"please keep me updated about oximeters "
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CPAP and (poor) Compliance.
I have read some of the profiles here on the forum. A number of members have mentioned that they have Sleep Apnea, but are not in treatment.
Of course there can be a good reason for that, waiting for a titration study, waiting for equipment, not severe enough to qualify with your insurance or Health Care System, but it could also be because of poor compliance.
The major problem with compliance numbers is that there is absolutely no consensus about compliance. A lot of studies use different criteria for compliance, and I think this is the reason for the different numbers for compliance.
I think the most used criteria are 4 hours at night at least 5 days a week. I have seen that compliance who meets these criteria is about 60 – 70%
But I think that most of members here would agree with me, that good compliance is using the CPAP ALL the time you sleep, even when you take a nap.
So before we talk compliance, I think we have to define our own criteria for compliance.
The normal sleep is about 8 hours a night. We can call this “Full Compliance”.
If we recalculate the above used criteria to “Full compliance” then it gives a “Full Compliance” at around 25%.
So no doubt, the CPAP compliance over all is very poor.
It would be nice to hear the reason from some of you, who is not in treatment (and I’m sure that on this forum no one will blame you, unlike other forums).
Have you been in treatment, is it insurance problems, is it poor compliance or ???
IF it is poor compliance, I’m sure that a lot of members here is ready to give good advice to you. We are all here to help each other
There are also other treatment options than CPAP.
Henning
Of course there can be a good reason for that, waiting for a titration study, waiting for equipment, not severe enough to qualify with your insurance or Health Care System, but it could also be because of poor compliance.
The major problem with compliance numbers is that there is absolutely no consensus about compliance. A lot of studies use different criteria for compliance, and I think this is the reason for the different numbers for compliance.
I think the most used criteria are 4 hours at night at least 5 days a week. I have seen that compliance who meets these criteria is about 60 – 70%
But I think that most of members here would agree with me, that good compliance is using the CPAP ALL the time you sleep, even when you take a nap.
So before we talk compliance, I think we have to define our own criteria for compliance.
The normal sleep is about 8 hours a night. We can call this “Full Compliance”.
If we recalculate the above used criteria to “Full compliance” then it gives a “Full Compliance” at around 25%.
So no doubt, the CPAP compliance over all is very poor.
It would be nice to hear the reason from some of you, who is not in treatment (and I’m sure that on this forum no one will blame you, unlike other forums).
Have you been in treatment, is it insurance problems, is it poor compliance or ???
IF it is poor compliance, I’m sure that a lot of members here is ready to give good advice to you. We are all here to help each other
There are also other treatment options than CPAP.
Henning
Views: 280
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Cindy on
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Lori - My current machine is 7 years old, but I'd be happy to give it to you if you'd like to try it. Just send your mailing address to me - either here or at colnick@mac.com
Henning said:Hi Lori,
Look at this link:
www.awakeinamerica.org
Awake in America helps people with financial need. They also have a donation program with equipment.
Henning
Lori Homoky said:I am not in compliance at all, and I am not currently seeking treatment. The reason for this is money---the root of all evil!!! I have other major medical problems that drain my bank account, even with medical insurance. Whenever you go to a doctor you have to pay for the co-pay on the office visit, the co-pay on the hospital testing that the doctor wants done, and then if your lucky you might still be able to pay for your medications and medical equipment. My income in No-Way can back all of this up.
jetspd
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Kudos to you, Cindy. That was most generous of you!!! I hope that Lori is able to take advantage of your most generous offer.
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Permalink Reply by Henning on
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Hi Lori,
As I can see, you haven’t had a sleep study. Before you start with xPAP I think it is important, that you have some kind of sleep study. You can have an-home sleep study as is a lot cheaper than the in-lab studies. But I’m not sure that your insurance will cover anything in that case. Maybe someone else can tell you more about that.
