New CPAP, new thread

[midwestguy]

Went to the bathroom.

I'm in the habit of taking the mask off rather than disconnecting it.
Maybe the new fit isn't as good as the old one.

[midwestguy]

geer1,

A sleep doc's nurse wrote, "The physician usually adjusts the pressure."
So we're seeing maybe a little push-back already.
I swiped part of your suggested response and will send this:

---

Dr. Xxxxx,

I correspond with a group of knowledgeable CPAP users. Their
informed suggestions have been valuable to many others.

My data shows periods of low flow rate coinciding with mouth breathing and leaks.
I am trying higher pressure to see if it improves that breathing or makes it worse.
If there is improvement, I will stay with the higher pressure. If not, I will return to
the current settings.

I am confident that our cooperative efforts will improve the quality of my sleep.

Best,

Xxxxxx  

---

Anything you would change?

Harv

[midwestguy]

Did you happen to take a nap in the afternoon?  From 12:30 to ~2:30pm.....



Try unticking that checkbox and see it it displays better for you.

I think I did. Removing the tick didn't change any graphs.

Thanks

[midwestguy]

Concerning the large time gap, I'm laying my money on the probability that you have Smart Start turned on.

Thought I replied to your post, Red.

Anyway, If SmartStart isn't reliable, I'll go back to pushing the button.

Thanks,

Harv

[SarcasticDave94]

I would turn off the smart start to eliminate a variable. The power switch was my way to guarantee the PAP turns on and off when I want it to.

As for the doc and controlling pressures, it's your choice how to handle it, but I did the edit first then told the doc later why I did it. It's your therapy, own the settings.

You know pretty quickly when an edit works or not. You can then reset it if it's gone wrong. Reliance on doc means another appointment probably and several days at minimum to edit something you can do in seconds.

[Geer1]

I usually side against smart start/stop but so far do not believe it has caused issues with this machine. Use it if you want but if you start seeing unexplained periods where the machine was shut off then know it is the reason.

As for docs the main thing is if you adjust settings they won't want to take responsibility for your therapy (rightfully so as you have taken it into your own hands). Their response saying the physician "usually" adjusts the pressure isn't much push back and I wouldn't worry about it. Your response is reasonable and could change first part if desired to indicate the help already received and why you trust us.

I correspond with a group of knowledgeable CPAP users. They helped me diagnose that my previous machine was not working properly and now they are helping me do a couple tests to fine tune titration.

[midwestguy]

geer1,

Here's the result from Sun., Feb. 21. I slept from 10 PM to 7:30 AM.

   

Two conclusions:

1. SmartStart still isn't smart enough, or my breathing isn't strong enough.
   Back to pushing the button.

2. Stop pulling the mask off, disconnect as intended.

Best,

Harv

[Geer1]

That image only has what I assume was part of your afternoon nap. You may have to purge that data and upload again to get the full results (go to that day, click data tab at top, advanced, purge current selected day) then go back to welcome and reupload.

This happens when you already have data uploaded for a day. What likely happened is you uploaded yesterdays data after this nap so this data was already uploaded and OSCAR didn't add more data to this day because the session already existed.

[midwestguy]

That image only has what I assume was part of your afternoon nap. You may have to purge that data and upload again to get the full results (go to that day, click data tab at top, advanced, purge current selected day) then go back to welcome and reupload.

This happens when you already have data uploaded for a day. What likely happened is you uploaded yesterdays data after this nap so this data was already uploaded and OSCAR didn't add more data to this day because the session already existed.

I'll fix that later and re-post.

Meanwhile, my doc looks like another AHI-only watcher.

First reply:

The data looks great
No need to change anything
Best
H

After reading the long text:

OK
Let me know if you need any help
Best
H

So, not only no objections, but no possibly embarrassing questions!
(We, forum members and Yours Truly, do the leg work. He gets the
glory. I'm okay with that.)

Best,

Harv

[cathyf]

As for docs the main thing is if you adjust settings they won't want to take responsibility for your therapy (rightfully so as you have taken it into your own hands). Their response saying the physician "usually" adjusts the pressure isn't much push back and I wouldn't worry about it. Your response is reasonable and could change first part if desired to indicate the help already received and why you trust us.

I correspond with a group of knowledgeable CPAP users. They helped me diagnose that my previous machine was not working properly and now they are helping me do a couple tests to fine tune titration.

I would point out that the doc/dme/etc. have already completely failed to take responsibility for MWG's therapy.

The first machine that they dispensed to him had a broken sensor, and reported baldfaced lies (zero leaks) about what happened while MWG was asleep. AND the machine's algorithm became so hopelessly confused by MWG's mouth breathing that it repeatedly shut itself off while MWG was asleep and helpless to defend himself. Then it used its modem to communicate with the ResMed cloud every day and it did not report any of these catastrophic failures that it had recorded itself doing. (When the machine shuts itself off and then turns itself back on and comes on at the pressure that it was at when it shut off rather than the minimum pressure, it's because the algorithm KNOWS that it shouldn't have turned off.)

As cpap patients, we are in a state where we have one manufacturer who engineered machines with foam that disintegrated and spewed particles into patients lungs, and another manufacturer who engineered machines that are programmed to omit reporting failures to deliver the prescribed therapy. And what we have learned about sleep medicine is that it is a very rare health care professional who seems to give a rat's *** about whether these machines that they prescribe are doing what they are supposed to or not.