RE: Poor sleeper - CPAP seems to help -- do I need it?
(01-01-2015, 11:24 PM)TyroneShoes Wrote: (12-29-2014, 04:27 PM)SleepyDude Wrote: ...I'm sure trying a 10+ year old machine that is undoubtedly out of calibration isn't the most scientific indicator.  ...
I don't think it is that so much, as it is how much more sophisticated the new machines are. Heated hoses and better masks make new systems more comfortable, but the best thing is that they collect data, which you can parse and use it to titrate your therapy, targeting it to custom needs, which provides for a better result. Most have a cell modem to push that data to the sleep doc or DME, so are convenient as well. We now have software available to allow us to actively participate in our own therapy. You can even integrate your 02/pulsimeter directly into the data readouts.
And there are better versions; BiPAP, APAP and ASV can better treat certain patients, and EPR can make things more comfortable and help compliance.
a 10 year-old CPAP isn't just uncalibrated (actually, there is little for it to be calibrated to until you have a test and determine what settings are correct for you) it's a brick. A blower. Basically a hair dryer with a tube attached. It's too stupid to collect data or react to it automatically. And probably much louder. You can't even hear the new ones.
Where we lived in Canada you had to wait 3 years for a sleep study, and then you got a machine and basic supplies each year and that's it. Now that we relocated, my wife had a followup sleep study done. Part of that was evaluating her old machine. They ran diagnostics and a pressure test and it is not delivering the correct pressure any more.
I suspect a proper fitting mask would help me more than anything if I had to keep with the current machine. The mask that covers the nose is too small so it leaks. The nasal pillows are also too small so they seem to irritate my nose.
In any case I am waiting to hear back for my referral to the sleep specialist, so we'll see what they say.
RE: Poor sleeper - CPAP seems to help -- do I need it?
(01-02-2015, 12:14 AM)Sleeprider Wrote: I used a Remstar Auto M-Series until just two weeks ago when I finally replaced it with a PRS One Auto. The new machine is much nicer, but calling the old one a brick is just wrong. I was able to read the SmartCard data and make appropriate changes in the therapy settings. With 19,000 hours, it worked as good as new up to the last day I used it. New one is better, but this one is a good therapeutic device as SleepyDude is finding.
Do you have the SmartCard reader? If you do, then the data from your sleep can be read using EncoreBasic available through this forum as a free download.
Sounds like the exact same one I'm trying.
For sure basic functionality is very much adequate. What I like about my wife's resmed is the fancy climate control so she never wakes up drowning in water. I also like the pressure relief on exhale -- her 18cm prescription on the old machine felt like trying to breath against a jet turbine, but on the new machine it is so much more natural.
I don't have the SmartCard reader for this machine unfortunately. I have a generic smartcard reader, and was able to get it to recognize the card, but without the software couldn't get much further.
I didn't realize the software was available on here. I might give that a shot to see if it works with my generic reader.
RE: Poor sleeper - CPAP seems to help -- do I need it?
Hi SleepyDude,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
It's great to hear that you are able to try a CPAP machine, and that it is helping 'til you get your sleep study arranged, 
Much success to you as you start your CPAP journey.
trish6hundred
01-07-2015, 12:14 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-07-2015, 12:16 PM by SleepyDude.)
RE: Poor sleeper - CPAP seems to help -- do I need it?
(01-03-2015, 03:36 PM)trish6hundred Wrote: Hi SleepyDude,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
It's great to hear that you are able to try a CPAP machine, and that it is helping 'til you get your sleep study arranged,
Much success to you as you start your CPAP journey.
Hello,
Thanks for the welcome!
Still waiting to hear from the sleep clinic, but my wife said they took some time for her initial appointment so I have to be patient. Still not the 3 years I'd wait for an appt back in Canada, so I'm not complaining.
(01-02-2015, 12:14 AM)Sleeprider Wrote: Do you have the SmartCard reader? If you do, then the data from your sleep can be read using EncoreBasic available through this forum as a free download.
I did try using the software, thanks.. It isn't compatible with my SmartCard reader..
I'll just be sure to take the SmartCard with me when I go see the sleep specialist; they should be able to pull the data.
01-07-2015, 08:53 PM
RE: Poor sleeper - CPAP seems to help -- do I need it?
Tyrone, sounds like we've been in the same place. The new gear is really nice. Now, about that old Scotch... 
RE: Poor sleeper - CPAP seems to help -- do I need it?
(01-07-2015, 12:14 PM)SleepyDude Wrote: (01-03-2015, 03:36 PM)trish6hundred Wrote: Hi SleepyDude,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
It's great to hear that you are able to try a CPAP machine, and that it is helping 'til you get your sleep study arranged,
Much success to you as you start your CPAP journey.
Hello,
Thanks for the welcome!
Still waiting to hear from the sleep clinic, but my wife said they took some time for her initial appointment so I have to be patient. Still not the 3 years I'd wait for an appt back in Canada, so I'm not complaining.
(01-02-2015, 12:14 AM)Sleeprider Wrote: Do you have the SmartCard reader? If you do, then the data from your sleep can be read using EncoreBasic available through this forum as a free download.
