Anybody else noticed this on the modern machines?

ResmedUser wrote:...My shrink does not give a flip what I do or think...

Wny? More importantly, if you know this, why are you still seeing him?

BernieRay wrote:The F&P HC200 water manometer is marked in .5 cm of H20 graduations, but can easily be used to measure at higher resolutions. I've used mine to make 0.1 cm changes.

Water column manometers, when used correctly, are extremely acccurate, do not need to be calibrated, and can be used to calibrate dial style meters. And they can be used correctly very easily.

I'm not questioning the accuracy of water column manometers, I'm questioning the accuracy of the operator -- same one who said he started his CPAP at 11 PSI.

By the way -- stated accuracy of water manometers is +/- 1/2 of the minor graduation, so that makes it +/- 0.25 cm of H2O in this case, in skilled hands of course.

I do not necessarily doubt that his machine may show the variances he's stated, especially since all of them are within the stated manufacturing specs.

My real point in bringing this up is that if he wishes to make "legal claims" such as he is threatening he better have equipment traceable to NBS.

As it is, I'll quit feeding him now.

Mikey, If I understand you correctly, you have tried to get the machine to output that pressure within the tolerance of 11 +/- 0.2 cm H2O but just can't . I also assume that over this period of time and before you had sent the machines back that you have tried to use the machines at the slightly incorrect pressure both above and below your ideal pressure, but you were/are getting symptoms. I had thought you said that cpap.com got you an S9 machine that fell into this range; 11.1, if I recall correctly. Why didn't that work for you?

You should talk to your sleep doctor to see if there are more accurate machines out there since your therapy must be more closely controlled. Frankly, I am surprised that you are on APAP at all since you need such tight control over the minimum pressure. You don't seem very concerned about the maximum pressure. Your symptoms may not be caused by the minimum pressure at all; maybe it's the maximum pressure, or a new algorithm the machine is using to adjust the pressure between the minimum to whatever, maybe your OSA is progressing either to the better or to the worse as you are getting older or your weight changes and it is a coincidence that you saw the issue come about with the new machine, maybe stress causes a change in the airway, and probably a dozen other variables. After having considered these variables, maybe try to find another S8 machine on the used market. I see a brand new S8 Escape for $300 on Craig's List in Portland, OR if that is your old machine model.

May I also suggest that you call ResMed to find out if they have a flow control device that you can use in your flow path to either increase back pressure or vent excess pressure. Maybe add in an oxygen enrichment adapter for $9 @ cpap.com and not connecting the port to anything, you can bleed off some of the back pressure and reduce flow. You have a manometer so you can calibrate the system yourself. Maybe if you put a plastic cap on the oxygen port and poke holes in it, that may be enough to fine-tune your pressure. This is about taking control of your therapy and not letting a machine control you.

Best of luck with this.

Tip10 wrote:...
By the way -- stated accuracy of water manometers is +/- 1/2 of the minor graduation, so that makes it +/- 0.25 cm of H2O in this case, in skilled hands of course.
...

All you have to do is put a more accurate centimeter ruler next to the manometer to increase accuracy, at least up to the point that surface tension causes the water along the edge to "pull" up the tube slightly.

SleepingUgly wrote:

ResmedUser wrote: Whats wrong with my profile? The gun part scares you? Thats what it is I bet...youre another wussy American that does not believe in the Second Amendment. My shrink does not give a flip what I do or think. He's basically turned it over to the sleep doctor, for all practical purposes.

You are afraid...

The "near death" part of your profile should concern your "shrink". You're sure that your psychiatrist isn't interested in you, and I'm sure that there's nothing more I can say to you, so I'll just wish you the best of luck. I hope you get the help you need to get back on track.

Dear little girl,

The "near death" part on my profile is sarcasm. I am nowhere near death and no, it is not a call for help. I would like an APAP that blows a straight 10.0 or I'd settle for a 10.1. But please do not pretend to be a mental health professional, although I get the vibes (just a gut hunch) you would love to be one. Especially on the Internet. As I mentioned before, I have forgotten 100 times more about psychopharmacology than you will ever know. Ive taken MAOIs, Ive had an ECT consult. You have absolutely no idea who are you talking to...oh if you only knew. The only thing that truly helped was proper CPAP therapy plus a lot of exercise and losing weight.

My psychiatrist is interested in me, but its too complicated to go into on here. This post is a classic example of how OSA overlaps strongly with mental health, but is not really formally recognized yet. Unfortunately. Perhaps if you get your own CPAP therapy straightened out your own mental health will begin to ameliorate.

Lack of oxygen in your sleep, noradrenaline released in your sleep from autonomous CNS "fight or flight" physiology (same as a panic attack basically), disrupted sleep to the point of chronic sleep deprivation. Is that hard for you to understand?

Please stop reading pop psychology books it is bad for your mental health btw.

Mikey

I am a very sarcastic person btw, its a survival mechanism. After what Ive been thru, you know what they say? If we were not all crazy we'd all be insane. Jimmy Buffet song, I think.

Mikey

BernieRay wrote:

ResmedUser wrote:...My shrink does not give a flip what I do or think...

Wny? More importantly, if you know this, why are you still seeing him?

Because I have a good relationship with him and he is good at psychopharmacology and he is not a shrill for the drug companies, unlike most psychiatrists these days. He just is not up on modern era sleep medicine perhaps as good as he should be. I aint leaving him as my shrink. He is older, close to retirement age, he wants to stick to psychopharmacology and he is old school he still does talk psychotherapy. Sleep medicine is not his thing although he obliquely admits, "OSA can contribute to depression, fatigue and even psychosis." But as far as the specifics of OSA, he is not up on it. I dont expect him to be either. I keep my sleep medicine compartmentalized from psychiatry. Sleep medicine is pulmononary medicine basically and is medical. psychiatry on the other hand, is well, psychiatry. Its psychobabble. Its psychopharmacology, its an inexact "science" and thats being nice.

I used to believe in psychiatry very strongly but not now. I have an extremely low opinion of psychiatry now. You should as well.

Mikey

I guess the S8 Escape is not an APAP. I still like the O2 enrichment adapter flow control add-on idea. I'm done with this thread. Get well.

.

Sorry, on more post. You may want to try this flow control valve http://www.floteco2.com/htm/Products/CP ... erator.htm but you have to find a 50 psi pressure source.

I repeat my assertation that Mikey is barking up the wrong tree about minor differences in calibration. And now several members have joined around the same tree some barking, "It is a raccoon" and others barking, "No, it is a cat."

Mikey needs to find the correct tree and I repost to help him:

Rooster wrote:Mikey,

You have spent a good bit of time posting about the supposedly improper calibration of your machine.

More importantly what is your efficacy data showing? AHI, AI, SI, Leak, etc.?

Rooster,

I think your last post hit it on the nail: ResmedUser is barking up the wrong tree.

robysue wrote:Rooster,

I think your last post hit it on the nail: ResmedUser is barking up the wrong tree.

And he thinks it is a fire hydrant and is trying to measure its pressure as he pees on it.

roster wrote:

Rooster wrote:Mikey,

You have spent a good bit of time posting about the supposedly improper calibration of your machine.

More importantly what is your efficacy data showing? AHI, AI, SI, Leak, etc.?

Roster, I hope your repeated and reasonable all-important question hasn't scared Mikey away? Also, he states he had his sleep study "years ago" and has since lost some weight, and he doesn't mention ever having a new mask refitted to his possible slimmer facial structure.

Bur Dori -- all masks should automatically fit his facial structure, else they are .... shoddy.