"please keep me updated about oximeters "
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VPAP Adjustments
Just wanted to drop in and say hi to everyone. I'm at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Not for myself, just came along for the ride and to help w/driving w/my neighbor. HOWEVER, I actually FORGOT my mask!!! Don't ask me HOW 'cause I haven't figured that out myself. I can distinctly see it lying on my bed as I packed stuff.
Anyhow, I went w/o my VPAP Wednesday night. So Thursday I called Mayo's CPAP Shop to see if they had a Simplicity Small in stock. The shop has movved. It is no longer in the Subway, it is right on Mayo's 17th floor where the sleep lab, etc. are. The RRT I spoke to, Bob Schomacher (sp of last name?) was GREAT! He really knows his stuff - and he knows his Resmeds!!! Mayo is handling more Resmeds, very little Respironics and had some of the new Sandman devices which they've been quite pleased w/so far.
Anyway, Bob had said that if they didn't have a Simplicity Small in stock was I willing to try another mask and I told him I wasn't about to spend my hard earned cash on a new, unproven for me, mask that I only needed for a few days. He said that they had some used, sterilized masks on hand that they are allowed to dispense for those who, like me had forgotten their mask or whose mask had gotten lost or broken whilst visiting Mayo and that there would be no charge if that was the way we decided to go. So I didn't bother going thru the other local DME suppliers in the Yellow Pages.
I ended up w/him fitting me for a Zest. AND it is quite comfortable despite I'm not wild about masks w/forehead pieces that aren't at least adjustable for angle. Its a Fisher & Paykel mask.
But back to Bob. HE and I played around w/adjustments to the "comfort settings" in Spontaneous mode on my VPAP Auto. He was able to greatly reduce the abruptness of the transition from IPAP to EPAP - but we didn't get it eliminated. *sigh* It may well me the major problem is my COPD and my elevated breathing rate when first going to bed coupled w/the reduced breathing rate later in the night/earlier in the morning as I slept.
A gentleman showed up w/a Respironics needed some assistance or to make a purchase so I got a little uneasy, feeling a bit guilty taking up Bob's time "for free". I may try wandering in and talking to him again tomorrow (Friday).
We are staying at the EconoLodge on Broadway. This is the first time we havent stayed w/in easy walking distance of the Clinic. But there is the oh so convenient shuttle service between the motel and the Clinic and it is locally owned, clean, attractive, comfortable and VERY reasonable rates. $59.99 a night weekly rate or $64.99 nightly rate. Free wireless internet access in our rooms or free internet service on two 'puters off the lobby. Fairly sustantial free breakfast from 6AM to 10 or 11 AM.
The County Fair is going on this weekend, actually started on the 27th. $1 entry fee for Seniors! Bull Riding Thursday night I would have liked to have gone to but after dinner at The Outback was too stuffed and tired to go. Horse show during the day we got to watch part of.
Anyway, that pretty much brings you up to date. I'll drop in again probably Friday whilst my neighbor is having her Clinic appointments. Mayo has 4-6 'puters w/internet access available on several of the floors, including the floor where she has her appointments Friday.
Anyhow, I went w/o my VPAP Wednesday night. So Thursday I called Mayo's CPAP Shop to see if they had a Simplicity Small in stock. The shop has movved. It is no longer in the Subway, it is right on Mayo's 17th floor where the sleep lab, etc. are. The RRT I spoke to, Bob Schomacher (sp of last name?) was GREAT! He really knows his stuff - and he knows his Resmeds!!! Mayo is handling more Resmeds, very little Respironics and had some of the new Sandman devices which they've been quite pleased w/so far.
Anyway, Bob had said that if they didn't have a Simplicity Small in stock was I willing to try another mask and I told him I wasn't about to spend my hard earned cash on a new, unproven for me, mask that I only needed for a few days. He said that they had some used, sterilized masks on hand that they are allowed to dispense for those who, like me had forgotten their mask or whose mask had gotten lost or broken whilst visiting Mayo and that there would be no charge if that was the way we decided to go. So I didn't bother going thru the other local DME suppliers in the Yellow Pages.
I ended up w/him fitting me for a Zest. AND it is quite comfortable despite I'm not wild about masks w/forehead pieces that aren't at least adjustable for angle. Its a Fisher & Paykel mask.
But back to Bob. HE and I played around w/adjustments to the "comfort settings" in Spontaneous mode on my VPAP Auto. He was able to greatly reduce the abruptness of the transition from IPAP to EPAP - but we didn't get it eliminated. *sigh* It may well me the major problem is my COPD and my elevated breathing rate when first going to bed coupled w/the reduced breathing rate later in the night/earlier in the morning as I slept.
