"please keep me updated about oximeters "
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I received my machine in March with a nasal pillow mask. I switched to a full face mask because I was breathing thru my mouth.
I was struggling with getting used to wearing the mask, finally got to the point of wearing it every night.I could not get a full night's sleep with the mask on but I averaged 4.5 hours/night.My AHI was 2.5, and no mask leaks. This was after 30 straight days of use, I missed 3 nights along the way. My pressure was set at 7. My AHI from my sleep study was 17.
I had chronic daily headaches before trying cpap. Not getting a full night of sleep made the headaches worse, I was hoping for some relief from the headaches but did not get any.
I have temporarily stopped using cpap, I am getting more hours of sleep, I feel more rested but I still think a full night of sleep on cpap would be ideal.
I am using a Remstar Pro with a humidifier.
Any thoughts on where to go from here would be appreciated.
I was struggling with getting used to wearing the mask, finally got to the point of wearing it every night.I could not get a full night's sleep with the mask on but I averaged 4.5 hours/night.My AHI was 2.5, and no mask leaks. This was after 30 straight days of use, I missed 3 nights along the way. My pressure was set at 7. My AHI from my sleep study was 17.
I had chronic daily headaches before trying cpap. Not getting a full night of sleep made the headaches worse, I was hoping for some relief from the headaches but did not get any.
I have temporarily stopped using cpap, I am getting more hours of sleep, I feel more rested but I still think a full night of sleep on cpap would be ideal.
I am using a Remstar Pro with a humidifier.
Any thoughts on where to go from here would be appreciated.
Views: 48
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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It sounds like you need to try out some different masks. How tight was the maks you were using? It takes a while to get used to the process. I beleive that you were on the right track. Try to get back on that wagon. i see some good sleep in your future.
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Permalink Reply by Jon on
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I was getting low Oxygen readings with my current setup so my doc is switching me to an autopap with variable pressure. Hopefully this will work better.
Thanks to whoever recommended checking your oxygen level, it made a difference for me.
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How do you know you didn't have any leaks? Just by sound and feel or via a data printout?
You did right that first 30 days. At that point you should have taken your data card in to either your local DME provider or your sleep lab/sleep doctor and had it downloaded and the data evaluated. The M Series Pro is fully data capable and the clues to the problems you were having were quite likely apparent in the data. For instance a high leak rate can thoroughly skew your AHI data.
I understand about needing more than 4-5 hours sleep - BUT - you gave up too soon!!! Hey, my first 30 nights on CPAP were the worst 30 nights of sleep of my entire life!! But a data download, some adjustments and gradually I felt some improvement. I didn't have an especially attentive sleep doctor nor DME provider RRT so I had a bit of a rough road to hoe.
You have to be your own healthcare advocate. ESPECIALLY when it comes to CPAP therapy and sleep. Sleep medicine is still NOT very professional, even amongst the accredited sleep labs and sleep doctors. Far too many of the sleep doctors, especially, have just jumped on the sleep medicine "cash cow" bandwagon because they can get by w/it taking up little to no time w/patient consultations.
I would
1] request a copy of the doctor's dictated results from both my in-lab sleep study and my in-lab CPAP titration study
2] request a copy of the full scored data summary report w/condensed graphs from both my in-lab sleep study and my in-lab CPAP titration study
3] a copy of my equipment order (script)
4] a full download and printout of your CPAP data (I'm not sure how much data will be available after all this while - you may need to go thru another 2 weeks to a month of struggling w/your Pro and mask to get the needed data).
If you want CPAP therapy to work for you you are going to have to put forth some effort to make it work for you. Use the PAP, get the data, keep in touch w/the local DME provider's RRT, keep in touch w/the sleep lab and the sleep doctor. PUSH them for assistance if that is what it takes. Get the above copies and if your curent "sleep team" isn't willing to work w/you, dump them and find another sleep doctor, local DME provider, sleep lab - whatever it takes.
Good luck and God bless.
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Thanks for the feedback.
The DME downloaded all of the CPAP data and charts, my doc and I reviewed all of it. No leaks as per the data. My new machine is on order and I will be resuming therapy very soon. I have not given up, I was not happy with the results and we have made some changes.
I agree with all you said about the quality of service in sleep medicine, it could be much better. I have had some issues with my sleep lab and DME, I am giving them another shot, hopefully with better results.
I know there is no quick fix and ultimately it is up to me to make it all work.
Thanks again!
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