What happened??? I was so happy.

Den,

I agree with you a hundred percent.

Chuck,

I think the fact that she snored and felt pre-cpap for a few days is nothing to get alarmed about, which is what seems to be the trend your post and mandojohnny's is taking. I don't profess to claim to be an expert at all in any area of this, and I don't think anybody else here claims to be, either. But I also think running to a doctor when she's already stated she feels great again is a bit uncalled for.

Now you talk about making a phone call to the doctor, which is far different than going to see him. Great. If, at this point, she still really thinks she wants to discuss it with him and he'll do it over the phone, by all means, I agree, call. But I will be the first to tell you, there are even weeks at a time when I don't feel great on therapy but I don't go running to my doctor every time that happens; and so far, it's resolved. There are MANY outside factors that contribute to how we feel daily, weekly, etc., and it's not always linked back to cpap therapy. I was taught that by members in my first few months of therapy on this very site. But if she didn't improve, like I, myself, even suggested at the outset in my first reply, maybe she should see a doctor to make sure it isn't something else. But her energy has returned, so why run to a doctor, to tell him she feels well but she snored?

I am not belittling the fact that someone was complaining they felt pre-cpap, but we all do at one time or another. And given the fact that she has stated she's feeling "great," her own word, again, I don't see the need.

I'm not interested in furthering a sophmoric debate. But, I AM interested in making sure that ALL of us have the treatment that we deserve. That includes having doctors who understand that this is a life-affecting change for us, and in consideration of that, will make themselves available to answer "little" questions that arise, such as IdahoGal's. They should have both the compassion and the competency to do so.

Are IdahoGal's complaints alarming? I hope not, but what the hell do I know??? I'm a shrink, not a pulmonologist. I'd sure as hell like her to know though, from someone who has the competency to tell her so that she can stake her health and her welfare on it.

I know that there are LOTS of ebbs and flows in this adventure. But, I think we all have a good sense of when something ain't right. And even if we're wrong, err on the side of safety, and have a doc that we trust to ask and answer our questions, anyway.

Most of all, i don't want to encourage for anyone here the idea that sleepdocs and DMEs are money-grubbing slugs who ain't gonna help anyway, so why bother. Or encourage anyone to be suspicious. I DO want to encourage everyone to have a sleepdoc that they can TRUST, and to settle for nothing less. Then, I want to encourage folks to call upon those sleepdocs that they've come to trust to get the answers to the questions that they NEED to have answered. We're NOT the ones to give answers that others can or should count on.

Chuck

Chuck

Differing opinions I don't like to believe are a debate. It is what I always felt this forum was about, the exchange of opinions, differing and concurring.

I do agree with what you just wrote. However, she is feeling well now (thank goodness) and back to how she felt before this little incident.

And I would pray that most of us, if not all, have the sense to know that we need to go to doctors when things aren't right and not trust laymen who answer comments/questions on web sites and take that word as medical advice it place of.

That being said, I'm out.

Idahogal,

I'll reiterate, I'm glad you're feeling great again.

I vote try raising the pressure until the snoring stops. Raising the pressure isn't rocket science, and no one should be snoring while on cpap. I don't think you have to worry about hurting yourself by raising the pressure on your own 1cm at a time. Why waste your time and money with a visit to a doctor or DME? You're likely to cause more harm to yourself by taking an extra aspirin than by raising the pressure on your cpap. Think about auto machines. They raise the pressure every night to combat events like snoring without consulting a doctor or DME!

I keep remembering that Respironics guy or maybe it was Resmed, who said the only way you could hurt yourself using cpap was if you dropped it on your head.

Sophomoric debate, Chuck? I don't think so. Patient-directed therapy is often a topic of discussion and a very important issue.

Anonymous wrote:I keep remembering that Respironics guy or maybe it was Resmed, who said the only way you could hurt yourself using cpap was if you dropped it on your head.

LOL-Sorry I missed that one.

Lori (and all)-

I wanted to apologize to you all. When I made reference to a "sophomoric debate", I didn't mean to imply that I thought that this discussion was anything other than sincere or VERY useful.

