Am I a CPAP failure?

This is a question I wrote a few days ago on another board. They suggested I come here. There's the post and a follow up answer. See for the complete thread. https://ask.metafilter.com/319505/CPAP-failure

"I think I'm a CPAP failure. I wore it religiously for 3 years. Finally I got sick of it.`

I stopped wearing it for about 6 months and I noticed no difference. I've started again because my new (not particularly liked) sleep specialist told me if I didn't wear it he's not going to say he approves for surgery if they ask (which is unlikely).

I never got any of those great results you're supposed to get. I'm just as tired in the morning and during the day. I still wake up with headaches. My mood is no better.

I've lost 150 pounds (gastric sleave) since starting and he upped the pressure on my machine. I've been wearing it for a couple days and no difference.

I told him that I felt no better and that I was tired in the mornings. He basically said, "Duh, that's because you're not using it". He won't listen. I asked about changing to a new doctor in the practice and was told no. It's not like I can go off on my own become I'm on Medicaid.

Are any of you CPAP failures? How do I get the doctor to listen when I see him in 3 months. I guess one option is just to stop going and returning the machine to the DME."


"I'm on my second mask. I can't do nasal because I can't keep my mouoth shut when I'm asleep. Getting another new mask is something that's a non-starter. This last one I had to pay for out of pocket and I can't afford another financial hit like that. I get one mask per year with my insurance.

I see him in three months and I'll ask him about another sleep study. I'm reluctant to do that because next week I'm having a gastric bypass.

This new pressure isn't working for me. I feel like I can't get a breath out. It's constantly blowing air at me.

It looks like I'm about 10 on the sleepiness scale. That's higher than ever. I fill that out every time I see the sleep specialist.

I'll look into the sleepy head software. I'll have to dig out my windows laptop because it seems like I'd need to build it from source for Linux. I'm not too keen on doing that even though I know how to do it. I'll also look at the software doctors use. There's a desktop app from the manufacture but it didn't tell me much.

Again, thanks. I talked about it with my therapist today and she thinks it's a good plan to give it the three months and then reevaluate."

~Kathryn~

katm wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 02, 2018 12:15 pm

This is a question I wrote a few days ago on another board. They suggested I come here. There's the post and a follow up answer. See for the complete thread. https://ask.metafilter.com/319505/CPAP-failure

"I think I'm a CPAP failure. I wore it religiously for 3 years. Finally I got sick of it.`

I stopped wearing it for about 6 months and I noticed no difference. I've started again because my new (not particularly liked) sleep specialist told me if I didn't wear it he's not going to say he approves for surgery if they ask (which is unlikely).

I never got any of those great results you're supposed to get. I'm just as tired in the morning and during the day. I still wake up with headaches. My mood is no better.

I've lost 150 pounds (gastric sleave) since starting and he upped the pressure on my machine. I've been wearing it for a couple days and no difference.

I told him that I felt no better and that I was tired in the mornings. He basically said, "Duh, that's because you're not using it". He won't listen. I asked about changing to a new doctor in the practice and was told no. It's not like I can go off on my own become I'm on Medicaid.

Are any of you CPAP failures? How do I get the doctor to listen when I see him in 3 months. I guess one option is just to stop going and returning the machine to the DME."


"I'm on my second mask. I can't do nasal because I can't keep my mouoth shut when I'm asleep. Getting another new mask is something that's a non-starter. This last one I had to pay for out of pocket and I can't afford another financial hit like that. I get one mask per year with my insurance.

I see him in three months and I'll ask him about another sleep study. I'm reluctant to do that because next week I'm having a gastric bypass.

This new pressure isn't working for me. I feel like I can't get a breath out. It's constantly blowing air at me.

It looks like I'm about 10 on the sleepiness scale. That's higher than ever. I fill that out every time I see the sleep specialist.

I'll look into the sleepy head software. I'll have to dig out my windows laptop because it seems like I'd need to build it from source for Linux. I'm not too keen on doing that even though I know how to do it. I'll also look at the software doctors use. There's a desktop app from the manufacture but it didn't tell me much.

Again, thanks. I talked about it with my therapist today and she thinks it's a good plan to give it the three months and then reevaluate."

~Kathryn~

Medicare and...I believe...Medicaid allows a new mask at 3 months

Most come to this forum as "CPAP failures". The vast majority are significantly helped by this forum. How is your data? Do you look at it?

katm wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 02, 2018 12:15 pm

she thinks it's a good plan to give it the three months

It's not clear what she means by that. If I hear someone say here, "Just hang in", I wince.

Whatever you've been doing doesn't work, so no use to just hang in. Change some things.

Getting involved in this forum is a good start. Looking at your data in Sleepyhead is a good next step. Also, keep the conversation here going on a regular basis. Continue to post in this same thread - it lets people quickly see what you have already tried.

Please fill out your equipment profile - https://www.cpaptalk.com/ucp.php?i=prof ... pment_info

katm wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 02, 2018 12:15 pm

This new pressure isn't working for me. I feel like I can't get a breath out. It's constantly blowing air at me.

