CPAP machine helps sleep apnea but still feeling dopey

Tassie Devil wrote: fail to see how my "brick" is the heap of junk that is being suggested.


But thank you to those taking an interest and trying to help.

John

John,

When someone refers to a particular XPAP as being a "brick", what they mean is it provides no useful data that can be tracked to see how you're doing.

Pugsy wasn't attempting to put you down. Rather, put the machine down. Whomever provided the machine, wasn't doing you any favors. Just peddling a machine that's no benefit to them or you, and doesn't provide useful information to your sleep doctor.

The CACP machine here does record every event - it is on a chip that can be read off in any PC equipped with the appropriate program. At the moment I do not have that program but might look into getting it. And the settings are on the chip also. I guess the idea is that those settings are done by the professionals and not being easily accessed cannot be screwed up by amateurs.

So I do not feel the crits of this S9 machine are really relevant. They would be if I was left to do the settings but one ones there are the result of an overnight study.

Anyway, I'd better enter the data into my profile now I know exactly what is required there.

Tassie Devil wrote:The CACP machine here does record every event - it is on a chip that can be read off in any PC equipped with the appropriate program. At the moment I do not have that program but might look into getting it. And the settings are on the chip also. I guess the idea is that those settings are done by the professionals and not being easily accessed cannot be screwed up by amateurs.

So I do not feel the crits of this S9 machine are really relevant. They would be if I was left to do the settings but one ones there are the result of an overnight study.

Anyway, I'd better enter the data into my profile now I know exactly what is required there.

If your machine is the Escape you mentioned before, it does not have any data other than hours used. It won't record events, leaks, etc. If you get the free software, you will see that it has very little to tell you. It is really hard to know what settings to change without knowing what is going on.

I have a Resmed S9 autoset, and I can see my ahi on the screen every day along with some simple data. I can put my card into the computer and get all the detailed data. The S9 Escape does NOT have that data. The auto escape has a tiny bit of data, but not much. But you said your machine is the escape.

Since you are having trouble, you might be able to get your doctor to prescribe an S9 autoset, and then the DME can exchange it for you. They don't like to do that unless the prescription says it by name since they make less profit on the machines with full data.

Tassie Devil wrote:The CACP machine here does record every event - it is on a chip that can be read off in any PC equipped with the appropriate program. At the moment I do not have that program but might look into getting it. And the settings are on the chip also. I guess the idea is that those settings are done by the professionals and not being easily accessed cannot be screwed up by amateurs.

So I do not feel the crits of this S9 machine are really relevant. They would be if I was left to do the settings but one ones there are the result of an overnight study.

Anyway, I'd better enter the data into my profile now I know exactly what is required there.

http://www.sleepfiles.com/SH <- free software that reads all the data off of the resmed S9 series, and more.

Tassie Devil wrote:The CACP machine here does record every event - it is on a chip that can be read off in any PC equipped with the appropriate program.

The S9 Escape records NOTHING on that chip/SD card but how many hours you use the machine. Nothing else.
You can use the software and see it for yourself with SleepyHead links in my signature line.
You can even use Resmed's ResScan software which you can find out how to get it here
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread ... -available

The S9 Escape Auto..records AHI and pressure averages and how many hours you use it.

So if you have the Escape...that's what's on the SD cards...the Escape Auto is only marginally better in terms of the data that gets offered.

The Escape is a good machine in terms of providing therapy and works great as long as people aren't having any problems but when they have a problem like you are having and don't feel so great they offer nothing that might give us any hints as to what might be going on.
You don't think your mask is leaking but just because you don't feel any leaks while awake doesn't mean they don't occur while you are asleep. People sleep to massive big leaks all the time. Maybe your pressure isn't quite optimal due to a change in sleeping position....we have nothing to go on to offer you any ideas why you don't feel so good except the magic eight ball.

When people don't feel so great there can be any number of reasons why they feel bad but the first thing anyone has to do is make sure that the therapy itself is optimal and the only way to do that is with the data collected by machines and use the software to see if anything needs work. The Escape offers us nothing that we could use to possibly offer ideas as to why you don't feel so good.

So you come here and ask for help but we really have no idea what the problem might be. Kinda makes it hard to be able to help you beyond telling you the most basic stuff....keep using the machine and give it time but no amount of time will fix sub optimal therapy and without any data...no way to tell if your therapy is optimal or not.

If you have the S9 Escape....I guarantee you that nothing is on that chip/SD except how many hours you have used the machine...100 % guarantee and if you doubt me....I challenge you to get the software and prove me wrong...because I know you can't. If your DME told you different...they lied.
I know what data these machines gather and what they don't...all of us here know because we have been down this road many, many times.

