New here, just did ResMed Apnealink study

Hi all,

I had my first study last night with the RedMed apnealink and it was ok but the finger thing pinched me so much I kept waking up because of it. Anyway, I have the machine over the long weekend and they told me if I get a good sleep the first night I don't need to do another test, but I can if I want to. They said to add another test to take out the batteries and change them, and the machine will be ready to record a new study. I asked if the old study is saved and they said yes -- just want to confirm this because I had a pretty good night (only woke up gasping once, snored according to hubby, and woke up 6 or so times to turn over/grumble about my finger hurting). Didn't have insomnia, so I'm thinking they will have the info they need. Of course I don't mind doing another test (using the other hand lol) just want to confirm that I won't lose any of the first one's info. (I just don't trust technology sometimes.)

I was told the device can actually hold enough data for 3 studies so they said I can go ahead and do three but I'm not too into that;)

This particular place had a really great price on the study (I consulted one that was $650 but because my insurance doesn't cover it, they lowered it to $400.) They charged me just $215 for the study. They also offer a 15% rebate/discount if you buy a ResMed CPAP if you get diagnosed. Anyone have thoughts about that brand? I know pretty much nothing about this right now. I'm almost positive that I have sleep apnea (ignored for years). I'll find out the results about the week after next.

Isadora,
It looks like you have everything in hand. That's great. If you can go three nights, it's probably not a bad idea. The more data they have, the better diagnosis can be made. I'm not sure if it's happening with you, but it's not necessary to "jam" your finger all the way down into the sensor clip. So long as your fingertip covers the sensor led inside the clip, it should record fine and be more comfortable. Perhaps you can try adjusting your finger-tip so it's not as uncomfortable on the next sleep session.

(For those who are not familiar with the ResMed ApneaLink, here's a youtube video about it.)

The two most popular brands of CPAP device are ResMed and Phillips Respironics.
If I were diagnosed with garden-variety sleep apnea today and I was getting my first machine, I would go with the ResMed S9 Auto. It's a great machine, especially if you are interested in being in control of your own CPAP therapy.

Welcome!

Make it a point not to let them give you a resmed escape. It doesn't allow you to collect the data you will want to see down the road.

Thanks, DreamDiver. I believe the ResMed S9 is the one they recommend (I saw pics of it in their office and sample ones). They also said that if I need it I will have a week long study ($275) and try different masks and stuff and they will let me try out different masks over a month's time. Sounded pretty good to me. My insurance covers a CPAP up to $1000 so yay for that.

The finger sensor thing they have on it is the one in the video, it's a grey rubber one. When I have it on the way she showed me, I can feel my pulse in my finger tip because it's squeezing it. She said it has to be snug or they don't get a reading. I'll try and upload a photo if I'm allowed so you can see what kind I am talking about. It has an opening on the end and is thick grey rubber all around.

http://www.1stopsleepdoctors.com/servic ... leep-test/

there a pic on this page. It's the grey bit and it has an opening on the end so they said to push my finger so the end is pressing down into my finger. Have to say my finger hurt pretty bad when I woke up and didn't stop for a couple of hours.

I am trying to find some documentation on the device just to see how to reset it and save the first study -- is that in the video? I hadn't completed watching it yet.

It's too soon to tell what machine would be good for Isadora. Does she (he? my uncle name was Isidor) have Central Sleep Apnea Syndrome (CSAS) including CSR or Periodic Breathing, or COPD, or Cardiac problems, or hypoventilation, then an APAP machine would be contra indicated.

Isadora wrote:Thanks, DreamDiver. I believe the ResMed S9 is the one they recommend (I saw pics of it in their office and sample ones). They also said that if I need it I will have a week long study ($275) and try different masks and stuff and they will let me try out different masks over a month's time. Sounded pretty good to me. My insurance covers a CPAP up to $1000 so yay for that.

.

Yes ...the S9 is a good unit, but, not the S9 Escape. Ask for the S9 Autoset model.

No idea what kind of technical breathing issues etc. I'm having but no heart problems (I have health anxiety about that and have had 7 stress tests in 3 years all of which I asked for and the docs keep saying I don't need them. Let's just say that I've had so many tests of various types I'm supposed to rule out heart stuff but my anxiety persists as I haven't had the angio since there's no evidence for one.)

I'm a woman, btw:)

DreamDiver, do you know if any videos tell anything about doing a second night study after the first with the same machine. Yes, I'm paranoid about it not retaining the first one or overwriting it. They told me just change the batteries and I scoured all the documents on the ResMed site and couldn't find anything much about multiple recordings except one mention:

"If there are several recordings on
the device, all the recordings will be
downloaded, analysed, and a report produced for each. The report for the
longest recording will be displayed automatically."

So I assume it can do more than one recording but I'm just worried that taking out the batteries will wipe it. Though yeah, they say to use new batteries every time because the batteries are only good for about 10 continuous hours so they'd run out the second time if you didn't change them. The office is closed til Tuesday but I could maybe call resMed on Monday and ask them.