Help Interpreting CPAP Data

Thanks for the advice. I'll check with the therapist tomorrow (Monday). I'm fortunate in that therapist lives just a few minutes from me and will drop my house after work, so I can try a FFM on my bed.

Dogbone, I'm sorry to say this as you just bought some, but my understanding is that Benadryl can cause RLS/PLMS and disrupt sleep architecture. Talk to your doctor about what you can take instead. Perhaps melatonin would help.

BleepingBeauty wrote: The right mask is a very individual thing, and which machine you're using it with is of no consequence. My advice: Go see your therapist and try on different FFMs there (with a machine running at your pressure). Hopefully, there's a place where you can lay down and turn from side to side (to mimic your sleep habits) and adjust the headgear so the mask fits well and doesn't leak. Once you have an idea of which mask(s) you prefer, note the exact name(s) and size(s) of the mask(s) and ask the therapist what each one will cost through the DME. Then smile, say "Thanks," hit the road, and check the auction or CraigsList for the mask(s) you want. (There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that the DME price will be much higher than what you'd pay for the mask out-of-pocket online, from any reputable dealer like our host. It's a given that it'd be cheaper still on the auction or on CL, especially if it's not brand new.)

If your DME is willing to allow you to try on several masks this way (my DME was not), then the above is a great idea. However I'm not sure how ethical it is to take up your DME's /therapist's time to go through all that, find a mask that works and then purchase it elsewhere. You might save a few bucks, yet have poor sleep anyways due to a nagging conscience, and deservedly so.

I suggest trying on the masks and if the DME has helped you to find something that works, reward them with the business. They've earned it.

(I do not work for a DME, just my humble opinion.)

All in Knots

Might consider the mask I wear: RespCare Hybrid, it has pillows and covers the mouth. It comes with 3 sizes of oral cushion and 3 sizes of pillows that can be adjusted to 2 heights so getting a good fit is pretty easy.
PS Quite a few of us here wear this mask; it's pretty comfortable.

allinknots wrote:

BleepingBeauty wrote: The right mask is a very individual thing, and which machine you're using it with is of no consequence. My advice: Go see your therapist and try on different FFMs there (with a machine running at your pressure). Hopefully, there's a place where you can lay down and turn from side to side (to mimic your sleep habits) and adjust the headgear so the mask fits well and doesn't leak. Once you have an idea of which mask(s) you prefer, note the exact name(s) and size(s) of the mask(s) and ask the therapist what each one will cost through the DME. Then smile, say "Thanks," hit the road, and check the auction or CraigsList for the mask(s) you want. (There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that the DME price will be much higher than what you'd pay for the mask out-of-pocket online, from any reputable dealer like our host. It's a given that it'd be cheaper still on the auction or on CL, especially if it's not brand new.)

If your DME is willing to allow you to try on several masks this way (my DME was not), then the above is a great idea. However I'm not sure how ethical it is to take up your DME's /therapist's time to go through all that, find a mask that works and then purchase it elsewhere. You might save a few bucks, yet have poor sleep anyways due to a nagging conscience, and deservedly so.

I suggest trying on the masks and if the DME has helped you to find something that works, reward them with the business. They've earned it.

(I do not work for a DME, just my humble opinion.)

All in Knots

Valid points, allinknots, and I would feel the same way IF I had a DME who provided the service they're being paid to provide. But I have no trouble sleeping at night, because I don't get anything in the way of service.

The RT I deal with knows absolutely nothing about xPAP therapy (most of their business is oxygen-related), and I end up educating her on the subject. (What's wrong with that picture?) She balked when I wanted to exchange a mask after two weeks, because she didn't know that the major manufacturers will let her return it for credit. She gave me such a hard time when I wanted a "new" mask - something I'd not tried before (the Swift LT, instead of the Swift II I'd been using for a year) - that I actually had to call the Area Manager (who also gave me a hard time about "changing masks") to get her to order the LT for me. Ridiculous.

If I have to spend my own money on a mask, then you can bet I'm going to look for the lowest price, and that sure isn't going to result in a purchase from my DME.

/rant

BleepingBeauty wrote:
Valid points, allinknots, and I would feel the same way IF I had a DME who provided the service they're being paid to provide. But I have no trouble sleeping at night, because I don't get anything in the way of service.

The RT I deal with knows absolutely nothing about xPAP therapy (most of their business is oxygen-related), and I end up educating her on the subject. (What's wrong with that picture?) She balked when I wanted to exchange a mask after two weeks, because she didn't know that the major manufacturers will let her return it for credit. She gave me such a hard time when I wanted a "new" mask - something I'd not tried before (the Swift LT, instead of the Swift II I'd been using for a year) - that I actually had to call the Area Manager (who also gave me a hard time about "changing masks") to get her to order the LT for me. Ridiculous.

If I have to spend my own money on a mask, then you can bet I'm going to look for the lowest price, and that sure isn't going to result in a purchase from my DME.

/rant

Wow! Yeah, I know that many DME's are not too helpful, and if that's the case I certainly would want to take my business elsewhere, too! But if a DME spends a great deal of time with a customer in order to find him/her the perfect mask, then I think they deserve the business, that's all. In your case however, it seems like they couldn't be bothered.

My DME would not allow me to try on several masks. I could try on one--if that didn't work, then try on a different mask. But they made it clear to me that they would not open several masks for me to try on because it was "too involved" (paperwork etc.?) to return masks to the manufacturer. Perhaps that is the case--I don't know. It's probably easier/better for people to just buy through cpap.com and use the insurance plan, or forget the insurance plan and just sell unwanted masks on cpapauction.com.

