How do I show SleepyHead data to my doctor?

[vsummers]

I was diagnosed and began using a ResMed Elite 9 in March. Two months later, the machine stopped recording data and I was given a different machine. I began using SleepyHead about a week ago, so now I have some data for several months. It's not accurate, though, because the ResMed clock was set incorrectly. I reset it three days ago so at least now my reports are no longer showing that I've been using the machine only a few hours a night (because of the clock problem). However, I have multiple sessions each night, some for an hour or more, I assume because I'm mouth breathing or the pillows/head gear are not adjusted properly(?) when I turn onto my side. Two nights ago I connected the plug to a surge protector.

I use SleepyHead because the tech/nurse at the DME says I'm not allowed to read the ResMed data from my own computer, although I don't believe this is true.

I found out about the clock problem from the forum and learned how to change it myself. It's a 24 hour clock, right?--because I didn't find any a.m. or p.m. options.

I 'fight' the pillows constantly during the night, not because I don't want to wear them but because of the noise, or because I feel the apparatus is too loose or too tight. I've tried two sizes of pillows and have requested new head gear (to be shipped soon,I hope). My DME provider is clueless about every question I ask and says she doesn't know why the reports show incorrect hours. I'm considering (a) asking for a mask instead of pillows and (b) changing DME providers so I can find an employee who is willing/able to help me--if Medicare will let me.

Even using the machine consistently for five months, I still feel like a zombie in tears every morning. My plan is to return to the sleep clinic with my SleepyHead data after I have two weeks of accurate data to show the doctor. My questions for the group concern the data I should take to the doctor. Do I take the entire SD card? Do I print reports, and if so, which ones? What type of notes should I be taking to provide him proof that I'm wearing the pillows 8 or more hours each night but getting only 5-6 hours of usage each night?

When I print a daily report, I get the charts only, not the data on the left side that shows the number and time of the sessions, etc. How can I print that? I can't copy and paste it.

[Pugsy]

Your doctor most likely will be familiar with ResScan and not SleepyHead and most likely if he has the software all you need for him to get some reports would be take the SD card with you just in case he wants to use ResScan.

I know you were told you can't use it....but you can ...send me a PM if you want it. Windows only software though.

For printing the SleepyHead daily report that shows the stuff on the left side just take a screen shot of it and save it as a jpg file (like you would do for posting here on in the forum) and then print off the screen shot for each day you want to show him. He won't want all the graphs anyway...if he looks at anything other than hours of use and overall AHI I would be surprised. Main graphs on the right would be the events graphs, flow rate graphs, leak graphs....pressure graph isn't needed since you are using a fixed pressure and the AHI graph isn't needed because you have a better AHI description on the left and the mask pressure graph isn't needed because it just mimics the pressure graph which we already know doesn't change since you have the Elite. The other graphs aren't really needed except maybe the flow limitation graph and then only if it shows a lot of activity on it.

There is a way to change the S9 clock from 24 hour military time to a regular 12 hour AM/PM clock....I think that is an option. It should be available in the same area of the S9 clinical setup menu where you adjusting the machine clock to your time zone.
But it really doesn't matter as most people are good with the military time thing.

[archangle]

Welcome to the forum.

Please fill in your profile with your equipment info so we can help you better. There's a link in my signature to help that.

I use SleepyHead because the tech/nurse at the DME says I'm not allowed to read the ResMed data from my own computer, although I don't believe this is true.

Unfortunately, there is sort of a medical mafia that wants to keep control of their turf, and keep the patients ignorant and dependent on the medical mafia for everything.

You may very well have to manage your own therapy with ResScan, SleepyHead, or both. You may even need to start adjusting your own pressure. Both of these ideas will probably be unpopular with the medical mafia types.

