UPPP surgery 10 years ago - apnea is back

I feel blessed to have found this forum of CPAP users to lean on as I face the effects of sleep deprivation once again. I really want to be optimistic about successful CPAP treatment but feel so exhausted and beaten down...I know many of you have been there.

Crippling fatigue now rules my life. I am a 66 year old woman in relatively good health who has lost energy, brain function and memory in the last 5 years. I’ve gone from being mentally and physically active and engaged in life to being a useless slug. I no longer have initiative to do ANYTHING! Finally my primary care doctor recommended a sleep study even though I had surgery to treat my OSA 10 years ago. I have since learned this surgery is no longer even performed as it has not proven to be successful. I struggled with CPAP for over 6 months before resorting to surgery. Small masks to fit my face were not available and the ones I tried leaked so bad I was actually getting less sleep with treatment.

Copies of my recent sleep and titration studies are being mailed to me. I will share them here. I have been diagnosed with moderate OSA and verbally given these details: non-REM sleep 6.8 events per hour, REM sleep 21.2 events per hour, 84% oxygen levels. My apnea was controlled during titration and oxygen levels 92-94%. Lincare, the equipment provider will contact me to make an appointment within a week. I have Medicare and TriCare for Life insurance.

Looking over the site, I think I should request the ResMed Airsense 10 autoset machine. Does that sound like a good choice for me? What about the “for her” model and how do I know if I need a humidifier? I used the AirFit P10 mask during titration. My deviated septum was successfully repaired 10 years ago so I breathe through my nose day and night now. My nose was a little sore the next morning but the soreness went away quickly. My breathing seemed really loud to me and it did leak some when sleeping on my side which I prefer but is hard to do with all the wires etc. Some mouth breathing occurred that woke me up when it happened. The spring pollen has activated my allergies causing a stuffy, runny nose that I did not have then. Wondering if I should get a full face mask also as a backup even if I have to pay out of pocket.

So many questions and I do not even have my equipment yet. I welcome your recommendations for selecting the CPAP equipment.

PapMom wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 06, 2020 11:55 pm

Looking over the site, I think I should request the ResMed Airsense 10 autoset machine. Does that sound like a good choice for me?

Maybe, not enough data to make an informed decision yet.

PapMom wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 06, 2020 11:55 pm

What about the “for her” model

usually preferable over the regular autoset.

PapMom wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 06, 2020 11:55 pm

and how do I know if I need a humidifier?

it's built in, unless you specifically request not to have one, don't do that.

PapMom wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 06, 2020 11:55 pm

Wondering if I should get a full face mask also as a backup even if I have to pay out of pocket.

sure.

PapMom wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 06, 2020 11:55 pm

I feel blessed to have found this forum of CPAP users to lean on as I face the effects of sleep deprivation once again. I really want to be optimistic about successful CPAP treatment but feel so exhausted and beaten down...I know many of you have been there.

welcome to the zoo! ask all the questions you want. it would be best, though, to restrict these questions to this thread and not start a new one. not a hard and fast rule, for sure. and i'm not the boss of you! it just makes it easier for the experts to help if it's all in one place.

likely you didn't adapt to cpap the first time 'round because your settings weren't optimized. stick with the forum and we'll set you right.

can't argue with what palerider said. (because he'll hit me!) no because he's a smart fella. i just want to mention about that humidifier. just because it's part of the machine doesn't mean you HAVE to use it. it's strictly a comfort feature. it can be turned off and ignored.

good luck!

I like the "for her" masks that resmed makes. I need the pressure support and higher pressures of a bilevel machine or I would totally look into the "for her" machine as well.

Btw I have a backup full face mask but I never use it.

Welcome to the forum. My wife and I both use machines and have the same insurance you have. Like you, I also had surgery several years ago in an attempt to control my OSA. I managed to go about 15 years before my symptoms started showing up again. Medicare and Tricare for Life will give you 100% coverage of your equipment. If Lincare asks for a credit card, tell them to stuff it. They will try to give you the cheapest machine they can within the limits of your prescription. If you do not like what they offer you, don't take it, and don't sign any paper work. Simply walk out. You can go to the Medicare web site and find a list of approved suppliers in your local area. You can choose any of the suppliers on the list.

Okie bipap wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 07, 2020 8:51 pm

Welcome to the forum. My wife and I both use machines and have the same insurance you have. Like you, I also had surgery several years ago in an attempt to control my OSA. I managed to go about 15 years before my symptoms started showing up again. Medicare and Tricare for Life will give you 100% coverage of your equipment. If Lincare asks for a credit card, tell them to stuff it. They will try to give you the cheapest machine they can within the limits of your prescription. If you do not like what they offer you, don't take it, and don't sign any paper work. Simply walk out. You can go to the Medicare web site and find a list of approved suppliers in your local area. You can choose any of the suppliers on the list.

What she said--in SPADES!
Some DME's will toss you an anchor if you're drowning.
(And put it on your card)
LinDON'Tcare and Crapria are two that need watching very carefully.

Thanks to all of you for your tips and recommendations. Also, it’s really a relief to know I can “stand my ground” with the DME’s regarding equipment selection so I can start with the optimal solution.

Really hope my sleep study results come in the mail before my appointment with Lincare. I will post them here to get your feedback.

The DME will likely have your results before you do, because they will want to set the pressure(s)
The important thing is to have your doctor write the prescription for the SPECIFIC machine you want.
Then Lincare has no option but to issue that machine.

My sleep study results are in and it appears to be a mixed bag. Good news is that my sleep apnea seems to be mild/moderate and controllable using CPAP therapy. The bad or unknown news are the high level of arousals, (the result of no identifying cause) that are not respiratory related, 64 and 75. To my untrained eye, these spontaneous arousals are excessive and may be contributing to my fragmented sleep more than the apnea. Some of them could be due to the unfamiliar sleep lab but I did not feel undue anxiety while there.

What do you think? Have any of you seen or experienced anything like this? I intend to follow through on obtaining and using CPAP equipment but wonder how much that may improve my extreme fatigue.

Oops, I sent 6 attachments but only 3 went through. Maybe they were too big. I’ll try splitting them in half.

Only 3 attachments are allowed per post.

Thanks that’s good to know. Will try sending the other 3 now.

Still no go. Will try half page at a time.

Not coming thru...status of texts show yellow triangles.

It has to be an image....text by itself won't work.