New to CPAP basic questions

[ChicagoGranny]

Also my job depends on the data that I'm not supposed to worry about. My scores printout will be reviewed annually. Higher scores mean more scrutiny.

Do you have a job that requires you to show the CPAP treatment is effective? I have only heard of requirements to show compliance (use), such as DOT requirements:

When you first start using CPAP you will be conditionally certified for one month. You must show compliance with CPAP use in order for your conditional certification to be extended after the first month.
If compliance within the first month is demonstrated by a compliance report, your medical certification will be extended to a 3-month card. i.e. For an additional two months.
If, after three months on CPAP, you are still compliant with use, and treatment is effective, your certification can be extended to 1 year.
Drivers diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea must be re-certified at least annually. Compliance data for the year must be checked.

Compliance Recommendations

OSA compliance

The most effective treatment is 7 or more hours of CPAP use during sleep.

The Medical Expert Panel’s minimum recommended compliance is:
4 hours of CPAP sleep per day
70% or more days.
Your company/carrier is allowed to impose stricter standards than those recommended by the Medical Review Board.
Some companies are requiring at least 6 hours of CPAP use, 80% of days.
http://dotphysicaldoctor.com/commercial ... ntain-cdl/

Of course if we are going to use CPAP, we want it to be highly effective. But, I never heard of a job requirement to show effectiveness.

[SoCal Guy]

But, I never heard of a job requirement to show effectiveness.

That's good to know, thanx.

But...I am not a truck driver and do not fall under the auspices of the DOT. My licensing authority is the U.S. Coast Guard and they do not have a good reputation among mariners with medical issues. And...due to some recent accidents, Sleep Apnea is a huge Red Flag and very much considered high priority for scrutiny. I have a mild case with a 7.1 AHI, mild desat. I slept fine before, always well rested (thankfully). Now instead of voluntarily using CPAP as much as possible but with breaks if I want, I must now always use it. I realize you'll say I should but never the less with my facts I prefer a choice.

And...if you say that they'll be okay seeing high AHI's and generally bad stats and still let me drive a huge ship then I guess I'll bank on that.

[ChicagoGranny]

And...if you say that they'll be okay seeing high AHI's and generally bad stats and still let me drive a huge ship then I guess I'll bank on that.

No one said that. No one implied that. In fact,

high AHI's and generally bad stats

I'd yank your ass off the bridge and throw you into a menial job in the hold. back at you.

[SoCal Guy]

But, I never heard of a job requirement to show effectiveness.

Then what did you mean specifically from the above statement?

I took it to mean that as long as your complying with the prescribed CPAP therapy and use
then the reviewing agency isn't concerned with effectiveness, ie "not a requirement to show effectiveness"

Seems like now you are saying the results/effectiveness (good effectiveness) IS a requirement to be able to continue to work.

[Soothest Sleep]

Q. Is this an actual event, in other words does lifting the mask to scratch or go to the restroom just cause an artificial raise in AHI or does it actually cause me to stop breathing after I put the mask back on?

I just take the hose off my mask, without turning off the machine, when I use the bathroom at night. The pressure reading shoots up to the maximum set (in my case, 10--I use an APAP) until I come back to bed and re-attach the hose; then the pressure re-settles to my breathing needs again as I go back to sleep. When I had the machine on trial, my resp.tech. noticed the spikes on her charts for me; we used it to monitor changes in the number of times I was up to the bathroom, and the length of time between trips. (I can go for about 6 hours uninterrupted now, which is a small victory for me. Sorry if TMI!) I don't turn off the machine because I don't want to distract myself from getting back to sleep with extraneous off/on motions or screen lights coming on. I don't worry about the AHI because I know a small number of events for less than a minute each over the course of 8 hours is not going to affect the average per hour very much--like the other poster said, they're just artefacts.

[ChicagoGranny]

"I never heard of a job requirement to show effectiveness."


Then what did you mean specifically from the above statement?

It only means what it says.

I do not know what the Coast Guard requirements are concerning sleep apnea/CPAP. You should ask the Coast Guard.

If you come back and say the Coast Guard does require you to show effectiveness, then my future statement will become -

"I never heard of a job requirement to show effectiveness until some dude came along claiming the Coast Guard requires it."

Maybe you should contact (through the chain of command) this person or her replacement:

Laura G. Gillis MD, MPH
US Federal Maritime Surgeon
Chief, Medical Evaluations Division
National Maritime Center

[SoCal Guy]

As it relates to the requirement for effectiveness, your all over the place. Clearly you made a broad, probably erroneous statement and no matter how many snide replies follow, the record of your statement and what it implies stands.

1. First you state "I never heard of a job requirement to show effectiveness." anybody reading that knows what that implies...

2. Then to my statement; "if you say that they'll be okay seeing high AHI's and generally bad stats and still let me drive a huge ship then I guess I'll bank on that"
You responded; "No one said that. No one implied that. In fact" huh???

3. Then when I asked what you meant by your original statement "I never heard of a job requirement to show effectiveness."
You respond; "It only means what it says." Great smart a.. answer, similar to ugh, ugh, ugh when faced with a tough question.

According to your original statement a truck driver, ship driver or anyone else required to use CPAP and disclose results annually would not be required to show effectiveness.

So....my point is that your original statement is most likely wrong, you probably know that by now but refuse to acknowledge that, I can live with that. Thanks for the info about contacting the Coast Guard but I assure you I am very familiar with the in's and out's of my licensing agency and your suggestion is simply naive. I'll leave that one there. Granny, it's time for breakfast, you can have the last word (and I'm sure you will). You exhaust me and I'm already exhausted enough from this CPAP.

[ChicagoGranny]

"I never heard of a job requirement to show effectiveness."

I am sorry that your brain translates the above sentence to:

There are no job requirements to show effectiveness.

But, stay calm. Many here have reported that CPAP brings greatly improved cognition. For what it's worth, I'm pulling for you.

[Midnight Strangler]

My licensing authority is the U.S. Coast Guard and they do not have a good reputation among mariners with medical issues. ... to some recent accidents ... let me drive a huge ship

I have scheduled a meeting with my insurance agent at 9:00 a.m. Monday morning to review the insurance on my dock and three boats.

[bonjour]

What is defined as effectiveness.

I imagine that the definition can be all over the place.