CPAP without Sleep Study

[Guest]

Hello everyone,
I am brand new as this is my first post. I will try to be brief. I do not have the funds at this time for a sleep study, but fairly certain I have some level of sleep apnea. While laying on my back, my airway closes after some time and I awaken in a panic. This was not the case when I was younger. I have been able to get a hold of a CPAP machine. The information on the machine reads SleepEasy Model # 1043237. I would like to start incorporating this device into my sleep schedule. Any operating advice is really welcome, as well as recommendations for add on devices.
Thank you all for this forum!

[JReinhal]

Oops, I forgot to log in when I created that post, but I am the thread started.

[JReinhal]

The mask is labeled ComfortGel Nasal Mask

[HerbM]

That is not one of THE most popular models since as a newbie I have not heard of it even after extensive reading.

BUT the good news: Someone will come along in a bit and know something about that machine.

Can you not afford an IN LAB study, nor even an AT HOME study for less than $700?

[Julie]

Have you been observed NOT sleeping on your back? Do you stop breathing for periods of time and eventually almost awaken with a big gasp? Do you make an effort to not sleep on your back otherwise? And is your mouth open when asleep - important, not to diagnose apnea, but to help sort out the type of mask you may need.

[JReinhal]

That is not one of THE most popular models since as a newbie I have not heard of it even after extensive reading.

BUT the good news: Someone will come along in a bit and know something about that machine.

Can you not afford an IN LAB study, nor even an AT HOME study for less than $700?

Thank you for your reply! Here is a random link to the model I own:

http://www.cpapsupplyusa.com/Respironic ... 43237.aspx

To be honest, I have not looked into an at home sleep study. I will get to Googling it

[JReinhal]

Have you been observed NOT sleeping on your back? Do you stop breathing for periods of time and eventually almost awaken with a big gasp? Do you make an effort to not sleep on your back otherwise? And is your mouth open when asleep - important, not to diagnose apnea, but to help sort out the type of mask you may need.

Thank you for your reply as well!!
When I sleep on my side, I do not wake up as often gasping for air. It's a guarantee if I sleep on my back. It's a very scary sensation when I wake up. My heart rate is flying and it's apparent I was not breathing. These episodes occur as I am falling into sleep, within the first hour. Im not sure if that information is important or not.
As for observation, my girlfriend has told me I make gasping sounds as I sleep. Ive always found myself falling asleep with my mouth closed. This always feels the most comfortable.

Thank you all for this help! You have no idea!

[Julie]

But once asleep you may mouth breathe - does your girlfriend notice that?

[JReinhal]

But once asleep you may mouth breathe - does your girlfriend notice that?

I just asked her. She said it's a little of both. Her analysis was if Im on my back, Im gasping with my mouth open. On my side, Im nose breathing.

[Pugsy]

That machine doesn't offer anything that might help you if you were wanting to evaluate anything about your possible sleep apnea or any treatment.
It's a basic machine that blows air.
Only problem is that you won't have any idea what pressure to test it at...except by going on how you feel.
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/
See this blog above.

We have several forum members here who have self diagnosed and self treated. It can be done but it works best if the machine records data and we use software to monitor the data with someone highly motivated and willing to do the work needed.
There's so much more to treating sleep apnea than just wearing a mask and making a guess at the pressure needed.
While not totally impossible to do without any data of any sort...to do it optimally the first thing to start with is a full data machine and the software for those machines.

Respironics PR SYstem One machines model 450 or higher or ResMed S9 machines..Elite or AutoSet would be where I would start.
Not the Sleep Easy at all...nothing wrong with it blowing air..there's just no way to know how hard it needs to blow.
It would make a great back up machine but not a diagnostic tool machine.

[JReinhal]

That machine doesn't offer anything that might help you if you were wanting to evaluate anything about your possible sleep apnea or any treatment.
It's a basic machine that blows air.
Only problem is that you won't have any idea what pressure to test it at...except by going on how you feel.
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/
See this blog above.

We have several forum members here who have self diagnosed and self treated. It can be done but it works best if the machine records data and we use software to monitor the data with someone highly motivated and willing to do the work needed.
There's so much more to treating sleep apnea than just wearing a mask and making a guess at the pressure needed.
While not totally impossible to do without any data of any sort...to do it optimally the first thing to start with is a full data machine and the software for those machines.

Respironics PR SYstem One machines model 450 or higher or ResMed S9 machines..Elite or AutoSet would be where I would start.
Not the Sleep Easy at all...nothing wrong with it blowing air..there's just no way to know how hard it needs to blow.
It would make a great back up machine but not a diagnostic tool machine.

Thank you for this really thorough reply.
Ok, so I am extremely proactive with my health and well being. I would rather enjoy self treatment and the tweaking associated with this. With the CPAP machines toy mentioned, how would I obtain these without going through a sleep study?

[Pugsy]

With the CPAP machines toy mentioned, how would I obtain these without going through a sleep study?

Craigslist...gotta know your models though and be patient.
Sometimes forum members sell machines for various reasons.
Sometimes knowing somebody that knows somebody.

Online purchases will require a RX...so unless you have a doctor willing to prescribe cpap therapy (and BTW that includes online full mask package purchase) without a sleep study you pretty much have to go to the secondary market.

[JReinhal]

Would the at home sleep study result in an RX?

[JReinhal]

That is not one of THE most popular models since as a newbie I have not heard of it even after extensive reading.

BUT the good news: Someone will come along in a bit and know something about that machine.

Can you not afford an IN LAB study, nor even an AT HOME study for less than $700?

Would you mind telling me a little bit more about the At Home study?
Thank you

[kaiasgram]

Would you mind telling me a little bit more about the At Home study?

There are many varieties of home sleep tests with varying degrees of 'completeness' in terms of the data collected and scored. A couple of weeks ago I served as a guinea pig for "Lanky Lefty," registered sleep tech and founder of freecpapadvice.com. Jason (his real name) is developing a home sleep study service, and since I live very close to him he invited me to do a home sleep study with his equipment to help him refine his protocols. I plan to write a little more about my experience as time permits, but this may be the type of service that HerbM had in mind with his post. Jason's company is AXG Sleep Diagnostics (axgsleepdiagnostics.com). This is the equivalent of an in-lab sleep study and runs $650 (a little less if you are local and can drive to his office to get wired up or have him come to your home to do it).

There are less expensive home sleep tests that offer fewer channels of data. I believe that all legitimate home sleep tests require a referral from a physician, physician assistant, or D.O. I think the machine Rx would be written by the doc who referred you but I'm not sure if that's true of AXG, and it may be that other companies do issue a prescription. I haven't researched that field enough to know.