Tomorrow's the night

michael_schaap · Post by **michael_schaap** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 8:19 pm

Well tomorrow's the night. I'm going back to the lab to test some machines. Do they just test out one or do they wake you up testing different ones? What happened when you went there?

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:36 pm

When I went for my titration they had one machine in each room. All the same. They had only one style mask. There were no choices. They hooked me up said goodnight (8pm!) and expected me to go right to sleep...HA! I do hope you do get choices. It would make things so much easier.

renda

lvwildcat · Post by **lvwildcat** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:43 pm

My sleep center only had 1 type machine. They had a number of different masks for me to try out. Initially I went with a full face mask and I had 3 different ones to choose from. Not the best case scenario but what I heard others say-my sleep study was a dream!

michael_schaap · Post by **michael_schaap** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 10:26 pm

The first one they said, lights out at 10... I was like... yeah right. With sleeping pills I fall asleep at 1. Think I said this before, I actually went to the doc inicially because I got addicted to these sleeping pills that another doc put me on a year ago. To attempt to correct the problem he told me to take one pill (had been taking two) and to not try to go to sleep till 1am. Wake up at 7. Its been working like that more or less. I dont wake up many times... what was going on was that I was waking up many times in the night but only remembering once or twice. Apparently a side effect of what I am taking if taken to the max. Things are now different though cause we found out I have Apnea. He laughed a bit when he said that the problem might not be completely pill related when we talked about the sleep study.

Bookbear · Post by **Bookbear** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 10:52 pm

Michael, typically sleep centers have one type of machine, so don't expect choices there. Masks, well.....usually they have three types (full face, nasal mask, and nasal pillows or prongs. Since your picture shows you with a full beard, the full face mask mask leak too much for you (I have a full thick beard and have never found a full face mask that didn't leak like a sieve for me, you milage may vary). They will most likely try you with a nasal mask first, then a nasal pillow if that doesn't work well for you. They WILL tighten those straps really really tight.... more so than you would at home. Remember, their goal is to get a titration pressure, not to comfortably fit you with a mask. They don't want leaks! Personally, I like a nasal pillow. I side sleep nearly always, and nasal masks usually started to leak when I turned on my side; not as bad as a full face, but still, leaks. Don't be afraid of asking for a different mask if one is not working.

Mask fitting is one of the things that is very individual. You will need to do some serious trials of masks for fit when you visit a DME to actually get the equipment. If you order on line, you should check the archives here for suggestions on various masks, and use the on line sizing guide at cpap.com. Many people here have gone through several masks, so don't be surprised if you find your first choice isn't your last!

Good luck!!

michael_schaap · Post by **michael_schaap** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 10:58 pm

You know something.... I dont know what I would do without the Keywords on the bottom with links to what they mean. This is like greek to me at the moment.

ZPAP · Post by **ZPAP** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:21 pm

michael_schaap wrote:You know something.... I dont know what I would do without the Keywords on the bottom with links to what they mean. This is like greek to me at the moment.

Don't worry, Michael, you'll pick it up quickly enough. Just keep reading here -- it all gets discussed.

Michael

Krelvin · Post by **Krelvin** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 12:40 am

When I went to mine, they had one machine. I didn't know it at the time, but they could control it remotely and it was capable of many modes, Cpap, BiPap and more.

They only tried Full Face masks as I have been a mouth breather for decades.... the first one didn't work at all.

The second one worked, but the pressures were too high (didn't realize until later that was caused by it leaking lots of air). The third one they tried worked very well and I am still using that type today.

During the study, they adjusted the settings on the machine... starting with CPAP mode going to BiPap. I was "sleeping" and didn't know it at all.

It wasn't until I got my sleep study results, that I even knew they had tried BiPap.

Bookbear · Post by **Bookbear** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 7:09 pm

Michael:

It IS like learning a new language, isn't it? Don't worry, you will get used to it quickly. Please let us all know how you did with the lab and how things progress for you as you begin therapy

Good luck!

michael_schaap · Post by **michael_schaap** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 7:16 pm

Thank you all and I most certainly will.

