First nighter

First, I would like to thank everyone hear on the forum for all the great info I have been able to acquire here since my diagnosis. Had split sleep study 3 weeks ago with AHI=89 and Sats down to 78%.

Requested fully data capable machine and the DME proposed the S9 Escape. Told him that didn't have efficacy data and he seemed dumbfounded by my request. No one had ever asked that before. I said I wanted an Elite, he checked with his boss and they agreed to order me one, but I would have to wait a week for it to come in. RX listed Quattro fullface as mask used in sleep study. I said I would like to also try the FX and he never heard of it. It wasn't in his Resmed color catalog. I told him to check the website, and he agreed to order one for me. So, I king of have mixed emotions about the DME, they were agreeable but clueless.

Well last night was my first night on the hose and went pretty well. Got up twice to re-apply the mask due to leaks, but some of that I believe is due to using a non-_FX headgear with the FX mask since the large FX comes standard with medium headgear and DME tech wasn't aware that large headgear was available. Otherwise slept pretty well and after turning on the efficacy data display on the clinical setup menu(something else I learned from this forum) first night was AHI=16 and
leaks+15.6ml/min.

I'm encouraged and plan on hanging in there and getting this condition under control.
Thanks again.

16 is quite high.

What is your pressure setting?

What did your titration study recommend?

Also, please go to the Control Panel and specify your equipment, using text rather than images.

Got my equipment updated. My pressure setting is 8 cm.

If your AHI is 16 at a pressure of 8, your pressure may not be high enough.

Give it at least a week to see what happens.

Do you have your sleep study report showing your titration data (number of events and types of sleep at different pressures)? If not, then you should get a complete copy, as it may explain why your pressure was set at 8 and whether higher pressures were problematic. For example, if you started to experience central apneas at higher pressures, that would be something to avoid. Without that kind of information, it would be a bad idea to change your own pressure.

Does your first night data show any centrals?

Thanks. The sleep lab was slow in getting the full report to the doc, hopefully I can get the full report on Monday. to find out those answers about the pressure. Think i will take your advice and give things a week to settle in. Second night was better
AHI was 8.6 down fron 16 the first nigt.

Definitely wait about a week before fiddling. The mask is an "unknown object" and can be causing events during the night until your body learns that it is no more foreign than the sheets that are touching you all night too. Once you acclimate, you may see a drop in events (even more than you saw so far =)

Then, after a week or so, you may want to start playing with settings if you're not seeing a reduction below an AHI of 5.

Most of all, HANG IN THERE!

I'm only two frustrating nights in with my new CPAP machine, and I'm very jealous of the OP. I'm very unhappy with both my PCP and the sleep clinic folks at the lack of information I've been given. I've never seen the report from either of my two sleep studies. If I'd discovered this forum a week ago, I would have insisted on a machine that collects enough data to actually tell whether the thing is even working! They were very nice and kinda "gave" me two extra masks, so I know I'm fortunate in having the ability to try several masks early on, but I'm very disappointed not to be able to follow my own progress and gain some understanding of my condition and its treatment. Just venting, I guess.

@randy, if you are only renting the machine at this point, you can still return it for a machine that has full data capability. When I realized that I was in the same situation with my first machine during the first 30 days, I sent a polite but firm fax to my DME stating that I am returning the compliance-only machine, that I insist on a fully data-capable machine, that I would like to keep my business with them because they have been helpful, but that I will take my prescription elsewhere for a fully data-capable machine if necessary. Polite but firm, refusing to take No for an answer. It's your life.

They will give you some rigamarole about the humidifier not being returnable, so figure out which fully data-capable machine works with your current humidifier and ask specifically for that model machine instead. Others can help you with the compatible models.

People, will this one work with his humidifier:

PR System One REMstar Pro CPAP Machine with C-Flex Plus?

As far as I know, this was a purchase under insurance. We paid $160 or so and walked away with the machine. No indication of any other options, no real explanation for why this machine was chosen over any other.

Since I had my sleep studies done at Global Sleep in Dallas, and since I went right back there for my machine and orientation, is it safe to assume they're the DME in this case? Thanks for your help.

$160 sounds like a rental.

Your insurance company can tell you whether the machine is being rented or was purchased outright.

Don't trust anything the DME says about whether you can or cannot return the current machine. If it is a rental, you can return it and, if need be, go elsewhere. Call your insurance company ASAP.

You can always ask your doctor to write an Rx for the PR System One REMstar Pro CPAP Machine, or whatever will work with your current humidifier. Others can confirm whether that machine is compatible with the humidifier (or you can research that question on our host's site, starting with the machine and determining which humidifier goes with it.)

It will be easier to get an Rx specifying a fully data-capable machine if your doctor is not affiliated with (i.e. a shareholder in) the sleep center/DME. Are your doctor and the sleep center/DME in the same building, right beside each other, or do they appear to be separate?

Any MD can write the Rx; he need not be a sleep specialist.

The key is "Pro," not "Plus." People, please confirm this.

My only problem believing it's a rental is the lack of, you know, a rental agreement. I've never even heard of a rental that didn't explain your liability for the item, the up-front and recurring costs, etc. Let's just say that if a bill arrived in the mail for my next monthly/semi-annual/annual "rental fee," I wouldn't have paid and I'd just box the sh*t up and leave it on their doorstep. I assumed that $160 was just my part of insurance paying 80/20...

As you say, I'll call Cigna and see what they say. Thanks!

Good luck!

Breathe Jimbo wrote:People, will this one work with his humidifier:

PR System One REMstar Pro CPAP Machine with C-Flex Plus?

Yes, it will.

OK, that's simple enough. I'll just see what can be done about getting the PRO instead of the PLUS. This new model will have all the data collection and adjustability I might need?

After that I can concern myself with what I need to get in order to do the monitoring. (I'm assuming that none of that will be covered and I'll have to come out of pocket for the card reader and software?)