No more CPAP for me!

[kona0197]

So last year everything was going great, I had a brand new ResMed S10 and loved it! Lost my insurance due to not qualifying for medicaid anymore and my employer's plan was too expensive as was any private options so I had to give the machine back to my DME. A friend on this site gave me a ResMed S7, but it's not the same, it does not have quite as many options such as pressure relief when breathing out, etc. However I lost almost 50 pounds, I'm under 200, and now I just can't use the machine. Can't fall asleep with it, can't make it through even one night and I've been on CPAP for years. My only thought is that since I've lost weight and no longer snore, I don't need it.

Any ideas?

[TropicalDiver]

So last year everything was going great, I had a brand new ResMed S10 and loved it! Lost my insurance due to not qualifying for medicaid anymore and my employer's plan was too expensive as was any private options so I had to give the machine back to my DME. A friend on this site gave me a ResMed S7, but it's not the same, it does not have quite as many options such as pressure relief when breathing out, etc. However I lost almost 50 pounds, I'm under 200, and now I just can't use the machine. Can't fall asleep with it, can't make it through even one night and I've been on CPAP for years. My only thought is that since I've lost weight and no longer snore, I don't need it.

Any ideas?

Congrats on the weight loss! While it is possible that your apnea was resolved with weight loss, that is less common than many think. And the inability to fall asleep with the S7 is not indicative -- either way -- of your apnea. Only a sleep test can truly determine whether the apnea is resolved. Untreated apnea places you at increased risk for many adverse health outcomes. Perhaps someone here can suggest low cost sleep test providers?

[Lifeisabeach]

Yeah, I agree with Tropical It sounds like weight was at the least complicating your case, but whether or not it was the root cause of it is pure speculation. Speaking for myself, I wasn't diagnosed until I was in my 40's and my weight out of control, but once the sleep apnea was controlled, it became clear this was a lifelong condition. The signs started in high school and my weight problems that I developed much later were more of a consequence of uncontrolled sleep apnea, not the CAUSE of the sleep apnea. It's fantastic you lost all that weight, but you want to KEEP it off. Your sleep apnea having been under treatment may have been the key to helping you lose it, but yeah, you need to get re-tested at the minimum to see if you don't need the machine anymore, or maybe just a pressure adjustment.

[palerider]

I haven't used insurance for my of my cpaps,
Craigslist for me!

[zonker]

So last year everything was going great, I had a brand new ResMed S10 and loved it! Lost my insurance due to not qualifying for medicaid anymore and my employer's plan was too expensive as was any private options so I had to give the machine back to my DME. A friend on this site gave me a ResMed S7, but it's not the same, it does not have quite as many options such as pressure relief when breathing out, etc. However I lost almost 50 pounds, I'm under 200, and now I just can't use the machine. Can't fall asleep with it, can't make it through even one night and I've been on CPAP for years. My only thought is that since I've lost weight and no longer snore, I don't need it.

Any ideas?

don't know how limited your funds are. but forum member lsat has cpap machines for sale here frequently. low hour use. while i have not purchased from him, there are forum members here who have and have good things to say about the experience.

you might pm him and see what he has for sale.

i've been on this forum for 4 1/2 years. a few CLAIM to be "cured" after weight loss. (very few) and only one i can remember as having had a sleep study afterwards which confirmed it.

so i don't think it likely your weight loss has done anything towards sleep apnea.

[chunkyfrog]

Congratulations on your weight loss.
Regrets if you are mistaken about not needing cpap.
Dealing with an antique like the S7 can be worse than no cpap at all.

[Wulfman...]

So last year everything was going great, I had a brand new ResMed S10 and loved it! Lost my insurance due to not qualifying for medicaid anymore and my employer's plan was too expensive as was any private options so I had to give the machine back to my DME. A friend on this site gave me a ResMed S7, but it's not the same, it does not have quite as many options such as pressure relief when breathing out, etc. However I lost almost 50 pounds, I'm under 200, and now I just can't use the machine. Can't fall asleep with it, can't make it through even one night and I've been on CPAP for years. My only thought is that since I've lost weight and no longer snore, I don't need it.

Any ideas?

You've been on this forum for quite a few years. Virtually all of these issues have been discussed many times here before.
If you knew you were losing your insurance coverage, why didn't you ask the provider to pay off the balance of your bill?
Seems to me that you're being pretty damned picky about the equipment that your friend gave you. Does it blow air? Then it should be capable of providing your therapy.........with a few tweaks to the setup configuration. Is the S7 fixed pressure or Auto?
There are many sources of acquiring equipment (machines, masks, hoses) at VERY inexpensive prices.
Back in 2011, I bought two "previously owned" straight-pressure Pro 2 machines for $15 apiece, plus shipping. Somewhere back in time they had lost some of their data-recording capabilities, but they still blow air at the proper pressure (checked them with my manometer) and I keep them and occasionally have used them for backup, nap or travel machines when I don't think I want to keep track of the data. Both are extremely quiet and work just fine for what I need, when I need them.

There have been MANY people posting on the forum who wanted to give away machines or sell them for very reasonable prices. Other places like http://secondwindcpap.com have good, slightly used or previously owned machines and parts, too.

Just the fact that you've lost weight doesn't guarantee that you've lost your sleep apnea, either. You would need an in-lab sleep study to determine that. And, then, the sleep apnea may have caused your weight gain and losing the weight doesn't mean that your sleep apnea is gone.

