POLL: How would you rate YOUR success (1-10) w/ PAP therapy?

DoriC wrote:I checked the 8-10 range because I'm never quite satisfied with my husband's therapy. As the caregiver I'm always wondering if I could be doing something better. Never mind that he sleeps 8-9hrs/night, AHI is between 1 and 2,we've mastered the leak issues and he doesn't fall asleep in his recliner anymore, there's got to be something else I'm missing?

pulse ox?

I almost selected "10+," but decided I like tweaking too much.

Besides, my therapy requirements have changed over the past seven years, and I've no doubt that there may be more changes in the future.

Keep an eye on that data, without letting it become an all-consuming passion, and tweak as needed.

Echo, that's a sore subject around here! Mike refuses to use another "gadget" and to add to my frustration, when he asked the Dr if it was necessary, the Dr "gently" turned to me and said "leave him alone"! By this time I've learned to pick my battles so I've left this one alone. From my observation I don't think he's having desats(before cpap he was always white as a ghost) and he sees his Dr every 3months. Thanks for the good suggestion anyway.

Hi everyone,
I am BRAND NEW here. This is the second day I have woken up from using CPAP. How do I find out what my AHI number is that I am reading about? THX for the help!

I debated whether to choose "8-10" or "10+" on the poll. I selected 10+ because I really can't imagine doing any better with my therapy than I am right now. Yay, me!

Started therapy with a CPAP Plus machine and am now using the BiPAP ASV. (For the newbies, that's like your first car was a Yugo, and now you're driving a Maserati. Night and day.) My sleep "professionals" sure didn't help me solve my troubles with therapy, but cpaptalk did! I never would have discovered what effective therapy feels like if I hadn't found this forum, taken the advice given, and done for myself what the pro's wouldn't.

To that end, a thousand thanks to Johnny and the good members of cpaptalk!

SleepytimeT wrote:Hi everyone,
I am BRAND NEW here. This is the second day I have woken up from using CPAP. How do I find out what my AHI number is that I am reading about? THX for the help!

Welcome aboard, SleepytimeT.

If you fill out your profile (User Control Panel, top left of page) and list your equipment (in text, please), that information will be visible at the bottom of each of your posts. That will help other forum members tailor their advice. There are different instructions for accessing the data on different machines.

After you fill out your profile, post a New Topic with your question, and someone will be able to help you.

I chose 8-9 because I still haven't got the card reader and software. I feel great my AHI is acceptable so are my leaks and I when I am working again I plan to eventually get them. If I had had problems I would have bitten the bullet and gotten them. But for me the whole therapy has been a breeze.

Thx Bleeping Beauty! I'll go do that right now!

DoriC wrote:Echo, that's a sore subject around here! Mike refuses to use another "gadget" and to add to my frustration, when he asked the Dr if it was necessary, the Dr "gently" turned to me and said "leave him alone"! By this time I've learned to pick my battles so I've left this one alone. From my observation I don't think he's having desats(before cpap he was always white as a ghost) and he sees his Dr every 3months. Thanks for the good suggestion anyway.

I think carbonman and I may need to pay that 'gentle' doctor a visit. If that doctor EVER gives you a hard time again, you just let us know. We may look harmless, but NO ONE should be able to talk to DoriC like that and get away with it.

(CM, should you put the pitchfork mob on level two alert for DoriC's next visit to the doc?)

It's so heartwarming to see you guys playing so nice together! Our Dr is really a "doll" and I can be a PIA sometimes!

jnk wrote:

DoriC wrote:Echo, that's a sore subject around here! Mike refuses to use another "gadget" and to add to my frustration, when he asked the Dr if it was necessary, the Dr "gently" turned to me and said "leave him alone"! By this time I've learned to pick my battles so I've left this one alone. From my observation I don't think he's having desats(before cpap he was always white as a ghost) and he sees his Dr every 3months. Thanks for the good suggestion anyway.

I think carbonman and I may need to pay that 'gentle' doctor a visit. If that doctor EVER gives you a hard time again, you just let us know. We may look harmless, but NO ONE should be able to talk to DoriC like that and get away with it.

(CM, should you put the pitchfork mob on level two alert for DoriC's next visit to the doc?)

.....yea know....listening to Dori's response.....I don't think so.
A year ago....yeah, we would need to activate the unruly mob.
I think the Doc's response was from knowing that he is dealing
w/an educated, caring person and knows that she is/has/will do
whatever is necessary to see that Mike has the best care possible.
If he doesn't know that, we may need to let him know that she also
has credentials to send uncaring persons, doc or not, to time out.

I think Dori can handle herself just fine.

DoriC wrote:I can be a PIA sometimes!

'nough said.

carbonman wrote:I think Dori can handle herself just fine.

Good points. Thanks, carbonman. I trust your judgment. I get worked up sometimes.

(. . . and the forum said: You? Worked up? NOOOO! Reeeallly??!)

DoriC wrote:Echo, that's a sore subject around here! Mike refuses to use another "gadget" and to add to my frustration, when he asked the Dr if it was necessary, the Dr "gently" turned to me and said "leave him alone"! By this time I've learned to pick my battles so I've left this one alone. From my observation I don't think he's having desats(before cpap he was always white as a ghost) and he sees his Dr every 3months. Thanks for the good suggestion anyway.

Oops sorry if you've already discussed that before! Yes I can understand where you're coming from. But Mike HAS made incredible progress so I think you're doing great

Echo, Sorry if you misunderstood, when I said "here" I meant here at home. I never discussed it on the forum but from all
the posts I thought it would be a good idea but the "man of the house" disagreed so I let him win that one..for now.

DoriC wrote:
I can be a PIA sometimes!

'nough said.

CBman, you didn't have to agree so quickly!

I've gotta assume "PIA," in this case, means something like, "Pretty, Intelligent, Accommodating."