We all would love to be able to offer you some ideas on what you might do to make you feel better but we don't know what might be broke that needs fixing.

It could be the DME told him that all the data is recorded on the chip.

Guest wrote:It could be the DME told him that all the data is recorded on the chip.

That's very possible and that's why I mentioned if the DME told a person that the Escape records useful data beyond hours of use then they lied.
Wouldn't be the first time a cpap user got lied to...unfortunately and I am sure won't be the last either.

Thanks for the links and advice. I have to go to an appointment shortly so will investigate the software later today. No appointment with the lung specialist yet but I'll raise the issue of a different machine with him after I've installed software and fully understood the current set up.

"Slept" for over 7 hours last night BUT awoke many times and of course woke up this morning feeling like a stunned mullet. I'm determined to get to the bottom of this. I might only have a maximum of 10 years left but they need to be better than at present.

Thanks again for input everyone.

John

Just back from the skin specialist (yes skin cancers keep recurring & have to be removed) and I mentioned to her about the dopiness. She might have the answer!

She suggested that the air flow could be irritating my nasal passages and that an anti histamine like Telfast + a saline nasal spray might help. Now purchased and first dose taken so we shall see.

And I should publicly acknowledge that Palerider sent me a private PM and apologized if I had been offended. So he is a caring guy after all - the fact he responded at all illustrated that. Anyway, nice to see peace reigning

Now to follow up on that software.

John

Tassie Devil wrote:And I should publicly acknowledge that Palerider sent me a private PM and apologized if I had been offended.

He should publicly acknowledge not you.

When offended in public any apology should be done in public not in private. I do believe he has done it that way several times, to me that indicates a recurring problem.

OK, software downloaded and card data inspected. And of course what you are all saying about how basic the "Escape" model is is proven correct. No data showing important leakage info.

And it is odd. It has only registered 5.5 hours last night yet I had the blessed thing on for 7 hours. So is that 5.5 hours the registration of actual sleeping time? I did wake up a few times (no idea why) so maybe I'm not sleeping as well as thought. All of which emphasises more data is needed to work out what is going on. Is it leaking and I'm unaware of it or ????

John (getting slowly educated)

Guest wrote:

Tassie Devil wrote:And I should publicly acknowledge that Palerider sent me a private PM and apologized if I had been offended.

He should publicly acknowledge not you.

When offended in public any apology should be done in public not in private. I do believe he has done it that way several times, to me that indicates a recurring problem.

I don't understand what fantasy land you inhabit that makes you think this is any of your business... if Tassie Devil wants a public apology, I'd be happy to give him one, but that's something between him, and me, you, "sir" or "madam", and what passes for your opinion, are irrelevant.

Tassie Devil wrote:OK, software downloaded and card data inspected. And of course what you are all saying about how basic the "Escape" model is is proven correct. No data showing important leakage info.

And it is odd. It has only registered 5.5 hours last night yet I had the blessed thing on for 7 hours. So is that 5.5 hours the registration of actual sleeping time? I did wake up a few times (no idea why) so maybe I'm not sleeping as well as thought. All of which emphasises more data is needed to work out what is going on. Is it leaking and I'm unaware of it or ????

the resmeds have an internal clock, which can be set from the provider menu. they roll over the "day" at noon, according to their internal clock. I believe that applies even to the escape, if it's clock is set wrong, then it could be rolling over the day in the middle of your night.

might be something to check.

Tassie Devil wrote:And it is odd. It has only registered 5.5 hours last night yet I had the blessed thing on for 7 hours. So is that 5.5 hours the registration of actual sleeping time? I did wake up a few times (no idea why) so maybe I'm not sleeping as well as thought. All of which emphasises more data is needed to work out what is going on. Is it leaking and I'm unaware of it or ????

It's possible if the leaks were big enough that the machine couldn't sense you on the other end and would then not record that amount of time. It will do that in the event of big leaks. It has to be really big leaks though. Not just leaks barely into large leak territory.
Are any of the other nights abbreviated that you could tell in terms of hours of therapy?
You might check the clock on the S9 just to confirm that it is set to whatever your local time is. If you don't know how to get to the clinical setup menu this manual explains how and I think it shows where the clock is in terms of the menu where it's at.

http://www.apneuvereniging.nl/forum/pdf ... manual.pdf

palerider wrote:I don't understand what fantasy land you inhabit that makes you think this is any of your business... if Tassie Devil wants a public apology, I'd be happy to give him one, but that's something between him, and me, you, "sir" or "madam", and what passes for your opinion, are irrelevant.

Perhaps you will remember your words the next time you jump in the middle of someone elses business.

fyi - I thought it was worth pointing out that you have done this private apology thing before but then went right on harassing/insulting others.

How does it help when you won't apologize in public but continue to insult and harass others?