A couple of old sayings come to mind...... "Beggars can't be choosers" and "Make do with what you've got"

Good luck.

Den

.

[kona0197]

don't know how limited your funds are. but forum member lsat has cpap machines for sale here frequently. low hour use. while i have not purchased from him, there are forum members here who have and have good things to say about the experience.

My funds are pretty limited right now. I have maybe $100 a month for spending money. However I thank you for the suggestion, I'll see if Lsat has anything for sale.

i've been on this forum for 4 1/2 years. a few CLAIM to be "cured" after weight loss.

LOL, I doubt I am cured, I just have noticed a lot of changes with my body and sleep patterns after the weight loss.

If you knew you were losing your insurance coverage, why didn't you ask the provider to pay off the balance of your bill?

I didn't know I was losing my insurance until the last minute. My DME asked Oregon to pay it off, but I had only had the machine for a month at that point, so they declined. As far as I know I was 100% compliant, used it every night.

Seems to me that you're being pretty damned picky about the equipment that your friend gave you. Does it blow air?

Not picky at all. I'm VERY grateful. Absolutely grateful and thankful. It's just that I am used to a machine that breaths with you. I had the Phillips System One for years before the S10. Both of them have that ability to lower the pressure when you exhale. I miss that. But yes, the S7 blows air just fine and has very low hours. Less than 100. I'm happy with it, just can't get used to the constant pressure setup. And even with the humidifier off, it blows hot air. Annoying to be sure, but I'll work with it.

Back in 2011, I bought two "previously owned" straight-pressure Pro 2 machines

No worries, I'll look around if I can't adjust to the S7. It is a fixed pressure machine, no auto function, and has been dialed in by my sleep doctor.

A couple of old sayings come to mind...... "Beggars can't be choosers" and "Make do with what you've got"

I know, and thanks. Appreciate it. Never meant to imply I am unhappy or upset over the S7. It's all good.

[zonker]

So last year everything was going great, I had a brand new ResMed S10 and loved it!

Any ideas?

oh and i just remembered this-

https://www.sleepapnea.org/community/cp ... e-program/

[Wulfman...]

kona0197,

Check your PMs.
I have the Clinician's Manual I can send you.


Den

.

[NoMoreApnea]

I've been away from the forum for 4 years until today, probably posted 1,000 times before that.

I got to a point where there was little left to learn here.

I was bordering on obese. Over 3 years ago I went on a 2-year diet, lost over 20% of my bodyweight, and have kept it off ever since, now 5'9" and 166 lbs.

What I did not expect is that the apnea would go away. But it did.

I continue with the S10 APAP, bc I'm not sure, and I have the damned thing, and it never gave me any trouble.

But what makes me sure I don't have SA anymore is an iPhone app called Dream Talk Recorder. This is a sleep recorder app, and there are a lot of them out there, and they are typically free. They can record you as you sleep. They listen for sounds and pause the recording when there is no sound, yet begin recording when there is. According to this app, if I sleep without the APAP, there is no sound, other than an occasional bird chirping. IOW, I am no longer snoring. This is a huge change from the original sleep test which showed me at 57 episodes per hour.

When I weighed 205 I could actually feel my throat close up as I relaxed to go to sleep (which is when I got tested and got the APAP). No more.

Even with 1,000 posts, I had no idea SA could be cured. But I think mine has been.

The APAP was also a 'cure', as long as I used it, immediately bringing my AHI down from 'severe apnea' to an average of about 2.3, according to the OSCAR software.

So if you are like me, and have lost over 10% of bodyweight, you may indeed no longer need the APAP. I suggest getting this app and trying it out.

[LSAT]

You might be kidding yourself if you are going to trust an app with your health. Get another sleep test to be sure. When you got your AHI down to 2-3 on Oscar..that was with the CPAP therapy. You don't know what it would be without the CPAP.

[NoMoreApnea]

Thanks for the tip, Captain Obvious.

This is why I continue to use the APAP.

Worry about something else.

[Pugsy]

Thanks for the tip, Captain Obvious.

This is why I continue to use the APAP.

Worry about something else.

You weren't so obvious. I got the impression you quit using cpap because a phone app recording told you that you slept well and didn't snore or gasp for breath.

[palerider]

Seems to me that you're being pretty damned picky about the equipment that your friend gave you. Does it blow air?

Not picky at all. I'm VERY grateful. Absolutely grateful and thankful. It's just that I am used to a machine that breaths with you. I had the Phillips System One for years before the S10. Both of them have that ability to lower the pressure when you exhale. I miss that. But yes, the S7 blows air just fine and has very low hours. Less than 100. I'm happy with it, just can't get used to the constant pressure setup. And even with the humidifier off, it blows hot air. Annoying to be sure, but I'll work with it.

Back in 2011, I bought two "previously owned" straight-pressure Pro 2 machines

No worries, I'll look around if I can't adjust to the S7. It is a fixed pressure machine, no auto function, and has been dialed in by my sleep doctor.

A couple of old sayings come to mind...... "Beggars can't be choosers" and "Make do with what you've got"

I know, and thanks. Appreciate it. Never meant to imply I am unhappy or upset over the S7. It's all good.

wulfman is a firm believer, wherever CPAP is concerned, that older is better.