I did try using the software, thanks.. It isn't compatible with my SmartCard reader..
I'll just be sure to take the SmartCard with me when I go see the sleep specialist; they should be able to pull the data.
SleepyDude, the smartcard reader for the Respironic Auto M Series is a Mako DT-3500. I was unable to locate one still for sale. I have one and might part with it one of these days. If you are able to read the card with another reader, for the EncoreBasic program follow this link. The program should find the card reader, download the data and display detailed and summarized sleep data. If you get that far, and have any questions, feel free to ask.
01-09-2015, 01:23 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-09-2015, 01:24 PM by SleepyDude.)
RE: Poor sleeper - CPAP seems to help -- do I need it?
Quote:SleepyDude, the smartcard reader for the Respironic Auto M Series is a Mako DT-3500. I was unable to locate one still for sale. I have one and might part with it one of these days. If you are able to read the card with another reader, for the EncoreBasic program follow this link. The program should find the card reader, download the data and display detailed and summarized sleep data. If you get that far, and have any questions, feel free to ask.
I didn't get very far; it just said, "No valid smartcard found" or something to that effect and I was done. Ah well, it was worth a shot.
Update: I have an appt for a take-home sleep study on Feb 11th. I'll make sure to stop using the CPAP the week before.. I dunno if using a CPAP somehow has a "lasting effect" that would invalidate the sleep test results.
RE: Poor sleeper - CPAP seems to help -- do I need it?
Okay, I FINALLY got the results back from my at home sleep study. I guess I kinda feel I should have just had a full sleep study, because it seems this one says, "Yup, something is up, but we need to do a full study".
In the mean time I've continued using my wife's old Remstart Auto, except it seems to be on its way out. Compared to her machine it definitely blows a lot softer, and I've had times when the blower slows down considerably at night and wakes me up. That and the humidifier tends to shut off, causing me to mouth-breathe during the night and wake up.
Oh well, time for more waiting..
OVERVIEW:
Respiratory Analysis demonstrated 0 obstructive apneas and 41 hypopneas, with an APNEA HYPOPNEA INDEX (AHI) of 6.7.
CLINICAL RESULTS:
This unattended diagnostic study suggested obstructive sleep apnea, and some snoring, and decreased nasal Airflow.
The AHI was 6.7 events/hr. The lowest oxygen saturation was 89 of the total sleep
Time was spent at saturations below 90 %. (normal AHI<5.0 events per hour; normal SpO2 > 89%).
The unattended nature of this home study under-estimated the degree of the obstructive sleep apnea, due to the absence Of sleep wake staging (EEG)
RECOMMENDATIONS:
This study under-estimated the degree of the sleep related breathing disorder due to the absence of Sleep wake monitoring(EEG).
The possibility of moderate to severe degree of sleep related breathing disorder / obstructive sleep Apnea cannot be excluded.
If desired, attended diagnostic polysomnogram in Sleep lab or split night study (diagnostic study with CPAP treatment) recommended.
RE: Poor sleeper - CPAP seems to help -- do I need it?
The recommendation is for a diagnostic attended sleep study or split night study where a titration recommendation is made. You have enough indications of OSA to receive a prescription for an auto titrating CPAP, and that is what I would recommend you pursue.
If you have great insurance and want to know the results of a multi-instrument sleep study, go for it. I would actually suggest the split night. If money is an issue, get a prescription for the best auto CPAP on the market and start tracking your data. You will quickly find the range of therapeutic pressures that work best. I'm not a big believer in a titration study because people's needs change, and titration is too often used as a conclusive single pressure that resolves most apneas... However, tomorrow your needs might be different. Put your money where it will do the most good.
RE: Poor sleeper - CPAP seems to help -- do I need it?
(04-09-2015, 03:51 PM)Sleeprider Wrote: The recommendation is for a diagnostic attended sleep study or split night study where a titration recommendation is made. You have enough indications of OSA to receive a prescription for an auto titrating CPAP, and that is what I would recommend you pursue.
If you have great insurance and want to know the results of a multi-instrument sleep study, go for it. I would actually suggest the split night. If money is an issue, get a prescription for the best auto CPAP on the market and start tracking your data. You will quickly find the range of therapeutic pressures that work best. I'm not a big believer in a titration study because people's needs change, and titration is too often used as a conclusive single pressure that resolves most apneas... However, tomorrow your needs might be different. Put your money where it will do the most good.
I had a followup with the sleep specialist about my results today. She felt that my results (and the fact I'd already been achieving decent results with an old CPAP machine) were enough to warrant going ahead with a CPAP prescription. She said we'll monitor how I do with an auto cpap and adjust as needed in a month.
I've hit my insurance out of pocket maximum this year due to having emergency spine surgery in February, so I'll probably do an attended sleep study later this year.
I go in tomorrow to pick up a Resmed Airsense 10 AutoSet with the climateline tubing, etc. I've been using my wife's old nasal pillows so far, so I'm going to start with that. I'm sure properly fitting pillows will work even better. However, I have the option to try out different masks if these don't work out for me.
I'm very happy to move on to the next step -- treatment!
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