Back to the nose hose after 5 years

[katestyles]

Hi there

I was diagnosed with OSA was back in two-thousand-I-don't-remember, and after going through the normal ridiculous performance that newbs have to endure, (DME charge $3000 for discontinued CPAP, 1500 different masks tried, dried out, rained out, abducted by aliens) I was compliant for a couple years.

As time went on, I began to feel more and more wretched. I was tired and grumpy. And compliant. I downloaded Sleepyhead, and I watched my data. And began to take daytime naps. I moved out of my bed and into the spare room, to see if my husband was affecting my sleep.

One night I was so tired, I fell asleep before I put on the mask.......

............and woke up feeling rested, refreshed, and ready to face the day!


I had an appointment with my sleep doc coming up, so I carried on sleeping without the CPAP. No daytime drowsiness, no grumpiness, no naps. At my appointment, I asked if I could get an APAP. My doctor said no, because she believed that they undermedicate. She did a further sleep test, which indicated that I needed a pressure INCREASE to like 18cm. (I can't remember the details but it was high.) I said no.

So I have not used CPAP since.

Recently, my husband started complaining about my snoring. At around the same time, I developed a rotor cuff injury. I am now frequently waking with headaches, and starting back on the daytime nap cycle. I am guessing that I am spending more time asleep on my back, and that the OSA is kicking in.

I'm seeing my PCP next week. I am planning to ask to get a new XPAP.

I've been out of the loop for about 5 years - what's the latest and greatest?

Kate

[Jas_williams]

I've been out of the loop for about 5 years - what's the latest and greatest?

A Resmed Autoset 10 for Her is the best machine ask your PCP for a prescription for one of those

[Pugsy]

Actually if I was prescribed a pressure of 18 cm....I would be pushing for a bilevel machine.
ResMed AirCurve 10 VAuto would be my choice.

[LSAT]

If your doctor said the Autosets under medicate.....she's a loser.

[katestyles]

I hadn't thought about needing a BiPAP.

Perhaps I mis-remembered it being up to 18cm. It was certainly a hike from the 13cm I had been using.

Is there any inside knowledge about which machines are about to be updated/replaced?

[Pugsy]

Is there any inside knowledge about which machines are about to be updated/replaced?

Unfortunately no....the manufacturers always seem to keep that information under the national secret category.

In your situation though....even if the RX was for 13 I think I would still recommend the ResMed AirCurve 10 VAuto for several reasons besides the ability to go higher more comfortably if needed.

I have used both brands...Respironics and ResMed...and both cpap/apap and bilevels in both brands.
You have a history of having problems adapting...I believe the ResMed's way of doing stuff is maybe going to give you a better chance of having success this time.
ResMed's bilevel Easy Breathe technology....about as close to normal breathing as this stuff can get and I think the ResMed algorithm is more responsive and gives you a better chance of maybe using less pressure and getting great results than a Respironics algorithm does.
Even at lower pressures...it's pretty sweet.

If bilevel is totally out of the picture...the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet for Her is what I would shoot for.

A lot is going to depend on what they come up with in terms of what pressure you are going to need.

[skinnysnorer]

Did you snore less when you were on that machine?

[katestyles]

Thanks for all the support guys.

I saw my PCP this morning. She is sending me for a titration, since she (correctly) says that my old tests are too old.

I asked, and she said she would prefer to offer me APAP over CPAP - and even more so when I reminded her that APAP can run in CPAP mode. (Hurrah!)

She also asked for the titration to include BiPAP, to see if that might need to be an option.

I cannot say I am overjoyed about doing another sleep test - I must remember to schedule it when I have a day off afterwards to sleep it off - but I am glad to have a PCP who listens and cares.

Anyone know of a good DME near Detroit?