Newbie going the DIY route...

Hello everyone just joined the forum today

I have been scrolling through the forum reading a bunch of threads trying to up my CPAP IQ (great info available here)
My situation :
I had a cpap machine about 7 years ago (insurance paid $1700 for it) but never used it due to the fact that I tried on a bunch of masks and none of them ever worked because I'm a heavy mouth breather...during the last 2 months I made a lifestyle change...and taking care of my sleep was next on my list...

I had a sleep study done my and numbers were (88 interruptions an hr with my oxygen drop to 7% during the night) so I was set up with a Philips resperonics A-flex for a 1 month trial with a full face mask...LOVED IT!!! I stopped falling asleep at work,while driving,sitting on the couch... 2 weeks in had to bring in the machine because it wasn't sending in the wireless data...so we had a chance to look at my numbers (interruptions were at 3.5 an hr with 95% oxygenation...but he said that the pressure was capping out..I'm guessing that means full pressure)...10 days later I got the bad news insurance said they were only going to cover $400 because my insurance only covers me for $2300 life time and I already used $1700 with my first machine...the cost of a new machine was $2700 bucks so that was not an option...So I looked for a used machine and found a nearly brand new ( used 3 times) Resmed S9 autoset with heated humidifier and climate hose and full face mask...for $400 bucks

Sorry for all the background info but my question is...since my numbers were so bad and I was capping out on the pressure should I just leave it up to the machine to take care of my therapy or should I manually change my machine settings???

My first 2 nights were not good compared to my trial machine...had neck pain and pain on my forehead (made an adjustment to the mask and solved my forehead pain)
Since I'm going the DIY route...ANY info or tips that I should do or try to cut down the learning curve as I'm just starting out again(tips on collecting and understanding my data read outs would be appreciated

Thxs so much and I'm glad to be here

Welcome to the forum!
I hope the 7% was only a typo--

chunkyfrog wrote:Welcome to the forum!
I hope the 7% was only a typo--

if not, we're talkin to a real zombie.... braiiiiiinzzzz anyone?

sleepy islander wrote: Since I'm going the DIY route...ANY info or tips that I should do or try to cut down the learning curve as I'm just starting out again(tips on collecting and understanding my data read outs would be appreciated

Thxs so much and I'm glad to be here

pull your data off the sd card and post it, hit ^ to turn off the calendar, and turn off the right side panel... one of our resident guru's will be along to help.

Yep I was a zombie for sure...7% and was told one of the most severe cases they have seen...

sleepy islander wrote:Yep I was a zombie for sure...7% and was told one of the most severe cases they have seen...

I'm pretty sure 7% would mean severe brain damage if not death.

but, who knows.

sleepy islander wrote:Hello everyone just joined the forum today

I have been scrolling through the forum reading a bunch of threads trying to up my CPAP IQ (great info available here)
My situation :
I had a cpap machine about 7 years ago (insurance paid $1700 for it) but never used it due to the fact that I tried on a bunch of masks and none of them ever worked because I'm a heavy mouth breather...during the last 2 months I made a lifestyle change...and taking care of my sleep was next on my list...

I had a sleep study done my and numbers were (88 interruptions an hr with my oxygen drop to 7% during the night) so I was set up with a Philips resperonics A-flex for a 1 month trial with a full face mask...LOVED IT!!! I stopped falling asleep at work,while driving,sitting on the couch... 2 weeks in had to bring in the machine because it wasn't sending in the wireless data...so we had a chance to look at my numbers (interruptions were at 3.5 an hr with 95% oxygenation...but he said that the pressure was capping out..I'm guessing that means full pressure)...10 days later I got the bad news insurance said they were only going to cover $400 because my insurance only covers me for $2300 life time and I already used $1700 with my first machine...the cost of a new machine was $2700 bucks so that was not an option...So I looked for a used machine and found a nearly brand new ( used 3 times) Resmed S9 autoset with heated humidifier and climate hose and full face mask...for $400 bucks

Sorry for all the background info but my question is...since my numbers were so bad and I was capping out on the pressure should I just leave it up to the machine to take care of my therapy or should I manually change my machine settings???

My first 2 nights were not good compared to my trial machine...had neck pain and pain on my forehead (made an adjustment to the mask and solved my forehead pain)
Since I'm going the DIY route...ANY info or tips that I should do or try to cut down the learning curve as I'm just starting out again(tips on collecting and understanding my data read outs would be appreciated

Thxs so much and I'm glad to be here

Comments,

You don't give info about your test except the neck and forehead. What do you mean by "capping out on the pressure"?

The Resmed S9 Autoset is a great machine. In many countries over the world it is used as a diagnosing machine instead of having a lab sleep test do it. As a matter of fact U.S. sleep labs usually don't titrate (to find the therapeutic pressure) in APAP modes. Only in CPAP mode.

IMO, unless you suffer from Central Sleep Apnea Syndrome, Cardiac problems (the C02 receptors malfunction), COPD, or hypoventilation (weak lungs) you should be safe to run the S9 Autoset as you see fit, hoping to sleep 6 to 7 hours, feel ok in the mornings and days and have AHIs at or below 5.

AVI

( I can't get any info on EPR when i do a search on this forum)

sooo


Looking at your EPR level why is it at 3?
Or, for that matter, curious, since you obviously know what you are doing, what difference do you suppose it would have made to your overall numbers if your EPR had been at 1?
Just curious where 3 came from and/or why?

ShelaghDB wrote:AVI

( I can't get any info on EPR when i do a search on this forum)

sooo


Looking at your EPR level why is it at 3?
Or, for that matter, curious, since you obviously know what you are doing, what difference do you suppose it would have made to your overall numbers if your EPR had been at 1?
Just curious where 3 came from and/or why?

