"please keep me updated about oximeters "
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Ultimate-Best Sleep Apnea Set Up
I've read a lot of posts from folks here who monitor their treatment even more closely than do I -- with the latest software, oximeters, etc. And I suspect many of us here don't monitor it at all -- we essentially "fly blind," which is madness, but understandable given how little information we are given about keeping track of our own therapy. That said, for all of us who aren't yet at the pinnacle of monitoring our therapy, what tips can the "pros" here (both sleep professionals and patients who track their treatment closely) give us regarding the ultimate/best set-up? What are the best things to have and why?
Views: 108
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Judy on
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THE most important item is a FULLY DATA CAPABLE device. An APAP would be the most effective but it can be done w/just a fully data capable CPAP.
A GOOD FITTING, COMFORTABLE mask is just as important. Too high a Leak rate most likely will result in selection of a higher pressure than needed w/a good fitting, comfortable mask.
EDUCATING YOURSELF is also high on the list. You need a basic understanding of the data from both your sleep evaluation and your titration studies. You need a basic understanding of your xPAP's various options and how to properly use them.
Additional equipment is just frosting on the cake.
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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understood, and you're right that's the most important stuff. but i guess i wanted this thread to be about that "icing on the cake" . . . 90% of our problems would be solved just by what you're talking about below, but what is that extra 10% ? The "icing on the cake"? I ask because i want to get that icing on the cake myself. i do have a data capaple machine, but want to "pimp out" my set-up and get as knowledgeable as humanly possible about my therapy.
Judy said:THE most important item is a FULLY DATA CAPABLE device. An APAP would be the most effective but it can be done w/just a fully data capable CPAP.
A GOOD FITTING, COMFORTABLE mask is just as important. Too high a Leak rate most likely will result in selection of a higher pressure than needed w/a good fitting, comfortable mask.
EDUCATING YOURSELF is also high on the list. You need a basic understanding of the data from both your sleep evaluation and your titration studies. You need a basic understanding of your xPAP's various options and how to properly use them.
Additional equipment is just frosting on the cake.
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Well then, a recording oximeter is a nice addition. The Spo 7500 and the CMS-50 or 60E seem to be popular amongst the apneas at cpaptalk. They come w/their own software and to my knowledge there is no way to integrate these software w/your xPAP's software. However, its not that difficult to coordinate the graphs of both and it may well be they could be integrated via cvs files into Excel - if - both the xPAP's and the oximeter's software can be exported in cvs format.
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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I presonally have very little knowledge on the machines. The machines we use in the lab are very different from those used by the pts. They are capable of performing a wide variety of different studies. I have only recently gotten to perform a study with an ASV module. My apnea is very mild, and I chose to go with a weight loss program and re-evaluation in 6 months. RDI 7 with only hypops. This is easy for me as I can test myself anytime I want. I actually found this site in my quest for knowledge about the DME programs and the difference in the machines. I tell my pts that choosing a PAP device is alot like buying a car in that you want the one that best suits your own needs. I then give them this site and a few others and tell them that they need to educate themselves on the differences to make the best possible choice for them. At this point I usually talk up the fully data capable machines.
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Rock, have you ever done an in-lab titration on a patient's own xPAP? I ask because I recently saw a posting by an RPSGT who had just done his/her first in-lab titration w/the patient using their own private xPAP.
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Permalink Reply by White Beard on
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Well Mike I don't know what else I could get for my set up other than the newer ReScan 3.7 software I have the 3.5. I like having the ResLink and card and Card Reader, and the Nonin Pulse-Ox because it puts it all together in the detailed data with the ResScan. so when I look at it all the O2 Saturations and the Pulse is all in sync and in line with the Respiration rate and AHI and AI and all the rest of the Data! Short of having an ECG and EEG ( Yea Right!) what else can you have? That frosting on the cake wasn't cheap! But considering I am on supplemental Oxygen at 3 lpm along with my ASV and my other medical problems, I thouhgt it was a worth while investment! The Nonin Pluse-Ox set up was by far the most expensive part of the deal! But I do like how the reusable rubber sleive fits over your finger and is very comfortable and does not interfere with my sleeping and is very durable, I have been using it every night since last June and have had no problems with it! If you need any part numbers or info let me know!
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White Beard, would you post some of the results you get with all that gear --- to give us all a sense of the depth of the information that's available with the right software/equipment? Of course, be sure to remove your name to protect your privacy and all that.
