Feel like I'm suffocating

[flyingwithoutwings]

If it is really a 560 machine...snatch it up...just make sure it is the 560...that's the newer version of the 550.

OK Pugsy, I snatched up the 560 - Totally new, everything in it's individually sealed plastic bag, including mask (Wisp LOL!)

You can keep the SE and pay for it and use it as a spare after insurance compliance is met...or return it and tell the DME where to go. Or be nicer than me and tell them thanks but no thanks you will use them for masks only. They can't do a thing about it.

I prefer not to keep the SE and I'll be nice and say thanks but no thanks. I will probably use another DME for masks, one closer to me. So, now that I want to return the SE, how do I meet compliance? Does it have to be via the DME or can it be via my PCP.

[Pugsy]

Compliance is an insurance issue only so that the insurance company knows you are using the machine.
It's unlikely that insurance will want compliance reports to purchase machines using your insurance.
I don't think you will have to prove compliance to anyone. It depends on your insurance but most of the time once they don't have to spend the big bucks on the machine...they don't really care about hours of use. Just use them for masks and other supplies.

So you got the Wisp? Just what you wanted huh? If it is new and sealed you probably could sell it here on the forum for a discount or maybe swap it with someone for a mask you want to try.

Did the 560 come with the heated hose stuff already attached? You know that the heated hose is an option and requires a different power supply and a different lid to accommodate the heated hose. If it didn't I think you may be able to swap out the lid from the SE and that power supply.
Or just buy your own.

[flyingwithoutwings]

So you got the Wisp? Just what you wanted huh? If it is new and sealed you probably could sell it here on the forum for a discount or maybe swap it with someone for a mask you want to try.

Oh yeah, I thought about that since it is new in its sealed bag. I KNOW I can't use it so might as well sell or swap.

Did the 560 come with the heated hose stuff already attached? You know that the heated hose is an option and requires a different power supply and a different lid to accommodate the heated hose. If it didn't I think you may be able to swap out the lid from the SE and that power supply.
Or just buy your own.

It didn't come with the heated hose but I have the whole getup that I got from the DME. I already swapped it from the SE to the 560. They can charge me for it - I'm sure they've already billed for it.

It has the provider manual so I've already set the pressure and all.

I'm happy as a clam now. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!

[Pugsy]

You are good to go now.
So glad you found that deal on the 560...that's a killer deal for sure.
It has to save you money in the long run too...plus getting the machine that you wanted without the hassle of dealing with the DME.
That's a win win situation for sure.
When you have time check out the links in my signature about the software.

[flyingwithoutwings]

You are good to go now.
So glad you found that deal on the 560...that's a killer deal for sure.
It has to save you money in the long run too...plus getting the machine that you wanted without the hassle of dealing with the DME.
That's a win win situation for sure.
When you have time check out the links in my signature about the software.

Absolutely!! I cannot believe I got such a good deal. If it weren't for you, I would not have known what to look for heck, I would not have known you can get so much information from the right machine. Here's to getting some good zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's

Oh, I downloaded the software.

[Pugsy]

Anxiously awaiting how you did last night with the 560 machine..

[flyingwithoutwings]

Anxiously awaiting how you did last night with the 560 machine..

Took a quick look this morning before leaving for work and I remember AHI 4.49, hours of sleep 6.45 there was something else that was 19. I'll have to post when I get home this evening.

By the way, I never got a report from the sleep center just a copy of my prescription from the DME.

[Pugsy]

The something else that was 19 hmmm...if for sure it was 19 that would be % of time in large leak and that's not so good. 1.9% we could live with...and PB is also shown on the LCD screen in % of tim...again 1.9% we could live with.
Hopefully you just overlooked a decimal point.

Time to use the software to see exactly what we are talking about. When you have time...no rush.
Besides I want to see what settings you used if in APAP mode and some other stuff.

[flyingwithoutwings]

The something else that was 19 hmmm...if for sure it was 19 that would be % of time in large leak and that's not so good. 1.9% we could live with...and PB is also shown on the LCD screen in % of tim...again 1.9% we could live with.
Hopefully you just overlooked a decimal point.

