new to cpap

[sbullett]

I had a sleep test last week and was told at the end I have moderate to severe apnea. She hadn't finished scoring it when I left. I was not surprised at all. I go tomorrow for a second test with a cpap machine. Anything I need to be sure to ask about. It is overwelming to see all the choices out there. I am excited and nervous about it. I haven't slept well in ages. I can fall asleep at the drop of the hat in the afternoon. I am hoping it helps to fix these and other issues. I am nervous about the getting the right mask right settings etc correct.
Suzy

[chunkyfrog]

Welcome.

[Xney]

Best advice is to relax, and try on a bunch of different masks to find the most comfortable one. It will be very weird at first.

[DiverCTHunter]

Welcome aboard.

These articles should help get you started.

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/what-y ... me-part-i/
viewtopic/t35702/Where-A-CPAP-Newbie-Should-Start.html
http://adventures-in-hosehead-land.blog ... -with.html

Some of the most important things to remember are:
Write Everything Down
Ask Questions
Don't Sign for Equipment Delivery until You KNOW the machine is right for you.

[wilsonintexas]

Welcome..... RECOMMENDATIONS:
1) insist / demand a machine that records full data.... you need this to see if it is working There are several machines, and I will not say which is better...


2) see if they will go for an auto pap.... I had to pay a little more, but it will give options..You can live without auto... if you search there are a LOT of discussions on how to set it up, if you can afford it (mine cost me an extra $100 and I am glad I went for it)
3) different people have had different experiences with their insurance and machine supplier..
- for some of them you need a specific prescription for a specific machine (resmed S9 auto CPAP with humifier, heated hose......
- others have a general statement like as tolerated by the patient or for patience comfort... this gives options if you have a flexible provider. It depends on your insurance, and your supplier. I have been lucky and have a flexible provider and DR.

4 look into software to down load your data and look at it..... there are a lot of terms to learn, but they are not bad. A lot of people use a freeware package called sleepy head.... There is also machine specific packages.

Sleepy head supports
Philips Respironics System One (CPAP, Auto, BiPAP & ASV models)
ResMed S9 models (CPAP, Auto, VPAP)
DeVilbiss Intellipap (Auto)

I would look at these three if for no other reason that sleepyhead supports them, a lot of the forum use them. The all have full data recording.

I would also recommend that you Consider getting a recording 02 meter. They are available for $75 - 150 an on the internet.
Sleepy head supports the following
Oximetry
Contec CMS50 Oximeters (there are a few models from a finger tip one for 75, to a wrist one for about 150.
ResMed S9 Oximeter Attachment (not sure of the cost, but if you pick this machine, see if the DR will prescribe this as an option....

Basically if your 02 levels fall below 88 (common number some say 90) then you have a real problem..you are killing brain cells... ... It is not the only measure... Your o2 levels can be fine, but you feel like !@#$ because you do not sleep well.

Trying to not overwhelm you....

The other discussion and decision is MASK..... That is another post..(well I will make a few comments) . hope you get a good DME and talk this through.. INSIST on a trial, the first one will probably not be the last. This is very personable, and depends on how you sleep, how you feel about things up your nose, or over your face.... Personally I prefer over my face,,,, a lot of people hate that.... Up my nose is only a little better than up my.... we will not go there.

Basically three choices:
1) up your nose, a "pillow" that literally goes in the nose and seals. very little on the face, many many like it.
2) Nasal MAsk, over the nose, but not the mouth.....

3. Full face mask, over nose and mouth.... Good if you are a mouth breather.... or have a cold. many recommend eventually having one, for the times you have a cold and have no other option.


That is enough,,,, welcome, it will get better.

[sbullett]

1 and 3 I know this clinic only gives out machines that have the data capability. So that is easy. My insurance has said it will pay for what the dr says I need.

2. I will do some reading on autopap vs cpap.

02 meter... I will ask about that also. Here in Colorado 90 is considered fine. That was per the sleep tech and the Dr. My kids have gotten sick and get discharged from the hospital on supplemental O2 at 85. My cousin who is a ped, freaked out til the Dr explained it all to him. Much less O2 here. I also want to be careful about overloading myself with too much data/info.
suzy

[Cindy Lou Who]

suzy,
One of the reasons for getting an Auto machine is you can run it on auto where it will give you the pressure you need when you need it but if you are not having an event it will coast along on the lower programed setting. The same machine can also be set to CPAP (Constant Positive Airway Pressure). For some the auto setting (where the machine changes pressure) disturbs their sleep more than straight CPAP pressure. For a comfort level it is good (IMO) to have the option of running either way.
I'm kind of a techie person and feel the more I know the better informed choices I can make. But... Yes... there is a lot to learn and sometimes the curve can be steep. But don't let that detour you from acting. You've come to a very supportive and knowledgeable place full of good people.
You've taken that first, positive step. Like any race it is won one step at a time.
Best wishes,
Cindy

[Tino2You]

1 and 3 I know this clinic only gives out machines that have the data capability. So that is easy. My insurance has said it will pay for what the dr says I need.

Suzy.
Be very careful. DMEs will lie to your face with a smile. Often times they will say this machine records full data when in fact the machine records only hours in use because some/most insurance companies only require that info.

Machines that do not record full data we call bricks. Resmed Escape models are bricks. RobySue has a great description of the PR machines here viewtopic.php?f=1&t=72302&p=665165#p665165

-tino

[sbullett]

Any other machines I should steer clear of?

Heated tube what is the benefit of this vs a tube snuggie?

Suzy

[Tino2You]

Any other machines I should steer clear of?

Besides the s9 Escape, steer clear of the Philips Resperonics System One REMstar 60 (and 50) Series Plus CPAP Machine with C-Flex

Heated tube what is the benefit of this vs a tube snuggie?

I can only speak for myself, but waking up in the middle of the night with a very cold nose was not fun at all. With the heated hose, the air going up my nose is now a constant 78 degrees. Nice!

-tino

[Pugsy]

Heated tube what is the benefit of this vs a tube snuggie?

Heated hose machines offer more variations available in temp and humidity.
If you like a really cold bedroom in the winter...heated hose is much more comfortable and much less chance for rain out.
Hose snuggies sometimes aren't enough to prevent rain out if someone (like me) happens to need/want lots of added moisture and a cold bedroom too. I also had ice cube nose from the cold air even with humidifier cranked all the way up with a heavy weight hose snuggie.
Hose snuggies are sufficient for a lot of people and some people actually prefer the feel of the material over the feel of the plastic on the hose. They do add a bit of weight to the hose though. How much depends on the material weight. There are heavy weight snuggies and really light weight snuggies and in between weight snuggies. For light weight masks the added weight can sometimes drag on the mask a bit. Easily fixed with a hose routing system though.

[sbullett]

Spoke with the clinic I am using and they use the fisher paykel icon machines. Is there a place on this site that gives some reviews of this machine?
Thanks
Suzy

[Pugsy]

Software for the F & P machines is hard to come by and not very user friendly when you find it.
We have a few F & P users here but not a large number. You can go to our forum host cpap.com and check out the machines that they carry and there are reviews there.

You can read about software and full data machines and which ones have it here in Janknitz's blog. All of them in one reading.
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/