New - Have Questions

[diamondcat]

Well let me say thank you to all of you who take time to participate. I found this site in between the first nite of the sleep study and the second nite when my machine was set. I really have learned much from your experience.

As a point of reference, my AHI was 115. Guess I should have looked into this sooner.

That said, the lab sent me home with a Resmed Compact S8 with a heated humidifire- CPAP - set on 11. First question - should I feel heat with the heated humdifier? I have it set about 1/2 way but am still waking up with a very dry throat.

Based on what I have read here and the fact that I am still waking up multiple times a night, I am thinking I need an APAP. The tech who set me up bragged about his friendship with the Resmed rep. My mamma didn't raise dumb children. I was not given any other options and suspect this may not be the best for me. I am going to set up an appointment to see my doc next week. What are some of the signs that I may need an apap and one with software/card whatever that allows me/or doc to monitor my progress?

I am sleeping better for sure but still not where I want to be. I would appreciate any insight or information you could provide.

Thanks so much
~ DC

[Wulfman]

Well let me say thank you to all of you who take time to participate. I found this site in between the first nite of the sleep study and the second nite when my machine was set. I really have learned much from your experience.

As a point of reference, my AHI was 115. Guess I should have looked into this sooner.

That said, the lab sent me home with a Resmed Compact S8 with a heated humidifire- CPAP - set on 11. First question - should I feel heat with the heated humdifier? I have it set about 1/2 way but am still waking up with a very dry throat.

Based on what I have read here and the fact that I am still waking up multiple times a night, I am thinking I need an APAP. The tech who set me up bragged about his friendship with the Resmed rep. My mamma didn't raise dumb children. I was not given any other options and suspect this may not be the best for me. I am going to set up an appointment to see my doc next week. What are some of the signs that I may need an apap and one with software/card whatever that allows me/or doc to monitor my progress?

I am sleeping better for sure but still not where I want to be. I would appreciate any insight or information you could provide.

Thanks so much
~ DC

I'm not a ResMed machine user although I do use their masks.....but, from what I've read, the ResMed humidifiers don't put out much humidity unless you crank them up quite a ways.

Some "rules of thumb".....
Not everyone "NEEDS" an APAP, but:
EVERY APAP can be switched to run in CPAP mode (single-pressure)
EVERY APAP by Respironics, ResMed and Puritan Bennett record sleep data and software is available to interpret that data.

Hope that helps.

Den

[Slinky]

As Den said above, not everyone needs an autoPAP. BUT in my not so humble opinion EVERY sleep apnea patient SHOULD HAVE a FULLY DATA CAPABLE xPAP.

Getting your local DME supplier to upgrade your Resmed S8 Compact to a Resmed S8 Elite will most likely be a battle but one I STRONGLY feel is worth fighting for.

No, the idea of a heated humidifier is not to provide warm feeling air to you but rather to cause the air blowing over the water to pick up enough humidity to reduce that dry throat/mouth/sinus sensation.

You don't say how long you have been using your Compact. VERY FEW of us take to CPAP like a duck to water and sleep solidly from night one. Most of us have difficulties of one sort or another adjusting to sleeping w/CPAP and mask for a time. My first 30 days on CPAP, last October, were the WORST nights of sleep I ever encountered!

The Resmed S8 Compact is an excellent machine and can provide excellent therapy. You said yourself near the end of your post that you ARE sleeping better than prior to starting to use it.

Give it 30 days. By then you will have established that you are willing to be compliant. That is key. After 30 days THEN you start pushing for answers to any problems you are still encountering. AND that is when you push and push hard for a fully data capable Resmed S8 Elite so that the data is available to determine WHAT your problems are and what adjustments might need to be made to improve your therapy results.

It is between 30 and 60 days you need to push and push hard for AND OBTAIN the fully data capable CPAP. You don't want to go past 60 days after starting CPAP.

You can start working on your doctor NOW with reasons WHY a fully data capable CPAP is the wiser course of therapy for you. And you can start w/the innocent assumption that he wasn't aware you were provided w/a bare-bone, compliance data capable only CPAP, and how sure you are that he fully intended that you be given a fully data capable CPAP to ensure that he would have the data necessary to help him determine what adjustments might be needed and/or what the problems are that you encounter w/therapy.

[track]

You might start out by putting warm water in the humidifier bowl and see how you like it. Personally I don't like how it feels..sort of like being in a steamroom with hot air blowing in my face. I have an apap machine but after 9 months I have gone to cpap and feel it gives me the best treatment right now....but I didn't have a number to start out with like you so it took me a lot of searching. If you have a titration number it would seem you are good to go. I usually start out at 9 and then ramp to 11 after 30 minutes. It makes it a little less bothersome when you go to sleep.
You will be amazed at how quick you get used to that mask if you stay with it. I almost feel naked now without it on.

[diamondcat]

I am compliant for sure - with the numbers I have, to not be compliant means verrry bad things will happen to me.

I will certainly follow your suggestions. I will wait the 30 days and then hammer the insurance company. This is my life they are playing with.

I feel so much better knowing that others have not had "instant" success with it. No one tells you that. They said sign here and have a nice life.

So how do you break to potential partners that you sleep with a space mask on? It is one thing when it is the dog and I....

[DreamStalker]

As Den said ... APAP can be set to CPAP mode. In addition, insurance pays the same regardless of whether it is APAP or CPAP since the code is the same (so you copay is also the same for either). If you are paying full price out-of-pocket, the APAP will be a little bit more but well worth the added cost IMO (just make sure you buy online if out-of-pocket) ... so don't settle for an Elite when you can have a Vantage.

The Respironics and P&B autos are good machines too that you may wish to consider should you be given that option.

Good luck.

[Wulfman]

Personally, I wouldn't wait the 30 days, either. The longer you wait, the more hours will be on the machine when you take it back.
Get your ducks in a row with your insurance and the DME as soon as possible.

Den