Needing help with CPAP

dojiscalper wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 31, 2018 3:02 pm

Any suggestions?

A Resmed machine would be more appropriate treatment for you. It's well known that Resmed's are more aggressive in treatment than Respironics. Looks to me like you need that aggressive treatment.

Also, it looks to me like the dreamstation is making bad decisions. You've got that cluster of obstructive apneas starting at 02:00, and the machine *dropped* the pressure 2cm, and just sits there while you have more and more and more. That's just plain dumb. It baffles me, honestly.

Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzCCgNLya_g

My suggestion is to switch to a Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset, or Autoset for Her. Contact your DME and discuss your options.

djams wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 01, 2019 10:40 am

dojiscalper wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 31, 2018 3:02 pm

Any suggestions?

A Resmed machine would be more appropriate treatment for you. It's well known that Resmed's are more aggressive in treatment than Respironics. Looks to me like you need that aggressive treatment.

I like to say "responsive"... not "aggressive". Maybe it's just semantics, but 'aggressive' suggests something that's going to jump all over you and attack... while 'responsive' means it's not going to just sit there and ignore you having problems, (like Respironics do).

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 01, 2019 3:10 pm

djams wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 01, 2019 10:40 am

dojiscalper wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 31, 2018 3:02 pm

Any suggestions?

A Resmed machine would be more appropriate treatment for you. It's well known that Resmed's are more aggressive in treatment than Respironics. Looks to me like you need that aggressive treatment.

I like to say "responsive"... not "aggressive". Maybe it's just semantics, but 'aggressive' suggests something that's going to jump all over you and attack... while 'responsive' means it's not going to just sit there and ignore you having problems, (like Respironics do).

Point taken. And it's a good point. The therapy is more effective, but not at all uncomfortable.

That video was very interesting, thanks guys. I'll post a couple more nights of charts. The first one is what I consider a pretty good night, except it completely puzzles me why since it was New Years and this time I was in a hotel with my family, stayed up playing games, drinking Pepsi, and eating trash. Then I spent a good 2 hours "with the wife". I'm in a strange room, strange sounds, light coming in our huge ocean view window, strange bed, blanket, etc and I still managed to go to sleep and get good for me rest.

Most times I sleep somewhere weird its terrible.

The next chart is back home with everything exactly the way I like it and its a terrible night and takes me hours to fall asleep like usual. .
.
.

Any chance you were on your back when those big ugly clusters of OAs happened?

Thats a very good chance since I hate sleeping on my side and turn all around all the time. I've been thinking of setting up one of my security cameras to monitor that so I'd know for sure.

You may simply need a lot more pressure if you are on your back than your machine can deliver.
This is where we bring up a bilevel auto machine that can go to 25 cm.
You do fine some times during the night and other times things go to hell and you need more pressure.

I've been told by several of the doctors that I've had to visit for compliance that I should consider the surgery for removing tonsils, etc. I read conflicting success stories and I've gotten the same from doctors.

I very much prefer to do as much for myself as I can so this forum has been awesome in getting me information and ideas.

Since we're seeing that I could benefit from a different brand or even type of machine, how do I go about getting that to happen? I'm not 100% what a DME is and to get my current machine I just went to my doctor, told him I wanted referred to a sleep doctor, got a home test done and then got a machine prescription.

I went to that doctor trying to get myself in better condition and am very paranoid about socalled experts already. Well I'm no longer going to that doctor, I got my machine, but he nearly killed me with lab results showing I needed meds that I ended up not needing after dealing with terrible side effects for months and getting a second opinion and the original doctor even forgetting that he even had me prescribed to the meds, LOL. I could see his nurses doing the "eye roll" while he was talking and then correcting him.

I can't comment on having tonsils removed as an adult as I had mine removed when I was five. However, I can relate to UPPP surgery. ENT doctors consider it a success if it decreases your AHI by 50%. I had it done around 20 years ago and it relieved many of my symptoms for several years. About six or seven years ago the symptoms began to reappear (daytime sleepiness, unable to sit and read without falling asleep, quit breathing while sleeping, etc.). My nephew also had the same surgery done and he had to start using a machine as soon as he recovered from the surgery. Success for this type surgery is iffy at best.

Have you tried a soft cervical collar as this looks like positional apnoea that the machine cannot provide enough pressure to clear.

Which Bipap would be a good one for functionality and data collecting for my own use.

dojiscalper wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 02, 2019 8:36 pm

Which Bipap would be a good one for functionality and data collecting for my own use.

My favorite is the Resmed S9 VPAP Auto, or the newer (but functionally the same) model, the Resmed Aircurve 10 VAuto.

They offer the responsive algorithm of the Resmed Autoset, plus the higher pressures, plus, some tweaks that *might* help lower the AHI.

Here's the chart from last night.

If that were my report and I absolutely couldn't at least try side sleeping as a potential remedy....I would be talking to the doctor about bilevel and I would also push for the ResMed bilevel...the AirCurve 10 Auto.
Auto for sure because sometimes you won't need such high pressure but sometimes you do. Wouldn't be much fun using high pressures all night long.
And I also think that the ResMed's more responsive algorithm would be of benefit to at least have available.

Thanks for the quick response. I try to sleep on my side but I hate it and I end up on my back a lot.

I really have problems talking to people, social anxiety disorder lol, so how would the conversation with a doctor go?