newbie question

[Wildkat]

A little background before my question

Hello all. I have been reading the forum for several days and trying to get acquainted with everything. I was diagnosed with OSA in 1997. I used my old cpap machine for years till I lost 70 pounds and quit using it. Fast forward to about 2 months ago and I started sleeping about 20 hours a day. Doc said time for me to start using my cpap again. Well, medicare wouldn't buy me a new mask without a new sleep study so they did a home sleep study and now I have a new machine and oxygen too. my oxygen level dropped to 40 was why they put me on oxygen. not sure what my ahi was I called today to ask but the lady that has the info is out of the office until Monday.

ok onto question..2 really. 1st question - they have my auto pressure set between 4 and 20, but when I first put my mask on I gasp for breath for about 15 minutes it is awful. My dme said they had to have a prescription to raise it so I have put in a call to my doctor (I'm sure he will give me the script - I have an awesome doc.) my problem is that my doc may not get my message until Monday and the dme already told me even if they got the script today they couldn't do it till Monday. so three more days to suffer. is there any way I can change it myself?

2nd question - can somebody tell me the cheapest place to buy a snuggle hose cover. I don't mean to whine about money but I am quite poor and need to find the best deal possible. or does anyone have a used one they might want to sell?

thanks in advance for your time and help

[jagzoo]

Hi WilKat,

I'm just posting quickly to let you know that you don't have to wait for your doctor, DME or anyone else to change your pressure. 4 is way to low for a starting pressure and anyone would gasp for breathe at that setting.

Keep checking in tonight because I am sure that the members who have much expertise than I have will be posting to give you support and assisting you in changing that lower pressure to a more appropriate one.

Hold on, I'm sure help will be here in time for a better night tonight.

Good luck with your journey in XPAP land!

[SusieG]

You can use heavy socks as hose covers... just cut the toe out and slide on as many as it takes to cover and keep them in place with twist ties. It will work in a pinch!
Good luck!

[Wildkat]

You can use heavy socks as hose covers... just cut the toe out and slide on as many as it takes to cover and keep them in place with twist ties. It will work in a pinch!
Good luck!

never thought of such a thing! thank you I will give it a try

and jagzoo thank you for the post, I will eagerly await someone that knows my machine

[zoocrewphoto]

You might do a search for your machine and clinician menu. There are several people who send clinical manuals to people when they need them. I don't have your machine, so I don't have the directions. But I know it is fairly easy to do once you have the directions. And most people do feel like they are suffocating at that level. Do you know what your old pressure was? Since you are used to that, it may be a good place to start. My setting is 11-17, and after the second day, I turned off the ramp. I have never tried anything lower than 11 since then, so I don't know how I would feel with 6, 8, etc. I know 4 was way too low.

[Janknitz]

Here's the "secret handshake" to get into the clinician's menu of your machine.

Put the dial on "Set up" on the four square menu at the top.
Hold down the big on/off button and the ramp button at the same time until you hear a beep.
You are now in the clinician's menu
Scroll down to pressure and reset the starting pressure. Be sure to turn off the ramp, too.

Pugsy will be along soon to tell you how to get software so you can see your data and see where you should set the bottom number.

Are you being titrated at home? If so, they will notice that you changed the pressure, but no biggy, there are no CPAP police.

As for the hose cozy, you can buy a yard of heavy flannel or fleece at your local fabric or craft store--look in remnants. Some thrift stores have fabric or old fleece items you could cut up. Just sew up a straight tube--couldn't be easier and won't cost more than a few dollars. A hint for getting your hose into the tube--cover the end with a plastic bag and it will slide right in.

[Wildkat]

Here's the "secret handshake" to get into the clinician's menu of your machine.

Put the dial on "Set up" on the four square menu at the top.
Hold down the big on/off button and the ramp button at the same time until you hear a beep.
You are now in the clinician's menu
Scroll down to pressure and reset the starting pressure. Be sure to turn off the ramp, too.

Pugsy will be along soon to tell you how to get software so you can see your data and see where you should set the bottom number.

Are you being titrated at home? If so, they will notice that you changed the pressure, but no biggy, there are no CPAP police.

As for the hose cozy, you can buy a yard of heavy flannel or fleece at your local fabric or craft store--look in remnants. Some thrift stores have fabric or old fleece items you could cut up. Just sew up a straight tube--couldn't be easier and won't cost more than a few dollars. A hint for getting your hose into the tube--cover the end with a plastic bag and it will slide right in.

thank you so much..I am going to print out these directions and go upstairs to my machine and see what I can do with it. and yes they will know that I changed it but I don't care...I am miserable at 4. my old machine was 11 so I might try that first

[Pugsy]

Check your private message box please.
Some information on software in there along with a link for the provider manual so you can read about all the other forbidden stuff.

Your profile shows a 550 machine...if you have the 560 machine let me know and I will get you a different manual.

[Wildkat]

I sent you a PM. it is in fact a 560...I think I have that fixed in my profile now. all these machines get me confused easily.

I set my pressure at 6 last night (after a bit of trial and error) I slept like a baby. Didn't wake up until 7:15am

All of you folks are awesome...thanks so much for all your help!