I really was apologizing for my repetitive posts, for giving diligent visitors here TOO much to read, and for furthering a discussion with my own views which I think some could find to be sophomoric. I didn't mean to imply that anyone else's views were, or that I thought that this discussion wasn't the open and valuable forum which I wholeheartedly believe it is.

Now, regarding the poster who supposedly quoted Respironics or ResMed about CPAP being so innocuous, I also wholeheartedly disagree with that, and I'd remind folks that it is FDA regulated for use "by or on the order of a physician" for a reason (ok, try to control your cynicism for just an instant). For example, its known that pressures above a certain level can trigger or worsen centrals (or non-responsive) apneas. Do any of you know what that "certain level" is for idahogal??? Are you nonetheless willing to have her take that risk just on your say so?? And what if she does, and suffers adverse effects?

So, sharing advice, experiences and thoughts is FINE and is the true value of this wonderful forum. As long as folks don't forget that they have trained professionals who are educated and LICENSED to accept the responsibility of managing this critical area of our health, and use and demand courteous, competent and accesible care from these professionals.

BTW, some of what I've read here may already be in violation of some state licensing laws regarding the scope of medical practice without a license. States have licensing laws to perform an important quality assurance function in order to protect the public. I don't believe that CPAPtalk has any such vetting process in place. So, as always, CAVEAT EMPTOR.

Once again, my deepest apologies for my imprudent words before. I didn't mean to offend anyone and was only trying to excuse myself in advance.

Chuck

Chuck,

No apology necessary...but your thoughtfulness appreciated. Thank you.

WOW! this post has been very busy while I was away. Well, here is the verdict. I am going to try increasing my pressure by 2 more cm, one at a time of course, and then if things don't improve with the snoring I will make a call to the doc. I agree that I don't need to go through a bunch of testing. I do think that if I can not eliminate the snoring with 2 cm then maybe it is a bigger issue. Thanks again for all of your help and concern. Great group we have here!

then again, I don't nose snore as far as I know. Snoring with mask and pressure on got me to see the doc in the past, got me another couple CM and got me to stop snoring.

YMMV...and as to whether I'd change pressure, well, there are a lot of people who say that they can titrate themselves as well as a doc can, and one study that says the same.

You know, I wish that self titration study had one more phase - what if people who were involved with their own therapy and allowed to titrate themselves stuck to the CPAP better? Might be worth it to accept that more people would get therapy and allow a few to have a cm or two off.

GoofyUT wrote: I'm a shrink, not a pulmonologist.

Gee, it wasn't that long ago that your wrote, "None of us here are physicians".

Which is it, Chuck?

Idahogal.

Did things change from this morning? I hope not, but I thought you were feeling better. Are you going to increase the cms. just for the sake of the snoring? It could be allergies. I know they are horrible here in NY, and I never used to suffer with them but am suffering big time with them this spring. Is your nose stuffy or running during the daytime at all? Curious...

Lori,

Yes, I did start feeling very worn out again and all of my joints are hurting again. I felt so great this morning...dang it. I sure do appreciate your concern. I am hoping that this is just temporary or a higher pressure need with the CL2. I guess the best way to describe what I am going through is to feel like you have the flu but every joint just aches instead of muscle...well muscle to I guess. I feel like I have been run over.

Susan,

Now I'm beginning to think it has NOTHING to do with your therapy and you should go get yourself checked out. You may just be coming down with a virus or something along those lines, but don't diagnose yourself. I'm not thinking it's related to your therapy at all, although what you could have or are incubating perhaps can cause your therapy to be disrupted.

If I were you, and I know I'm not but, I would call tomorrow if I wasn't feeling betterl and get checked out. When it comes to your health, always better safe than sorry. It never hurts.

Please keep us posted as to how you're doing. Feel better!

Lori,

I will get checked out if I dont get better. I am going to give it one more night and see what happens. It just feels SO pre cpap. This is exactly what I felt like before. The thing that really stinks is that I am supposed to work out of town for the next 3 days and then have long local travel days after that. I may just have to reschedule some stuff to get to the doc.

Susan,

Your health comes first and foremost before anything else. If you must reschedule work-related responsibilities, and you can, I would. It probably is just something brewing which is making you feel terrible, but don't self-diagnose if you're unsure. I really hope you get to the bottom of this and feel better soon.

Take it easy and let me know how you're doing, please.