[CPAP] My Cpap Was Never Titrated

[icyura10]

I'm getting maybe 4 to 5 hours of lousy, no cpap sleep right now and it makes very impatient.

Think nothing about it.. while I get between 6-14 hrs sleep / day, it's usually in blocks of 30 - 180 mins at a time.. with the average being in the 90 min range or less... fragmented sleep is almost as bad as no sleep, but heck.. my AHI level is fairly low..

I've got a theory..if I could just learn to live without sleeping I woudn't have an AHI problem..

[justMongo]

Here's Membership Levels explained:
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...-explained
At 5 posts, you can embed links to image files.

You are limited to 500kb of attached files, the hosting images on a site like photobucket permits you to post several images of a quality that people can read.

This is a short treatise on linking to images on photobucket.
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...g-an-Image

It may not be necessary to post your sleep study now; as we get the gist of it.
Why you were never titrated is a mystery.
Yes, you can request your own healthcare data.

The reason PaulaO2 is suggesting a new Auto-PAP is your donated S8 Autoset II is nearly impossible to get efficacy data out of.
You would be "stabbing around in the dark" to try to find a workable pressure without data from the machine.
You need a machine that has an SD card (like the ones that are used in digital cameras) so the data can be read by your computer; and displayed using software like Sleepyhead.

And, a Nurse Practitioner is permitted to write a prescription.

[cate1898]

Welcome to the forum ponfarr! Glad you found it!

Keep listening to all the very knowledgeable people on here. They'll get you where you need to be! Best of luck and keep us posted!

[KSMatthew]

KSMathew, thanks for the reply. This forum is really, really helpful.
Yes you are correct: my original machine was never titrated. My donated replacement machine awaits use.
Now that I'm up to speed on the fact that taking control of my machine isn't going to bring homeland security knocking at my door or cause me major health problems, I'm willing to do some experimentation while I wait for my Sept 9th appt.
I'm a bit of a computer dinosaur. Once I figure out "justMongo's" instructions on how to get my sleep study results visible for you all to see, I'll get right on that [I think I'm now past the 5 post rule]. I'll ask justMongo to clarify in absolute, kindergarten layman's terms how I do that [even my sister who is much better with computers was scratching her head].
Thanks!!

To adjust the pressure settings you'll need to get into the "clinician mode". There are how-to guides somewhere on this forum. Also, you can just turn on your new machine and see what pressure setting it displays (they usually show it, but you might have to put your hand over the hose to allow pressure to build). It might already be at a decent starting point.

[justMongo]

To adjust the pressure settings you'll need to get into the "clinician mode". There are how-to guides somewhere on this forum. Also, you can just turn on your new machine and see what pressure setting it displays (they usually show it, but you might have to put your hand over the hose to allow pressure to build). It might already be at a decent starting point.

I respectfully pose the question to you: How does ponfarr quantify if the settings are effective on an old S8?

[KSMatthew]

To adjust the pressure settings you'll need to get into the "clinician mode". There are how-to guides somewhere on this forum. Also, you can just turn on your new machine and see what pressure setting it displays (they usually show it, but you might have to put your hand over the hose to allow pressure to build). It might already be at a decent starting point.

I respectfully pose the question to you: How does ponfarr quantify if the settings are effective on an old S8?

I've lost track - is the S8 his old machine or the "new" machine?

I don't know the capabilities of the S8. Doesn't it display, somewhere, the current pressure setting? Every CPAP I've had will do that.

If it's his old machine, and he felt like that setting was working for him, isn't that a good starting point for the new machine? If the new machine is already at the same setting on the old machine, then he shouldn't be any worse off with the new CPAP.

He's in the realm of self-titrating and asking about a reasonable pressure setting to begin with. Starting with a known value seems like a decent way to begin. Without any feedback as to AHI results, he's going to have to rely on how well rested he feels the next day. Ideally, he'll get a sleep study with titration and get his machine set properly.

[justMongo]

The machine that was recently given to him is an S8 Autoset II. That's two generations back in the ResMed line.
It has never been setup for him. He can get into the clinician's menu and see the settings.

He has never had a pressure titration study. His old machine was just on default settings.
So, where does he start?

If he had a newer autoset machine; it could be set on auto with a wide range of pressure; and a self titration could be done.
One needs to be able to view the results using software to determine the efficacy of therapy.
The S8 uses a proprietary card and reader that is now difficult to obtain.

Efficacy is more than just the AHI. It's what types of apneas are scored; what it the leak rate; can the pressure window be narrowed for comfort...

[KSMatthew]

OK, now I see your point.

Yes, he really does need a study to know what settings he should be using. But if he felt his previous machine seemed to work OK for him, at whatever settings, isn't that a start?

With no reporting feedback, the only thing he can use for judging efficacy us how well he feels the next day. Not optimal, but how desperate is he?


His other option is to not use CPAP at all, what he is doing now, until he can complete a titration study.

[ponfarr]

justMongo, am I allowed yet to supply a photobucket link so my sleep study can be viewed?
I created a photobucket account and will be scanning my sleep study late afternoon and uploading it to photbucket.
Thanks,
Tim

[ponfarr]

Ahhhhhhh......ok!!! Gee, you guys and gals are really, really helpful!!
This is some great information +++ bless you all!!

So I need an APAP machine. As I've stated I don't have insurance, just free health care, but I'll ask my nurse practioner if I can get an APAP somehow.

Perhaps I should see if the health clinic nurse can refer me to a sleep specialist? If that's possible, do you think I'd have a better chance at getting an APAP through state health care?

Thanks !!