I'm CPAPing now... with mixed results
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:49 am
Thanks to everyone who helped and guided me through my trials and tribulations with UCLA's sleep center.
I eventually decided to get a referral from my endocrinologist, a doctor who I trust. Sadly, his referral turned out to be a pretty sleazy guy... turns out this doctor was his own DME and patients must sign a form required by the state of California which informs patients that the doctor has a "major financial stake" in this business. I was initially looking for the PB GoodKnight 420E, but he said he didn't carry them. I asked him why, and he said "They're too bulky". Bulky? Ridiculous! They're the smallest units out there! So I called him on it, and he did some serious body language backpedaling... rubbing his hand over his mouth awkwardly and such.
Anyway, I now have my Resmed S8 Elite II and am CPAPing without the guidance of a physician, with mixed results.
A week ago, the respiratory therapist came over and hooked me up. As I am a stomach sleeper, I asked for an over-the-head model like the breeze or the aeiomed headset. She told me she would bring some, but showed up with only the Swift and the Optilife (she let me keep both).
My results?
Mixed.
During my CPAP titration study, my AHI was 0.4 (in my prior study which was fully non-titrated, my AHI was 5 with RDI of 10). On the Resmed, my AHI was as 11.8, and as low as 4... a far cry from the 0.4 of my titrated study. The only improvement I have managed to tweak for myself is that I have managed to get my leak rate down from 4.0 to 1.4. Also, the bulk of the AHI comes from the HI events, not the AI.
For example, last night's breakdown was 9 HI and 2.8 AI (11.8 AHI). Last night was unique in that I decided to tape my mouth (worked great in terms of eliminating dry mouth, but my HI skyrocketed somehow). Leak was 1.4. I used the Optilife and programmed the CPAP for "Mirage" as the manual indicates. I do suffer from stuffy sinuses (dust and cat allergies), and used a neti pot saline/baking soda warm water solution to flush my sunuses before putting on the mask.
Despite the comparatively high AHI, I awoke somewhat clearer than in previous nights. I fight less with the tubing on Optilife than with the Swift so I have chosen to stick with Optilife for now... until I give it a fair shot (the huge lip bar on the Swift is terribly uncomfortable to me, and the cylinder pushes against the pillow and jams it up into my cheek).
Because of the chronic sinus issues, I wonder if the hybrid mask is actually a better idea for me? Will breathing through my mouth help to eliminate the high HI readings? What other masks would you recommend for this situation?
Thanks again for everyone's kind help and collective wisdom.
Adam
I eventually decided to get a referral from my endocrinologist, a doctor who I trust. Sadly, his referral turned out to be a pretty sleazy guy... turns out this doctor was his own DME and patients must sign a form required by the state of California which informs patients that the doctor has a "major financial stake" in this business. I was initially looking for the PB GoodKnight 420E, but he said he didn't carry them. I asked him why, and he said "They're too bulky". Bulky? Ridiculous! They're the smallest units out there! So I called him on it, and he did some serious body language backpedaling... rubbing his hand over his mouth awkwardly and such.
Anyway, I now have my Resmed S8 Elite II and am CPAPing without the guidance of a physician, with mixed results.
A week ago, the respiratory therapist came over and hooked me up. As I am a stomach sleeper, I asked for an over-the-head model like the breeze or the aeiomed headset. She told me she would bring some, but showed up with only the Swift and the Optilife (she let me keep both).
My results?
Mixed.
During my CPAP titration study, my AHI was 0.4 (in my prior study which was fully non-titrated, my AHI was 5 with RDI of 10). On the Resmed, my AHI was as 11.8, and as low as 4... a far cry from the 0.4 of my titrated study. The only improvement I have managed to tweak for myself is that I have managed to get my leak rate down from 4.0 to 1.4. Also, the bulk of the AHI comes from the HI events, not the AI.
For example, last night's breakdown was 9 HI and 2.8 AI (11.8 AHI). Last night was unique in that I decided to tape my mouth (worked great in terms of eliminating dry mouth, but my HI skyrocketed somehow). Leak was 1.4. I used the Optilife and programmed the CPAP for "Mirage" as the manual indicates. I do suffer from stuffy sinuses (dust and cat allergies), and used a neti pot saline/baking soda warm water solution to flush my sunuses before putting on the mask.
Despite the comparatively high AHI, I awoke somewhat clearer than in previous nights. I fight less with the tubing on Optilife than with the Swift so I have chosen to stick with Optilife for now... until I give it a fair shot (the huge lip bar on the Swift is terribly uncomfortable to me, and the cylinder pushes against the pillow and jams it up into my cheek).
Because of the chronic sinus issues, I wonder if the hybrid mask is actually a better idea for me? Will breathing through my mouth help to eliminate the high HI readings? What other masks would you recommend for this situation?
Thanks again for everyone's kind help and collective wisdom.
Adam