[Sir NoddinOff]

I suppose it depends on how 'cool' your sleep doctor is with new things. My experience showing my sleep doctor SH on my laptop was a mix of frustration and befuddlement (that was down to my sleep doctor who kept asking picayune questions instead of actually trying to understand what was in front of him.) He spent the minimum five minutes looking at it and finally commented something like "Nice colors". Oh well, at least he's aware I'm tracking my sleep data (usurping his divine providence, he'd probably say)

[archangle]

I suppose it depends on how 'cool' your sleep doctor is with new things. My experience showing my sleep doctor SH on my laptop was a mix of frustration and befuddlement (that was down to my sleep doctor who kept asking picayune questions instead of actually trying to understand what was in front of him.) He spent the minimum five minutes looking at it and finally commented something like "Nice colors". Oh well, at least he's aware I'm tracking my sleep data (usurping his divine providence, he'd probably say)

It's scary how ignorant a lot of doctors are about basic questions of science, physics in particular. A lot of the current medical curriculum is about rote learning/assembly line medicine, not understanding the basic science/physics/engineering/chemistry of how the body works.

Another thing that's really bad is how technology/computer illiterate many doctors and other medical personnel are.

[palerider]

Another thing that's really bad is how technology/computer illiterate many doctors and other medical personnel are.

I'm a DOCTOR, Jim, not a gosh darned engineer/computer scientest!

[archangle]

Another thing that's really bad is how technology/computer illiterate many doctors and other medical personnel are.

I'm a DOCTOR, Jim, not a gosh darned engineer/computer scientest!

Funny, but modern medicine is supposed to be science and evidence based, and our medical system has really dropped the ball on that recently. Our current crop of doctors is sort of intellectually at the mercy of pharmaceutical companies and natural medicine quackery because they're not scientifically literate enough to evaluate the evidence.

[Guest]

I use SleepyHead because the tech/nurse at the DME says I'm not allowed to read the ResMed data from my own computer, although I don't believe this is true.

If you have Rescan I would just show that to the doc, I am sure the doc would understand that better. That's how I would do it.

But a question - is the doc at your DME?

[vsummers]

Thanks so much for the detailed explanations. I did download the ResMed software and instructions. The instructions said to use only a ResMed Card reader, so I asked my provider how I can get one. She said patients aren't allowed to do that. And, even though I know she's wrong, I've been reluctant to use my 'ordinary' card reader with the SD card and ResMed software in fear of losing some of the data.
That's why I've been using SleepyHead.

Do I HAVE to use a special ResMed card reader? Is it safe to use the same card reader I use with Sleepyhead? I would think so but I'm so new at this I'm wanting to check with some more experienced users.

[palerider]

Thanks so much for the detailed explanations. I did download the ResMed software and instructions. The instructions said to use only a ResMed Card reader, so I asked my provider how I can get one. She said patients aren't allowed to do that. And, even though I know she's wrong, I've been reluctant to use my 'ordinary' card reader with the SD card and ResMed software in fear of losing some of the data.
That's why I've been using SleepyHead.

Do I HAVE to use a special ResMed card reader? Is it safe to use the same card reader I use with Sleepyhead? I would think so but I'm so new at this I'm wanting to check with some more experienced users.

it's just a plain sd card reader, i'm sure resmed markets a 10$ one with 'resmed' silk screen on it for a couple hunded bucks to stupid doctor types.

[Pugsy]

I take it your computer doesn't have a slot for the SD card and that's why you use a card reader to get the SleepyHead data???
If that's correct you can use that same card reader. No need to use a special ResMed card reader with the SD card. Now with the older machines (S8 and older) a special card reader had to be used but not with the S9 machines.
My computer has a slot for SD cards so I don't need any card reader and if you install ResScan you need to bypass the card reader driver installs....they aren't needed for the S9 at all. That's only for the older machines.

[archangle]

Thanks so much for the detailed explanations. I did download the ResMed software and instructions. The instructions said to use only a ResMed Card reader, so I asked my provider how I can get one. She said patients aren't allowed to do that. And, even though I know she's wrong, I've been reluctant to use my 'ordinary' card reader with the SD card and ResMed software in fear of losing some of the data.
That's why I've been using SleepyHead.

Do I HAVE to use a special ResMed card reader? Is it safe to use the same card reader I use with Sleepyhead? I would think so but I'm so new at this I'm wanting to check with some more experienced users.

If you haven't already installed ResScan, be sure to NOT let it install the device drivers it wants to install. That tends to mess up your SD card readers.

Any SD card reader should work just fine.

[chunkyfrog]

On M.A.S.H. the character of Major Frank Burns was alarmingly close to reality.