Titration completed

Last night's titration went very well. Only problem was that I had to be rewired a second time because they thought there was a bad wire - they finally got a new "box" which evidently was the problem. It wasn't scary at all, they only had to turn pressure up toward morning at which time I was sound asleep and didn't notice it. I slept the entire time (with the aid of Ambien). I had no discomfort this morning - just wanted the tech to go away from my 5 AM wake up and let me sleep a couple more hours. I liked the feel of the full face mask but because I'm a side sleeper (and sometimes tummy) he suggested the nose only type - less chance for leaks when in a different position. The only odd thing was that as I was getting sleepy I felt like I wanted to yawn but couldn't find a way to do it. I ended up just taking a deep breath through my nose and that seemed to relieve the feeling.

The tech, who's been in this line of work for 7 years, said that the interesting thing with OSA is that there is not always a direct correlation between symptoms, AHIs and pressure needed. I guess our bodies just have their own way of reacting and dealing with things. (I'd asked why I felt so tired when my numbers are relatively low - AHI is 14.3). I usually don't feel tired in the mornings (after a cup of coffee) so it's too early to see if I see any difference in how I feel after one night. Even if that isn't changed, I am no longer apprehensive about this. Now it's just a matter of getting through the getting, setting up and learning to use the equipment. I'm glad you're here to help!!!!

BTW my brother used to use CPAP but said he gave up because he "could never learn to sleep on his back." That was 4 or 5 years ago. I'm definitely going to write to him and suggest he join this forum. I'm wondering why he thinks he has to sleep on his back. Maybe an older style mask?????

Thanks for your well wishes. I am "rarin' to go!"

Great progress! Remember, the pressure is what is required to stent open your airways and has nothing to do with severity. Some with severe OSA need only a low pressure while some with mild require high pressure; pressure completely depends on your particular airway anatomy.

Sleeping on your back is an invitation for apnea & hypopnea events; tell your brother, he should continue with CPAP therapy because back sleeping is strongly discouraged. There are a very few here who have physical problems that prevent sleeping in any other position but they are in the minority. Some require huge pressure increases to prevent events when back sleeping compared to side or stomach sleeping.

Glad everything went ok with your titration study--Now do your homework! READ and READ some more. When they get you your machine--insist on one that's data capable --this means that it will collect and store data --not just compliance data but data that includes AHI, AI's, leak rate etc. that's very helpful in your treatment because you can see where you're treatment's going--even if you don't have a reader or software--I don't have either but I can get a readout each morning on how i did from the screen on my machine. (the software is hard to get and expensive--most you can't find in US because of laws preventing consumers to have the software but can befound on overseas sites) The tech is right when they said no correlation between AHI's and pressure needed--the pressure needed is what is required to keep your airway open--some need alot some people very little but it actually has no relation to your AHI's or AI's. You might have to be firm with your DME to get a fully data capable machine --some will just want to sell you the cheapest machine they can which is usually not data capable but rather a compliance only (which doesn't tell you a thing other than the hours used) but the codes are the same meaning your insurance will pay the same amount whether it's data capable or not--also the DME bills the same amount--they just make pure profit if the sell you a cheap one. i love my resmed and they have a tendency to be a little quieter than the respironics but there are lots of people here on forum who love their respironics machines too. There are other brands as well. Good luck in your treatment

Glad your titration well. After my titration was done, I could hardly wait to see the results, and get my cpap.

Sounds like you had a pretty good night, I'm glad. Did the tech happen to mention what pressure you were titrated at? As for the FF mask, you can sleep on your side although usually the right bed pillow is needed. And mouth breathers usually need a FF or if using a nasal mask, require mouth taping or chin strap of some kind. Keep us posted and good luck, Dori

Having a "good" titration night is a great way to start this journey. Often things worse in our wonderings than in actuality. I'm guessing that getting past this hurdle has given you the confidence to face any adjustment issues head on. Congratulations!

Dor - The tech told me the numbers when he first work me up - I was in a fog and thinking, "Go away and let me go back to sleep" so I'm not sure it sank in. Would starting at 4 and going up to 6 sound about right? I know it was low which probably accounts for the ease of accepting it. Didn't awaken the entire night (probably due to Ambien).

I'm not a mouth breather at all but I guess the full report will tell if there was any mouth breathing. Probably with such low pressure I wouldn't have felt the need to switch to breathing through my mouth.

I think I'll use the Ambien the first few nights that I have my own machine - just to get over any "machine jitters" that might keep me awake. I used to use Ambien every night but found that overuse results in my body becoming so tolerant of it that it didn't work well. We'll see.........

The tech was glad that I was at least somewhat knowledgeable - said most people come in knowing NOTHING. Knowledge is power. I don't know what my insurance will cover at this point (United) but I know what I think I want and what NOT TO ACCEPT! He said I just need a card to bring in to the office but I want to be able to check my own data in the morning. I understand you usually have to obtain those programs from an overseas site but I'll find one!!!!! He tried to give me "you can bring the card in and we'll give you the data." Nope, not gonna accept that!

Good luck to you. My DME and Clinic that i go thru is actually really good with the data card thingy. They told me i could bring it in any time i needed to and I always bring it when i come for appts. and like i said you can read out your info from the screen in the morning. yeah it would help for me to have the software and stuff but right now i can't justify the expense. I'm not sure what your situation is --if you can afford the software etc. then go for it but you can get by without it. As far as United goes--we have the choice+ plan. They do have good coverage depending on your deductible--just make sure your DME supplier is IN NETWORK. I was able to get what I wanted for husband and for myself without much effort. It helps when you're rx specifically says that they wanted a data capable machine. (the clinic wanted it so they could monitor my progress)

Barbara,

Yay for you!!! I'm glad to hear that your titration study went so well! It'll be interesting to see what your titration pressure was. You mentioned that it may be 6, which is what I'm using. It is very low, but it seems to do the trick for me. I still have one apnea some nights, so I may try bumping the pressure up one or two sometime, but I'm feeling very good.