All in Knots

allinknots wrote: Wow! Yeah, I know that many DME's are not too helpful, and if that's the case I certainly would want to take my business elsewhere, too! But if a DME spends a great deal of time with a customer in order to find him/her the perfect mask, then I think they deserve the business, that's all. In your case however, it seems like they couldn't be bothered.

My DME would not allow me to try on several masks. I could try on one--if that didn't work, then try on a different mask. But they made it clear to me that they would not open several masks for me to try on because it was "too involved" (paperwork etc.?) to return masks to the manufacturer. Perhaps that is the case--I don't know. It's probably easier/better for people to just buy through cpap.com and use the insurance plan, or forget the insurance plan and just sell unwanted masks on cpapauction.com.

All in Knots

No argument there.

I called my DMA, today, inquiring about a full face mask. She said it wouldn't qualify for the 30-day, no-cost exchange. and would run something over $200 (don't recall the exact amount). So, now I'm going to try taping my mouth. I did some "Googling" on the subject of mouth breathing and what I read indicates that mouth breathing is not a good thing, for one's health. Now, I'm thinking that a FFM allowing mouth breathing may not be an ideal solution. Here's link to one interesting site on mouth breathing and solutions, including taping instructions.
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Preven ... &id=251141

The hybrid mask that Muse-Ink uses looks like a good one. I'll have to check out it's cost.

I'm taping my mouth tonight. I let you know how it goes.

Dogbone, that link didn't work for me. I have wondered whether the mouth opening with full face mask is inferior, but I haven't seen any research to suggest it is. And like I said, the research on the Oracle shows it works. The Hybrid that Muse-Inc uses allows for mouth breathing, but in my 3-nights of experience, the chin strap discourages it for me (I CAN open my mouth, but it's not going to be very easy for my mouth to simply drop open, slack). I don't know if that's good or bad, because the whole point to a full face mask, which the Hybrid is, is to able to breathe through ones mouth if need be.

Let us know how the taping goes.

dogbone wrote:I called my DMA, today, inquiring about a full face mask. She said it wouldn't qualify for the 30-day, no-cost exchange. and would run something over $200 (don't recall the exact amount). So, now I'm going to try taping my mouth. I did some "Googling" on the subject of mouth breathing and what I read indicates that mouth breathing is not a good thing, for one's health. Now, I'm thinking that a FFM allowing mouth breathing may not be an ideal solution. Here's link to one interesting site on mouth breathing and solutions, including taping instructions.
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Preven ... &id=251141

The hybrid mask that Muse-Ink uses looks like a good one. I'll have to check out it's cost.

I'm taping my mouth tonight. I let you know how it goes.

Oops, I dropped of the last digits of the link. Sorry. Try it again.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Preven ... id=2511416

Taping my mouth, last night, worked great, but still, I didn't get a good night's sleep. I took no sleep aid and haven't for last few nights. I go to sleep fine but wake up a couple of hours later, go to the bathroom, and can't get back to sleep and I'm off and on all night. Something else is going on with my sleep other then apnea. I've had chronic insomnia for years. I've been limiting my coffee intake to a couple of cups in the morning. I eat my last meal around 5pm but that is usually on the light side, and I go to bed at 10pm. I am not over weight. I have fought mild depression for years and take a prescription antidepressant. That may be my sleep problem, but I've taken it only for a couple of years so it wouldn't account for my chronic insomnia over many years. I see my sleep doctor tomorrow. Hope he has some answers.

BTW, I overstated the cost of the FFM. It's over $100, not $200.

Your insomnia may have been caused by sleep apnea -- and some of the SSRI antidepressants do indeed cause sleep fragmentation.
O.

To my knowledge Respironics, Resmed and F&P are the only makers who have the 30 day return program. As far as fitting the masks, the program should be to find the best mask that works for the patient. There are some logistics involved though. The 30 day program is intended for those masks that are used and found not to be suitable, not tried on in a DME and found not to be suitable. That being said a good DME will budget for the probability that they'll need to "eat" a few masks in order to find the proper fit and comfort. If your RT is good they'll be able, through questioning, to get fairly close with the first mask. One must also take into consideration that until you get in your bed, and sleep a couple nights with your machine it may be impossible to get the perfect mask upon your initial try, thus the 30 day program. In my practice I will fit patients even if they don't purchase the mask, to me its good business, its why I do more than my competition. As far as cost gos if you have an insurance that pays 80% you'll wind up paying approx 37.00 for a full face mask, this is because most insurances contract there services and the price is already set, it doesn't matter what the listed price is.

rhhatrt. . . that's good to know. I'll prob my therapist bit more to see if I have some options.

rjjayrt wrote: In my practice I will fit patients even if they don't purchase the mask, to me its good business, its why I do more than my competition. As far as cost gos if you have an insurance that pays 80% you'll wind up paying approx 37.00 for a full face mask, this is because most insurances contract there services and the price is already set, it doesn't matter what the listed price is.

You sound like a great DME/cpap equipment supplier. I say let's all take a field trip to your store, get fitted with and purchase the best mask from you

All in Knots

dogbone wrote: I've been limiting my coffee intake to a couple of cups in the morning.

Caffeine can stay in your system a long time. Have you tried going to decaf only for a few days?

dogbone wrote:
I have fought mild depression for years and take a prescription antidepressant.

What time of the day do you take your a/d? Have you tried changing the time you take it to see if that helps?

All in Knots