New to sleep apnea- Selecting CPAP machine

[mechanicalguy]

I was recently diagnosed with moderately severe sleep apnea (48 AHI). Oxygen went as low as 69% during the sleep study. Have been asked to start at 5 Cm CPAP machine before my titration study in about 4 weeks. Thanks to this forum I did all my homework myself before going to the CPAP machine provider. They were just interested in selling a machine as soon as possible. I did not learn a thing from them and had it not been research through the forum and CPAP.com users, I would not been able to make a good decision.

So far the first two weeks at 5 Cm on the rental Resmed S8 Elite II have not been a problem at all for me. I am sleeping well and beginning to feel better now. I am planning to purchase the S9 Elite after insurance pre approvals etc have been taken care of.

Can someone provide an idea that based on above info what CPAP pressure I might end up with after my titration ??
Any other general comments will be appreciated.

[robysue]

There's no good way to predict what pressure your titration will likely come up with since you are currently using a fixed pressure machine. If you were renting an APAP and running in a pretty wide range, then the 90% or 95% pressure level would give you a pretty decent idea of where the titration level would come in.

You see, the funny thing is that the pressure needed to manage the OSA is NOT related to the severity of the OSA. It is directly related to the structure of your particular throat. Some throats simply need more pressure than others to prevent the airway from collapsing.

By the way, hanging onto that S9 Elite when your trial period is over is a good idea: It's a full efficacy data machine, so it gives you enough information to make sure that your treatment is indeed effective and enough information to start addressing issues like leaks if they arise.

Having the Elite swaped out for an S9 Autoset would be even nicer. But do NOT let them switch your current Elite for an S9 Escape or an S9 Auto Escape.

[cflame1]

Just be careful about hanging on to an S8 Elite II... the card reader is priopriatory and is extremely hard to find. You'd do better with a S9 Elite (unless you're moving to an S9 Autoset... just not an S9 Autoset Escape!)

[kempo]

Pay close attention to the above post by robysue and mechanicalguy. If you like the Resmed demand the "s9 Autoset".

Good luck!

[archangle]

If you get an S9 Elite or Autoset or PRS1 Pro or Auto, you can use a couple of free open source programs to read your data. You can also save your data more easily. You are also more likely to be able to read your data a few years in the future on new versions of your operating system, new PC's, etc.

[lee_leses]

I haven't received it yet the mail, but I just brought a PR System One Auto CPAP, model DS550S.

I have an old remSTAR machine I like except it is not an auto and it does not record any data at all which is a huge problem. I would at least look at the PR System One before you go with the Res Med. What do others think of the System One? The DME did tell me I think that some of the Res Med machines come with a heated hose which is supposedly a good thing over a heated humidifier chamber.

Lee

[archangle]

I haven't received it yet the mail, but I just brought a PR System One Auto CPAP, model DS550S.

I have an old remSTAR machine I like except it is not an auto and it does not record any data at all which is a huge problem. I would at least look at the PR System One before you go with the Res Med. What do others think of the System One? The DME did tell me I think that some of the Res Med machines come with a heated hose which is supposedly a good thing over a heated humidifier chamber.

Lee

The heated hose usually costs extra. $50 or so.

Heated hoses and heated humidifiers do different functions. The humidifier puts moisture into the air you breathe. The heated hose keeps water from condensing inside the hose. Supposedly, there will be an upgrade to the PRS1 to allow a heated hose, but no real details are out yet.

[ewebster]

i have been on the cpap for close to 3 months now, got a question, my mask is leaking, recently am being woke up with my mouth open and have dry mouth really bad and leaks, started back to having scary , vivid dreams like before i went on cpap. why go through all the stress of wearing the mask if my symptons do not change ? could i have the wrong mask for me ? i have the full face mask and a mouth breather when i start falling asleep .
any suggestions would be great. have to use the cpap for at least 4 1/2 hours for compliance with my insurance
thanks

[cflame1]

i have been on the cpap for close to 3 months now, got a question, my mask is leaking, recently am being woke up with my mouth open and have dry mouth really bad and leaks, started back to having scary , vivid dreams like before i went on cpap. why go through all the stress of wearing the mask if my symptons do not change ? could i have the wrong mask for me ? i have the full face mask and a mouth breather when i start falling asleep .
any suggestions would be great. have to use the cpap for at least 4 1/2 hours for compliance with my insurance
thanks

You need to use it ALL night, and with naps. You need to use it for more than just compliance... use it for yourself!

[robysue]

i have been on the cpap for close to 3 months now, got a question, my mask is leaking, recently am being woke up with my mouth open and have dry mouth really bad and leaks, started back to having scary , vivid dreams like before i went on cpap. why go through all the stress of wearing the mask if my symptons do not change ? could i have the wrong mask for me ?

Lots of leaks, problems with dry mouth in spite of using a FFM and a return of symptoms? Yep, it sounds like the current mask may not be the one for you. OR--it may be time to replace the face cushion on the current mask.

If you've got a machine that records AHI data, do you know whether your overnight AHI's have gone up since you started noticing the return of your pre-cpap symptoms?

i have the full face mask and a mouth breather when i start falling asleep .
any suggestions would be great. have to use the cpap for at least 4 1/2 hours for compliance with my insurance

As cflame1 pointed out, you need to get to where you sleep with the cpap ALL night, EVERY night and for naps as well. Until you are using the CPAP ALL the time when you are asleep, you will only have partially treated apnea. And partially treated apnea is enough to allow for the full return of ALL your pre-cpap symptoms.

[mechanicalguy]

Thanks to all for your valuable replies. Gives me assurance that my selection is correct. I am now in week 3 and I feel progressively better every day !!!!