Got a Shiny New PRS1 APAP AND a new sleep doctor! Whew!

Hi, all!

I just got home with my shiny new PRS1 APAP!!!!!! ** DOING THE HAPPY DANCE!! **

My sleep doctor went over my sleep study results and told me my pressure was much higher than I was prescribed before. (14 not 8 ) She wanted to increase pressure on my old machine, but I reminded her it didn't have data. She said, "So you need a new machine. Let me talk to the office girls." She came back two minutes later and said, "We have already submitted your new prescription and a letter of medical necessity to the insurance company, and you are covered at 100% for a new machine." We briefly discussed my reasons for wanting APAP, and she agreed and gave me my new machine.... VOILA!

I am so happy and excited I now have data capability AND the input of a sleep doctor! Thank you, EVERYONE, for your input and education so far.... I couldn't/wouldn't have gotten this far without all of your support, input, education and advice!! Especially Madalot's attitude adjustment about a month and a half ago! (Thanks SO much, Mad, I REALLY NEEDED THAT!) So THANK YOU, EVERYONE, and THANK YOU, AGAIN!

My latest sleep study results for anyone who's interested....

Keep in mind these are 100% supine... which I don't *THINK* I do much of, mostly sleep on my side, but doctor thinks you have to treat the worse case scenario, hence the requirement of back sleeping during the study. Doesn't bother me, because she will be following my progress monthly and we will see how it works out.

AHI: 29.2
REM RDI AHI: 80.00
NREM RDI: 28.60
Min 02: 80%
Supine RDI: 30.11

Titration:
AHI: 6.6
REM RDI: 25.31
NREM RDI: 2.25
Min 02: 89% (at 14)
Supine RDI 6.56

"The patient responded to CPAP well at 14 CWP with improvement of sleep disordered breathing and desaturations in REM and supine, but problably would be more optimal at 15 CWP for eliminating all sleep disordered breathing. Sleep was mostly consolidated and snoring was completely resolved. Begin CPAP at 15 CWP and monitor or efficacy and compliance."

AHI at pressure of 14: 7.7
Min 02: 89%

She said 7.7 was not great and wanted to see it less than 5 but we would start with that. She wanted to start at pressure of 14 and set ramp at 8 since that's what I"m used to. I asked her why such a jump from 8 to 14. She said my pressure may have always been too low at 8, and that's why I never felt better. She says that my mask fits well and leak looks good. She liked the Padacheek stuff I have! She looked at my compliance and commented that I was doing exceptionally well! I plan to start a sleep diary, starting tonight.... Doctor liked that idea. I will see her again in one month.

Anybody want anything else? I will be glad to provide! THANKS!

I will start bonding with my new friend tonight! Next step is figuring out how to use the software. I have already downloaded EncoreViewer per Pugsy's suggestion.... have not installed it, as Pugsy said I should wait until she could help me. I will PM her.

Thanks for your input, everyone! LOOK OUT! I'm cooking with gas now!!!! SO EXCITED TO HAVE DATA!!! Looking forward to feeling better sooner rather than later!

Now, I must take a nap..... WHEW! So glad that parts OVER!

Lori Dawn

Great news Lori. Your efforts have paid off.

Well done

Yahoo! You did great!

Since your titration was done exclusively on your back, 14 might be the highest pressure that you need. Didn't she set you up with a range of pressures on your new APAP?

Thanks, Uncle Bob!

Thanks, OutaSync! No, she did not set up a range of pressures because she doesn't really believe in that, I don't think, but will try later if straight CPAP is not effective. I'm set up at 14, ramp 8, for now, until we get to the 30-day mark and see how I'm doing and what the numbers are. I wanted the APAP option in case something needed to be tweaked in the future, either by her or by myself with input/advice from here. Don't want to go through this hassle again, if I do, indeed, need APAP. Kind of insurance for the future, I guess. The main thing I wanted was DATA to know that therapy was effective and be able to aim for better numbers. Two birds, one stone! GOT IT! So happy!

It is nice to have the options.

Sleep well,

Bev

YES, IT IS! Thanks, Bev!

Congratulations Lori.
Now we install the software and get you comfortable using it. Not hard once you do it a couple of times.

Lori,

I am so, so proud of you and the progress you've made in such a short amount of time. You have done so well for yourself and I am so glad you got a new machine and are ready to go...

Thanks so much, Pugsy and Madalot! You two have been SO VERY GREAT TO ME! Thank you!

Congrats, Lori!

There's a Respironics Data Tutorial on my blog linked below (go in through one of the other links) that will help you understand your data.

Congratulations, Lori. And good luck with the new machine.

Thanks, Otter!

Thanks, Janknits! I was able to find your tutorial... THANKS SO MUCH!

If it doesn't bother you to start at a pressure of 10 or 11, instead of 8, I'd set the ramp higher than 8.
Or don't even use ramp if 14 doesn't bother you after a minute or two of relaxed breathing.

If I really needed it to start down at 8, I'd set the ramp time for no more than 15 minutes...or ten minutes if I could usually fall asleep by then.

But..whatever works for you with "ramp" is what to do.

I'd keep the machine in CPAP mode for the first month -- to keep the doctor happy and not have her regret having gone along with prescribing an APAP machine when she would rather not have. Your doctor was more cooperative than most about doing that, so a month is not a long time to cooperate with her a little in return. Just to be polite.

And you'll be getting good treatment at pressure of 14.

After the doc or DME does a thirty day compliance download, I'd say do whatever tweaking you want to try, from then on.

In the meantime, all along you can be doing your own downloads at home with Encore Viewer and having fun seeing how things are going.

Thanks, Rested Gal!

I will play with the ramp, but I want to see where this sleep doctor takes me, and I will follow her advice for now. I'm just glad to have data. I can really talk to this lady and she seems to understand and take what I say into consideration, and not have her mind already made up. I really like her already, and since she is the first sleep doctor I have met, I want to see how it goes. I am anxious to understand the numbers, though! And she is happy that I want to. That is what I will concentrate on for the first month, at least...

She did let the ramp "ramp" while I had the mask on in her office, and I did get up to a pressure of 14 and it was very comfortable. I stopped using ramp long ago on my old machine, and I don't think I will need it for long this time, if at all...

Thanks for your input! I'm off to Walmart to buy a card reader!

Lori Dawn