Henning
Lori Homoky said:I am not in compliance at all, and I am not currently seeking treatment. The reason for this is money---the root of all evil!!! I have other major medical problems that drain my bank account, even with medical insurance. Whenever you go to a doctor you have to pay for the co-pay on the office visit, the co-pay on the hospital testing that the doctor wants done, and then if your lucky you might still be able to pay for your medications and medical equipment. My income in No-Way can back all of this up.
jetspd
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I have been on my CPAP for approx 8 years. From the time of the sleep study and the initial shock of "I can't exhale with this thing on" I made up my mind I would get use to it. It only took me a couple of nights with conscious effort and its been all smooth sailing since.
I have not missed one night in eight years. Honest, not one. 100% compliance, even with naps.
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Does anyone know of adverse effects from using a CPAP for extended use. Like 8,10 or 12 or more years? Any heart or lung issues?
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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that's quite a winning streak, and an inspiration to all of us who are struggling to make it happen.
scogg said:I have been on my CPAP for approx 8 years. From the time of the sleep study and the initial shock of "I can't exhale with this thing on" I made up my mind I would get use to it. It only took me a couple of nights with conscious effort and its been all smooth sailing since.
I have not missed one night in eight years. Honest, not one. 100% compliance, even with naps.
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this is a great question. i'm not aware of any studies that have been done on the long-term adverse effects. perhaps one of our MDs or RTs will be aware of something...
scogg said:Does anyone know of adverse effects from using a CPAP for extended use. Like 8,10 or 12 or more years? Any heart or lung issues?
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I was diagnosed, for the first time about 8 years ago. My first try with CPAP gave me severe insomnia. So bad that I had to seek professional help. After a couple of years of therapy, I was finally brave enough to to give it another try. I have great insurance so I started from scratch. No luck. Same problems, leaking, moisture, dry mouth. Now I sleep on a wedge with extra pillows. Most nights, I feel ok. My husband says I look much more restfull than before.
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I've heard that the wedge can improve things greatly for people. Please let us know the details about the one that worked for you.
Kim Walters said:I was diagnosed, for the first time about 8 years ago. My first try with CPAP gave me severe insomnia. So bad that I had to seek professional help. After a couple of years of therapy, I was finally brave enough to to give it another try. I have great insurance so I started from scratch. No luck. Same problems, leaking, moisture, dry mouth. Now I sleep on a wedge with extra pillows. Most nights, I feel ok. My husband says I look much more restfull than before.
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Well I'm not sure I will be able to reply to these post, but I will try.
I couldn't stand the heated moist air if felt like i was suffocating.
As far as leaks ago the best thing I have found to prenvent them is swinging the hose upwards instead of letting it hang down like an elephants trunk. sending it upwards over top of pillow seems to prevent downward pressure on the mask and hose that causes leaking.
I was looking for info on adjusting the pressure.my doctor called with a change of pressure but since then have had two changes in my repiratory care companies and neither has changed the pressure from 7 to 10.
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You are right, CathyHuffman, routing the hose above your head does reduce the "drag" of the hose on your mask. You can hang it over the headboard of your bed or put a hook on the wall, some of the online DME suppliers sell "hose hangars". You might check the ApneaLife site, I think they might offer them (ad on right hand side near top of this page). If you run the hose downward clipping it to yur PJ top also reduces "drag".
What brand and model CPAP are you using?? You really should ask your doctor for a copy of yuor CPAP script AND the pressure change(s). That original script is good for life w/online DME suppliers for a CPAP or APAP. You would need a different script for a bi-level and couldn't buy a CPAP or APAP w/a bi-level script..The local DME suppliers cannot legally change your pressure w/o a script to do so from the doctor.
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Judy still trying to figure out how to nagivate this site, I'm using a webtv right now and it can be sticky.
My CPAP is a Remmaster lite.I have been using it for about four years. The doctor did call in the script with the company in December but they up and left town. Now another company has the acct. and I'm still set at 7 when my last test in November said I needed a setting of 10.
I had one rep show me before these last two companies but I don't remember exactly what he said it was something like unplug the machine at the back for a brief count plug it back in and then hit ramp and the power button to raise the setting but I don't quite remmeber the exact details.
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