Is my machine the problem? (acclimating to CPAP)

[ldobler74]

Hi All -

I'm a longtime lurker, first time poster so please be kind!

I've been trying CPAP therapy since Feb. and having trouble acclimating (I have a bad habit of yanking the mask off in the middle of the night and waking up with it to my side and blowing) but am concerned it may be due to the machine choice I was given.

My provider told me that my doctor specified an F&P Icon Auto on the prescription (I wasn't even aware of my choices at the time). It turns out their CPAP specialist used to be affiliated w/ F&P. After research, it looks like the Resmed S9 seems to have some more features (such as breath relief) which will really help with my adjustment to life with CPAP. I've also read that the Icon Auto is a great machine, but I can't help but wonder if it's also the road block.

Should I try and push back to get the machine changed out? Or should I try other variables (masks, etc...) and stick with it a bit longer?

Again, I'm new to all of this so any and all advice is appreciated.

Thanks so much!!

[Pugsy]

Don't you just hate to find out you have been lied to?

The Icon Auto is a full data machine and there is software available (though big PITA to get and to use the Infosmart software) to use to monitor therapy effectiveness.

You very well could have an easier time with the S9 and its EPR feature but your DME is going to scream bloody murder about swapping out now because the S9 Elite or Autoset (the 2 full data cpap models) cost a lot more than the Icon does.
Cost to them is the main driving force behind their dispensing the F & P machines...they make more money on the F & P.

I can't guarantee that changing machines will fix your issues though.
We could try to see what we can do with what you are using for the moment (while you see if they will swap machines).
Starting with what are your pressure settings?
Are you using the SensAwake feature? If so..maybe turn it off..If not..maybe turn it on.
We should also check the data that it does collect to see if maybe therapy is not optimal and apnea events are causing problems leading up to your removing the mask.

Removing the mask and not remembering it is a common occurrence that happens to all the brands of machines.
The brain wants the mask off the face because it knows it shouldn't be there.
If mask isn't comfortable then that just makes things worse.
Finally some people just remove the mask and don't remember it and thy love the mask and machine. So it doesn't always mean things are going poorly in therapy effectiveness.

I can help you find the PITA InfoSmart software but I can't help with using it since I don't have a F & P Icon to use.
Send me a PM if you want it.
Sometimes SleepyHead will work with the Icon...sometimes it doesn't but worth a try. Look in my signature line for Pugsy's collection and the software install tips...SleepyHead is discussed in there.

[mgaggie]

The inital set up with F & P software is a pain in the butt (I had major problems connecting to the so called server), but then it suddenly connected and it was relatively easy then.

I have the Novo which is the base model, no decent reports, only one pressure level. I however like the fact that its an all in one, no seperate humidifier so its small and not many 'bits' to lose.

[ldobler74]

Thanks so much for the replys!

I appreciate all the feedback.

So by DME you mean the provider that my doctor sent me to right? I'm assuming they'll be annoyed since I've been "renting" for 4 or so months and changing up would cause some insurance issues?

So even though the S9 has some advantages and features it also sounds like F&P Icon Auto more or less has the same capabilities (not counting the data analytics, where F&P is awful on)?

I'm currently on Auto mode with a starting pressure of 8 and a max of 12 (I originally started at 12 in CPAP mode but the pressure was way too much and they adjusted)

I am using Sensawake.

I have also been using a nasal mask. It seems that sometimes when I wake up I've been mouth breathing (dry mouth), so I'm wondering if a chin strap or full mask would be a good idea to try?

Thanks everyone, this place is fantastic.

[Tino2You]

One small trick when wearing a nasal mask is to place the tip of your tongue behind your front teeth and on the roof of your mouth. With time and patience you can train your brain to leave your tongue alone. This seals your mouth from your trachea and prevents blow by. That said, I had to use a chin strap for a few months while my brain was being re-trained. I used a Ruby Adjustable. Worked for the most part.

Another thing I did was to put my mask on first (I use a Swift FX) and then put the chin strap on top. It locked my mask onto my face I only had to do that for a week or two before I stopped taking off the mask at night.

As for the pressure, yes the EPR feature of the S9 is helpful. I have mine set to 1 which reduces the pressure by 1 (wow so clever these aussies). Anyway, after a year the pressure does not seem great anymore (my pressure range is 9 to 16) even when I have a bad night. So you will get used to it. Just take time and patience.

-tino

[Pugsy]

Sensawake feature drops the pressure back down to starting pressure if it senses you are awake..
Those drops in pressure could possible be disturbing your sleep because the machine doesn't know for sure if you are awake or asleep. Same thing can happen to some people when they use the auto adjusting pressure mode (apap)...pressure changes themselves can disrupt sleep. Anything that disrupts sleep and causes arousals will mess with just how restorative our sleep ends up being.
You might try turning Sensawake off and see if it helps or hurts things.

The DME you got the Icon from may not even carry Resmed machines...

Yes...the Icon will still offer data that is very similar to other full data machines but the software is PITA to install and use.

Now a few people have had success with SleepyHead and the Icon...others haven't had success but you might also give it a try. It's much easier to use then InfoSmart if it will work for you.

[DoriC]

Welcome! A big plus for pushing for a machine exchange is that most of our members use the S9 Autoset or PR System One Auto so you'd get much more help. DME=Durable Medical Equipment. I wish you luck and keep us posted.

[TangledHose]

I used, and have a couple Icon machines.....the Premo (straight CPAP) and the Auto........they are good machines in their own right so if you can't make a swap for the ResMed or Resperonics all is not lost. When I was first diagnosed with OSA the sleep study resulted in a straight CPAP pressure of 12 cm and the DME set me up with an old brick of a Resperonics machine.....I tried and tried but just could not handle the straight pressure of 12 cm when I started, so on my own I just lowered the pressure to a much more tolerable pressure of 8cm and I would use the ramp feature initially to try and get to sleep before the pressure increased to 8. I knew that 8cm was not going to be ideal for therapy, but hey, I figured it was better than nothing at all...........over time I got more and more used to the pressure and began little by little to inch it up to the 12cm that was prescribed. I am amazed now after using the pap machines for years now that I had such a hard time of it in the beginning, so the moral of the story is which ever machine you end up with keep trying and you will eventually get used to more pressure.

In defense of the Icon machines they provide just as good therapy as any other machine and they are a convenient size for your bedside table without the hassle of a separate humidifier and a separate power converter on the power cord as the converter is built right into the machine. Their humidification system is excellent.....I would say even better than the S9 if you are using their heated hose (ThermoSmart). So all the machines have their pluses and minuses and I would have to say the biggest negative on the Icon is that you have to pay for the InfoSmart Software at about $89 or so if you want to see graphs, but you can also get a lot of information such as leaks and AHI numbers on a daily basis right off the machine's lcd screen if you don't want to bother with the software. I got my InfoSmart software from direct home medical online
http://www.directhomemedical.com/900SW1 ... aykel.html - I am not a computer expert by any stretch and I found the installation and use of the software to be straight forward and very simple - don't quite know why people think it's difficult, but I guess there have been users with some problems apparently - Oh Well

Anyway stick with it and if you can exchange machines you will certainly get tons of support on this forum for both the Resmed and Resperonics machines. Good Luck