This is probably a dumb question

Julie wrote:If your doctor has done what so many do who understand the science of apnea but nothing about the equipment, he probably had it set for the low number of 4 and high of 20, which means your husband will find it quite difficult to breathe at 4 though can leave the 20 alone for now. The 4 would need to be bumped at least to 6 I think without any problem, but without having a clue what machine you have I can't say more. The doctors think autos will just go to whatever level needed to deal with apneas, but if they're higher on the scale, the machine takes too long to get there, which is why 4 is unrealistic apart from feeling suffocating to most. Please give us not just the brand name (e.g. Resmed) but all other wording on the machine so we can know what model it is, plus what type of mask he's got.

Resmed Airsense10 AutoSet

THe pressure is set to 5-15 but starts at 4.

He has a Phillips Respironics gel pillow nasal mask (Nuance fabric frame?)

CoupleCpapUsers wrote:

Julie wrote:If your doctor has done what so many do who understand the science of apnea but nothing about the equipment, he probably had it set for the low number of 4 and high of 20, which means your husband will find it quite difficult to breathe at 4 though can leave the 20 alone for now. The 4 would need to be bumped at least to 6 I think without any problem, but without having a clue what machine you have I can't say more. The doctors think autos will just go to whatever level needed to deal with apneas, but if they're higher on the scale, the machine takes too long to get there, which is why 4 is unrealistic apart from feeling suffocating to most. Please give us not just the brand name (e.g. Resmed) but all other wording on the machine so we can know what model it is, plus what type of mask he's got.

Resmed Airsense10 AutoSet

THe pressure is set to 5-15 but starts at 4.

5 is the new 4. and the max is irrelevant for most people, unless hubby needs more than 15, in which case he's screwed.

secondwindcpap sells the airsense10 autoset for 600$, no monthly payments.
you can pick up deals for much less, or get a s9 autoset, works the same, even cheaper since it's "last years model".

you're getting screwed over with the price you're paying.

palerider wrote:

CoupleCpapUsers wrote:

Julie wrote:If your doctor has done what so many do who understand the science of apnea but nothing about the equipment, he probably had it set for the low number of 4 and high of 20, which means your husband will find it quite difficult to breathe at 4 though can leave the 20 alone for now. The 4 would need to be bumped at least to 6 I think without any problem, but without having a clue what machine you have I can't say more. The doctors think autos will just go to whatever level needed to deal with apneas, but if they're higher on the scale, the machine takes too long to get there, which is why 4 is unrealistic apart from feeling suffocating to most. Please give us not just the brand name (e.g. Resmed) but all other wording on the machine so we can know what model it is, plus what type of mask he's got.

Resmed Airsense10 AutoSet

THe pressure is set to 5-15 but starts at 4.

5 is the new 4. and the max is irrelevant for most people, unless hubby needs more than 15, in which case he's screwed.

secondwindcpap sells the airsense10 autoset for 600$, no monthly payments.
you can pick up deals for much less, or get a s9 autoset, works the same, even cheaper since it's "last years model".

you're getting screwed over with the price you're paying.

I'm glad to know this but not really sure where to go from here. Are we able to return everything? Won't they still charge for the face mask (which I think they said was around $100). I would much rather just buy a machine outright - and I wouldn't be against buying last years model.

http://www.secondwindcpap.com/ResMed_S9_Escape.html

Would this be an acceptable replacement?

CoupleCpapUsers wrote:http://www.secondwindcpap.com/ResMed_S9_Escape.html

Would this be an acceptable replacement?

you don't want the escape.. It does not give you data to monitor your therapy.

CoupleCpapUsers wrote:http://www.secondwindcpap.com/ResMed_S9_Escape.html

Would this be an acceptable replacement?

nope, s9 autoset would be what you want.

also send a PM to grayghost4 and see what he can do to help you, his new hobby is scouring craigslist for good used machines at great discounts.

Ok, I apologize for starting a new thread. I'm used to a much different posting style on other message boards.

My husband is saying he can't breathe with the mask on. I think he is panicking about yesterday. He woke up after 2 hours gasping for air.

I raised the pressure to 7 and turned off the ramp. He has already given up on it for today but tomorrow he will try that. We also switched out the nasal mask for the next size up. He said that seemed to help a little bit.

