Hi Daniel. Welcome tot he group!

Dan, 15 ipap 8.0 epap I also use the same mask as you do the OptLite I have gone though a number of types of mask since 1998 I do like the way this mask works. I was on a cpap till this last sleepstudy in Dec 2008 when they put me on a bipap due to now having CSA along with OSA. I had the surgery in 1998 (which I do not recommend, did not help much and lots of issues with eating now -- swallowing problems at times) and then went on a cpap right after it. I am still trying to find a way to get a copy of my last sleep study results.

by the way we used to live in Alameda when I was station there back in 1975 till 1979 when we moved to San Jose when I got off Active duty and started working for IBM. I got over 38 yrs military now (retired reserves) will draw my military retirement in 4 yrs.

Ah, yes, puppies!!! How well I remember what the little darlings can do!

I'm using that white Respironics PN 302175 chin strap and i really like it. I was first given one of the black straps w/the hole for the chin made of the same or similar material as the mask headgear. I didn't like it. I really like this 302175. Except for the price its kind of a "chintzy" thing - but it is lightweight and has 4 small velcro squares. You can put one square on each side of the top strap of your headgear and use the other two squares to put its two ends together at the top of your head. I love it w/the Simplicity.

I've been reluctant to "lab rat" the OptiLife so far but .... I'm thinking seriously of "playing puppy" w/that chin support thingie. :-D

Nope, its not the Deluxe.

Check here:



I take it the one you are talking about is this one



The PN 302175's chin "cradle" is an entirely different material from the straps and it is rather "silky", has a pleat in it that forms a nice cradle that for me fits from the throatlatch to the bottom of the bottom lip. I usually fold the throat section over a bit. I just hate that its white which means one must wash it often. I'm not one for doing a lot of cleaning of my headgear.

The hyperlink isn't working. Will have to manually put the URL in.

The one I like:

http://www.cpap.com/productpage/respironics-chinstrap-white.html

The one I think you are talking about

http://www.cpap.com/productpage/respironics-deluxe-chinstrap.html

The one I like doesn't push your chin back (I have no padding left between the jawbones so do NOT need artificial stress or placement of my lower jaw, thank you) and the chin cradle or sling is comfortable. Where you place the velcro square on the top headgear straps cab determine the jaw placement somewhat.

http://www.cpap.com/productpage/respironics-chinstrap-white.html

http://www.cpap.com/productpage/respironics-deluxe-chinstrap.html

Well the Simplicity has that center strap and so the 302175 fits across the top of that strap which might be why it doesn't slip on me. And, goshes, we are all so different one item for all patients just isn't gonna cut the mustard. *sigh*

My local DME supplier offered me the same black one (I think) as I got from the last sleep titration and I asked them what else they had and they brought out my chintzy 302175 that I like so well after using it. KISS for me I guess (keep it simple, stupid).

You had mentioned the thickness of the Simplicity simple nasal cushion. I find the thinner cushion covers such as on the Quattro and the Micro edges cut into my skin too much and are too difficult to "turn the edges under" so that they don't cut. The OptiLife cushion isn't quite so thin and flimsy as the cushion cover on the Quattro and Micro and thus not quite so prone to its edges cutting into the skin.

I've had good luck w/laying down, laying the mask on my face slightly lower on the nose than its final resting place, adjusting the straps, turning my xPAP on, lifting the mask a skosh off my face and setting it back down scooting it UP a bit to its proper place on the nose (turns those edges UNDER), making any further strap adjustments needed, and then, if needed, running my fingertip along the seam line between face and skin to eliminate any small leaks that might occur works well for me.

Of course, after all these months w/the Simplicity I don't have to go thru all that. I just undo one bottom strap to put it on and take it off. I leave the 302175's velcro squares on the two Simplicity bottom straps so all I have to do is put the 302175 on my chin and run it up to the velcro squares then velcro the two ends together at the top of my head and since they meet over the Simplicity's center strap I suppose maybe a bit of the 302175's velcro might catch on it to help keep the 302175 from slipping at the top of my head. Eh, whatever works, right?

I would imagine it is a REAL HEADACHE to try to do the best you can for clients given the various insurances one has to work with.

