C-Pap effectiveness

ReedRichards · Post by **ReedRichards** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 10:37 am

Thanks Goolproof, Gumby and Wulfman,

I'll do more research. I just wanted to gauge how moderate my sleep apnea is. Is it in the low end, middle or high end of moderate sleep apnea? Based on the information provided, it looks like I'm just moderate at 18.1 per hour.

To be honest, I have a good 30 to 40 pounds to get off and I just have this pipe dream that if I can get the diet lifestyle under control and weight off. I feel I can get this down to mild or no apnea. But realisically, I know that CPAP will be part of my life now. I see the DME vendor next week and will request the best with data as mentioned by Wulfman. If you don't mind me asking. What are your AHI's. Some have shared and told me how fortunate I am that it was found now. If there are others that wish to share.

Thanks again

Goolproof, Gumby and Wulfman for feedback.

Respectfully Reed

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 10:54 am

ReedRichards wrote:Thanks Goolproof, Gumby and Wulfman,

I'll do more research. I just wanted to gauge how moderate my sleep apnea is. Is it in the low end, middle or high end of moderate sleep apnea? Based on the information provided, it looks like I'm just moderate at 18.1 per hour.

To be honest, I have a good 30 to 40 pounds to get off and I just have this pipe dream that if I can get the diet lifestyle under control and weight off. I feel I can get this down to mild or no apnea. But realisically, I know that CPAP will be part of my life now. I see the DME vendor next week and will request the best with data as mentioned by Wulfman. If you don't mind me asking. What are your AHI's. Some have shared and told me how fortunate I am that it was found now. If there are others that wish to share.

Thanks again

Goolproof, Gumby and Wulfman for feedback.

Respectfully Reed

Sometimes it takes a little while for it to sink in.
I remember the first morning after I started, and thinking......"One night down......the rest of my life to go...."

With the three pressures I've used (10, 11 & 12), my monthly AVERAGE AHI has pretty much always been below 1.0. I keep track by "calendar months" (and years). In the nearly 3 years of therapy, I think I've only had a few months that hit 1.0. Other than that, most have been in the 0.6 - 0.9 range. Yearly averages have been 0.7 - 0.9.
I get better "numbers" on straight pressure.

Den

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:21 am

Reed,

I think you were getting at our pre-CPAP AHIs. Mine is 24. Not bad compared to others here on the forum but sleeping 2 to 3 minutes at a time is does not translate into good sleep.

Here is the thing though is that I don't feel any of those things. I feel just two things. Bouts of shortness of breath from time to time and sleepiness at work but after a 6:00am medium light workout with about 5 hours sleep the night before.

Here's the thing - this is you now. Your description of yourself now sounds like me several years ago. Believe me that the symtoms will get worse if they are left untreated and it will take longer to correct. Last February I was a physical wreck and barely able to function.

I wouldn't want anyone to go through what I have this last year. Get your CPAP and remember the therapy only works if you use it.

Pineapple · Post by **Pineapple** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:24 am

Sorry, that was me, I didn't realize I'd been logged out.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:32 am

Reed,

If you were asking about pre-therapy AHI (from sleep study), mine was about 45.

Den

ReedRichards · Post by **ReedRichards** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:04 pm

Pineapple,

You are right. I will use the CPAP and make every attempt to make it a success. I get some time next week. I will ask for a good one.

Pineapple you indicatet that you were a wreck. How are you now?

Wolfman,

That's a high number, I guess what you were saying to me before is true. I am lucky that it was caught now and not when I started to stop breathing and going through other complications.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:11 pm

ReedRichards wrote:Pineapple,

You are right. I will use the CPAP and make every attempt to make it a success. I get some time next week. I will ask for a good one.

Pineapple you indicatet that you were a wreck. How are you now?

Wolfman,

That's a high number, I guess what you were saying to me before is true. I am lucky that it was caught now and not when I started to stop breathing and going through other complications.

But not nearly as high as some others have reported......nearer to or over 100. THAT'S "HIGH".......but over 30 is considered "Severe".....so, above that there are just degrees of severity...... I guess some had a "higher power" watching over them. Mine was bad enough and would have only gotten worse and worse.

Den

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:20 pm

We all like to get our feet wet, but when you are sick, De-Nile, isn't a good place to be! (Those Darn Skeeters)

If you were asking about pre-therapy AHI (from sleep study), mine was about 150 per hour.

