Help, I'm overwelmed

Marky wrote:He then went on to say he'd heard some horror stories about people taping their mouths shut. I said he obviously hadnt had the air forced out of his mouth!

Seems like everyone has "heard" the stories but when asked to prove it..they can't.
Yeah there is the theoretical possibility of a horror story but we have no proof one way or the other. I can't prove it is safe and I can't prove it isn't safe to tape.

Is there any chance you can get your hands on a full data machine to see for sure if you are leaking badly enough to create a problem? I know things are different in England and how things are supplied. It is a shame that you have to go through all this aggravation and not feel better and not know why.

If things dont improve rapidly Ill have to say more needs to be done. He told me I was still settling into masks and treatment.
Ive tried all the resmed masks and a couple of masks from other makes.

If the leaks dont improve I guess they will have to do another sleep study to find out whats happening (it was a home test last time that showed significant episodes and my oxygen dropped quite markedly)

Dear Overwhelmed, I'm 6 months into use and I've read the preceeding posts and found them right on point. My experience is to read
everything on the subject you can get your hands on. The treatment is life changing, you don't know how bad off you are until you actually get treatment. When you get into the daily routine of using the equipment you find it' no big deal, but you will feel so much
better. You will look at the readout every morning and find your AHI in the 2-5 range, the normal range for non sufferers and it show that it's working correctly.

I'm worried about the air blowing on my wife as well, although she is really behind me on this, how much worse is that than me snoring and then not breathing.


Ok i got more info. I guess the PRS1 model 550 is an auto machine, but my prescription is for a fixed so they said I could have the 450 machine. Is that one good? Should I try and get an auto machine
?

Marky,
Hope I am understanding your comments. If chin strap and other methods don't help keeping mouth closed, then why not try a full face mask or a hybrid mask?

echap wrote: Ok i got more info. I guess the PRS1 model 550 is an auto machine, but my prescription is for a fixed so they said I could have the 450 machine. Is that one good? Should I try and get an auto machine
?

Tell them to give you the 550 model and set it in cpap mode.... The APAP will also do straight CPAP (2 machines in one)
You may or may not ever want to use/try APAP but at least the option will be there.

the 450 model is the PR S1 Pro with CFlex+ straight cpap. Full data.. but always straight cpap. Great machine though but if you can swing the APAP best of both worlds.

I'm worried about the air blowing on my wife as well, although she is really behind me on this, how much worse is that than me snoring and then not breathing.

Keep your wife behind you--as in spooning with you in front--and no air will blow on her!

Seriously, it depends on the mask and the position you sleep in. Sometimes a simple fix like a pillow between you will sheild your wife from the vented air, or hanging your hose overhead (this works for the Swift FX).

apneawho wrote:Marky,
Hope I am understanding your comments. If chin strap and other methods don't help keeping mouth closed, then why not try a full face mask or a hybrid mask?

The chin strap just keeps coming off and causes dryness around my chin making it very sore.

I have also tried all the resmed face masks, but they leak at the very top of the bridge of my nose, and so the air blows into my eyes and wakes me up instantly (I dont have a big nose you understand..........just a little face! )

At one point I even had one of the wifes stockings tied around my head trying to hold my mouth shut. But it slipped off just the same.

echap wrote:I'm worried about the air blowing on my wife as well, although she is really behind me on this, how much worse is that than me snoring and then not breathing.


Ok i got more info. I guess the PRS1 model 550 is an auto machine, but my prescription is for a fixed so they said I could have the 450 machine. Is that one good? Should I try and get an auto machine
?

Absolutely, yes. If it's really a PRS1 model 550, take it. It's a great machine. It can do manual CPAP pressure.

Taping your mouth risks suffocation if the machine quits blowing and you don't wake up. You will be rebreathing your own exhaled air. Oxygen will decrease and CO2 will increase. This can cause you to sink deeper into unconsciousness and stop breathing. This is why the FDA requires all full face masks to have an anti-asphyxia valve.

Most people will wake up and be able to take the mask or tape off, but it's not a sure thing.

Another risk is aspiration pneumonia if you vomit before you can get the tape off. Aspiration pneumonia is very bad. Google it.

Many people tape anyway despite the risks. The risk may be small, but you'll probably be doing this for the rest of your life so risks add up.

-----

Some people say this is just speculation because I can't produce a dead body and a death certificate with official cause of death listed as taping their mouth shut.

Think about what this means. If someone dies in their sleep because their power went out or their CPAP failed and they had their mouth taped, how will we hear about it here? The junior coroner's assistant is going to see someone who obviously had medical problems since he has "one of them thar hose thingies." The coroner is probably a political hack who has a tight budget and they only investigate for major cases or where foul play is expected. Remember, the coroner is an elected official or a political appointee.

No one may know the power went out causing the CPAP to stop. Even if they do, only someone familiar with CPAP is going to make the connection to mouth taping being a bad idea. Then it would be a lot of work to prove the connection. It's going to upset the family to claim that daddy died because he did something stupid.

Now, assume the coroner does make the determination that mouth taping caused the death. Is the news media going to make a big deal about it? Is one of the survivors going to know about the deceased's interest in this board and log in and tell us that TedTaper died from mouth taping?

Janknitz wrote:I might add that there is some power in walking into the DME and telling them exactly what you want, knowing that if they can't supply it to you and at a reasonable price without a bunch of negotiating, you can simply walk out and buy online. It definitely takes the sucker sign off your head. Who knows, you might get a DME who will work with you.

Jan is right, because that is what I did. I took with me a page I printed showing the online cost of the machine I wanted. At first, it was no dice, they kept saying my insurance wouldn't cover a second machine. Then, when I mentioned the magic words "self-pay" and "cash", you should have seen their eyes light up!!! It took a few hours (they had to contact the franchise operator to get the quote), but their quote came in $50 less than an online machine, with the added benefit that I walked out the door the same day with my new machine.

As an aside, my DME called the other day to ask if I need any supplies. When I replied "no", they wanted to know if I was sure, because I should need new cushions by now. I told them no thanks, I can get my supplies online cheaper than I can through insurance. Which is true. I got fed up with them when they refused to order me a Swift FX for Her to try, and haven't been back since.

Thank you all for your help. I just got back from the dme. I got the PRS1 model 550. They argued with me that I was prescribed a 450, but the idea asked to see it and it only said cpap. I told her to program the 550 in cpap mode or I would take my business elsewhere. She said no, so I stood up and started to leave, which changed her tune quickly. So again, thanks for all your help.

echap wrote:I got the PRS1 model 550

Good job. I have the same machine. I have the clinician manual in pdf format. If you want a copy send me a private message with your private email address and I will send it to you as attachment (can't do attachments here at forum).

I forgot to post software options. You have several. Send me a note if you need more information.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=64906&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... re+options

echap wrote: I got the PRS1 model 550.