How often do you check your efficacy data?

I check the on-screen data every day, and download and usually check the detailed data maybe twice a week. I found it really helpful when dealing with leak issues, checking every day so I knew when they were occuring and for how long - helped me get it sorted. I've just had 12 straight days of zero leaks, with only the tiniest of blips on the leak graph, not even enough to rate a score on the data.
I find it puzzling how everyone says that the data has to be checked before midday - - last night i checked my data on screen just before bedtine - it was all still there, always is.

At first I checked my data daily for probably 6 months. Then I went out to Vegas for a visit and didn't bother. Sort of got past that habit and would check it maybe weekly to keep the info current in my software. Then it became monthly for a while. Then 3 months...... Then I got the new Swift FX mask late last summer and I checked the data after using it for a couple of weeks. Consistent AHI of 1 or less and very little leak was what I could see. I think last time I looked was 3 months ago. It no longer is something that I am worried about. But it still is very nice to know that I could see it if something seems to change or I want to.

So for me after about 6 months I became much less obsessive about checking the data daily and have gradually tapered down to rarely uploading the data to the software.

Usually every day I check my office data.

Hi Pugsy, good to see you again!

I personally don't consider it "obsessive" to be downloading the data on a daily or weekly basis. For me, it became a part of my morning routine in May of 2005......it's what I do while I'm waiting for my coffee to brew. I can produce a daily printout for every night's data going back to May 14, 2005. I can PROVE that I have been compliant and I can PROVE the effectiveness of my therapy. In the subsequent years, there have been a number of stories about accidents being caused by people who had been prescribed CPAP therapy but had not (for whatever reasons) been using their machines. Those stories prompted me to be able to prove both compliance and effectiveness. I never did have any problems driving before therapy, but once diagnosed, I sure didn't want there to be any possibility that it could become an issue in a court of law (if it ever came to that). For me, it was CYA. From reading posts here, it's my understanding that Canadians can have their drivers licenses pulled if they're not compliant.

So, I guess my question to those who think they're now "cool" that they don't frequently download or pay that close attention to their therapy anymore......... "If you were involved in an accident and were called into court to defend yourself.....can you PROVE that you're using your therapy every night and that it's effective?"


Den

Hi Dori, good to see your wonderful smiling face too.

Hi Den, good to see you are still around too. I didn't mean to infer that those that wanted to see daily data were "obsessive". Only that I, myself, had been leaning toward the "obsessive" side of things. As far as the need to maybe prove that I was compliant and treatment has been effective. Well.....I still have the overall 100% compliance data that would show in the event that was ever needed, plus the overall AHI. Just because I don't have every daily report doesn't mean I have nothing to show.
Though to be honest, since at this point in the US the only drivers that have to prove compliance are the DOT regulated truck drivers, I cannot see where sleep apnea treatment proof would be much of a consideration in the event of a MVA. If it was there are a whole lot of people with non data machines that would be in a world of hurt.

So I apologize if I gave the impression that I felt those that wanted to view their data often were obsessive or anything at all for that matter. I certainly did not mean to ruffle feathers or the likes. I would never cast stones at anyone for what they wanted to do with their life. Likewise, I would expect that no one throw stones at me for what I do with my life.
I only used the obsessive word when I spoke about my own actions. It was not in reference to others. I do feel that I had become obsessive about all this and that is part of the reason I took a break from this board and the internet.

Hi Pugsy.

Good to see you on the forum again.
I wasn't speaking to you specifically......there were other references to the word "obsess" (in several forms) on the first page, too. I just don't think being diligent about one's health and therapy is necessarily "obsessive". Those of us who have diabetes and check our blood glucose several times a day are probably not "obsessive", either. (the comparison between those two health conditions has been raised numerous times)

I'm just raising some points from another side.......especially for the new users who may think that if longer-time users don't feel it necessary to check their data, that they don't either.

Besides, I'm still "curious" about what my numbers look like each morning.......even though the averages don't change much over periods of time.


Den

Wulfman... wrote: I'm just raising some points from another side.......especially for the new users who may think that if longer-time users don't feel it necessary to check their data, that they don't either.

Den

Ahh, Den, I see your side of it and totally agree. I haven't had the time to read many posts and I missed any other references to "obsess" that you have seen. So for those people who might want to "do as I do", especially the new users, please don't use me as a yardstick. Those of you that know me from a couple of years ago know that I have always been sort of a maverick and thus probably not the best yardstick for newbies to use. It was only after months and months of seeing no change in data and no change in how I felt that I became comfortable with not viewing my daily detailed reports. I used to pick those reports to pieces.

Also... the computer that I had the software on up and died on me. During the move to the farm, I misplaced my software disc so I have yet to add the software to this computer. Fortunately I was able to get a few weeks of data after changing to the Swift FX before the computer died. So that is the rest of my story. I haven't been feeling the need to invest in the software because I have been toying with getting one of the new machines and thus needing the new software. Instead of getting a new machine we got a sleep number bed last month. When I have some time I will start a thread with my news and thoughts. I don't want to hijack this thread any more than I already have.

Speaking of "obsessive/diligent" I'm one of those with the daily ritual but I have made some progress....I don't say a prayer anymore before I download! And now I sometimes wait until after my coffee!

