[Diagnosis] First post-CPAP visit to Sleep Doc - What to talk about?

[FlyAU98]

I have my first appointment with the Sleep Doc in early April.  He read out my sleep study and my titration study and wrote my prescription, but I’ve never spoken to him before.
 
I’ve been using a Resmed AirSense 10 set at 7.0 (well, a few weeks with a G3) since mid-January.  I’ve been pretty compliant, but have had some struggles.  I started out with a Resmed N30 mask, but struggled with choppy breathing out of it and noises.  My local DME dismissed my questions about it like I was making them up and switched me to an N30i.  (I’ve since discovered the choppy venting and noise was likely due to humidity/water build up – I don’t have a heated hose and sleep in a cold room – DME says I can’t have a heated hose until the Doc prescribes it.)
 
I really like the N30i, but have had some issue where I wake up in the middle of night with it on and no matter what I do, I feel like I’m not getting enough air, or air exchange.  I’m not hyperventilating, but I don’t feel well until I take it off.  Maybe shallow breathing leading to some CO2 buildup?
 
So I’ve been bouncing back and forth between the N30i and the N30.  
 
I think I also have some insomnia, before and after CPAP I wake up a lot in the middle of the night and struggle to get back to sleep.
 
I have all my data downloaded to OSCAR and can share as desired.
 
I’d like any guidance the group can provide to steer my conversation with the doctor.

   

Two random nights:
   

   

[Old Steve]

Welcome to the forum.

You should include the complete Left hand OSCAR info panel (without the calendar) to provide the full info for the forum members to help you.  As to the heated hose, I would think if you went to your Doctor and told him that the heated hose would help with the water problem and of course with your quality of sleep, you could get one. That's all I ever did.

[Nightynite]

Another option is just buy out of pocket a heated hose from amazon. Also a cloth hose cover over your existing hose will insulate it and possibly cut down of the moisture build up inside the hose.

[whiskrzz]

You don't need a prescription to buy a heated hose from most online suppliers. Shop around and look for discount codes. I suggest using supplier 18 with the the Resmed item discount code Spring25 
Free shipping and cost after the discount is $34.50

apneaboard dot com/forums/Thread-CPAP-Supplier-List

[John Reston]

I'm in a similar situation, starting with the CPAP in December, but I've seen the sleep doctor (a cardiologist) in person once and by phone once and I have another consult with him again next week. Given that you think you have insomnia, it would be good to press for treatment of insomnia and not just treatment of sleep apnea. I have this dual diagnosis, too, and so far the doctor has focused only on apnea, so now I get 4 hours a night without many apnea episodes, but not one minute more of sleep than I was getting before. If your doctor specializes in sleep disorders and not just apnea, the doctor should be able to help you with that. That's going to be the focus of my conversation with him next week.  Mask fit and other issues can be handled by a tech, but if you need a prescription for a heated hose (really?) then I would also ask for that. As for the feeling like you aren't getting enough air, the doctor can increase the pressure, but of course you can do that on your own (I've changed the pressure a couple times already). I'm surprised, though, that anything over 5 isn't enough. Are you sleeping on your side? When I'm on my back, I always feel like I have trouble breathing--maybe that's just me.  Good luck with the doctor.

[FlyAU98]

Thanks for the replies.  I know I can just buy a hose, but since I had the appointment coming up, I figured let him prescribe one that way they get replaced on the insurance...

I'm still wondering what the whole cause of my more recent problems might be.  I've also started having leaks on the P30 that I didn't have before.  I'm going to try a new nose-piece tonight, its due to be changed per the schedule.  

I'll be on my AirMini next week...oddly I think my best couple nights was using it when I first got it, despite the noise.  100% on the app both nights...I've never gotten all the way to 100% on my AirSense 10 (but usually I'm in the 90s).  

Here are the charts with the sidebars showing...I guess it was the 'other' board that didn't want the sides...

Thanks for your help!

   

   

[HalfAsleep]

While you’re waiting for a hose prescription, you can simply wrap yours in something? Park a bunch of it under a pillow?

[FlyAU98]

I’ve been back on my AirMini all week…with pretty good numbers.  I’ll be back on the Airsense 10 tonight, it will be interesting to see how tonight goes.  

I did end up turning the EPR back on and felt I slept better.  

I see the doc in a couple days…