Umm.... outside this topic. My defib unit went off this morning. It was put in in April and had not gone off till now. I have no idea why. The people there seemed to think that it could be the lack of sleep and or stress. I'm going to the cardiac doc tomorrow to find out more.

michael_schaap · Post by **michael_schaap** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:56 pm

Did not turn out bad actually. They had a few masks for me to try. One that fit around the nose, but I was not able to breath out of the thing. kept feeling like I was not getting enough air so would breath through the mouth. Then they tried a pillow (I believe)... and I breathed out of it MUCH better.

A few things vibes the person gave me....
She was a bit shocked the the questions I have come up with.
She said that I would not get the perscription... nor report... that the med company would be calling me. I mentioned that many people seemed to give me the impression that what you start with many times is not what you end with..... had an attitude with that statement. She also had one when I mentioned this site. I told her that I am congested a lot and inquired about a full face mask and she almost brushed it aside. I did breath from the pillow one very well, which is what the perscription is going to be I suppose. I had asked her how I can order things and she said that everything must be ordered through them by perscription....

So how do you try a different machine or mask?

..... I'm very annoyed that timing is terrilbe as far as the holiday and such. The med company said they were going to call me on Friday morning (finally got thier number after repeated asking for it), then they come to my place to help set it up and show me how to use it. So if they are calling me Friday morning I am wondering when I will be getting it. Meanwhile the doc this morning told me that the sleep apnea sounds to be a probable cause for the defib unit in me going off yesterday.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 12:37 am

sounds like they are fast tracking your therapy due to heart condition.

1. Results of your "titration study" can only delivered to you by a licensed doctor, reason the tech cannot give you any details, however some will share some information with you.

2. The study report has to go to your doctor first, where the results are gone over, THEN you can request a copy of the sleep study and prescription from your doctor's office.

3. At the time of your doctor's visit, you ASK for the original prescription and sleep study summary report (should be 4-6 pages or more long). Even if they say they will fax it over to DME, obtain the original and let them fax over the copy.

4. The equipment supplier (DME) only delivers the machine and mask, they should be using a DME that is in-network with your insurance company. They (DME) will not give you any details either.

You may get the machine on Friday, but I doubt it, normally you have to see your doctor where the study is gone over, script written, therapy details delivered to you etc, etc.

michael_schaap · Post by **michael_schaap** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 5:47 am

The doctor is gone for vacation but has remained in contact with the techs for a couple of people. Since I'm having cardiac problems, I am one of them so working with the techs, the perscription was faxed and they have the information they need before my full meeting with the doctor.

Man.... you really do bounce back and forth when you use the CPAP one night then not the other.

inacpapfog · Post by **inacpapfog** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 6:44 am

Let's hope that you get your set-up on Friday!
Like Snoredog says, maybe they just want to hurry up and get you going with something that works, rather than taking time for finding the best for right now.
Good Luck!

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 3:56 pm

Good advice from Snoredog. Get that prescription and sleep study copies.

I will add that you do not have to buy from the company that the doc faxes your stuff to.

You may want to start there especially since they may be expediting it due to your other medical issues and may even like working with them. If so great. But if you run into issues with them, either what machine you are given or financial down the road, you will have your prescription and can buy from anyone if you follow snoredog's advice.

On the nasal pillow. I am also a person who has been congested upon laying down for years. I was amazed when I tried the nasal pillow, that I have little if any congestion. I have moved from that original ff mask to Swift since it is much less bulky and much more comfortable for me. It took me a couple weeks to figure out that I could actually nose breath. So don't be that surprised that you liked the swift. It is one thing to try to nose-breath room air, it is quite another I have found to nose-breath air that is being forced up you nostrils .

Sometimes you are pleasently surprised in life.

Mask

Additional Comments: Machine:Resmed S7 Elite; Oracle Mask(YES! My DREAM mask!!)

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Avg. AHI .4

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Avg. AHI .4

Tomorrow's the night

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