Wulfman... wrote:I personally don't consider it "obsessive" to be downloading the data on a daily or weekly basis. For me, it became a part of my morning routine in May of 2005......it's what I do while I'm waiting for my coffee to brew. I can produce a daily printout for every night's data going back to May 14, 2005. I can PROVE that I have been compliant and I can PROVE the effectiveness of my therapy. In the subsequent years, there have been a number of stories about accidents being caused by people who had been prescribed CPAP therapy but had not (for whatever reasons) been using their machines. Those stories prompted me to be able to prove both compliance and effectiveness. I never did have any problems driving before therapy, but once diagnosed, I sure didn't want there to be any possibility that it could become an issue in a court of law (if it ever came to that). For me, it was CYA. From reading posts here, it's my understanding that Canadians can have their drivers licenses pulled if they're not compliant.

So, I guess my question to those who think they're now "cool" that they don't frequently download or pay that close attention to their therapy anymore......... "If you were involved in an accident and were called into court to defend yourself.....can you PROVE that you're using your therapy every night and that it's effective?"


Den

Hi Den. I'm the originator of this poll, and I think the first one in the thread to use the term "obsessed". Specifically, I wrote "Wow. This group is more obsessed about checking data than I would have thought." I did not mean that as a pejorative!

It's interesting that you have chosen to keep records to prove your compliance. Could you not also do this by checking your compliance data less frequently? So long as your machine or data card don't die on you, you can get the compliance info at any time, going back as far as you've owned the machine. For the purposes of protecting your driver's license or reducing liability in case of an accident, it seems to me that the compliance for a relatively short period of time (perhaps a year?) prior to the incident would be all that would be relevant. As well, in a court of law, it's likely that only the original data (i.e. that data that's on your machine) would be the only reliable data because anything else could more easily be tampered with.

You mention that they can revoke a driver's license in Canada if you are not compliant. I don't know how they would do this because in my experience, no-one is checking for compliance! My doctor doesn't even check it. However, there may be checks for truck drivers as part of the checks on how many hours they spend on the road, etc.

Hose_Head wrote: You mention that they can revoke a driver's license in Canada if you are not compliant. I don't know how they would do this because in my experience, no-one is checking for compliance! My doctor doesn't even check it. However, there may be checks for truck drivers as part of the checks on how many hours they spend on the road, etc.

I think I was the one to mention Canada. I read somewhere (please don't ask where because I don't remember) about a person in Canada that had his drivers license suspended for 2 months because his doctor had reported him to the drivers license people for non compliance. The 2 month suspension was given so they could prove compliance and effectiveness. I read this not too long ago. Since you live in Canada you would have better knowledge of this then me I won't make that statement again since I might be misinformed.
I do know that in the US truck drivers that are diagnosed with sleep apnea can be asked to provide compliance data at any time they are stopped for inspection. If not provided and their DOT medical card lists sleep apnea, they aren't allowed to drive.
Also if a person meets a certain amount of criteria during their DOT physical, a sleep study is suggested and many times the driver is pretty much forced to take the test to be allowed to drive.
My husband is an over the road truck driver regulated by Federal DOT regulations. Truck drivers with sleep apnea must show at least 4 hours of compliance usage a day. My husband can quote all the specifics but in general the government is really becoming more strict in several health areas. From diabetics to high blood pressure, it is becoming more and more strict.

Ooops I found this info from the Canadian lung association. http://www.lung.ca/diseases-maladies/ap ... ndex_e.php

Hopefully link will work but here is a small portion of the comment. Of course it would require the doctor to monitor a patient compliance.....

Reporting untreated sleep apnea

Doctors have a duty to tell the motor vehicle branch about patients who are not safe to drive. If you have sleep apnea and you refuse treatment, your doctor is required to report you. The motor vehicle branch could suspend (take away) your license until you get your sleep apnea treated.

I check my data daily and any machine that wont give it to you, IMO is worthless and I would not use it.

Mikey

Pugsy wrote: Ooops I found this info from the Canadian lung association. http://www.lung.ca/diseases-maladies/ap ... ndex_e.php

Hopefully link will work but here is a small portion of the comment. Of course it would require the doctor to monitor a patient compliance.....

Reporting untreated sleep apnea

Doctors have a duty to tell the motor vehicle branch about patients who are not safe to drive. If you have sleep apnea and you refuse treatment, your doctor is required to report you. The motor vehicle branch could suspend (take away) your license until you get your sleep apnea treated.

Yup. Doctors also are supposed to report patients with dementia. Optometrists are supposed to report those who need corrected vision. My observation is that very few of them report it. I don't know why.

Bottom line is that I would not be worried about losing your driver's license solely because you have SA.

The AHI info window and capability to read it has been disabled on my new PR system one Auto Cpap w/ A-Flex by the DME.? So I voted that I don;t have that capability.

Hose_Head wrote: My observation is that very few of them report it. I don't know why.

I can think of 2 reasons why this "requirement to notify" for the general population wouldn't do well in the US.

1. Lawsuits
2. Lazy

Right now the general population has a vision test to pass and that is pretty much it. Only federal DOT regulated truck drivers are getting told on right now. Doctors will tell on them because of the potential for a horrendous lawsuit should an impaired driver have an auto accident and the doc had given them a clean bill of health all the while knowing there was a problem.
Even the docs that are allowed to give the DOT medical certificate are regulated. Not every doc is qualified to pass a driver now. The government continues to put stricter guidelines for the truck drivers. I would suspect that one of these days they will wake up and someone will have the great idea to start on the general population.......but I digress and is of course a topic for another thread.