Newbie with lots of random questions

[Coffee Man]

With the humidifier, you can set it to warm up so it's ready to go when you will actually using the machine. If you have the ClimateLine heated tube, should probably set Climate Control to auto. This should minimize chance of condensation in the tube.

From the Resmed site: "The HumidAir™ heated humidifier will rise to a target temperature of 104°F over 20 minutes. The device then holds this temperature for a further 10 minutes, ready for therapy to start. If therapy does not commence in that time, the device will automatically enter cool-down mode, where it will blow a small amount of air for around 20 minutes to stop condensation forming in the device."

[JenWith1N]

Thank you for the tips! So far I'm liking the machine. I did not get a box since this is just a loaner machine, and although they did include a print manual in the case, I found an electronic copy right away since I much prefer anything to be electronic. I saw a YouTube video about the clinical menu and I did go in there, but it wasn't all that exciting as the lady had already told me most of what she had set up, and most of the settings seem to already be available to me without going in there. The company I work with seems very good compared to many people's experiences, from what I'm reading!

I'm going to ask them tomorrow if I can try a second type of mask just so I have something to compare to. It is hard to tell if what I'm using is really "great" or just "okay" since I have nothing else to compare to.

[JenWith1N]

With the humidifier, you can set it to warm up so it's ready to go when you will actually using the machine. If you have the ClimateLine heated tube, should probably set Climate Control to auto. This should minimize chance of condensation in the tube.

Thanks for the info! I have the SlimLine tubing it seems. I haven't tried pre-heating the humidifier, but I think I will try that tonight. Good to know that it turns off automatically if I don't end up going to bed when I anticipated.

[SarcasticDave94]

Forum question: is there a way to quote multiple people's posts in one response?

The company I'm working with seems excellent so far. They asked if I had a preference for any particular machine when I mentioned screen readability being important (I'm severely visually impaired). I had looked up their website and googled information and reviews on all the machines they offered and they all seemed up-to-date and got positive user reviews. I have experience purchasing other medical devices/equipment, so fully expect to be able to pick my own, whether it's the one I'm using (which I quite like so far) or something different, since I'm the one who will be using it every day. I'm in Canada, so I don't think the whole "network" thing is an issue if I did decide to go to another company for some reason.

I used proper distilled water last night (though it still said it was "ozonated"), and also put the humidity back to 4, and this morning no wheezing. I keep the humidity of my bedroom pretty low because I'm super allergic to dust mites and low humidity helps to kill them. So it's good to know humidity is important. I will continue monitoring and adjusting it.

So far I have been wearing the CPAP for 7-8 hours at night. So far it has said my AHI is staying low (0.4 - 1.7), so I'm assuming this is good and I have no reason to be concerned. Is there a reason not to trust this number or to be concerned about settings if this number is good? I feel like I'm already feeling more energized, if it's possible to start feeling better so quickly. Most of my questions above are out of curiosity and wanting to learn more or head-off possible issues...not about concerns I have that things aren't working out.

Yes. There's the button called "Quote Multiple Posts". First click that button then select the multiple posts you desire to include. Make comments to each multiple and give yourself an A for accomplishing the task. Coffee as reward works as well.

[Fats Drywaller]

I'm going to ask them tomorrow if I can try a second type of mask just so I have something to compare to. It is hard to tell if what I'm using is really "great" or just "okay" since I have nothing else to compare to.

Good question, and it's sort of a head-scratcher. One important initial thing is that some masks have quite elaborate headgear compared to the single elastic strap of the P10 or the Brevida, and that is annoying to some patients. Once you're used to putting on the mask in two seconds and taking it off in one second, wrestling with what seems like a harness for a horse isn't appealing.

The Fisher & Paykel Brevida is similar to the Resmed P10 except that its nasal-pillows nosepiece is softer and gentler. Many P10 users recommend applying lanolin to the nostrils to prevent or treat sores, but I have never found that necessary with the Brevida. (I'm evangelistic about the thing, which is not unusual for a CPAP user with a fave mask, BFF and all that.) Also, the Brevida's single strap has a much better design, with velcro extending way back on both sides, than the P10's with its kluge-clips to use when the stretching of the band has made the thing unwearable.

However, all that said, it might be better at this early phase to test-drive a nasal type instead. The biggies at the moment are the Resmed N20 and Swift FX Nano, the Philips Respironics Wisp (also Pico, another PR model that's similar but different), and the F&P Eson 2, or "2 nosE" if you prefer. Reading reviews before deciding is a good idea.

