Severe apnea readings

Hi. I’m new here. I used a CPAP machine about 15 years ago but stopped because it kept waking me up. I just had another at home test done and they want me to use an Autopap. I’ll find out which form my doctor next week. My question: The test came back that I have severe apnea. I guess anything above 30 episodes an hour is severe. I had 44. Do any of you have apnea that severe? What machine has been successful for you? The mask or nasal pieces ud move and wake me up so I couldn’t breathe. Do today’s equipment avoid that? I wish there was a way to get rid of that long heavy tube. I used to wash mine. Do you wash the long tube? I know that’s a lot, but thanks in advance.

Hi, it's too bad you couldn't have gotten help here 15 yrs ago, but good that you made it now. I know the 'severe' thing is scary (I got it too with similar numbers to yours), but they are actually quite average and a fair number have much higher ones. Don't be put off by the name. The most popular and best machines for plain obstructive apnea are the Resmed Airsense 10 AutoSet and the similar named one with 'For her' on the end - slightly different algorithm not just 'for her' but men as well. Ask your MD for those - Philips Respironics machines (i.e. Dreamstations, etc) are in recall now for good reasons so don't be steered to them.

There are various ways to deal with the hose and no, there's no reason to wash the hose unless you suspect something's in it... most of us don't bother. As far as the mask goes, your best bet is to try as many as possible - and there are hybrids of full face types and nasals - because everyone's face is so different under the skin and what works for one does not mean it'll be good for you. But being here (and please do stay in this thread with all Q's so we can follow) and ask everything you need to along the way. Dealers such as Cpap.com (forum sponsors) will let you try diff. masks and return them - call for specifics of how that works. And good luck!

PS hose management tricks - depending on your mask and where the hose exits, look under 'hose management' in the forum search bar, look at hose hangers, and consider fixing it loosely to the headboard if you have one, but each person's situation is different, so look around (and others will respond here too).

cricket29 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 28, 2021 1:56 am

Do any of you have apnea that severe?

Actually...yes...and if going by AHI numbers some forum members have diagnostic AHI numbers over 100.
We seem to be a "numbers" oriented society but in reality when in comes to OSA it is like being pregnant....you either are or you aren't but for some people the "category of severity" does seem to provide a swift kick in the behind to do something about it.

cricket29 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 28, 2021 1:56 am

What machine has been successful for you?

Often it depends on a patient's particular needs in terms of treatment as to what machine is best suited for that person.
Example....is the sleep apnea obstructive sleep apnea or central sleep apnea or a mixture?
So what is "best" depends on what is needing to be treated.

cricket29 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 28, 2021 1:56 am

The mask or nasal pieces would move and wake me up so I couldn’t breathe. Do today’s equipment avoid that?

There could have been any number of reasons why you had difficulties breathing in the past...ranging from sub optimal pressures and/or apnea events to pressures being too low for simple comfort. We don't have anyway of knowing all the particulars of your past situation so all we can do is offer advice on going forward.

In general masks have evolved and improved GREATLY in the past 15 years. Usually a lot lighter on the face and head and much more minimal in terms of footprint on the face. Heck, I have been on cpap for 12 years now and the changes I have seen between 2009 when I started and now are huge.

cricket29 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 28, 2021 1:56 am

I wish there was a way to get rid of that long heavy tube. I used to wash mine. Do you wash the long tube?

Unfortunately we still need the long tube/hose but there are much lighter and much more flexible hoses available now.
Washing the long hose or not....that's a personal preference. Some people sleep better knowing they wash the hose to whatever schedule eases their mind....others don't bother with washing stuff very often at all.
There are integrated heated hoses now....so less chance of condensation in the hose/mask and no more "cold air" up the nose complaints. Lots of improvements now from when you tried cpap 15 years ago....both in treatment and comfort.

cricket29 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 28, 2021 1:56 am

I just had another at home test done and they want me to use an Autopap. I’ll find out which form my doctor next week.

Common for people to have a home sleep study and be prescribed a machine that can auto adjust the pressures as needed.
Don't accept a Philips Respironics DreamStation2 Auto CPAP....long story but there is zero way right now to evaluate the data on the SD card to see details of your treatment. There is some very limited data available using an app that is promoted but the data is sorely limited and if you run into trouble you won't have potentially useful details available.
Philips has encrypted the data on the SD card so that patients can't access it.
Also there is the Philips machine recall due to potential health hazards on machine made between 2007 and April of this year. Just avoid Philips Respironics machines in general is the easiest option.

While there are several other brands of auto adjusting pressure machines.....the general view of the forum members here is that the ResMed brand seems to be preferred for lots of reasons.
ResMed makes several models of auto adjusting machine and depending on what kind of sleep apnea you have...there is a model available to suit most needs.

If you have plain vanilla Obstructive Sleep Apnea....and the chances are that is what is going on...then
the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet or they just released the AirSense 11 AutoSet....will work well.
Quiet, easy to use, available free software to see therapy details if needed....and overall happy camper user experiences.

Now if you had a problem with a large number of central apneas during your home study we get to have a different discussion.....so you probably need to get a copy of that sleep study for more specific advice.

BUT...in general everything has improved greatly since your experience in the past.

cricket29 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 28, 2021 1:56 am

I guess anything above 30 episodes an hour is severe. I had 44. Do any of you have apnea that severe?

My untreated AHI was either 52 or 57, can't remember which, so a bit more severe than yours. Hubby's was closer to 100.

cricket29 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 28, 2021 1:56 am

What machine has been successful for you?

We both use ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSets. I use the for Her model. I prefer humidification, he does not. I also have an AirMini, for travel. I like that I can set it up exactly the same as my home machine, and so far I have done OK without humidification without travel.

cricket29 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 28, 2021 1:56 am

The mask or nasal pieces ud move and wake me up so I couldn’t breathe. Do today’s equipment avoid that?

The 14 months I was on CPAP, I had a terrible time with masks! Straps and masks slipping up the back of my head or off my face, needing readjustment multiple times throughout the night, waking me up. Leaking and/or exhausting into my eyes. It was VERY difficult! When the Bleep came out, it really did solve SO many problems for me. So my answer to that is a resounding YES! But my husband swears by the ResMed P10, which I hated (he made me try it THREE TIMES during that 14 months!), so as you can see, mask choice is not only a difficult part of adjusting to therapy, it is also highly individual!

cricket29 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 28, 2021 1:56 am

I wish there was a way to get rid of that long heavy tube. I used to wash mine. Do you wash the long tube?

The heated hose is heavier than the non-heated, which is very light. But I use a hose management system, so the hose is suspended above my head, over my mattress/headboard. I don't even notice the weight. And no, neither one of us wash the hose. Just room air goes through it.

Good luck to you!

I think masks and machines have improved a lot in the last 15 years. It still takes some trial and error to find the mask that is right for you but there are lots of good options.

cricket29 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 28, 2021 1:56 am

...
I guess anything above 30 episodes an hour is severe. I had 44. Do any of you have apnea that severe? What machine has been successful for you?
...

Mine was right around 110 events per hour, so yes, that severe and then some. I used Philips System One auto machines until this past June when they recalled them. I've now switched to a Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset and I like it better.