Newbie doesn't describe how much I dont know! Please help me

[zombiegasper]

I have no idea where to begin. I can't afford to go to a sleep study/doctor. I was given a ResMed S9 escape, I believe. It has a heated humidifier attached. I have nasal pillows, from what I understand. I dont even know what to ask...

The reasons I know I have SA:
I wake up more tired than when I went to sleep, ALWAYS.
I snore, CRAZY LOUD, according to my wife and the fact that I wake myself up with the decibel levels.
I am a mouth breather at night, my mouth is always dry.
My wife says, I gasp for breath/ don't breathe for extended periods of time.
I have a hard time nose breathing during the day.

A bit about myself:
25 years old
140lbs
5'8"

I tried the machine last night, every time I would drift off, I'd jump up like my breath was taken. I believe the pressure is set too high. I think it's at 11.

Any help would be great!

[kaiasgram]

zombiegasper, welcome. Your symptoms do sound suspicious for obstuctive sleep apnea. Obviously a real sleep study would be the best first step to finding out for sure, but you are not the first person to go the DIY route due to financial constraints.

That said, if you're going the DIY route you will need a machine that records important data about your breathing at night. Unfortunately the Escape does not. It only records how many hours the machine has been used. This won't help you figure out what pressure(s) you need, whether your apnea is being effectively controlled, whether mask leak is under control and other information that helps you fine-tune your therapy. There is free software available that you can use with a fully data capable machine to get your therapy going and to make it effective (and as comfortable as possible). But the software can't pull data from a machine like the Escape that isn't recording anything.

Can you afford to purchase a used machine at this time? If so we can help with suggestions on how to do that and which machines would allow you to self-titrate (find your required pressure). I'm assuming you do not have a prescription, is that correct?

[palerider]

about the only thing you can do with an escape is to have your wife keep cranking up the pressure till you stop snoring... unfortunately.

[LSAT]

You said..."you were given an S9 Escape" .....You must have had a prescription. Ask your doctor to specify an autoset machine so you can self titrate (determine the correct pressure) and monitor your data.

[Julie]

But, all that being said, until you find a better machine, do whatever you possibly can to NOT sleep on your back as it encourages more apneas than any other position.

[Tatooed Lady]

Correct me if I'm off my rocker (more than normal, anyhow)...but couldn't he start at a pressure of, maybe, 6 cm...try it for a couple nights, have the wife keep a log or he keep a nag sheet each morning, and each week (give or take), he could bump the pressure up as needed by 1cm, til he finds that his wife finally loves him, even at nighttime, and he feels better during the daylight hours? I would think that even this type of hit-or-miss therapy, though rather caveman-ish, would have to be better for his health and marriage than going without. And really, yeah, the machine is a brick, but it pumps air, and that's what he needs.

Maybe even set himself in front of the tv during the evening to find a pressure that he is comfortable with.

My grandma had a lot of sayings that pertained to life, and one of the few I recall and try to live by is:
"If wishes were horses, than beggars would ride." Oh, and..."Plain driving beats fancy walking." I guess both of those could fit in this situation. And I guess that means I remember TWO of her wise phrases.

Maybe he was given the Escape because someone else had money or insurance to get a non-brick, or is no longer required to use the machine, and was looking at a pretty slick paperweight?

[kaiasgram]

...the machine is a brick, but it pumps air, and that's what he needs.

You make a valid point. It's just that flying blind without a sleep study (or a diagnosis) and using a brick seems like just about the hardest way to go. And, we don't really know that straight CPAP is what he actually needs. Could be a more complicated type of SDB which would become apparent with the free software and a data capable machine.

I don't disagree with the idea that some positive airway pressure could be better than none. On the other hand, while he says he can't afford a sleep study, perhaps he could afford a data capable machine on the used market. We need to hear more from him about whether he has a Rx, and what he can really afford to do. Sleep apnea is serious enough to stretch oneself financially as much as reasonably possible.

[kaiasgram]

Oh, ZG -- I just re-read your OP and you said you believe you were given an Escape. Look at the name right above the Start/Stop button on your machine. What does it say? Escape, Elite, Autoset, Escape Auto, or something else? (I'm hoping it's actually an Elite or Autoset. )

[sc0ttt]

about the only thing you can do with an escape is to have your wife keep cranking up the pressure till you stop snoring... unfortunately.

This is probably a good plan. But raising the pressure isn't as easy as cranking a dial. Wife and ZG should both get familiar with the machine's secret menu and read up on the titration procedure - voila... home sleep study. Might take several nights - better than not doing it.

[palerider]

You said..."you were given an S9 Escape" .....You must have had a prescription. Ask your doctor to specify an autoset machine so you can self titrate (determine the correct pressure) and monitor your data.

I was given a remstar pro-m, I didn't have a prescription.

a friend gave it to me out of concern for my well being.

[zombiegasper]

I do not have a prescription, as I can not afford insurance or doctors. My dad gave me his machine, he has illnesses far worse than SA and refuses to use it.
I'm not sure if I can afford a used "good" machine or not. What are some price ranges?
The machine says S9 on one side "escape" on top and the other half has a "H5i" the side with the water.
I sleep on my side and stomach only, so no problem about the back!
I had it set on "ramp up" and while it was at 5 it seemed comfortable so, after finding the "secret menu" y'all mentioned I set it at 5 for tonight!
If this is a POS, then I will try to buy a better machine. Does the SD card in the back not track data?

Sorry for my format, as I am not used to forums. Thank you all!

-Zombiegasper

[palerider]

If this is a POS, then I will try to buy a better machine. Does the SD card in the back not track data?

no, there's no data collected on the escape, sadly. (well, it records how many hours you used it, but not if it's working)

try 6 and see what your wife says

[zombiegasper]

I will try 6!

[palerider]

If this is a POS, then I will try to buy a better machine. Does the SD card in the back not track data?

Sorry for my format, as I am not used to forums. Thank you all!

-Zombiegasper

I've picked up all mine off craigslist

look for anything that doesn't say 'escape' from resmed, preferably an s9 autoset.

or a philips respironics system one that says pro, or auto. mostly.. look on the bottom of those and make sure the REF number is at least 450.

[zombiegasper]

I've picked up all mine off craigslist

look for anything that doesn't say 'escape' from resmed, preferably an s9 autoset.

or a philips respironics system one that says pro, or auto. mostly.. look on the bottom of those and make sure the REF number is at least 450.

I will do! How do you get sterile masks w/o prescription?

What does the REF 450 ensure?