Went to see the sleep doc and GUESS WHAT I GOT?

[goose]

If you don't mouth breathe (and with nasal pillows, I would presume you don't) you might take a look at the Activa and/or Activa LT. They tout what they call "Active Cell" technology, and I have to say, it works very well!!! It has the normal leak issues, but once you get the headgear adjusted to your liking, it's a really good mask. Inflates nicely and it does move around with you and instead of instantly leaking adjusts the seal to your face.....I like it for sure!!!

Yeah -- if you're in wine country I can understand why your options are limited. I'm kind of in the same boat - I live up in the Sierra Foothills -- my docs are a minimum of 30 minute drive, and if I have to go to Rocklin or Sac it's 45 min. or an Hour....But as you know, those of us that live in "the country" do it for a reason!!!! The positives far outnumber the hassles!!!!

It may be worth a long drive to get to a good doc. It's not like you have to see him/her all that often once your treatment is underway. I haven't seen my sleep doc in over 2 years now - but she gave me her blessing to do changes myself. Then she retired to raise and add to her family and I've just never gone to the replacement doc. I suppose I should go and get another sleep test to see how that goes, but.....

Rattle their cages!!! It's your health and that's what's important to you!!!!!

Take care
cheers
goose

[Gerryk]

Mr C did you try to contact your HMO and ask them for another doctor? I believe their is something that most insurance companies have that if their isn't a doctor within a certain distance that is in network they will cover you going to a doctor outside the network. Just giving you one doctor is no choice either, I thought insurance companies had to give you a choice. I would also tell them what happened to see if they will allow a different doc.

Gerry

[Kiralynx]

My hunch was around 8 or 10 feet as an upper limit. So that 12 foot limitation is more lenient than I would have guessed.

I've used all three lengths on my machine -- 6', 8', and 10' -- and have not seen a specific difference in my therapy. I have never tried 12'. The Respironics rep said that if your mask has a hose on it, you should include that as part of the "hose length."

[-SWS]

My hunch was around 8 or 10 feet as an upper limit. So that 12 foot limitation is more lenient than I would have guessed.

I've used all three lengths on my machine -- 6', 8', and 10' -- and have not seen a specific difference in my therapy. I have never tried 12'. The Respironics rep said that if your mask has a hose on it, you should include that as part of the "hose length."

Good reminder about adding in the shorter mask hose length as well! Overall length is part of what counts---not simply how one uses the hose.

Curious about when you happened to move your IPAP min closer to IPAP peak for better hypopnea results. Did your 6', 8', and 10' hoses yield identical results even before making that IPAP min adjustment? Or did you get around to trying some of those lengths only after that IPAP min change?

[Mr Capers]

Hi SWS,

I saw immediate drop in hypops from 17-18 range to about 8 when MinIPAP was raised 2cm with no other changes. Not even hose length. As soon as I have time I will post those results plus my recent results on O2 supplementation.

As always, many thanks,
Happy Naps
Mr Capers