Recently diagnosed. Getting my CPAP next week.

[bernerbits]

Second night wasn't so great. Turned the min up to 7, but had more trouble sleeping and my wife says I was snoring really badly. Across the board it looks worse than last night. Woke up several times with the air going out my mouth, and I wonder if it's reporting these as central apneas. May need to ask my DME about a chin strap.

FitBit says I got about the same amount of sleep as last night (5.5) although I was in bed half an hour longer.

[bernerbits]

Well I asked the DME tech about a chin strap, and she's shipping one. Also said to turn my moisture up to 4, and of course she noticed I turned up the pressure.

As far as sleeping, I couldn't say what's causing it besides the presence of the mask, and waking up to air blowing out my mouth.

[bernerbits]

She set it back and told me "It is not to be changed without a doctor's order."

[bernerbits]

OK. Stop. Time out.

You're asking me to be confrontational with a person I just met. Even though I have no actual knowledge to help me judge who is in the right here. Using only what people on a forum that I just joined are telling me, when I have no actual knowledge over who is in the right here. You're not only suggesting I do this, but putting pressure on me by implying that if I don't do this, my CPAP therapy is doomed to failure (or at least it will never be as good).

Can you see how that might be off putting? I am an introvert and I really don't take kindly to other people telling me when I do and don't need to be assertive. I just started this therapy and I cannot say if it's successful yet. I do enough of that with my cable provider and people at work.

I'll ping my doctor as suggested, but I'm not going to lie. If that doesn't go through, I'm done.

[Pugsy]

Okay, suit yourself.
Not trying to cause problems. I think you misunderstood my tone which you can't see very well over the internet.
Do what you feel you can do.
Not wanting you to start a war...just make you aware of your rights in all this....and you do have rights and DMEs are not God.

BUT....if your therapy pressure is sub optimal you won't have much of a chance of sleeping well and it is sub optimal at the current low starting point.
If you don't want to do anything about it right now...schedule a follow up visit with your doctor sooner than later.

Since apparently my personality is at conflict with yours...I will bow out and let someone else explain things in the future for you.
Believe it or not ...I am probably the least "confrontational advocating" person around here.

[bernerbits]

I may have felt more pressure than intended, and if I did, I apologize.

"I don't believe you, so prove it" is needlessly confrontational to me. Some people are comfortable with this approach; I am not. I don't confront people until I believe I have a good reason to.

They may not be God but they can set the pressure back remotely, and I suspect with good reason that they will get more and more angry the more I disobey them. I'd rather not upset the people that I have to play ball with to get insurance coverage.

I will do as I feel I can do, but multiple times now I have been told that what I felt I could do was not good enough. I just started this therapy, I think I need at least a little time on this machine before I can tell what is and isn't good enough.

If it comes to finding another neurologist and another DME I will do that when the time comes.

I apologize if I am coming across as angry. Sleep deprivation, you know.

[D.H.]

I would avoid EZ Start and OptiStart for now.

I really think "EZ Start" should be named "choke in your sleep for even longer".

what a stupid "feature".

I don't like ramps either. On my very first study on CPAP, I was annoyed that the technician turned off the CPAP before getting me out of bed when I had to visit the restroom.

However, there are probably some patients who find the ramp useful.

[palerider]

I would avoid EZ Start and OptiStart for now.

I really think "EZ Start" should be named "choke in your sleep for even longer".

what a stupid "feature".

I don't like ramps either. On my very first study on CPAP, I was annoyed that the technician turned off the CPAP before getting me out of bed when I had to visit the restroom.

However, there are probably some patients who find the ramp useful.

why don't you shut up until you know what you're talking about?

[palerider]

I may have felt more pressure than intended, and if I did, I apologize.

"I don't believe you, so prove it" is needlessly confrontational to me. Some people are comfortable with this approach; I am not. I don't confront people until I believe I have a good reason to.

They may not be God but they can set the pressure back remotely, and I suspect with good reason that they will get more and more angry the more I disobey them. I'd rather not upset the people that I have to play ball with to get insurance coverage.

I will do as I feel I can do, but multiple times now I have been told that what I felt I could do was not good enough. I just started this therapy, I think I need at least a little time on this machine before I can tell what is and isn't good enough.

If it comes to finding another neurologist and another DME I will do that when the time comes.

I apologize if I am coming across as angry. Sleep deprivation, you know.

I'm much more "confrontational" and pushy than pugsy. so since you got into it with her, there's precious little chance you'll do well with my advice.

however, all I can tell you is that she cares about your health and sleep far far far more than your DME, or doctor do.

and that she's right.

good luck.

[bernerbits]

I was responding to cumulative frustration over responses from both of you yesterday. I felt pushed into something I didn't feel comfortable doing, my attempts to decline diplomatically were shot down, and then pugsy suggested that I double down this morning when I did it anyway and my DME therapist got angry, despite assurances that she wouldn't even notice.

You're right, if being here is predicated on me jumping on the self adjusting bandwagon, this really isn't the place for me. Disappointing, but better to learn that sooner rather than later.

[palerider]

I was responding to cumulative frustration over responses from both of you yesterday. I felt pushed into something I didn't feel comfortable doing, my attempts to decline diplomatically were shot down, and then pugsy suggested that I double down this morning when I did it anyway and my DME therapist got angry, despite assurances that she wouldn't even notice.

You're right, if being here is predicated on me jumping on the self adjusting bandwagon, this really isn't the place for me. Disappointing, but better to learn that sooner rather than later.

I'm sorry that you feel it's right for your DME to push you around and give you substandard therapy.

we care about making your sleep better, not "following doctors orders".

when you give up on them, we'll be here.

[palerider]

one other thing for you to think about, we've got no financial incentive to keep you coming back, and forking over copays "until you maybe get it right".

as to whether you can, or should change your own pressures... don't take our word for it, watch this guy's take... he's in the business:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys9aYadSbT4

I'll leave you to the mercy of your DME and doctor now.

best of luck.

[bernerbits]

When I asked, my doctor sent a note to the DME to up my min to 8. With that level of responsiveness I'm not terribly concerned about eschewing traditional channels.

Good luck to you as well.

[palerider]

When I asked, my doctor sent a note to the DME to up my min to 8. With that level of responsiveness I'm not terribly concerned about eschewing traditional channels.

Good luck to you as well.

thanks, my AHI is typically under 1, every night. and I wake up refreshed, and not sleepy all day. but perhaps the wish will come in handy in some other endeavor.