AHI & Leaks

Try sleeping on your side as much as possible until your setup correctly. Not guaranteed to reduce Apnea, but won't hurt ...

Good luck,

SG

My heart goes out to you. I'm having all sorts of problems with my sleep. I'll eventually post information here.

One thing I found in trying to get to the bottom of my issues is that (due to arguements with my previous DME and my insurance company) my mask was next to useless (a Quattro full face mask). It's not the fault of the Quattro. It's problems with the DME and my insurance company, so I was not getting a replacement mask. I will purchase a replacement cushion for it. (The DME is in network, but would not submit the paperwork correctly, tried to charge me $600 for the mask, I told them to submit it to the insurance company ... and around and around we went). Needless to say "previous" is the operative word. I found another DME who is in-network and willing to work with me.

By the way, it's clear my mask was not working once I saw the charts. Nothing makes a stronger case for the software than reading the charts and finding something obvious that I could fix.

As with you, I also face problems falling asleep. My breathing rate slows and then I stop. Of course, that tends to cause me to wake up. I used to startle awake, though the "startle" occurs less and less. Once I'm asleep I do not think I have too many problems with central apneas, though I sometimes just stop breathing (per wife and kids) while asleep. No obstruction. I just stop. My last sleep study (a few days ago), clearly demonstrates problems falling asleep. (11pm to 2:30am just trying to get to sleep ... a normal night for me).

Unfortunately, the sleep study also reminded me that I have all sorts of problems with restless legs, muscle twitches and muscle cramps. Of course that wakes me and then I have all sorts of problems falling asleep.

I'm lucky if I get six hours of barely adequate sleep. All too often I get two to three hours of really poor sleep.

My sleep specialist (a neurologist who specializes in sleep disorder) suspects my neurological problems have just progressed. Sure seems as if that might be the case, based on how poorly I sleep.

Remember, you need to be your own advocate. Don't assume they will follow up as they should. Call and check on progress (as you have done). Don't be a pest, but do be persistent. It's a fine line difference. The best way I've found to make it work is to work with your medical team to set reasonable guidelines on when things will be complete and when you will call back. For example, my doctor prescribed ProVigil to see if it helps ... but it requires pre-authorization from my insurance company. So, I chatted with the doctor's nurse about that and mentioned I would call back in a week to check the progress. I also mentioned that since my next appointment was the end of the month we had plenty of time for follow up studies. So, I try to move them along, rather than just letting it all happen without any advocacy.

Here's hoping you see some progress toward resolving your sleep problems.


Regards,
=jbf=

John B. Fisher

Today I called my Dme(Apria). The receptionist took a message like alway. No response as of yet. It's 1506 hr. I called my doctor to see if he had gotten my info that he had requested from apria. Guess what? He did not get it. So called apria aqain left message. Now my doctor will not be in until Moday. Happy days again. I about to say *&%**(^* it and take my bussiness some wher else. I called my insurance Tricare Prime they said I could not do that. I said what if I return my Bipap with everything. They said I would need a refferal from my doc. Simple math give everything back and start over. What do I have to lose, I don't have any service with them. So might as well not have any all.

Listen Qjosea, I really don't know your arrangements for DME, Insurance and Doctor. I found leaving the DME out of it, besides shipping me supplies worked really well.

I would generate Encore Reports, convert to PDF and send as an attachment describing my situation in a email to my Sleep Nurse. Emergency wise, I wasn't top of the list, but they got back to me in a couple of days, considering the seriousness. I might follow up with a phone call.

We had established a relationship where I could change the prescription and they would review. Bottom line, Sleep Study hands down works the best for titration.

I can't say I've been completely successful, I've suffered needlessly without calling the Doctor. And, the Doctor has misunderstood the seriousness of problems. This day in Managed care, you have to research heavily and use that five or so minutes with the Medical Staff effectively.

Hard to do, when the old Brain Cells have taken a beating. The Doctor and Nurse understand that, or they should

Sleep well,

SG

I recieved my Encore viewer, how can post my results with the encore viewer. I know I can jot them down, but can I download them after I copy them into power point or another program.

qjosea wrote:how can post my results with the encore viewer.

I use jpeg image files from a screen shot that I have uploaded to Photobucket. Then I copy the IMG location code from the Photobucket account and paste it into my post. Be sure to include the beginning and ending IMG brackets. Use preview button to make sure it shows up properly.

I have Vista so I use the Vista Snipping Tool to get a screen shot and crop at the same time. Then save it to where I can find it easily as a jpeg file and then go to Photobucket and upload it.

Windows XP users can use the prt scr key to get a screen shot and then a photo editing program to crop and save. Windows users can use Paint program to crop and save if they don't have a photo editing program.

[img]

Hopefully this will work, thanks for the tips

[img][IMG]http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac72 ... Chart1.jpg[/img][/img]

[img][IMG]http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac72 ... Chart1.jpg[/img][/img]
maybe this one

[/img]

Can you do just the daily detailed graph? It shows the most useful detail.
Use only one IMG bracket set. If you copy from the IMG code at photobucket there is no need to use the IMG button from the little editor here.
Your full name shows now. If you crop the picture you can cut out your name..

[img][IMG]http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac72 ... Chart1.jpg[/img][/img]

Here I fixed this one for you. Use only one set of the IMG brackets (one at beginning and one at the end of the location code. Use preview button to see if you can see what you want to see. This should work. Or at least I can see it.... And oh boy do you have some events. Leak line looks real good though. You have BiPap? I don't know much about them but looks like your pressures aren't working so good as they are.

get a FFM

qjosea -
1. What is your titrated pressure?
2. Who set that machine up?
3. You do know on a bipap it is the EPAP that keeps most of your events suppressed?
4. Just a WAG and w/o knowing more maybe you need to set epap at 9.5 and ipap at 12 or 13?

qjosea wrote: