Another newbie with probably 1001 questions

Assimilate · Post by **Assimilate** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:24 am

Hi, guys

I got my cpap machine 2 nights ago. The first night was a little uncomfortable but last night (the second) was fine. I woke up 8 or 9 times but it wasn't due to being uncomfortable wearing the equipment. I think after an hour I had had all the sleep I was used to and my body said time to get up Also thats how much I used to be aware of waking up, but the sleep I did get was certainly better. I didn't want to fall asleep on my desk today - yet. (btw im in europe so its mid afternoon for me now)

Anyway to my question (sorry if it has been asked and answered before I couldn't get the search to return any results)

Long story short - I don't know the settings from my sleep studies as I bought a machine from a different place than the dr wanted me to buy it. So I set it at 4 bottom and 11 top. When I woke up the first night it seemed rather noisy, but I ignored it. Then last night I looked at the screen and it was working at 7.5 even though by now I was awake and obviously not having an apnea. Is this normal? for it to raise the pressure and not drop it again?

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:26 am

Very few people can breathe adequately w/a CPAP mask on and the CPAP running at only 4 cms. Most seem to need at least 5 cms and usually more like 6 cms of pressure to breathe comfortably even when awake. That is one of the reasons your Manual clearly states not to wear the mask w/o your CPAP running. You cannot get adequate air nor expel enough carbon dioxide w/the mask on and no CPAP pressure.

I wasn't even aware the DeVilBiss Auto had full data capabilities, software and LED screen data access!

Do you know what pressure the DeVilBiss reports on-screen? For instance, the LED screen reported pressure w/the Resmeds is the 95th percentile, i.e. the pressure AT OR BELOW which you spent 95% of the night whilst the Respironics report the 90th percentile. Or does the DeVilBiss only report the pressure it is running at that moment on screen? What data is this DeVilBiss capable of providing via the software?

Assimilate · Post by **Assimilate** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:45 am

I'm just looking at the screen when i wake up because of the noise (or i think because of the noise) and it said 7.5 last night

I can get the software and cable for the machine I have. I had to fork out €1400 ($2000) for a machine that is $800 in the USA. So I am waiting for my next pay cheque to come through first.

I will take the machine to the importer next week and get him to print the data as he has the software.

Apparently the deVilBiss stores 3 years worth of data

screenshots of the data
• Oximetry
• Daily Summary
• Daily Summary Report
• Daily Usage
• Cumulative Usage

NB: These are not my readings just an example of the software

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 5:48 pm

Ow! on the cost of your DeVilBiss!! But it is good to know what data it can provide!!! Wonder what the software (and reader) is gonna cost and how hard it will be to get?? I think that most of us here were under the impression that all of the DeVilBiss xPAPs could provide ONLY compliance data.

Thanks for sharing!!! By the way: the link you posted to the Daily Usage report takes us to the DeVilBiss product page rather than to that report.

Assimilate · Post by **Assimilate** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:54 am

I fixed the link.

Also I found out the answer to my original question. The machine is designed so that after it has raised the pressure it will stay there for a while and then slowly decrease so theres no sudden change in the pressures. If it wakes me, instead of turning it off and on like I was, Theres a button (the delay button for anyone with the same machine) that you press and the pressure immediately drops to the set minimum.

About the price: I will get my next one shipped from the USA. This being my first machine though I want to resource it locally so that if i had issues I had a fallback. Also I find I need an item to get to fully understand what they can and cant do. (any advice on how to sort the perscription aspect of that out will be greatly recieved)

Don't know if any one is interested as I only got 1 reply to my post, but I'll post my update anyway Last night, my 3rd night, was a good night. I woke up 5 times only and slept through to 9am. Two of the times the mask was uncomfortable, so I just removed it went to the bathroom and It was ok when I got back. This morning I feel better than I have in a long time.
I am finding I want to goto bed earlier than I used to and can't wait to put the mask on and goto sleep.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 3:11 am

Thanks for the update! Man, only 3 nights and you are doing that good?? GREAT! My first 30 nights on CPAP were the worst sleep of my life - and then things FINALLY started to improve. I'm heading off to look at the corrected URL. Thank you again.

Quite possibly the "item" you need is a reader cable if your DeVilBiss has a data card to download the data to your 'puter. And/or you might need the data card if one wasn't supplied w/your machine. Just taking a guess. I'm only familiar w/the Resmeds and Respironics and that's the way they work.

On the other hand, the Puritan Bennets don't need a reader cable as they have no data card and somehow the PBs just download to the puter w/o a card. Of course, you have to carry your PB to your 'puter to do so. But I've had no experience w/them either. I assume the PBs need some type of cable tho and maybe that is all that is needed, the software and the cable, but no data card. I don't know, I'm outta my league beyond the Resmeds and to some degree the Respironics.

Continued good luck! Keep us up to date on how you continue to do.

GrizzlyBear · Post by **GrizzlyBear** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 3:14 am

Hiya,

Interesting to read about the cost of equipment in the UK. Is it the UK, actually, now I look the currency was Euros, so you could be anywhere in Europe. Anyway, my point is the same.

I am from Australia, and the cost of the equipment here (when you can get it!!!) is astronomical - even for stuff manufactured here. However, I have found that sourcing equipment from the US has a not-so-hidden cost - the postal charges. The supply companies use courier services, rather than normal postal services (apparently so they can insure the transport) - and to Australia these costs are a real bomb. Sometimes making it worthwhile to source the stuff from expensive Australian suppliers.

Regards,

GrizzlyBear

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 3:27 am

I can't speak for countries other than Australia but I do know that if you are in Australia and want to buy from a US online DME supplier you can avoid the huge shipping costs by having the US supplier ship it to a friend in the US who turns around and ships it to you via the USPS using a certain USPS method I've forgotten the term for. So if in Australia and you have a trusted friend in the US, PM DSM and he can tell you the USPS shipping method to use.

Or you may even be able to find that shipping method by doing a search here on USPS shipping Australia and specifying DSM as the author.

Assimilate · Post by **Assimilate** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 3:40 pm

Slinky wrote: Quite possibly the "item" you need is a reader cable if your DeVilBiss has a data card to download the data to your 'puter. And/or you might need the data card if one wasn't supplied w/your machine. Just taking a guess. I'm only familiar w/the Resmeds and Respironics and that's the way they work.

I Just had a look the cable is a din (the cpap end) to serial (the pc)
I rang the guy I bought the machine from and he reckoned we should look in a months time. I agree with that as we should have some good data then.

GrizzlyBear wrote:Hiya,

Interesting to read about the cost of equipment in the UK. Is it the UK, actually, now I look the currency was Euros, so you could be anywhere in Europe. Anyway, my point is the same.

Greece. I looked at sourcing from the UK as an option too. Its cheaper there and on medical equipment there is no VAT (sales tax) unlike here where its 19%.

GrizzlyBear wrote: I am from Australia, and the cost of the equipment here (when you can get it!!!) is astronomical - even for stuff manufactured here. However, I have found that sourcing equipment from the US has a not-so-hidden cost - the postal charges. The supply companies use courier services, rather than normal postal services (apparently so they can insure the transport) - and to Australia these costs are a real bomb. Sometimes making it worthwhile to source the stuff from expensive Australian suppliers.

Regards,

GrizzlyBear

Thats a good point. Also a real hassle if it breaks down and you have to pay the postage again to return it.

Still the postage cant be near $1000 (usd) which is the difference for me