Just diagnosed with Severe OSA, my first week on CPAP

[Big-Ken]

Hello everyone my name is Ken I'm 30 and I was just diagnosed with severe apnea. I just got my machine on thursday its a Philips REMstar Pro C-Flex+ AutoIQ w/system one heated humidifyer and I'm using the Mirage Quattro ffm, I don't really know much about my sleep study as my doc kinda sucks and said he didn't need to talk to me and that I would be getting a call from the people providing me with my equipment. My pressure is set at a 20cmh20 so I'm assuming my apnea is pretty bad, I am coping pretty well with the acual machine and my family is being real supportive I am having some issues with having to shave off my beard I've had for 10 years but breathing while I sleep and not falling asleep while driving is a little more important than a beard.

I don't really have anything to ask just wanted to introduce myself, I'm looking forward to having somewhere to talk about these kind of things with people that live with it as well

thanks,
Ken
Big-Ken
 

Machine: Philips REMstar Pro C-Flex+ AutoIQ
Mask: Mirage Quattro
Humidifier: Philips System One
Pressure: 20cmh2o

[ohwhatanight]

Welcome Ken! Glad your family is so supportive. I've had my CPAP for a little over 3 weeks. I have the same machine you do. There are a couple of things you can do to find out exactly how bad your apnea is - one is ask your sleep doctor to send you a copy of the detailed reports from your sleep studies. They give you lots of information and sometimes seeing how much better you did on the second night with the CPAP is a really good motivator when you get tempted to skip using the darn thing!

The other good way to get info is to download a program called SleepyHead so you can read the data from the SD card on your machine. Here's a link: http://sourceforge.net/projects/sleepyhead/ It's quite interesting to see if your number of events correspond to how well you think you slept the night before. It also allows you to see if your mask is leaking a lot.

This forum is a great place to find answers to just about any question you might have!

[teachcsg]

Hi Ken,
Sometimes you can see a lot of info on your cpap machine. Information such as leak, AHI (apnea-hypopnea index) etc... If you go to the "info" screen on your machine and enter it and then scroll down you will see where the leak and AHI and how many hours you've worn etc.. The software will show more detailed and probably easier to read info but the machine will give you a quick look at whats going on. The machine usually gives you a 7 and 30 day view so you may have to wait a few days before seeing any info.
Now...some providers will turn off this feature from the machine...if you dont see leak, AHI but only see hours they may have turned it off. You need to ask them to turn back on.

[hades161]

Hi Ken and Welcome to the Forums.

I strongly recommend you research the info of this forum and get up to speed about the terms, the gear, and the monitoring of your condition. Knowledge will be the key to successful treatment. Take control of your data and treatment right away, a lot of people fail at treating their OSA simply because they don't educate themselves and rely on others to control their treatment way to much.

First get your sleep study data from the doc don't let them side track you or put you off, you will need this data.

Over the next month your going to be trying to adjust to Pap use, dealing with leaks, maybe condensation in the hose/mask( rainout ), and or dryness of the mouth. During this time your machine will be collecting all the data you need to help you fine tune your treatment.

Next you need to be able to get your data so you need software.
Here is a link to a free open source software everyone is using. I use it as well.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/sleepyhead/

You will also need a SD Card Reader they are cheap to get at Wal-Mart, Office Max, Best Buy, or online.
Here is a link to one like the one I use, I got mine for free years back as a gift for buying memory.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820717001

Forum members will help with anything you run into and no question is too dumb to ask.

Lastly to get your equipment to show up so you don't need to type it out all the time, be logged in and look under the Search bar and you will see the User Control Panel link. Just click on that and Edit your Profile, you will find a section in there that will allow you to select all your gear.

Good Luck and again,

Welcome to the Life and Times of a Hosehead!

[Julie]

Hi - it's important to remember one thing - the amount of air pressure (your prescribed number... eg. 20) necessary to keep your airway open does not necessarily correlate to the severity (frequency) of apnea events at all - apples and oranges really... everyone's different.

[cflame1]

Ok... don't understand why they put you on the machine that they put you on, considering that 20 is the top limit of that machine.

If you can find somebody to make some waves to... try to get put on a bi-pap. You'll have better exhale relief with it, especially at your pressure.

[Pugsy]

You will also need a SD Card Reader they are cheap to get at Wal-Mart, Office Max, Best Buy, or online.

Point to clarify. Not everyone needs a SD card reader. I have a laptop with a SD slot in it (like for digital photos) and so no SD card reader is needed. Only the people who don't have a SD slot in their computers need the card reader/adapter because they have to use a USB port.

So if a person has a computer that already has a SD slot in it that is working...nothing else is needed except the software. No sense in buying something that is not needed.

[Big-Ken]

Ok... don't understand why they put you on the machine that they put you on, considering that 20 is the top limit of that machine.

If you can find somebody to make some waves to... try to get put on a bi-pap. You'll have better exhale relief with it, especially at your pressure.

The lady that brought my machine said it was capabil of being switched to a bi-pap it I need it but honestly the pressure doesn't bother me at all once I get into my breathing pattern, I'm not having any issues coping with machine just with my doctor and his disregard for my care

[Bob123]

Sorry to hear about the beard. I'm on year 15 and have never shaved my beard or mustache for the sake of cpap. Went with tight nasal and full face masks the first few years and then discovered nasal pillows. Give the Swift Mirage II nasal pillows a try. No leaks and quite comfortable to wear with full beard and mustache! Welcome to the forum!

[kgresgott]

Hi Ken,
Welcome! I've only had my CPAP for three days so I am very new, as well You will learn a lot here.

-Kathryn

[nlifesimage]

I'm not having any issues coping with machine just with my doctor and his disregard for my care

First of all, like others have said, get a copy of your sleep study report and the copy of the report from the Dr who read it. I would even get a copy of the written script from the prescribing physician. Learn what it says and dont be afraid to ask questions. This forum is so freaking awesome, tons of info and support from users. Second...find another Pulmonologist that is accredited in sleep disorders and drop your current one like a hot rock.

Take charge of this endeavor...IT IS YOUR HEALTH!

Best wishes

Jason

[jmcanzo]

You CAN still have a beard. I grew my first at 47 yrs old and 2.5 yrs AFTER getting my CPAP!

[Big-Ken]

The problem with me is I also have bad seasonal allergys so I have grown up being a mouth breather cause my nose is always stopped up so do to those two things I can't wear a nasal pillows or the nasal mask I have to wear a ffm and my pressure is just to high to have a beard and ffm. On my first night my large leak average was 30%

[Big-Ken]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the support and help, I feel this forum will be a good place for me through this journey

[Mary Z]

Welcome. We come in all shapes and sizes with all kinds of opinions. I get a copy of my doctor's dictated report only. If I need a copy of the script I can get one, but I don't have it. I follow my therapy based on how I feel. I do look at the LCD sceen and my numbers in the morning, but rarely use software. I do agree with learn, learn, learn. Memorize the users and clinicians manual (well, the users manual anyway). Glad you got diagnosed and can begin saving your health from complications of untreated OSA. Help another newcomer- you just did by posting- you'll feel great. Participate in the forum- the success of cpaptalk depends on us posting, helping one another. This is a real social network as well as support group.
Good luck.