The Philips Respironics Dreamwear is very noisy, so beware of that and definitely read the reviews & gripes from other patients before deciding on that one. Other than that, it's quite good and lets you choose between nasal pillows and a "nasal cushion", also available in sizes, that sits under the nose but doesn't invade the nostrils.

Edited to add: If you are easily able to keep mouth closed while sleeping, then you probably don't need a full-face mask, the type that covers both the nostrils and the mouth (rarely actually full-face in these modern times). But that's only my guess, so f-f users are welcome to contradict it and explain.

[Fats Drywaller]

A mask feature that differs from one model to another is whether the hose connection is in front or on top. Patients who prefer to have the hose connect on top and then go to a hose hanger above the bed, so as to keep the hose entirely out of the bed, tend not to like the front-connecting models. I'm used to the front connection (moving the hose around as needed) with the Brevida's ball-and-socket joint and I haven't installed a hose hanger so far, so I just shrug it off and say "Whatever." I also don't use a heated hose, which is heavier than the normal plain-plastic one or the Resmed Slimline. YMMV and all that. The Resmed heated hose is called Climateline and it's an optional accessory that you can order when you get your own A10. It prevents rainout in the mask caused by the humidified air.

[Crimson Nape]

JenWith1N,
To answer your 4th question, "How to quote multiple people's posts in one response".

1. Select "Quote Multiple Posts" in the lower right of a post you wish to respond to.
   • The little icon to its left will have a green plus ("+") symbol if it is to be included.
     
   • A red negative ("-") sign if it is not to be included.  
     
   • Note: You can toggle between the two before you're ready to reply.
     
2. When you're ready to reply, Select the "Reply with Quote" button.  All the selected posts will appear in your editor box.  
   
3. Remember to type your reply to a post AFTER and BELOW the '[/quote]' block of each quoted post.
   Example:
   
   Code:

   [quote= "Somebody's Post"]
Blah -  Blah - Blah - Blah - Blah - Blah - Blah - Blah - Blah
[/quote]
*** Place your reply here ***

I hope this will help.
- Red

[Fats Drywaller]

So far I have been wearing the CPAP for 7-8 hours at night. So far it has said my AHI is staying low (0.4 - 1.7), so I'm assuming this is good and I have no reason to be concerned. Is there a reason not to trust this number or to be concerned about settings if this number is good?

Awesome, and way to go. There's no reason not to trust the numbers from a Resmed machine. About possible reasons to be concerned about the settings, I'll leave that to the Sleepyhead-chart-interpreting experts eventually.

I'll add as an only marginally relevant anecdote that the AHI numbers from the display of another machine that I use sometimes, the DV54 (see my sidebar), are bogus and I never pay any attention to 'em. I don't know how the software (firmware) authors got it so wrong back in 2013, but they did. On consecutive nights with everything else the same (mask, hose, pressure settings, etc.), I'll typically get numbers from the A10 in the 0.x to 2.x range, and then numbers from the DV5x way over 5 and sometimes over 10. Bizarre. It's not a brand that I recommend for most purposes (its only big advantage is that it'll run on 12VDC), even though there is a later generation, the DV6x, which I have to assume has better firmware. But I digress, as usual.

[Gideon]

With your sleep study I would not want your personal data. Any mention of different types of apnea is important. You made no mention of mixed apnea or central apnea not even that there was none. IF these are present at all it is possible that the autoset you are using , and it is the best machine for obstructive apnea, may not be the best machine got you. if you have CENTRAL Apenas showing up on your autoset the sleep study will help determine if it is likely treatment onset CA or not. This helps us recommend the direction of therapy you should be aware of. There is nothing you have provided to imply a misdiagnosis. Only a lack of info to prove it is correct.

[JenWith1N]

With your sleep study I would not want your personal data.  Any mention of different types of apnea is important.  You made no mention of mixed apnea or central apnea not even that there was none.   IF these are present at all it is possible that the autoset you are using , and it is the best machine for obstructive apnea, may not be the best machine got you.  if you have CENTRAL Apenas showing up on your autoset  the sleep study will help determine if it is likely treatment onset CA or not.  This helps us recommend the direction of therapy you should be aware of.  There is nothing you have provided to imply a misdiagnosis.  Only a lack of info to prove it is correct.

Thanks for the additional information. My sleep study didn't say anything about central sleep apnea. The diagnosis in the report was moderate, non-positional obstructive sleep apnea. There is a little chart showing the AHI and other breakdowns, and in that chart it says "Cnt. Index: 0", so I assume that means I had none detected. On the reports I have been getting on my CPAP machine, it says "Central AI: 0.2" for the five nights I've been using it.