Choosing correct mask, Septum questions, Nasal Cycle

[PeaceLoveAndPizza]

The WatchPAT is the currently favored home sleep test device. While not as accurate as an in-lab test, it is accurate when used properly to determine if the person suffers from sleep apnoea.

[robbob2112]

watch pat is accurate as far as it goes. It tells them enough to send you for an overnight in-lab study to find the settings needed and get you an appropriate type machine assigned.

It doesn't have the ability to adjust pressures or add oxygen or determine if you have central apnea verse obstructive. It just knows you have events and if it was the version with all the sensors attached and a tube on your nose it might can determine centrals, but not so accurate.

Insurance typically wants you do do an overnight at home device to confirm you have some type apnea before they spend the $$ for an in-lab study. I realize yuou are in the UK, but I assume the protocol is similar.

If it works like mine, in the lab the tech was able to cycle through simple CPAP, APAP, and ASV all from her control board. And at each of these she ran a range of pressures. In my case no matter what she did it made my apnea MUCH worse until she switched to ASV mode and once she had me breathing consistently she added oxygen because my pulsox was low.

All together from the time of my overnight study to having a machine in hand it was 9 months of hoop jumping fun to get it all approved and to get a machine ordered since they were backordered.

[HalfAsleep]

@beetee… the F40 is a hybrid mask. No doubt, that’s why it looks Dali-esque to you. It works like nasal pillows, pushed up under your nose, but also covers your mouth. There are other hybrid masks, not just this one. They have some advantages, because they’re less bulky than traditional FFM’s, but they’re not for everyone, either. They’re especially popular with mouth breathers who aren’t at super high pressures (mine goes like a hovercraft at 15).

[beetee]

watch pat is accurate as far as it goes.  It tells them enough to send you for an overnight in-lab study to find the settings needed and get you an appropriate type machine assigned.

It doesn't have the ability to adjust pressures or add oxygen or determine if you have central apnea verse obstructive.  It just knows you have events and if it was the version with all the sensors attached and a tube on your nose it might can determine centrals, but not so accurate.

Insurance typically wants you do do an overnight at home device to confirm you have some type apnea before they spend the $$ for an in-lab study.  I realize yuou are in the UK, but I assume the protocol is similar.

If it works like mine, in the lab the tech was able to cycle through simple CPAP, APAP, and ASV all from her control board.  And at each of these she ran a range of pressures.  In my case no matter what she did it made my apnea MUCH worse until she switched to ASV mode and once she had me breathing consistently she added oxygen because my pulsox was low.

All together from the time of my overnight study to having a machine in hand it was 9 months of hoop jumping fun to get it all approved and to get a machine ordered since they were backordered.

[robbob2112]

The thing is, without an in lab study how will they know what settings to start with?  But, pretty typical of insurance here in the US and I assume in the UK as well.

If they give you a machine like the resmed airsense 11 that can do cpap and apap we can help you dial in the setting to be ideal for you.

When they tell you the model number and brand they are going to give you we can tell you how to verify the machine is new verse used.  Meaning where to check that the runtime is zero or close to it.

[beetee]

The thing is, without an in lab study how will they know what settings to start with?  But, pretty typical of insurance here in the US and I assume in the UK as well.

If they give you a machine like the resmed airsense 11 that can do cpap and apap we can help you dial in the setting to be ideal for you.

When they tell you the model number and brand they are going to give you we can tell you how to verify the machine is new verse used.  Meaning where to check that the runtime is zero or close to it.

[robbob2112]

On that unit just scroll to the bottom and look at the time in the about menu. Make sure the runtime is under 20 hours or get them to issue you a different machine. Also make sure it includes a SD card with the machine (top flap on the left). If it isn't present get it or buy one at any local store that sells such things - it should be less than 32gb to work.

Are they going to do a mask fitting or just send you what it is they think you will use?

I expect they will just have it set to auto - which will work as a starting point. Download Oscar so you can chart your progress and upload graphs here.

[joeblough]

if you want to repeat the watchpat study there are a number of companies which will just sell you one for about $200 US. it turns out that the FAA and NHTSA require pilots and truck drivers respectively to take sleep apnea tests periodically and i believe this partially creates the market for these home apnea tests.

[joeblough]

The thing is, without an in lab study how will they know what settings to start with?  But, pretty typical of insurance here in the US and I assume in the UK as well.

i agree with you but i believe that the overwhelming majority of sleep medicine providers in the US just prescribe the CPAP and give some default pressures, like APAP 7-15 or so, and then just see what happens. they will only do a titration if the default settings somehow fails the patient. this probably makes sense statistically as both the in-lab sleep study and in-lab titration are really expensive (compared to a couple hundred bucks for the watchPAT)

[TechieHippie]

If you want another night of data you could get a SleepU or O2 ring and it's reusable and measures almost everything the watchpat does and you can lend to family and friends as well.