A gentleman showed up w/a Respironics needed some assistance or to make a purchase so I got a little uneasy, feeling a bit guilty taking up Bob's time "for free". I may try wandering in and talking to him again tomorrow (Friday).
We are staying at the EconoLodge on Broadway. This is the first time we havent stayed w/in easy walking distance of the Clinic. But there is the oh so convenient shuttle service between the motel and the Clinic and it is locally owned, clean, attractive, comfortable and VERY reasonable rates. $59.99 a night weekly rate or $64.99 nightly rate. Free wireless internet access in our rooms or free internet service on two 'puters off the lobby. Fairly sustantial free breakfast from 6AM to 10 or 11 AM.
The County Fair is going on this weekend, actually started on the 27th. $1 entry fee for Seniors! Bull Riding Thursday night I would have liked to have gone to but after dinner at The Outback was too stuffed and tired to go. Horse show during the day we got to watch part of.
Anyway, that pretty much brings you up to date. I'll drop in again probably Friday whilst my neighbor is having her Clinic appointments. Mayo has 4-6 'puters w/internet access available on several of the floors, including the floor where she has her appointments Friday.
Views: 76
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by White Beard on
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Hey Judy say high to Rochester for me! Hope you have a good time up there! I know I wish I was up there right now! I miss my daughter and her family, Take Care White Beard
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Permalink Reply by Judy on
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Hi Jeff, I've been in auto mode. I do GREAT in auto mode, feel great in auto mode, started in auto mode. It was 3 months or better after I started VPAP Auto that the doctors decided I should be in Spontaneous mode. When we couldn't make it work I went back to auto mode. It just torqued my jaws that no one knew enough or cared enough to try to make the proper adjustments in Spontaneous mode. I stay in auto mode except for when "we" try to find the proper adjustments in Spontaneous mode. I did learn from Bob that these comfort options do NOT require that I stay at one change for one week as I do w/actuall pressure changes in order to rely on data. Data isn't needed for this transistion from IPAP to EPAP. You FEEL when it is set correctly.
By the way, scuttlebutt is that Resmed is getting close to releasing an S9 series - AND - Respironics is close to releasing a Q series. There is speculation data will be transferable to the DMEs, doctors, etc. via wireless thereby cutting out patient access - unless, most likely, we are willing to pay a "fee".
Ah, Tom!!! I forgot to bring Carolyn's number w/me, I think. I'll dig thru my paperwork I haven't cleaned outta my purse to see if I do have it w/me or not! Thanks for the reminder!
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Permalink Reply by BeeAsleep on
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Man I have missed you! I wasn't sure if you were going to be able to get things in order in time to help your friend. But it sounds like you are having a blast...you are the only person I know who treats sleep techs like ROCK STARS!! :>D Have you gotten any autographs yet? :>D LOL
You are missed...have a safe trip back! bee
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Well, the SAD news is that it appears there is NO WAY to eliminate that abrupt transition from IPAP to EPAP in Spontenous mode w/this VPAP Auto. *sigh* Mayo's CPAP Shop RRT and director, Bob, spent a great deal of time w/me and my VPAP Auto in Spontaneous mode playing w/Rise Time, Ti Min and Ti Max w/no luck. At one point it SEEMED to be a LITTLE less abrupt but it certainly was NOT eliminated. *sigh*. Bob was just great, as was Simon, an RRT also working Mayo's CPAP Shop. They've moved the CPAP Shop out of the subway and up on 17th floor of the Gonda building w/the sleep center which was a great move. I was surprised though that there was still no way for a patient to lay down whilst being fitted. AND, Bob, did a great job fitting me w/a Zest nasal cushion mask. I never had to make even one small adjustment to the headgear!!! (Yeah, I wallked outta the house leaving my beloved Respironics Simplicity laying on my bed. Grrrrr).
To add insult to injury, my local DME supplier's RRT left a message for me to call him when I got home. He and our local Resmed Rep spent a long time trying to eliminate that abrupt pressure transition in Spontaneous mode and were totally unsuccessful. *sigh*. It would appear that Resmed has some more serious R&D before releasing the rumored S9 series.
BUT - do NOT let that stop anyone from getting a Resmed VPAP Auto or Auto 25!!!! Just put in Auto mode and set the Pressure Support the same number as the difference between IPAP and EPAP and you have the VPAP Auto running as a straight bi-level and get the full benefit of that wonderful EasyBreathe technology (IPAP 12, EPAP 7, PS 5 for example). I still LOVE this VPAP Auto as long as I keep it in Auto mode.
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