Time to use the software to see exactly what we are talking about. When you have time...no rush.
Besides I want to see what settings you used if in APAP mode and some other stuff.

Here's what I got from the software:
AHI 4.49
RERA Index 1.01
Flow Limit Index 1.59
Hours per Night 6.54
Average Pressure 5.00
95% Pressure 7.00
Average Total Leaks 19.09
95% Total Leaks 30.00

I woke up a lot last night and didn't notice any leaks. For some reason I didn't sleep as well as other nights. Maybe I should put it on CPAP instead of APAP?

Looking at the graphs I see that where it shows the largest leakage, I was awake. I remember pulling the mask off my nose because I thought it wasn't working. That happened twice at around 1:30 and 4:30.

[Julie]

Have you considered at least trying some tape overnight x 1-2 to be sure you're not mouth breathing and losing air that way? Tweaking everything else is fine, but if that's keeping you from getting optimal therapy it should be addressed at some point.

[flyingwithoutwings]

Have you considered at least trying some tape overnight x 1-2 to be sure you're not mouth breathing and losing air that way? Tweaking everything else is fine, but if that's keeping you from getting optimal therapy it should be addressed at some point.

Another thing is that it took me a long time to fall asleep and then I tend to feel like I have to take deep breaths. But, tell me about the tape?

[chunkyfrog]

The ready made product is called chin-up strips, which come in two shapes and 2 or 3 different adhesive levels.
I made my own DIY version (sized down to fit me, and cut from blue tape) My patterns are shown lying on a quilting template for scale.
I stick the center of a strip to my lower lip, and pull my lip up like a bulldog before attaching the ends high enough to hold.
It looks silly, but I can breathe through my mouth if necessary.

[flyingwithoutwings]

Interesting. I've never been a mouth-breather but I might be now. I was never able to sleep on my back and just before I was diagnosed with OSA I was waking up on my back so who knows. Worth a try.

[Pugsy]

Average Total Leaks 19.09
95% Total Leaks 30.00

The Respironics machines report total leak which is mask expected vent rate plus any excess leak.
So you will never see a 0.0 average total leak or 95% leak number.
Instead just look at the leak line graph...your total leak number to want to stay below is probably around 80 L/min and as long as you didn't spend a lot of time up there (short brief trips not the end of the world) then leaks aren't bad enough to impact therapy.

95% numbers mean that for 95% of the night you were at OR BELOW that number.
Even if you had been at 30 L/min all night that isn't enough to hurt anything.
I wouldn't go adding taping my mouth into the mixture right now. It will affect sleep quality and there simply is not need at the moment. I wouldn't do anything right now that might make it harder to get to sleep and stay asleep and while taping isn't horribly annoying..it is annoying enough to maybe keep you awake.
Now if we saw large blocks of leaks up around 90 L/min...yeah we might talk about it but I doubt you had any big leaks for any length of time with that 95% leak number only being 30 L/min.

Maybe I should put it on CPAP instead of APAP?

Instead of cpap mode how about in APAP mode setting minimum pressure to equal maximum pressure. It will then function like cpap mode with one pressure that is fixed but we don't lose Flow limitation data with it done this way. If you switch to CPAP mode we lose Flow limitation data because the machine doesn't bother to flag it.
Like maybe setting the machine with minimum of 6 or 7 and maximum of 6 or 7...whatever was more comfortable for you with the other machine.

[flyingwithoutwings]

Instead of cpap mode how about in APAP mode setting minimum pressure to equal maximum pressure. It will then function like cpap mode with one pressure that is fixed but we don't lose Flow limitation data with it done this way. If you switch to CPAP mode we lose Flow limitation data because the machine doesn't bother to flag it.
Like maybe setting the machine with minimum of 6 or 7 and maximum of 6 or 7...whatever was more comfortable for you with the other machine.

OK. I'll change the minimum setting.

I called the DME this morning to let them know I would be there at 1:30 to return the SE because I had purchased a data capable machine. I arrived exactly at 1:30 and no one said a word to me. They just left the paperwork with the receptionist. When I got home from work I got a call from my PCP because she received a fax from DME saying that I was refusing treatment. Way to go!