What's the best CPAP out there... can I adjust settings?

[SleepyHibiscus]

I am new. I love reading the forum here... you all are so great. Your combined experience is a godsend. I have major anxiety about making wrong choices. I've posted here about getting a mask, thanks for the responses. But now I'm confused about which CPAP unit to get. And when I get it... if it doesn't feel right can I adjust the settings?? (I've read here that you all have many ingenious "fixes" ranging from panty hose, to tape, rigging up holes, etc.). Can the settings be changed? Can I choose the unit I want? A lot of you use the REMstar auto w/ C-Flex & humidifer & Encore Pro software. I think I want that too. I have good insurance, they will cover 100% of the cost of my machinery, so money is not an issue. There is a DME at the sleep center I used and a separate medical equipment suppy nearby that sells many brands. Which one should I use? I haven't met yet with a DME but will next week. I am seeing my Dr. in 2 days to review my CPAP study, & he will write a Rx. Right now I probably know more than Dr. does, (he didn't even know what most of the stuff was on my score report) and I've learned a lot just from reading all the posts here & researching the internet for 2 weeks. So, how much influence do I have in determining which prescription he writes? Is it true that the DME gives you only what the Dr. writes up? If it just says "CPAP" then they give you their basic machine? But if doc recommends a specific type, w/ spec features, humidifier, etc. then you will recieve that one?

After my second study, with CPAP when I woke up I asked the tech what the prelim. results showed and he said it looks like I would do good with 8 / 3. Is that 8 on inhale, 3 on exhale?? I liked the humidifer effect and I used 2 different masks; started with the Swift nasal pillows on my back and turned to my side and woke up. Then switched to FlexiFit 407, stayed on my side the rest of the night. Both were comfortable. Based on all this, can you please give me your comments?

I am 48, F, 130lb, small face & neck. Haven't had a good night's sleep my entire adult life. Looking forward to moving forward. Sorry for the long post. Thanks!

Sleepy Hibiscus in Tx

[Goofproof]

Your Remstar APAP idea sounds good to me, I love mine.

[Linda3032]

Ask the doctor to write you a prescription for the Remstar Auto with cflex, then there should be no hassles with the DME or insurance company.

Whether you end up with the M Auto (the newest version out there) or the older version, either would be fine.

I think you would be very happy with the machine. Your insurance company might not pay for your software.

[oldgearhead]

How about this one?

http://auctions.yahoo.com/i::5276091

[SleepyHibiscus]

Thanks, Linda, I will have my doc write a specific Rx.

Thanks, Oldgearhead, that looks like what I want minus the humidifer... but I don't think my insurance would work with Yahoo Auctions lol.

I actually have very good insurance, they said they will cover 100% of my medical equipment but I don't know if that includes software.

And I don't understand how the whole DME thing works... after they order my machine, do I own the machine, or will I be "renting" it, as I've heard it referred as?

[wolftracker]

You need to contact them and ask.

Mine is rent to own. I think they pay for about
18 months and then I own it. Something like that

The humidifer and mask I had to buy out right.

The machine is rent to own

And you really should think about the humidifer.
It is cheaper to get up front and almost every one needs one.

My .02
w

[SleepyHibiscus]

Oldgearhead said there is a REMstar on sale on Yahoo, and it is just what i want but it is minus a humidifier. Yes, I definately want a humidifier... do you like the heated one, or the passover... or is it the same thing?

[Linda3032]

You will want the heated humidifier that goes with the machine. It can be used heated, or unheated (as a passover), or not at all. Most of us use a heated humidifier all year round (or almost year round).

You will want the software - especially so if you get a Remstar Auto, but it's very unlikely your insurance will pay.

Rent or buy outright - is up to your insurance company. They might want to rent to make sure you will be compliant.

[Bookbear]

Heated and passover are different......heated is just that...heated, so more water vapor evaporates making the air your breathe in moister. A passover humidifier just 'passes' the air over, no heating; so you rely on natural evaporation for whatever humidity there is. Passovers provide much less humidity. If you live in a humid location that does not get cold enough in winter to require house heat, perhaps that will be enough. I would go for the heated unit, though-- if you find you do not need much humidity, you could always shut it off but leave it attached and then it will function as a passover.

Hope this helps.

[SleepyHibiscus]

Thank you, Linda - you know a lot about this stuff! If my insurance company rents it for a while to see if I'm compliant... then they make a decision based on that? If I'm good I can keep the machine? If I'm not compliant they take it away? I'm concerned because probably in 4 months I won't have the same insurance.

[Linda3032]

It would be best to call your insurance company and find out from them as to their requirements.

To me, it sounds like you should push to buy ASAP - but only if you get the machine you want.

