Self Diagnosis Setup For My Wife

My wife has an appointment to see my sleep doctor on Mar 24 to schedule a sleep test. She has been recording lots of de-sats on our oximeter which is what has prompted the sleep test. I am concerned about her. I would like to test her on my back-up Bipap Auto (old style). I would like to get some ideas about how to set up the machine. We have a Swift II nasal mask for her to try and I don't think she is a mouth breather, like me. RG and any others do you have any suggestions? Thanks.

Dale

I think it's a good idea - I think I would start easy with something like 10/8. Assuming you have the card and software to check her results. If she is willing that will make life easier.

Have her try it while she is awake to make sure she is OK with it,

Good Luck and Keep us posted.

Thanks Gumby

Sounds like something I'd do, deerhound. But then, I'm not a doctor.

The IPAP/EPAP Gumby mentioned should be ok, imho. I'd set it like that in bipap mode with bi-flex at 3, and not turn on auto-titrating at all for several nights.

The biggest downside (you know your wife well enough to know if it could happen, but you should both discuss the possibility) that I see to letting someone try "cpap" (any kind...bipap like what you have would be as comfortable a way to try it as anything can be) is this --

IF the person is not fully convinced already they have sleep apnea, and IF they are not desperately wanting to use a cpap machine, then "trying" it can backfire.

Any discomfort, especially with the mask, could make the person say, "I just can't do this." And if that happens, then the next words might be, "There's no point in my going for a sleep study, because I KNOW I can't do this kind of treatment."

If there's any chance of that, then I'd hold off and wait for the study.

P.S. Here are links to some older discussions about people wanting to do the same kind of thing for a relative:

Brooke's daughter - May 2008
viewtopic.php?p=269302#p269302

Drone's son - April 2008
viewtopic.php?p=260602#p260602

Story of my brother-in-law's trials at home:

viewtopic/t38175/Home-Sleep-Study.html