questions???

MartyR · Post by **MartyR** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:08 pm

i recently did my sleep study. and getting a bipap soon.
i am worried though. during the study they hooked me up to a cpap, and the air pressure was unreal. so heavy it almost choked me at time b/c i could not exhale.

is the pressure form a bipap/cpap mush lower, or is this about what i can expect??

Pilot_Ron · Post by **Pilot_Ron** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:30 pm

Did it feel the same way when you woke up? The pressure will be whatever you/doctor/dme set it at. A biPAp will give relief during exhale. A CPAP can do that also, but only to an extent if you get a machine with C/A-flex (Respironics RemStar M series)

{EDIT}
Or an S8 Elite that has EPR, which is basically the same thing

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): bipap, CPAP

kayfouroh · Post by **kayfouroh** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:34 pm

Pilot_Ron wrote:Did it feel the same way when you woke up? The pressure will be whatever you/doctor/dme set it at. A biPAp will give relief during exhale. A CPAP can do that also, but only to an extent if you get a machine with C/A-flex (Respironics RemStar M series)

My S8 Elite has EPR, which is basically the same thing.

cflame1 · Post by **cflame1** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:55 pm

A bipap will allow for a different inhalation versus an exhalation pressure, and with an auto bi-pap there are even more options. Plus a Respironics Bi-pap will have BiFlex on top of that which will allow for even more pressure relief.

MartyR · Post by **MartyR** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:22 pm

honestly i dot remember how it was when i woke up....i just know that my nose and throat were hurting badly and the entire night was uncomfortbale to me.

be new to all of this- i guess eventually you do get used to the machine and sleep well with it??

WearyOne · Post by **WearyOne** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:39 pm

MartyR wrote: i guess eventually you do get used to the machine and sleep well with it??

The road to sleeping well with it is longer and more frustrating for some than for others, BUT you will get there if you don't give up. There are many parts to the puzzle of getting it right for you--the right mask, right pressure, right machine---etc. The most important thing to remember, though, regardless of how frustrating it is, sticking with it will eventually produce a more rested, and healthier you, and you may eventually look at the machine as "your friend"!

I've almost reached my one-year mark since starting on cpap, and I will say--never thought I'd say this--the machine is now my friend. I never sleep anywhere without it!

(Did you have a humidifier at your sleep study? If you didn't, that's probably why your nose and throat hurt so badly.)

Pam

MartyR · Post by **MartyR** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:19 pm

i am not if there was a humidifier...i am very nervous about all of this. supposed to get my machine friday.

will they tell me if i should have a mask that covers my mouth and nose, or just my nose.

it is encouraging to hear people say they eventually sleep well with these machines

klparker · Post by **klparker** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:32 pm

I have had my machine for 13 days now. I am very happy with my sleep. I wake up feeling fresh and like I actually got a good nights rest! Last night I had a little water in the hose and I took the mask off around 1am. I was afraid I would wake my husband if I got up and fiddled with it, so I just took the mask off and turned the machine off. I must have had the humidity too high - I think it is all a learning experience.
The first 3-4 nights were a little hard getting use to it - but after that, I have found I only wake up 1-2 times, and I go right back to sleep. And mostly it was a hose/mask issue that woke me up. Before CPAP, I would wake up 5-6 times a night and was awake for a long period of time. According to my sleep study, I actually woke up more like 10 times an hour. No wonder I didn't feel well...
I have ordered a SleePap pillow, hopefully that will solve my mask issues and I will wake up only in the morning.
I also ordered some pads for the mask. And some pur-sleep esential oils. I am excited about my sleep now, I havent slept well for 2 years at least and I am so excited to have gone through the sleep study and have an answer to my problems. Even if it is Abstructive Sleep Apnea. I was so surprised at my diagnosis, I just thought it was insomnia.
So dont be too nervous, think of it as a wonderful solution to your sleep problems!

MartyR · Post by **MartyR** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:10 pm

does anyone know if significant weight lose can cure sleep apnea?

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:16 pm

MartyR wrote:does anyone know if significant weight lose can cure sleep apnea?

The odds are REALLY, REALLY slim. It's more likely that the Apnea CAUSED the weight gain to begin with. So, if you lost a bunch of weight, you'd probably still have the Apnea.

Don't get your hopes up.

Den

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:18 pm

MartyR wrote:i am not if there was a humidifier...i am very nervous about all of this. supposed to get my machine friday.

will they tell me if i should have a mask that covers my mouth and nose, or just my nose.

it is encouraging to hear people say they eventually sleep well with these machines

OH GOODY!!!!! You are so fortunate to have found us BEFORE you get your equipment! Hurry up! Contact your local DME supplier AND your sleep lab or whoever is ordering your equipment for you!!! Do so right away tomorrow!