[SleepyHibiscus]

Bookbear, that does help me understand humidifiers. How do you like your Breeze mask? Can you sleep on your side?

[Linda3032]

I'll post this link for you (regarding side sleepers), and Bookbear can post about the Breeze.

viewtopic.php?t=11023

[Backdoctor]

[quote="SleepyHibiscus"]Bookbear, that does help me understand humidifiers. How do you like your Breeze mask? Can you sleep on your side?

[Bookbear]

I only have a little over two months experience with the Breeze, but I DO like it. I side-sleep over 90% of the time (100% some nights) and have no trouble with it. The hose exits up over your head, so there is little resistance to turning, and no tangling if the hose is suspended from a hook on the wall or looped over a headboard. I found it much less claustrophobic than one of the nasal masks, but everyone is different. There is no one perfect mask!

There is an excellent post by Will Succeed on fitting the Breeze. There are many adjustments than can be made to make this mask very comfortable. One thing.... there is a rather firm pad at the back/base of your skull when wearing the Breeze. If you sleep on your back and use a firm pillow, this may bother you. With a soft pillow, it is barely noticable. I use a firm tempur-pedic pillow and have gotten used to it, but then I rarely sleep on my back.

Good luck!

Here are Will Succeed's tips for fitting a Breeze (its less invilved than it sounds!) :
"I'd suggest starting at the back of the Breeze. First, remove the pillows from the plastic plenum -they pull out easily if you squeeze them gently and pull. Loosen the set-screw and angle the plastic plenum away from your face. GENTLY re-tighten the set-screw. Remove the straps or, leave them connected but very loose.

Position the outrigger pad against the part of the back of your head where it feels most comfortable. If you have a bump on the back of your head, see if the pad is more comfortable on the bump or below the bump. Lay down on your back with the outrigger pad is this position and check to see if it is still comfortable, then start making adjustments to the slider between the outrigger and the pad that sits on the top of your head (don't worry about the rest of the Breeze yet). Bear in mind that it will take some time to get used to the feel of this pad on the back of your head. It will be annoying at first but you are likely to get used to it over time.

This top-of-the-head pad is the one that has a 'wing' off each side that have a slot for the straps to go through. This pad should sit in a position on your head where it causes no discomfort and is far enough forward to create some tension between it and the outrigger pad. The tension between these two pads should be enough to hold the Breeze in place (ie., Breeze does not go flying off into orbit when you let go of it) while you are laying on your back. Carefully remove the Breeze, making sure that the outrigger does not move out of position on the slider and put a bit of tape on the slider where it meets the outrigger so that the outrigger will stay in position. You don't want the outrigger to change position along the slider as you take the Breeze on and off.

If you removed them, reattach the straps from the outrigger pad to the top-of-the head pad. Put the Breeze back on and adjust the straps so that they are just snug enough to give stability but not so snug that your head feels like it is in a vice. Check to make sure that the straps are of equal tightness so that the Breeze is not being bent to the left or right.

Take the Breeze off again and insert the pillows into the plastic plenum making sure that only one cuff on each pillow is inserted. A properly inserted pillow shows two round, donut-like cuffs with a volcano-like opening outside the plenum and one round donut-like cuff in the plenum. The two cuffs outside the hard plastic plenum give the bellows action to the pillow. Rotate the pillows so that the slightly oval shape of the openings lines up with the oval shape / orientation of your nares.

Now start adjusting the front slider (slider between the nose plenum and the top-of-the-head pad.) As you are adjusting this up and down, loosen the set-screw that lets you adjust the angle of the plenum. You want the angle to be such that the base of the volcano-like opening forms a seal all the way around the opening of each nare. Continuing adjusting the angle and up/down along the slider so that the pillows are essentially flat against the opening of the nares and the height is not so high (tight against nares) that you feel as though your nose is being yanked upwards. AGAIN, DO THIS WHILE LYING DOWN ON YOUR BACK.

Once it seems comfortable, tighten the set-screw then carefully sit up and remove the Breeze. Put tape on the slider between the plenum and top-of-the-head pad so that this slider no longer moves.

That should be it. Try it out by attaching your PAP machine, turning on the juice and rolling around some in bed. If the Breeze is not stable, you may have to disconnect the straps from the top-of-the-head pad and reattach them to the small plastic slider that moves along the plastic hose guide between the plenum and top-of-the-head pad. This little slider has a slot on each side for the straps to be inserted. Don't remove the tape that is holding the front slider where it enters the top-of-the-head pad; just play with the position of the little plastic slider that has the openings for the straps.

Lay down again, turn on the juice and roll around some more. Make minor adjustments as needed."

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): breeze, hose, seal