Yep, I've gotta get back to working w/that OptiLife but not until after the 4th. I've got an appointment w/my original sleep doctor who I always liked. He left my current sleep lab and is practicing an hour drive away now but .... Originally our appointment was set for the 2nd but that NicoletOne CD/DVD wasn't sent as promised altho some paperwork was sent. It will be interesting to see just WHAT WAS originally sent. Fortunately, I checked to see if he had received the actual data not just the reports and he hadn't so I called the generating facility and they had "just finished it and put it in the mail" the day I called.

Daniel, just what information do the sleep labs have to provide you in order for you to provide their equipment AND get insurance reimbursement?

Is just the doctor's dictated results enough in addition to the actual script or is the the full scored data summary report w/condensed graphs they must provide to you for that purpose?

The thing I don't like about Respironics' Premium chin strap is that there os so much to it. Good lawdy miss clawdy add that chin strap to the mask headgear straps and .... YECK!

I prefer the two velcro squares of the 302175 on the headgear top straps for stabilization and not all the weight and clutter of the Premium.

Thank you. So the sleep doctor's dictated report along w/the script would then generally be sufficient to provide the client w/their equipment and the DME supplier to receive reimbursement. I just wondered if the DME suppliers generally received the full scored data summary report w/or w/o condensed graphs or not.

Just curious about what has to transpire on the other side of the fence so to speak. For so many years the medical profession preferred to function under the cloak of mystery. Heaven forbid the patient should see their BP, temp and pulse! And a major catastrophe if the patient should see and read any of their hospital chart or doctor's office medical record. All it did was breed a great distrust of the medical profession in me. Not to say that I haven't met exceptions and I've been very fortunate to have several great doctors (including two fabulous, caring family doctors who had the audacity to die on me). *weak smile* Gads!! I must be rough on my medical professionals now that I think of it! I had a tremendous dentist who died on me too!! Dang! *another weak attempt at humor*

Come to think of it - they sure had to have taken good care of me - the proof is in my outliving them. But, I sure do miss them. *sigh* Its not easy to find doctors and dentists of their calibre!!!!

Argh! I was just re-reading your reply. An AHI of 15??? I thought it was an AHI of >5 Or did you mean RDI of 15?

I thought an AHI of <5.0 was "normal". >5 to <15 was mild OSA, >15 but <30 was moderate OSA and >30 was severe OSA.

I've seen others say an AHI of 15 as well, often Canadians. But then I've seen RRTs correct that to an AHI of 5.

The ole medical profession trying to corn-fuse me again!

THANK YOU for that clarification, Daniel! That sure explains a lot then. Its so neat to have you to ask these questions and your patience in answering is so much appreciated! Youse a keeper, guy!

Dan, I got a question for you. I talked to my Dr and the people that did my sleep study and they all said that they mess up and I should have had a back up rate due to my CSA and they are putting in a new order for a new machine. The group that is getting my machine said that they are going to order me a Bipap S/T is this a good machine or should I see if they would order the auto S/V? I will have to let them know monday morning. any help you can so I make sure I get the right machine this time. Thanks Rich Macbeth

Daniel, it's nice to meet up here again.

Folks, Daniel Levy is a class act for a DME provider. If you're fortunate enough to live in the Bay Area (or know someone who does), I would highly recommend his company.

I've been selling cpap accessory products into the CPAP-DME markets for over two years and I almost hate to say it but I've learned something about (at least some) DMEs (this is based on several RTs' experience in the industry over many years): Some DMEs don't care whether you use your equipment. They don't care about which equipment you get. Their business is to make a sale and bill your insurance company for high-margin equipment. They sell you equipment based not on what might be best for you but what results in the highest profit margin for them (actual RT sales experience).

Now THAT is NOT Daniel Levy's business model. Quite the opposite in fact. As a patient himself it's all about getting you the best treatment for you and helping you use your equipment. So look him up and refer your friends and doctors.

Daniel, 07 Feb you sent me a message and said you liked something I said and could you quote it on my website. I'll be darned if I could remember what I could possibly have said that was worth quoting so went looking for what words of brilliance I could possibly have uttered that was worth quoting and forgot all about your request.

I still don't know what I said but just ran across you message again ... hey, go ahead and use it. Thanks for asking even if I don't remember what you are asking about!!! :-)

Daniel,
I am in search of a Resmed Part, # 22915 (Data Card Port Cover w/ slot) for a Resmed S8 Elite I. Can you help?
Dan Lyons ( tundra4x4@verizon.net )

any downside for patients to know of buying an xPAP online? http://www.sleepguide.com/forum/topics/buying-xpap-machine-online