My story

Note I actually wrote a part 1 and part 2. But they are long and boring. It's the all too common story of the sleep study game. My first doc actually walked out as I tried to ask questions. It's the all too common story of the DME game. The DME had all the equipment ready including a mask which is amazing since I had never seen or talked to them about it.

I know many of you have lived that story. Many have read that story. So pretend you read those parts then proceed

Part 3 of my story.

So where do you buy online? What do you buy? After much reading, here and elsewhere I decided my best alternative was cpap.com. I purchased the Resmed S9 AutoSet and humidifier. After much consideration, I decided that a Swift FX nasal pillow would be a good choice. Since it was discounted with purchase of the S9, I went for the ClimateLine tubing. Given my side to side sleeping, I thought a hose manager would be important. I really need to get this under treatment so I paid for the Saturday delivery.

I know this was long winded. But I had to scream somewhere. I hope I didn’t offend anyone.

Thanks to all that participate here and elsewhere. I thought I knew what sleep apnea was. I was wrong. I have now been properly schooled.

I would appreciate suggestions for low/high pressure settings if used as an APAP. My Rx is for CPAP 9.

The future is waiting. I plan on it being better than the recent past.

Now let me see where that software is hiding

do you have the software? Are you using it?

That's a better way to determine what your pressure should be than asking for somebody to guess.

Hi, and welcome to the club.

Sounds like you're well-informed, and you're on your way to better sleep. You chose a good machine, and the accessories will help make you more comfortable. Good job!

As to pressure settings on APAP, most advice I see around here is to go 2cms below and 2cms above your titrated pressure. So if your pressure on CPAP is 9, APAP settings might be 7-11. With any experiment or change you make to your therapy (and only make one change at a time), give yourself at least a few nights to acclimate to the change, and keep an eye on the detailed data so you know what's happening and what the next change (if applicable) should be. FYI, some people do better on CPAP and find that the pressure changes of APAP are bothersome. Others prefer APAP therapy. With the machine you're getting, you can try both therapy modes and see which suits you best.

As to the software, do a Member search on the forum for Uncle_Bob. He has a link to the ResScan software in his signature.

Machine en route for Saturday delivery at extra charge of course. I will use the software to fine tune things. Since there is a lot of experience here, I figured I would ask rather than starting with the default 4-20 setting. I'm not afraid to make changes. Just hope my new sleep doc understands when she finds out I didn't get the machine from her DME choice.

Here's the link to rescan software and the clinical guide. memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=38643

Good for you and even if the doctor dont like it tuff IT is YOUR treatment not there's......

I thought I would follow up some 3 weeks into treatment about what it's meant to me and what I've done. I read these threads as I went down the path to treatment and found them very helpful.

Before treatment I had an almost constant low grade headache, was aching all over after waking, had yawning spells through the day, experienced knee ache episodes through the day and night, could barely walk half a mile, and lacked motivation to do anything.

By day 3 the symptoms were mostly gone and today I would consider them totally gone. I have been able to easily walk a mile and a half. I have been working outside on some long delayed physcially involved projects. They are being done in what over the last few weeks has been a hot and humid summer.

I've made several adjustments to my apap over the course of treatment. I immediately set the upper limit to 12. I started the lower limit at 4, it's now at 6.6. I started with long ramp time, it's now 5 miniutes. I started the ramp pressure at 4 and it's now 5.6. Like others I found that I kind of feel suffocated at the lower pressures. It took several nights to find the desired temperature that I wanted the humidifier at. I set the EPR at 2 and have left it there.

Is the process over? No. I gained 20 pounds over the last 10 months. 5 of those have now disappeared 3 years ago I took 4 days to hike across the Grand Canyon in the intense summer heat. I wish to repeat it and and add some new back country hikes. It just makes me feel so much better to know that it is back to being a realistic goal.

Even if I don't get reimbursed by insurance, I would still have bought my machine at cpap.com. That is because getting what I wanted was important to me.

And speaking of insurance. You must know what your coverage is. Call and ask early in the process. You don't want surprises. As you read here you will find that most policies are very similar. That doesn't mean yours is. Mine isn't. Remember, your insurance company isn't going to care if you tell them you read it here that they should pay for it.

Yippeee you have taken charge of your therapy and are reaping the rewards...good for you. That is great, you educated yourself to what needs to be done and you did it you have to be congratulated on what you have done so far. You are an example of what a newbie should do prior and during your first few weeks on the hose. It would be wonderful if others took charge of therapy and got things right instead of just complaining that its doesn't work. If any other newbies are reading this thread...............take note, it's what you are supposed to do.....educate yourself before you get into trouble.
Welcome to the world of hoseheads AmIawake.