrow afternoon.

[Pugsy]

Model numbers for Respironics machines are on the bottom of the blower unit. A little silver sticker with 3 digit model number usually preceded by DS or REF...also on the same sticker is an 8 digit number which is the manufacture date in year/month/day format.
The APAP model would be 550 for the slightly older model or 560 for the latest model. Main difference is the heated hose option with the 60series model.

Don't accept anything will less that 550 model number...
The 460 has limited APAP mode availability but I think best to have apap mode all the time...just in case it is needed all the time.

Let me know model number and I will get you the clinical manual and software for you.

[chunkyfrog]

If apnea is positional, apap might be a better way to go.
if he needs straight cpap, apap machines can run in cpap mode as well.
It's like two machines in one. and most insurers pay the same for either.

[SusieG]

The VA came through with the 560. I will keep you posted as to his progress. Thanks again!

[SusieG]

The man is taking to CPAP like a duck to water! He says he is waking up less often to go to the bathroom and he feels "lighter, clearer and with more energy!" I have not heard him snore once since Friday evening. Hope it keeps up!

[chunkyfrog]

Start shopping for something playful to sleep in.
Treating OSA can help make little things get bigger.

[SusieG]

Already have, Chunkyfrog... already have! Amazing how CPAP can change your life!

[mgaggie]

good to hear he is taking to it so well.