For two years with self monitored treatment I've avg AHI 0.5 to 1.0, for almost the whole time. This winter has been the worst. Jim

ReedRichards · Post by **ReedRichards** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:32 pm

Goofproof,

You guys are making me feel like I should not complain at all. But remember I am new and just learning. Also, I'm learning that the CPAP therapy for the most most part is effective.

Reed

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 2:01 pm

ReedRichards wrote:Goofproof,

You guys are making me feel like I should not complain at all. But remember I am new and just learning. Also, I'm learning that the CPAP therapy for the most most part is effective.

Reed

At all costs XPAP, beats the pain of going under the knife solutions. Jim

Rastaman · Post by **Rastaman** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 7:29 pm

My pre-cpap per hour was 124 during the sleep study. Yikes! And they titrated me at 13 pressure. They didn't recommend the bi-pap. That's probably a good thing considering cost. But you need what you need right?

I might've got below 5 a few times but it's rare. I don't know what I'm doing wrong there but I'm sure it's strap/mask related. I just got a new machine so I'm trying that out to see how it compares. I'm also getting a new mask soon and I plan on trying that out. (UMFF)

I like the idea of a machine and software that monitors things instead of me writing everything down on paper and keeping a log book. I probably could've bought some software for the Resmed S8 Autoset Vantage that I have and may just do that eventually. I certainly want to take full advantage of any features and data that I can.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): resmed, cpap.com

Rastaman · Post by **Rastaman** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 7:41 pm

Looks like I would need not only the software (which cpap.com does sell) but also the Smartcard Reader for S8 machines. New prices look like $179.95 + 69.95 for both respectively. $250 total.

The whole kit and kaboodle being just $610 with Silverlining software for the PB Goodknight 420E is starting to look better and better. It wouldn't really work for someone who absolutely requires c-flex, a-flex or epr. While I enjoyed the c-flex I tried once upon a time I'm doing just fine without it. I had to be because neither of my machines have it in apap mode.

Pineapple · Post by **Pineapple** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 8:44 pm

Reed,

I'm feeling better, thank you, but like Mr Random I wouldn't call it optimal. But then, at the sleep lab, we figured out I've been symtomatic since the late 60's. This therapy is not an imediate grantification treatment, and people like me have to make up for years of abuse to our bodies. The parting words from the sleep tech were "Be patient, don't give up. Some people are harder to fix that others"

You haven't said anything about family, but enlist their support also. My family's attitude about helping me with this has really helped keep my morale up

You've gotten some great advice on the machine from people who know what they're talking about. Make sure you've got the right mask. I when through 4 masks before I got one that I was comfortable with. Your DME should work with you on this. Most of them have a 30 day mask guarenty
so trading one your not comfortable with shouldn't be a problem.

While your attitued is good, my gut is saying you may be in for some frustration here at the start. I don't think there is anything you could experience that someone else on the forum hasn't experienced. We'er here to help.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 9:39 pm

I've been on xPAP since 2005 - at first I too used to worry if my nightly data didn't show very very low AHI numbers but I have since discovered that I can have readings as high as 8 AHI and still feel I had a good night.

Some brands of machines score hypopneas more accurately than others and thus will score HI numbers higher than some other brands. A simple def of a Hypopnea is when you slow your breathing by 50% for over 10 secs. That can actually happen with something as simple as a big yawn, or just rolling over.

Last week I had about 8 nights where my AHI score was 7 or higher & it didn't worry me at all. The AI only once reached 1.0 & the HI numbers usually were 5+

The number I pay most attention to in the AHI score is the AI number. No matter what brand machine you have AI #s are the things you want to avoid most as these are actual OSA events (blocks or cessation of breathing). That is when your blood oxygen level starts to drop (called SpO2 reading). Most of us need this to stay well above 88% SpO2 as below that causes even doctors to worry.

CPAP becomes a habit after a while & you don't think twice about what you have to do. It can be frustrating getting the right mask set up working & avoiding some of the sdie effects if your air pressure setting is a high one (about 14+ CMS).

Good luck

DSM

ReedRichards · Post by **ReedRichards** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 10:25 pm

Rasta, dsm and Pineapple,

Thanks for the feedback.

I intend to get my current AHI of 18.2 down low with exercise and with the mask. Who knows maybe I can do enough to get it down to mild sleep apnea. But none the less, I will be using cpap and get a great mask. I will spend out of my pocket if necessary.

C-Pap effectiveness