CPAPtalk.com

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about 2 years ago and have used the Remstar Plus w/Cflex since that time.

I stumbled on these forums today as I just ordered the Comfort Curve Nasal Interface. Wonder if anyone has experience with it. My headgear is falling apart and in shoping for a new one I found lots of positive info about this new Respironics nasal interface.

Also, although I have been using CPAP for 2 years reading this forum makes me realize how little I know about my own sleep apnea. So some questions:

My CP Number I was told was 11. (I assume that this is 11cm?) What is the range and how severe is this? I think I had around 94 apnea events during my sleep test 2 years ago. How often should apnea sufferers return to have additional sleep studies.

I have a smart card on my CPAP machine, but have never looked for data out of it. Should I get a smart card reader and software?

The software that people speak of to help monitor their condition. Is it using the data from the smart card?

Does the software require any other devices? Like something to read Blood Oxygen Levels?

What are the surgical solutions to Apnea? And how invasive are they? I spoke with an ear nose and throat specialist when diagnosed and because he said it is not 100% effective, and I was adjusting fairly well to CPAP, I opted not to have surgery.

I am a 35 year old male, and am 6ft, 265lbs, Medium Build. I know that if I lost some weight my apnea would likely improve. I have steadily gained weight over the last 10 years however, and wonder if I could ever lose enough weight to not need CPAP. Has anyone been able to stop using CPAP through weight loss?

Anyway, I know this is a lot of questons. Look forward to participating in this forum. I am grateful to find a group of people to talk to about these issues, as most doctors don't seem well informed.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap machine, respironics, CPAP, Smart Card, Comfort Curve

I'll take a stab at a few of your questions.

dmoisant wrote:My CP Number I was told was 11. (I assume that this is 11cm?) What is the range and how severe is this? I think I had around 94 apnea events during my sleep test 2 years ago. How often should apnea sufferers return to have additional sleep studies.

That sounds like your Apnea-Hypopnea-Index (total apneas + hypopneas / sleep time) and 11 agrees with your 94 events.

I have a smart card on my CPAP machine, but have never looked for data out of it. Should I get a smart card reader and software?

The software that people speak of to help monitor their condition. Is it using the data from the smart card?

Yes and yes.

Does the software require any other devices? Like something to read Blood Oxygen Levels?

No, unless you want to do what I did and get an oximeter. I find it every bit as valuable as the monitoring software, though, but be aware that it is not inexpensive. Hope this helps.

Regards,
Bill

Hi and Welcome. Yes, alot of questions. I'll address a few.

1. Mask. What interface have you been using for 2 years? If you do a search on Comfort Curve in this forum, you can see some opinions. However, the preferred nasal pillow interfaces are Breeze, Swift, and Aura. The Breeze being the quietest, but the Aura more comfortable for side-sleepers. There again, if you do a search, you can read the pros and cons.

2. Smart Card Reader and software. Here is some info I typed up and post frequently. Software readings will let you know how you're doing, which is very important. For $30.80 you can have this info at home:


You can purchase a reader for $30.80 (includes shipping from Hong Kong to the USA). I used a credit card, some pay via Paypal. It takes about 8 to 10 days to get to the USA. This is the one I purchased for a desktop computer:

http://www.2factors.com/index.php?sp=&p ... s=&lang=en

You will not use the CD that comes with the reader – at all.

1. Download and install the free Respironics software from the respironics site below. For a new installation use Encore Pro version 1.5i (this installs both the software and MSSQL server).

http://software.respironics.com/cgi-bin ... ge=[Encore]

2. Next you want to run the “setup.exe” driver file from “Sleepymans” website. You access it thru this forum and this is the page you will find it on: Just click on it and say SAVE OR RUN:

viewtopic.php?p=58727&highlight=free+do ... nics#58727

3. Last, you download and install MyEncore Ver. 1.5b.7 from Derek’s site (via this forum):

viewtopic.php?t=6057&highlight=

Hope that helps to get you started off right. If anyone sees any additions or corrections, please let me know and I will update this and post it every so often.

Note for #2). If for some reason you get error messages, you can try downloading a different driver via the 2factors site. You will have to uninstall the other driver first. (Supposedly they are the same driver, but sometimes computer glitches happen). Again, do NOT use the CD that came with the reader, go to this site and use “installers for Encore Pro” at the bottom of the screen:

http://www.2factors.com/index.php?sp=&p ... s=&lang=en

Your pressure of 11 seems to be about mid-range.

Losing weight sometimes lowers your required pressure. The general consensus is that there is no "cure" for sleep apnea.

Hope that helps some. Others will post with more info.

dmoisant,

If you in fact have the REMstar Plus machine, the smart card in it isn't capturing the sleep details (statistics).....only compliance hours. The only machines that will do that are the REMstar Pro 2 and the REMstar "auto" machines. Therefore, a card reader and software won't tell you anything that will be of much help.

If you get your doctor to write a prescription for an overnight pulse/oximeter study, you can pick up one at your local DME supplier and do the study for free.

If it is your pressure setting on the machine that is set to 11, all that means is that is what your doctor prescribed as the setting to hopefully keep your airway open to breathe at night. The pressure ranges on a typical CPAP machine are 4 to 20 cm. The severity of your OSA does not correlate to the number that the machine is set to. Again, the machine setting is the setting that the doctor believed would work to keep your airway open.

