Newbie Intro

[EngineerBoo]

First time on this site...had my first-ever sleep study on June 6th and my doc just emailed and said I have mild hypopnea and apnea so wants me to come in so my insurance can buy me a cpap.  (Co-worker has the resmed machine and said to get a So Clean for cleaning.)

Newby with lots to learn...glad to find a forum where I can pick the brains of folks...been watching some good videos on youtube. 

I wonder if altitude has an impact on apnea?  We live in Monument, Colorado which has at 7,000 feet above sea level so I'm sure that doesn't help.

I'm retired Air Force (23-years, Special Ops, Sr Intel Analyst, Space Ops, First Sergeant) and have been a systems engineer at the Missile Defense Agency for 16 years as a defense contractor)

Rick "Boo" Boucher

[Gideon]

Welcome to the forum.

What altitude was your sleep study conducted at? 7000+ ft? it is important.  If it was at 5000 ft the central Apnea activity could be way off.
You have a choice in the make and brand CPAP that you get.  In general we recommend ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet, keyword AutoSet, not AirSense, because it is very flexible quick to respond to events.  You also get excellent data from this machine so you can perform a breath by breath analysis if needed.

Because of altitude, don't be surprised is this first "CPAP" doesn't work well and you need a different machine.  There is no way to know until you try it.

[EngineerBoo]

Thanks, Fred!  Yes, the sleep study was at a hospital in Northern Colorado Springs so, at most, only about 500 feet below my house.  A HORRIBLE experience...the bed was hard like a cheap Motel 6 mattress so it made my hip hurt and when I finally started dozing off a lady in a room down the hall let out three huge screams which woke us all up and then I was worried she was going to do it again so getting back asleep was hard. 

Thanks for the tips on the resmed!!

[SarcasticDave94]

Welcome to Apnea Board.

I agree that ResMed of some variant will be the best choice. I'll also put forth that SoClean isn't a requirement. Dish soap and hot water are more than good enough to keep it clean. Altitude will play a key in success rates early on, but we here at AB will help get you through it. If you have the sleep study report, by all means, you may post it here in redacted format. The detailed version is far better than a summary. Best to your near future success.

And thanks for the service time. I stayed at E-1 while in the PA Army National Guard for the 10 months I was in. Bad back decided it didn't like BDUs, so I was given a medical discharge.

[EngineerBoo]

Well finally got in to see my Doc and getting the APAP Monday....the only option my insurance buys is the Philips DreamStation but I've watched some videos and read many reviews and folks seem to like it. They gave me 4 mask options and I get to pick out two so I'll get the two full face options....DreamWear and Vitera. I guess the DreamStation has BlueTooth and there's an app to put on your phone to capture all the data...so that's pretty cool.
Does everyone have a SoClean? A co-worker with a ResMed said he loves his and I should get one if the APAP works out for me....but they are not cheap....maybe someone could hook me up with a discount supplier in here?

[EngineerBoo]

Oh I do have a printout of my sleep study...has a bunch of acronyms and stuff that means nothing to me....this part sounds important: (It did say sleep was fragmented)

The PSG was technically adequate. Sleep onset was prolonged at 72.2 min. REM latency was prolonged at 337.0 min. Sleep stage analysis revealed 15.5 min (5.9%TST) stage N1 (normal), 236.7min (89.8%TST) N2 (increased), 3.0min (1.1%TST) N3 (reduced), and 8.5min (3.2%TST) REM(normal)

Is this important: "The apnea/hypopnea index was increased at 12.1 Supine AHI was 12.8, REM AHI was 21.2. The patient slept 32.0% of the night in the supine position. Supine REM sleep was not observed during the study.

[SarcasticDave94]

If you redact your personal data off the sleep report and turn it into scanned PC images, you should be able to attach at the bottom of a reply post for this thread. Each page would be an attachment. From the New Attachment, it's Choose File, after choosing it Add Attachment then Insert Into Post.
Attaching Files

Here's some bits of info:

SoClean is not required, but if you want it that's fine. Most that I know just use dish soap like Dawn and hot water.

Odd that the insurance says Respironics only on coverage. Most health insurances don't care as long as protocol is followed in proof of medical necessity. I'm not questioning you, but maybe that was some info that is slanted towards Respironics equipment from a DME- the durable medical equipment is the place that sells products like CPAP and maintains with supplies. DMEs are infamously sorta crooked like some car salesmen are known for being. ResMed CPAPs tend to give better therapy, Philips Respironics is just below that, but have offered a price break to the DME. That means they save money and do not pass the savings on. This means selling a Respironics puts extra money in the pocket of the DME. Am I skeptical? Yep, especially when the DME says something.

PSG is a sleep study, REM sleep stage.

AHI at 12.1 means you'll be issued CPAP with mild/moderate events shown in the test.

[staceyburke]

I completely agree with Dave.  I had a dreamstation, top of the line and purchased with my own money a ResMed VAUTO and the difference was dramatic!  I am doing so much better with the RESMED.  And yes the supplier will give you the least expensive CPAP they can get by with and you will not be able to upgrade for about 7 years.  Get the best machine you are entitled to!!

[Gideon]

just saying

ResMed AutoSet Dreamstation Auto comparison
Why ResMed?
1. Faster algorithmic response to events than PR.
2. ResMed Responds to Flow Limits
   PR responds to Snores
3. Lower average pressure (PR require a higher pressure to ward off obstructive events)
4. Better to avoid Aerophagia.
5. EPR provides for better treatment of hypopneas, RERAs, Flow Limits, UARS, and snores
6. EPR acts like a BiLevel up to a limit of 3cmw (1,2, or 3cmw) and a max pressure of 20 cmw
7. EPR follows your breathing whereas Flex predicts it with a feeling of fighting to get a breath when it predicts incorrectly
8. More flexibility in treating a greater variety of Apneas and respiratory events.
9. In general provides better therapy.
I have frequently told many DreamStation users that they need to get either the ReaMed AutoSet or BiLevel to get better therapy.

[SarcasticDave94]

IMHO EngineerBoo,

DME and insurance: I would be calling both and asking why I can only get a Respironics. If you want, require it in writing. If as I suspect, it's actually the DME sending fake info like this, shop elsewhere that supplies ResMed.

FWIW I've been on Medicaid and now Medicare. So far Medicare has not told me what brand for my medical equipment. Medicaid emulates Medicare in protocol, excepting the little co-pay.