I wonder if a full face mask would be beneficial or not. He always complains of having a stuffy nose. He is naturally a mouth breather.

I'm new here myself so that "suffocating" feeling is fresh in my mind. Raising the pressure should help with that. It was the first piece of advice the folks here gave me and it worked. I went from a 5 to a 7 and plan to go up to an 8 in a few days.

Mouth breathers should definitely use full face masks. That's what I've got and it has definitely grown on me, though it felt terrible the first week or two because it covers the mouth. It's a psychological adjustment hubby needs to make as well. You kind of go through the stages of grief while acclimating to the mask and the air pressure but trust me it does get better.

Many of us start out as night-time "mouth breathers", but in many cases the habit has developed DUE TO the apnea.
I rarely breathe through my mouth now; and many have experienced the same.
If you breathe through your mouth while awake, you might see a doctor
to rule out a deviated septum or other physical anomaly.

CoupleCpapUsers wrote:Ok, I apologize for starting a new thread. I'm used to a much different posting style on other message boards.

can't speak for other boards, but if you're having problems, then it makes sense to keep all your stuff in one easily referenced place, so that people trying to help you can easily read what you've said, what others have said, suggestions that have been made, your response to them, etc.

it cuts way down on repetition and makes it easier for people to help you.

Couple: What you propose IS theoretically possible but a PITA. You would both have to learn how to set the machine for your pressure requirements each time you use it and swap out the data cards, because with a rent to own scheme there are going to be compliance checks for your husband's insurance coverage of the rental.

As pointed out, you can get two gently used machines from reliable sources for less than you will pay out of pocket for your husband's machine. Hoses and filters are cheap, and once you have a good mask it's a matter of replacing parts as needed.

If your husband has a machine with a separate humidifier unit then he has already paid for that out of pocket. He can keep that and turn in the rental, then by the SAME machine for much less and use the humidifier. You don't necessarily have to have the same machine model.

If you call his DME and ask for the cash price, 1) they may not be able to sell it to you that way, depending on their contract with the insurer--Medicare does NOT allow them to sell it to you for a cash price, for example and 2) if they can sell it to you for a cash price, prepare for them to quote you a very HIGH price vs. what you can buy one for new or gently used.

Take a look at places like our hosts cpap.com for new units at decent retail prices or gently used through secondwind.com.

I just looked at both of our prescriptions and all it says is that the pressure has a min and max of 5-15. It is the same on both of our machines.

Would it be possible to just swap out the SD cards? Or does the machine adapt to you as an individual.
We will get a second one but I'm just talking about for a short time so that I can have SOME treatment while waiting.

CoupleCpapUsers wrote:I just looked at both of our prescriptions and all it says is that the pressure has a min and max of 5-15. It is the same on both of our machines.

Would it be possible to just swap out the SD cards? Or does the machine adapt to you as an individual.
We will get a second one but I'm just talking about for a short time so that I can have SOME treatment while waiting.

all this has been answered already.

If 2 SD cards are used won't the machine just put the same data it has stored in its internal memory right back on a card with the exception of the detailed stuff? I don't see any way to separate the summary usage data and using 2 cards will still result in the data from both users being on each card.
Might as well use 1 card because they are both going to end up with the same stuff on them.

But yes...one machine could service 2 people since they are using it at different time.
A nightmare in terms of evaluating/separating the data (both hours of use and efficacy) though but in terms of just using it..yeah, it can be done.
Even though evaluating efficacy data would be more work...even that can be done using SleepyHead and turning sessions on and off.

Pugsy wrote:If 2 SD cards are used won't the machine just put the same data it has stored in its internal memory right back on a card with the exception of the detailed stuff? I don't see any way to separate the summary usage data and using 2 cards will still result in the data from both users being on each card.
Might as well use 1 card because they are both going to end up with the same stuff on them.

But yes...one machine could service 2 people since they are using it at different time.
A nightmare in terms of evaluating/separating the data (both hours of use and efficacy) though but in terms of just using it..yeah, it can be done.
Even though evaluating efficacy data would be more work...even that can be done using SleepyHead and turning sessions on and off.

absolutely. and of course, it'll play havoc with the 'compliance' and lead to a bunch of questions