It's rare for a patient to not have the physical capacity to breathe out against even the highest CPAP pressures. (Patients with lung disorders, muscle disorders and some other conditions are possible exceptions.) Often, this is a mental issue - the patient is concentrating on breathing and trying to "time" their breathing with the CPAP machine. The trick is to relax and let the machine follow your natural breathing pattern.

Welcome!

So, despite that it did not seem effective, you used it every night for three years? Perhaps your pressure is too low of too high, especially igve your weight loss. Also, it's possible that the mask doesn't fit right; either it never really did or the weight loss changed the contours of your face.

Also, if you take medicine to lower your blood pressure and/or your blood sugar, they can go too low due to bariatric surgery and/or CPAP.

If you can't see another doctrr in that practice, perhaps you can go to another practice.

I just read some of the replies in AskMetaFilter. Some good suggestions there. But, didgeridoos, nasal valve collapse -

If I lost 150 lb, I would be a new man, even with all my problems. Congrats on that. Download and use sleephead from posts above. Post some screenshots. I doubt if you or your dr have the data to make correct changes.

Blowing into a weed is a joke. Jim

LSAT wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 02, 2018 12:32 pm

Medicare and...I believe...Medicaid allows a new mask at 3 months

Medicare yes but Medicaid is state and it's up to the state and not everyone on Medicaid is on Medicare.

I have seen Medicaid plans that only allow 1 mask per year.

AHI was 9.5 last night. Also reported significant leaks.

I don't know what to do now. I'm having surgery on Monday and won't be up for getting out for at least a week.

Exactly which brand and model machine are you using?

Exactly what are all your settings?

And what is telling you that you had an AHI of 9 something and significant leaks last night?...and how much is "significant" ??
Getting that information off the machine or off software report??

katm wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 03, 2018 11:28 am

AHI was 9.5 last night. Also reported significant leaks.

I don't know what to do now. I'm having surgery on Monday and won't be up for getting out for at least a week.

What to do next:

1: Download Sleepyhead software, and install it.
2: Work on fixing your leaks. Until you have a handle on these ASAP, your therapy isn't going to do much good.
3: Post some screenshots here, so people can actually help you without the complete guessing.

The real "failures" aren't even on this forum. They're the ones who just gave up, put the CPAP in mothballs (or returned it to the DME) and just never tried again!

Mikebear wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 03, 2018 11:34 am

katm wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 03, 2018 11:28 am

AHI was 9.5 last night. Also reported significant leaks.

I don't know what to do now. I'm having surgery on Monday and won't be up for getting out for at least a week.

What to do next:

1: Download Sleepyhead software, and install it.
2: Work on fixing your leaks. Until you have a handle on these ASAP, your therapy isn't going to do much good.
3: Post some screenshots here, so people can actually help you without the complete guessing.

Any advice on fixing the leaks? I can't change masks. Sometimes I think it's a little too big for my face, but it's already a small.

katm wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 03, 2018 7:53 pm

Mikebear wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 03, 2018 11:34 am

katm wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 03, 2018 11:28 am

AHI was 9.5 last night. Also reported significant leaks.

I don't know what to do now. I'm having surgery on Monday and won't be up for getting out for at least a week.

What to do next:

1: Download Sleepyhead software, and install it.
2: Work on fixing your leaks. Until you have a handle on these ASAP, your therapy isn't going to do much good.
3: Post some screenshots here, so people can actually help you without the complete guessing.

Any advice on fixing the leaks? I can't change masks. Sometimes I think it's a little too big for my face, but it's already a small.

Some people prefer different masks because everybody’s face is shaped different. Personally I could not wear the Amara View without leakage. I use ResMed P10 pillow mask. I use a Medium but I believe the for her version had an Extra Small size.
Our forum sponsor let’s you buy a mask and return for a refund if it does not suit.

katm wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 03, 2018 7:53 pm

Mikebear wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 03, 2018 11:34 am

katm wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 03, 2018 11:28 am

AHI was 9.5 last night. Also reported significant leaks.

I don't know what to do now. I'm having surgery on Monday and won't be up for getting out for at least a week.

What to do next:

1: Download Sleepyhead software, and install it.
2: Work on fixing your leaks. Until you have a handle on these ASAP, your therapy isn't going to do much good.
3: Post some screenshots here, so people can actually help you without the complete guessing.

Any advice on fixing the leaks? I can't change masks. Sometimes I think it's a little too big for my face, but it's already a small.

Why can't you change masks? My wife told me the same thing. She hung in with her Quattro for years, swearing that she MUST have an FFM. It NEVER sealed, leaked and farted all the time. Her AHI was high all the time, she snored like a trucker, but she just wouldn't listen to me. I finally forced the issue by buying her a Resmed Airfit P10 mask. Her very first night her leaks went down to nothing, and her AHI went below 1. It's been that way for a month now, and she couldn't imagine going back to her old mask.

The reason she wouldn't switch her mask for so long? Yeah, the sleep study people told her she was a "mouth breather" and that she must use an FFM. Since she switched to the P10, she hardly snores, doesn't do anything special to keep her mouth shut, but it stays shut very well.

Me on the other hand, I have to use tape and a soft collar to keep my mouth shut with my P10 mask. I got used to doing that fairly quickly once I found a good soft collar that worked for me.