The Forum Has Been Good To Me!!!

curtcurt46 · Post by **curtcurt46** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 4:18 pm

All Forum members past and present,
I was struggling and lost, but now have been found.
A big thanks to all those forum members who's advise and experience has and is invaluable to so many. I personally have benefited greatly in the fine tuning of my therapy. I just wish I had found the forum 18 months ago when I started this adventure. The last 6 weeks have really helped.

It started with getting the software to monitor the details of what I and my cpap are doing together. I then moved to reading the clinical manual for my machine. Finally, I got enough courage to make some small pressure changes based on my titration PSG. Each change resulted in improved AHI's. Also, along the way I learned how to control my mouth and mask leaks. I just never realized how important this was to the efficiency of the cpap. I discovered that SDB is very complicated and no two individuals are the same. So what is this all leading up to. Well here are the results which I will express in AHI's.

Pre-Forum:

Feb 2006 AHI's as high as 13 and as low as 5.5. Not very compliant (50%).

Post Forum: 100% compliant

six weeks ago AHI's of 5.
four weeks ago AHI's of 3.5.
two weeks ago AHI's of 2.5.
one week ago AHI's of 1.2.
Last night my AHI was 0.1, the lowest ever. I can do it again.
I must also note that I have to deal with allergies and congestion which has an impact on my daily results.
The moral to the story:
-The DME may or may not be smart on how to set up your machine. An auto Bipap in my case. The initial setting of 5 EPAP and 20 IPAP was ok but didn't give me the best it could. I am now at 8 EPAP and 14 IPAP and I generally stay around the 9-10 cm during the night, which is right on my titration pressure.
-Your doctor can only do so much. The team supporting him must know the way to therapy success. I am working with my doc to educate him on the practical aspects of making each patients therapy the best it can be.
-I am sure there are many more that deal with masks, tape, pressures, etc.

Many thanks....I just hope I can contribute to helping some of those out there who are struggling and lost and need to be found.
Curtis

-SWS · Post by **-SWS** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 4:32 pm

Curtcurt46, I hope new users, DME's, and manufacturers read your post several times each. Your story perfectly exemplifies the great value this forum has consistently provided many others----others who somehow weren't getting optimal treatment from the usual channels. What people do here by the way of helping others is extremely important in my opinion.

Congratulations on being your own best health advocate as well! .

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:46 pm

Congrats Curtis! You deserve lot's of credit for sticking with it and making it work for you!

Brenda

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:50 pm

Excellent post, Curtis. You're doing it right! Your posts, especially this one, will help encourage others to keep at it just as you're doing.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:52 pm

Congratulations Curtis!

That's a good testimonial that many should read.

Best wishes for continued success.

Den

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 12:34 am

Congratulations, Curtis, and thanks for posting that important description of what this forum is about.

O.

curtcurt46 · Post by **curtcurt46** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 1:13 pm

Thanks for the nice words. Thanks.

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 5:46 pm

Hello Curtis,

Thank you for an uplifting post.

You show us that persistance and knowledge does to your treatment. You did not give up, and you are rewarded with a good treatment program that works for yo.

To bad CPAP is not as easy as just plugging in the machine and putting on the mask for all of us, but as you indicated, "fine tuning" makes a difference.