White Beard said:Well Mike I don't know what else I could get for my set up other than the newer ReScan 3.7 software I have the 3.5. I like having the ResLink and card and Card Reader, and the Nonin Pulse-Ox because it puts it all together in the detailed data with the ResScan. so when I look at it all the O2 Saturations and the Pulse is all in sync and in line with the Respiration rate and AHI and AI and all the rest of the Data! Short of having an ECG and EEG ( Yea Right!) what else can you have? That frosting on the cake wasn't cheap! But considering I am on supplemental Oxygen at 3 lpm along with my ASV and my other medical problems, I thouhgt it was a worth while investment! The Nonin Pluse-Ox set up was by far the most expensive part of the deal! But I do like how the reusable rubber sleive fits over your finger and is very comfortable and does not interfere with my sleeping and is very durable, I have been using it every night since last June and have had no problems with it! If you need any part numbers or info let me know!
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Muy bad!!!! How in the devil did I fail to list the software for the fully data capable xPAPs??? And the (usually) necessary cable reader? Duh!
1] Fully data capable xPAP
2] Comfortable fitting, relatively leak free mask
3] Education
4] Software and (usually) necessary cable reader
5] Recording oximeter and software (they provide 02 saturation as well as pulse rate)
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I was told that I have severe sleep apnea.. in a four hour period I stoped breathing 231 times. I used the cpap and tried many masks and nasal pillows but still they bothered me too much to sleep in them finally I just gave up.
So I am extremely tired all the time and my husband can hardly stand to sleep next to me.
Then I found out that I had breast cancer and went through all of that mastectomy and hysterectomy four surgeries last year. I was to the point of puting that machine on again, the cpap and start to live life again.... not going to let the enemy win, when they found an anuerysm on my renal artery.... so now............I say to heck with it...
Just how life threatening is it really?
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the severity of those health problems cannot be underestimated, but from all that i've read, sleep apnea, when untreated, tends to make any other weaknesses/health conditions worse/ quicken their progress. so you might do yourself substantial good by properly treating the sleep apnea.
Tammy Harper said:I was told that I have severe sleep apnea.. in a four hour period I stoped breathing 231 times. I used the cpap and tried many masks and nasal pillows but still they bothered me too much to sleep in them finally I just gave up.
So I am extremely tired all the time and my husband can hardly stand to sleep next to me.
Then I found out that I had breast cancer and went through all of that mastectomy and hysterectomy four surgeries last year. I was to the point of puting that machine on again, the cpap and start to live life again.... not going to let the enemy win, when they found an anuerysm on my renal artery.... so now............I say to heck with it...
Just how life threatening is it really?
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Thanks, can you tell me where I can find some of this info to read for myself? Just hoping it might get me motavaited again, it's hard because I feel as though my fight has been beaten down too hard this time.
Mike said:the severity of those health problems cannot be underestimated, but from all that i've read, sleep apnea, when untreated, tends to make any other weaknesses/health conditions worse/ quicken their progress. so you might do yourself substantial good by properly treating the sleep apnea.
Tammy Harper said:I was told that I have severe sleep apnea.. in a four hour period I stoped breathing 231 times. I used the cpap and tried many masks and nasal pillows but still they bothered me too much to sleep in them finally I just gave up.
So I am extremely tired all the time and my husband can hardly stand to sleep next to me.
Then I found out that I had breast cancer and went through all of that mastectomy and hysterectomy four surgeries last year. I was to the point of puting that machine on again, the cpap and start to live life again.... not going to let the enemy win, when they found an anuerysm on my renal artery.... so now............I say to heck with it...
Just how life threatening is it really?
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Tammy, check out the pdf article posted here link between sleep apnea, heart disease, stroke, insulin resistance...
Tammy Harper said:Thanks, can you tell me where I can find some of this info to read for myself? Just hoping it might get me motavaited again, it's hard because I feel as though my fight has been beaten down too hard this time.
Mike said:the severity of those health problems cannot be underestimated, but from all that i've read, sleep apnea, when untreated, tends to make any other weaknesses/health conditions worse/ quicken their progress. so you might do yourself substantial good by properly treating the sleep apnea.
Tammy Harper said:I was told that I have severe sleep apnea.. in a four hour period I stoped breathing 231 times. I used the cpap and tried many masks and nasal pillows but still they bothered me too much to sleep in them finally I just gave up.
So I am extremely tired all the time and my husband can hardly stand to sleep next to me.
Then I found out that I had breast cancer and went through all of that mastectomy and hysterectomy four surgeries last year. I was to the point of puting that machine on again, the cpap and start to live life again.... not going to let the enemy win, when they found an anuerysm on my renal artery.... so now............I say to heck with it...
Just how life threatening is it really?
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