Reply,

Frankly I don't know why I am at EPR= 3, because I could easily take any EPR setup down to zero which would make me exhale into an exhaust pressure of 9cm or 10 cm. And it even could be better for me with my flow limitation. I should try it. Overall, the EPR is created for those CPAPers who need inspiration pressures above 15 cm on CPAPs treatment but can't take it for the exhalation stage because of the hi pressure. So for them an EPR =3 would reduce the exhalation pressure by 3 cm down to 12 cm. And make it easier on them.

I think it has to do with my original RX, from 4 years ago, in which the Sleep Doc instructed to put it on EPR =2

Avi


Thats interesting. Thanks for the answer. Please do not think that i was in any way suggesting that you put it at 1 for i wouldn't advise it even if I thought i were right. I am a newbie and havent any idea but was truly curious HOW you came up with the number of 3 which you have now explained exceptionally well.
So if you do change it, please do it on your own accord Just don't mistake my question for a suggestion or you could be in real trouble

That said, I would be curious to know how to works out and if you find its better or not, if you do end up changing it.
I also just asked you for mine is at 1 but i couldn't begin to tell you why its there, so i had more of a selfish motive in asking about yours, rather than trying to help you because I wouldn't know how to help you if i could........i was just impressed with how well you seem to understand your own settings, etc, and how articulate you were expressing them and why.

Guest wrote:

jwerley

Care to explain the rolling eyes after my comment?
Im pretty certain it wasn't directed at Avi, or the OP


I feel if you felt the need to send me a rolling eye comment, so badly that you even had to do it as a guest, you must have something negative you'd like to say to me.
Otherwise, I shall have to assume what you are trying to say and comment back upon that assumption.
I'd rather not have to change the direction of this thread but since there are several that choose to do so by contionously commenting rudely after one of my posts, than I now choose to respond in kind back rather than ignoring them. Contrary to popular opinion that someone has pulled out of the air and seems to think such psycho babble has any validity to it, that, being in question, the idea that if one ignores trolls they go away hasn't any truth to it whatsoever and has been proven wrong time and time here over and over.

So, would you care to explain the rolling eyes after my comment Jwerley?


Anyone else?
Please respond to the original posters question at the beginning of this thread although AVI has done so so far

Shelagh... let it go! Stop being so defensive and explaining yourself (motives, etc.) to everyone. Just respond or not to the info in posts and leave it at that. It comes across as way TMI and this is not a cocktail party. Stop trying so hard and you'll be fine!

sleepy islander wrote:Hello everyone just joined the forum today

I have been scrolling through the forum reading a bunch of threads trying to up my CPAP IQ (great info available here)
My situation :
I had a cpap machine about 7 years ago (insurance paid $1700 for it) but never used it due to the fact that I tried on a bunch of masks and none of them ever worked because I'm a heavy mouth breather...during the last 2 months I made a lifestyle change...and taking care of my sleep was next on my list...

I had a sleep study done my and numbers were (88 interruptions an hr with my oxygen drop to 7% during the night) so I was set up with a Philips resperonics A-flex for a 1 month trial with a full face mask...LOVED IT!!! I stopped falling asleep at work,while driving,sitting on the couch... 2 weeks in had to bring in the machine because it wasn't sending in the wireless data...so we had a chance to look at my numbers (interruptions were at 3.5 an hr with 95% oxygenation...but he said that the pressure was capping out..I'm guessing that means full pressure)...10 days later I got the bad news insurance said they were only going to cover $400 because my insurance only covers me for $2300 life time and I already used $1700 with my first machine...the cost of a new machine was $2700 bucks so that was not an option...So I looked for a used machine and found a nearly brand new ( used 3 times) Resmed S9 autoset with heated humidifier and climate hose and full face mask...for $400 bucks

Sorry for all the background info but my question is...since my numbers were so bad and I was capping out on the pressure should I just leave it up to the machine to take care of my therapy or should I manually change my machine settings???

My first 2 nights were not good compared to my trial machine...had neck pain and pain on my forehead (made an adjustment to the mask and solved my forehead pain)
Since I'm going the DIY route...ANY info or tips that I should do or try to cut down the learning curve as I'm just starting out again(tips on collecting and understanding my data read outs would be appreciated

Thxs so much and I'm glad to be here

Just reposting your initial question in hopes others will reply until you know what is causing the problems you are having

Julie wrote:Shelagh... let it go! Stop being so defensive and explaining yourself (motives, etc.) to everyone. Just respond or not to the info in posts and leave it at that. It comes across as way TMI and this is not a cocktail party. Stop trying so hard and you'll be fine!

ROFLOL
Oh god if you only knew how wrong you were.......its a shame you don't for if you did you might stop with the psyche babble you love to hand out and i suspect you are dead wrong on many an occasion then as well. (yes, that is what an eye roll suggests)


Don't attempt to insult me as you tried to do with your silly PM to me.

I WAS the one that told YOU that this was not a personality contest and that I for one don't care if anyone likes me or not BUT that I will RESPOND IN KIND TO RUDENESS of others, and you know that very well so pull this crap on someone else.
You're a bored housewife whose husband is too busy for you and you spend all your time here, sometimes offering help and often just in the thick and thin of it but really believing you are above those that respond to rudeness as i have done
So don't bother to lie and tell me and suggest I not try so hard and if so i will be fine.
You were the one that wrote to me and told me to stop writing long posts, and to correct my grammar and spelling.
At no point privately did you even begin to suggest that I should stop trying so hard.

You took offence to my nicely suggesting you stay out of my business and came back with this silly comment that only another female would recognize as the bullshit some females pull on one another.


BTW you are not Jwerley.
I didn't ask for your response did i?