New guy with some questions

MS69 · Post by **MS69** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 4:42 pm

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about 7 years ago. Lucky for me after reading more than a few forums, I adjusted almost immeadiately to the mask and just felt great.Recently, I decided to help myself physically and lose some weight, Im down almost 50 lbs, I quit smoking about a year ago but what has me writing today is my sleep pattern has returned to the pre-diagnosis days. My bipap seems to be working fine but feels next to useless. Has this happened to anyone else? I dont have medical insurance so Im dreading the prospect of having to pay a specialist and for a another sleep study? Any thoughts?

cflame1 · Post by **cflame1** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:38 pm

is your bipap downloadable?? They say that weightloss can cause pressure changes.

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:40 pm

I guess the basic idea is that in order to feel bad the next day, something had to mess up your sleep the night before. Perhaps contrary to the assumed result, loosing the weight INCREASED your pressure requirement. If you can't pinpoint any disturbance that brings you to conciousness or causes air leaks, I would suggest a slow raise in pressure to test that idea. I can be bothered by much by work that I don't sleep well, which yields the same bad days, but if they are routine for you now then you have a systemic problem.

Good Luck,

TerryB

MS69 · Post by **MS69** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:54 pm

My Respironic Duet LX isnt downloadable.

If you can't pinpoint any disturbance that brings you to conciousness or causes air leaks, I would suggest a slow raise in pressure to test that idea

Disturbance, well sleeping with the mask on feels the same now as no mask at all. As Im set to fall asleep, I jar myself awake, like a shudder running through your body. Im very, very far behind all of you as far as specific knowledge of my disorder. I was told that the pressure was set very high, the display will read 16 and 20 when in use.

Unless I get really lucky with experimenting with pressure changes, Im looking at another sleep test arent I?

Bookbear · Post by **Bookbear** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:10 pm

Not necessarily.....if your doc and insurance will go for a 1 month trial of an apap, they could get a very good picture of what your needs are now...and they well have chaged with age, weight loss, other factors. a look at one month's data would actually give your doc and you a MUCH better view of your apnea than a one night test could ever do.

MS69 · Post by **MS69** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:15 pm

A very big thank you to all who answered.

wahooker · Post by **wahooker** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 7:21 am

Now I'm no medical expert here, but I have been told that sometimes a pressure too high can cause Central Apneas. (i.e. Its not an obstructive airway, Instead your brain doesn't send the signal to inhale/exhale.)

Now that you have lost weight and quit smoking has reduced your body's needs for as much pressure, Is it possible that the pressure that worked well previously is now too much and causing sleep apneas

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:41 am

You have been using XPAP over five years, If your machine is over five years old, youmay be able to get a new machine , a Remstar Auto Bi-PAP, and HH, with that and the software and reader you could find out for sure whats going on. It sounds like a good excuse to upgrade. Clearly what your doing isn't working right anymore. Jim

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:07 am

How about this one? Better hurry. ..
http://auctions.yahoo.com/i::111857999

Mask

Mask

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Avg. AHI .4

Mask