Perhaps you will be an example for your brother to follow, so he'll start CPAP again. It's so very important to treat sleep apnea, as it can lead to many serious medical problems (high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, heart disease/attack, obesity, etc.). Interestingly, there may be a genetic predisposition. I am positive that two of my three siblings have sleep apnea.

Yes, knowledge is power! As for machines, don't let the DME fool you into thinking that just because a machine has a data card it will be able to give useful information about your therapy. Sometimes the DMEs will try to convince you of that. Even the more basic machines that only give hours of use (such as the Respironics Plus and ResMed Escape) have a data card. But you won't be able to get the therapy information you need from those machines.

I suggest that you find out which DMEs your insurance uses and call each to see what machine manufacturers they work with. After researching the different machines, go in knowing exactly what you want so they won't try to play games with you. And it should help if the prescription specifies a machine with full data capability (not just compliance data). Perhaps your doctor can even write down a specific brand and model (just double-check before leaving that he/she wrote down the right one!).

Also, DoninOrlando mentioned in this thread viewtopic.php?f=1&t=46873&p=421855#p421855 that he was happy with his DME supplier. He lives in your city, so if your insurance will work with that DME you may want to send DoninOrlando a PM to get the specific name of the person he dealt with there.

Please let us know how things go. Learn as much as you can before meeting with the sleep doctor and visiting the DME.

~ DreamOn

Welcome aboard
Do you have an appointment to see your doc and get a precsription? I would advise to get a copy of the prescription for your own records. I have a paper copy I carry with me and I also have it scanned in on my computer in a pdf and the pdf also stays on my thumb drive when I travel.

Best of luck.

Gerry

It is almost 3 PM my time and I feel tired but not "drowsy." Maybe some is wishful thinking - I'll take what I can get. It may take time to make up for all the sleep deprivation and let my body "heal" from all that. Anyway, my good thought today was that I may not have the best Thanksgiving this year but maybe I'll have equipment and be feeling better for Christmas - or at least Valentine's Day????? I think that with only needing a low pressure it should be easier to get used to it - at first I noticed that it felt "different" to exhale but that didn't last long. I just hope I have as good of an experience with DME as I did with the titration. I still have some research to do - what an adventure!!!!

Yes, I'll keep a copy of Rx when I get it - meet with doctor first and that isn't scheduled yet. I want to be in as much control as possible.

btesterman wrote:It is almost 3 PM my time and I feel tired but not "drowsy." Maybe some is wishful thinking - I'll take what I can get. It may take time to make up for all the sleep deprivation and let my body "heal" from all that. Anyway, my good thought today was that I may not have the best Thanksgiving this year but maybe I'll have equipment and be feeling better for Christmas - or at least Valentine's Day????? I think that with only needing a low pressure it should be easier to get used to it - at first I noticed that it felt "different" to exhale but that didn't last long. I just hope I have as good of an experience with DME as I did with the titration. I still have some research to do - what an adventure!!!!

Yes, I'll keep a copy of Rx when I get it - meet with doctor first and that isn't scheduled yet. I want to be in as much control as possible.

Yes, you may be feeling great by Christmas! What a nice thought!

I do think it takes a while for our bodies to heal from all the sleep deprivation and oxygen starvation. I'm glad you're feeling better today than usual. My titration night didn't go great, and I felt awful the day after! Thank goodness, I've done well at home!

There are a few exhalation/breathing settings on the machine that you can experiment with if needed. I've switched mine around several times. I used "ramp" (where it gradually increases the pressure) for a while, but now I don't need it at all. Actually, a lot of people have a more difficult time breathing at 4 (where ramp is often set to start) than at higher pressures. I found that to be the case for me.

You're doing great!

~ DreamOn

I just wrote a post and it just "went away" before I'd finished. Hmmmm

It is 5:30ish my time and I'm very tired. I wish I had my own machine so I wouldn't lose momentum. However, I reread the letter they gave me when I left this AM and it just says they'll call and send me to a DME. SO, I'm going to call the office tomorrow and set up an appt. before they send out an Rx. I'm learning too much already to just go with whatever they want to do. We'll see. It will undoubtedly mean it will be longer till I'm set up but in the long run I want MY choice of machine etc. I've lived with this for probably years, I can wait to get what will work best.

Did you ask how long it would take to get the results?? You might try calling the sleep lab in a few days to see if they have the results--sometimes you have to keep on them otherwise it ends up in a stack of papers at the bottom. Don't pester or bug them but a nice call in a couple of days (if they haven't phoned you first) might work or call your dr.?? depending on who's to get the results. If you didn't ask that question--you might try calling your dr. or the sleep lab and find out how long it takes?? Then if you haven't already get with United (I think you mentioned you had United) or your insurance and find out the available DME's in your area that are IN NETWORK--then you can tell the dr. or sleep lab where you want the RX faxed to. Visit the DME's that are in network or at least call them--find out what equipment they have, delivery and set up policies, customer service etc., and any other questions. Then you can choose a DME that you are comfortable with (if you have a choice. some areas may not have an in network choice.) Some DME's might offer a better equipment options, customer service etc. Some will deliver to you for free and set up--some might charge--some you can just go in and pick up yourself etc.

Since I had already done some previous research here too, we made an appt with our Primary and had him write the RX exactly as we wanted it, "M Series Auto w/AFLEX and Mask of patient's Choice". He also wrote a prescribed pressure setting at DME's request. I realized later that we didn't have to specify a particular brand but we're happy with our choice.