Best wishes,

Den

dmoisant wrote:I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about 2 years ago and have used the Remstar Plus w/Cflex since that time.

That's GREAT that you've been sticking with cpap, using your machine for the past two years!

I stumbled on these forums today as I just ordered the Comfort Curve Nasal Interface. Wonder if anyone has experience with it. My headgear is falling apart and in shoping for a new one I found lots of positive info about this new Respironics nasal interface.

Didn't work for me, but that doesn't mean it might not suit you ok. Here's a link to a lot of posts about the Comfort Curve. Some of them contain tips that might help if you have problems with it:

LINKS to Comfort Curve nasal mask topics

Also, although I have been using CPAP for 2 years reading this forum makes me realize how little I know about my own sleep apnea. So some questions:

My CP Number I was told was 11. (I assume that this is 11cm?) What is the range and how severe is this? I think I had around 94 apnea events during my sleep test 2 years ago. How often should apnea sufferers return to have additional sleep studies.

I'm not sure what you mean by "CP" number - cpap pressure? If you're talking about machine pressure, then yes, it would mean 11 cm H20. The pressure your machine is blowing to try to keep your throat open while you sleep.

But if what you were told is that your AHI was 11, that would be the "apnea-hypopnea index" -- an average of the number of times per hour that you had apneas and/or hypopneas during the diagnostic night (first night, or first portion of the night if it was a split study) of your sleep study.

A prescribed pressure has no correlation with the mildness or severity of the sleep apnea. A person could have very severe OSA, yet need only a low pressure of 5 or 6 to keep the throat open. Another person could have very mild OSA, but need a very high pressure to keep the throat open. The amount of pressure you need has everything to do with how much is needed to keep the throat tissues from collapsing, and nothing to do with the degree of severity of the disorder.

How often to return for a study? Well, some would say every three years, some every five years; some would say "if sleepy symptoms reappear." Some who are using autopaps that automatically adjust as their needs change might say "never". I use autopap - I don't expect to go for another sleep study unless I choose to do so "for curiosity."

I have a smart card on my CPAP machine, but have never looked for data out of it. Should I get a smart card reader and software?

Your particular machine (REMstar Plus) would not give you any useful information at all. The Plus records hours of use (compliance) onto the Smart Card. You already know you're using your machine, so having the software tell you how many hours you use it wouldn't be worth seeing. The "Plus" doesn't give any of the juicy overnight detailed data like how many apneas and hypopneas sneaked through, your nightly AHI, etc. In the REMstar line, you'd need the Pro 2 or the Auto to get the interesting kind of data you'd want to see from the Smart Card.

The software that people speak of to help monitor their condition. Is it using the data from the smart card?

Yes, but as I mentioned, the Plus machine doesn't put any interesting data on the Smart Card.

Does the software require any other devices? Like something to read Blood Oxygen Levels?

No. That's a good thing to check at least once though, imho, to be sure cpap is keeping the oxygen levels up effectively when you sleep. A doctor can order the DME to give you an overnight recording pulse oximeter. I've read that DME's usually provide that free for a night if the doctor requests it.

What are the surgical solutions to Apnea? And how invasive are they? I spoke with an ear nose and throat specialist when diagnosed and because he said it is not 100% effective, and I was adjusting fairly well to CPAP, I opted not to have surgery.

If you can use cpap ok -- comfortable enough with it and it's doing the job for you, ther's not much reason to contemplate surgeries. Only the MOST invasive is pretty much 100% sure to be a solution -- tracheotomy (hole in the throat) or MMA/GA (surgically moving the jaw and tongue forward.) Here's a link with more than anyone could ever want to know about various kinds of surgeries or procedures (UPPP is one I'd definitely say to avoid because of its long term ineffectiveness):

LINKS to surgery, turbinates, Pillar, TAP experiences

I am a 35 year old male, and am 6ft, 265lbs, Medium Build. I know that if I lost some weight my apnea would likely improve. I have steadily gained weight over the last 10 years however, and wonder if I could ever lose enough weight to not need CPAP. Has anyone been able to stop using CPAP through weight loss?

I've read of a few, a very few, who were able to stop using CPAP because of weight loss. However, at best, what weight loss does for most people is allow them to use less pressure even though it doesn't "cure" them completely. There are many thin people with OSA too.

Anyway, I know this is a lot of questons. Look forward to participating in this forum. I am grateful to find a group of people to talk to about these issues, as most doctors don't seem well informed.

You're so right. Most doctors are not well informed at all about the nuts and bolts of the treatment equipment. They leave that up to the DMEs (durable medical equipment providers...the home health care store people) who usually give people the cheapest mask and machine they can.

Those were good questions, dmoisant! Welcome to the message board.

It took me a few weeks of tweeking it, and I almost gave up on the ComfortCurve, but now I love it. It is the only mask I use.

1. Most important for me was to use the smallest nose piece. I had fewer leaks, but it felt like it covered my nares and I couldn't get a good breath. The medium leaked like crazy for me. Solution: Used small scissors and made the opening bigger on both sides. It is wonderful.

2. The headgear didn't feel right. Solution, turn it upside down so I have the buckle on the bottom.

3. Took me a little while to figure out that I could turn the cheek pads. I took the pads off and looked and I could twist them. Then I was able to find a comfortable spot.

I use the small nosepiece. After you get yours, if you find you use medium or large I will be happy to trade my medium and large for your small nose piece.

Good luck with it, and don't give up.