You want, and will NOT accept less than, a fully data capable CPAP!!! This is your opportunity to get a fully data capable CPAP instead of some cheap, bare-bones, maybe compliance data capable machine. Don't blow it.

Call your insurance company tomorrow morning first thing and ask them what local DME CPAP suppliers they are contracted w/in your area. Hopefully you will have the CHOICE of more than one. If you are fortunate and do have a choice you can pit one against the other to get what you want. After the establishment of a fully data capable CPAP only, then comes the question of how liberal their mask exchange policy is. Those are the two key ingredients of equipment influence on the success or failure of your CPAP therapy.

IF your equipment order (script) will be for "just" a straight CPAP and not one of the more sophisticated bi-levels (Bi-PAP) or SV, etc. most doctors write a fairly genetic script and then most DMEs will take advantage and provide you w/a bare-bones, compliance data only CPAP.

I would suggest that you ask your doctor to write a very explicit equipment order so that you get EXACTLY what you want and really need. The following are some suggested orders (not that I am recommending one machine over the other, just to give you and your doctor an idea).

1] Respironics REMstar M Series Pro w/C-Flex (w/integrated humidifier if you prefer)
2] Pressure ---- cms (whatever your pressure is)
3] C-flex setting 3 (or whatever your doctor suggests)
4] Ramp off (unless you prefer it on)
5] Show AHI/Leak feature On
6] Fisher & Paykel HC 150 heated humidifier (unless you prefer the integrated heated humidifier. If so just add "w/integrated humidifier" to the REMstar Pro)
7] Nasal mask, Full Face mask, or Nasal Pillows mask of patient's choice.

1] Resmed S8 Elite w/EPR (w/integrated humidifier if you prefer)
2] Pressure ---- cms (whatever your pressure is)
3] EPR setting 3 (or whatever your doctor suggests)
4] Ramp off (unless you prefer it on)
5] Efficacy & Usage Data access
6] Fisher & Paykel HC 150 heated humidifier (unless you prefer the integrated heated humidifier. If so just add "w/integrated humidifier" to the Resmed S8 Elite)
7] Nasal mask, Full Face mask, or Nasal Pillows mask of patient's choice.

1] Respironics REMstar M Series Auto w/A-Flex (w/integrated humidifier if you prefer)
2a] Minimum pressure (whatever your doctor has determined)
2b] Maximum pressure (whatever your doctor has determined)
3] A-Flex setting 3 (or whatever your doctor suggests)
4] Ramp off (unless you prefer it on)
5] Show AHI/Leak feature On
6] Fisher & Paykel HC 150 heated humidifier (unless you prefer the integrated heated humidifier. If so just add "w/integrated humidifier" to the REMstar Auto w/A-Flex)
7] Nasal mask, Full Face mask, or Nasal Pillows mask of patient's choice.

1] ResMed S8 AutoSet Vantage (w/integrated humidifier if you prefer)
2a] Minimum pressure (whatever your doctor has determined
2b] Maximum pressure (whatever your doctor has determined
3] EPR setting 3 (EPR does NOT work in auto mode, but if and when you opt to use the Vantage in straight CPAP mode you might want to use the EPR function)
4] Ramp off (unless you prefer it on)
5] Efficacy & Usage Data access
6] Fisher & Paykel HC 150 heated humidifier (unless you prefer the integrated heated humidifer. If so just add "w/integrated humidifier" to the Resmed S8 AutoSet Vantage)
7] Nasal mask, Full Face mask, or Nasal Pillows mask of patient's choice.

You will notice the similarities to each suggestion.

1] Exact brand and model of machine
2] Scripted pressure (the autoPAPs have a pressure range rather than a set pressure)
3] Scripted amount for lower pressure at exhalation
4] Starts w/4 cms of pressure and ramps up to your set pressure after you get to sleep
5] Allows you to access your nightly data via the LCD screen
6] While the integrated humidifiers are most convenient for travel and take up less space on your nightstand, in really dry situations sometimes they can't provide as much humidity as you might need or want. For many the integrated humidifiers are more than satisfactory).
7] This ensures that you can try several masks, including a Full Face mask (sometimes they insist on a script specifying full face if the script just says mask, or will only provide the exact mask mentioned in the equipment order).

YOU are paying for the CPAP equipment you will receive, therefore you SHOULD get and you DESERVE a fully data capable CPAP.

Humidifier

Additional Comments: Remstar Auto A-Flex Aussie Heated Hose Auto 8-15 cm H2O pressure A-Flex 2 Backup Remstar Plus w/C-Flex

Mask	Humidifier