Any Danger APAP machines if you don't know the settings?

[RodgerDodger]

Hello,

I have recently done several sleep studies and am going to begin CPAP soon. I recognize the importance of it and, while I am not looking forward to it, I am looking forward to finally getting a good night's sleep.

However, my girlfriend's father has sleep apnea quite badly. He chokes while asleep, wakes up gasping for air, and snores so loudly that it reverberates throughout his entire home. He also has no insurance and cannot afford sleep studies, doctors, or CPAP machines. I feel so bad for the man because he is always tired, miserable, and just can barely get by. He is also in his 50s which is worrying us a lot. His blood pressure is probably through the roof. Due to the state he lives in he cannot qualify for Obamacare insurance subsidies, and that particular state denies medicaid help.

I was considering buying him an APAP machine from China so that he could play around with the settings and find on that works for him so that he could finally sleep. I thought APAP would work well for him, because he cannot afford an actual sleep study. Being new to all of this though, I wonder if there is any actual danger to doing this. Can incorrect setting actually harm him, or god forbid, suffocate him to death, or anything like that?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am new to all of this myself, but the poor man needs help, and he just cant get it. I think this might really improve his quality of life, but I'm hesitant in case there is any actual danger to his health or life.

Thanks guys

[Pugsy]

As long as he doesn't have any of the complicating factors listed as being contraindicated (in the manual it lists them) there's not much chance of doing any harm. Main issues might be severe lung problems. People self diagnose and self treat all the time but they really need to be educated on what they are doing and what to expect.
Use the available software to monitor the results and have an idea what they are doing.
Takes some education and some work but it can be done.

I wouldn't be going the Chinese machine route though. A full efficacy data machine is the best choice and that machine needs to have easy to obtain and use software.
I would suggest sticking with the 2 main players....ResMed or Respironics and make sure you understand which machine models offer the data you need and aren't models that just collect hours of use which won't offer anything in terms of pressure needs.
There are sources available for good machines for situations like this..no need to be going to China.

Alternately you could maybe get an overnight recording pulse oximeter to see if his oxygen levels drop during the night...doesn't cost nearly as much.
http://www.pulseoxstore.com/Downloadable-Pulse-Ox.html
Only thing is...not everyone will have oxygen level drops with sleep apnea...so no drops wouldn't necessarily mean no apnea.....but overall it's a good screening tool without costing so much.

[palerider]

I was considering buying him an APAP machine from China so that he could play around with the settings and find on that works for him so that he could finally sleep. I thought APAP would work well for him, because he cannot afford an actual sleep study. Being new to all of this though, I wonder if there is any actual danger to doing this. Can incorrect setting actually harm him, or god forbid, suffocate him to death, or anything like that?

the chances of his suffocating to death are *MUCH* higher without a cpap, based on the description you've provided.

there's virtually nothing you can do with a cpap that would be worse for him than what he's got now, (though there are naysayers that will tell you that it's voodoo magic and only someone with years of training can make the super secret changes needed... which is bunkum)

forget china, though, pick up an auto setting machine off craigslist, (or here, or secondwindcpap.com) and get a mask (that's going to be the tough part, finding a mask he'll take to) you can piece them together off ebay, or in some cases buy them from amazon, or another member here.

look for a resmed s9 autoset, or a philips respironics system one auto model either the 550 or 560 model, (it may say 'aflex') for the easiest and most accurate setup. the machines will find the right pressure for him, and then you can fine tune it by reviewing the copious data that they produce.

[chunkyfrog]

The highest risk is to the financial security of certain medical "professionals".