ROUND TWO!! APPRECIATE INPUT!!

[Don in Austin]

I have been getting by with a custom dental device and trying to stay off my back. http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...ternatives While my sleep specialist, sleep ENT and sleep dentist all think this is working pretty well, I am not satisfied. Yesterday I became a criminal and with no prescription bought an essentially new Resmed S9 VPAP/Bi-PAP kit on Craigslist for $600. I am on medicare and perhaps my sleep doctor could have gone to bat for me to get this premium unit through insurance. However, my thought is that by putting out my own cash, by making the titration a DIY project for the time being, I will enlist my stubborness and ego to make CPAP work this time around. I can't turn this unit in and I AM a stubborn SOB. At one time I smoked 5 packs of cigarettes/day but I quit cold turkey in 1974. In 1998 I overcame long term profound alcoholism with no form of program or support group except my own substantial ego. I have never relapsed on either of these.

So I have questions and observations about CPAP round 2:

All comments welcome:

--Is this a premium very flexible unit as I think it is?

--I am using it in conjunction with the TAP dental device which DOES make a difference and with which I have no compliance problems at all. I hope not to have to use extreme pressures. My apnea untreated is high moderate/low severe.

--Last night I used nasal pillows. I woke up periodically with wind forcing its way out through my lips. Ideas?

--I set minimum Exhale pressure at 4.0, maximum inhale at 10.00 as a place to start.

--AHI was 5.9 last night, which was my first night. Need to buy a card reader and install SleepyHead for more in depth report. I might wear the pulse oximeter tonight.

--I abandoned the "bumper belt" which just causes discomfort when I end up sleeping on my back anyway! I think its a lost cause staying off my back and one reason I am trying CPAP again.

--I felt mild pressure in my ears upon turning the machine on despite ramp activated.

--My saliva this morning was thick like syrup. Humidifier was set at 2.5, temperature 72* F. Felt way too cold. This unit has a heated hose.

--Might try my wife's extra fabric mask tonight. The first time around I had NO luck at all with full-face hard masks.

That's enough to get started -- comments welcome!

Don in Austin

[ShelaghDB]

Hi Don. Just a welcome to the group. I can't offer you advice as others can and will as soon as they start showing up in the forum. I did however get one hell of a laugh out of your post. You have to be either an August or November baby to be as stubborn as you are. LOL
I think you have a great attitude and will do it

Good Luck !

[PaytonA]

Hi Don,

Welcome to round two. It appears from what you have written that the machine that you have purchased is a Resmed S9 VPAP Auto but your profile makes it look like what you have is the VPAP S. It would be helpful to those reading your posts if you clarified that in your profile. The name of the machine should be printed prominently on the top but I do not remember where. Just a suggestion.

You might try a chin strap with the nasal pillows.

Did you have a titration for you round one. If so and it was not toooo long ago that might give a clue where to start out. It will definitely be helpful to have the graphs from Sleepyhead to help determine how to proceed.

Did you set the pressure support?

Before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, I could not understand how anyone could sleep hooked up to a CPAP. Now I would not want to sleep without it.

Lots of luck with your renewed effort.

Best regards,

PaytonA

[justMongo]

"-Is this a premium very flexible unit as I think it is?"

Yes. Very flexible with full data reporting. Can run in CPAP, VPAP S or VPAP Auto mode.
The VPAP auto uses a set difference between IPAP and EPAP pressures. I run at PS=5.

"but your profile makes it look like what you have is the VPAP S."
That is a bit confusing -- please check which machine you have.

[Don in Austin]

Hi Don,

Welcome to round two. It appears from what you have written that the machine that you have purchased is a Resmed S9 VPAP Auto but your profile makes it look like what you have is the VPAP S. It would be helpful to those reading your posts if you clarified that in your profile. The name of the machine should be printed prominently on the top but I do not remember where. Just a suggestion.

You might try a chin strap with the nasal pillows.

Did you have a titration for you round one. If so and it was not toooo long ago that might give a clue where to start out. It will definitely be helpful to have the graphs from Sleepyhead to help determine how to proceed.

Re' chin strap -- air is forced out through my lips even with my jaw closed -- dental device sees to that. I have never inadvertently unhooked the dental device in a year and half or whatever I have been using it.

Did you set the pressure support?

Before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, I could not understand how anyone could sleep hooked up to a CPAP. Now I would not want to sleep without it.

Lots of luck with your renewed effort.

Best regards,

PaytonA

Yes it is a RsMed S9S That model designation is actually not badged on the unit, but that what what I was told and it is both bi-level and variable.

Titration from round one was a while back and without the assistance of the dental device. I have also lost weight and had a deviated septum repair since that was done.

Please explain to me pressure support?

Thanks....Don

[Don in Austin]

"-Is this a premium very flexible unit as I think it is?"

Yes. Very flexible with full data reporting. Can run in CPAP, VPAP S or VPAP Auto mode.
The VPAP auto uses a set difference between IPAP and EPAP pressures. I run at PS=5.

"but your profile makes it look like what you have is the VPAP S."
That is a bit confusing -- please check which machine you have.

I was told it was bilevel and variable. Indeed, it has those options in the setup. For some reason, I can not find an actual model number on the unit.

Don in Austin

[zonk]

Please explain to me pressure support?

Thanks....Don

Pressure support is the difference between EPAP and IPAP
If EPAP (exhale pressure) is 6 and IPAP (inhale pressure) is 10
Pressure support [IPAP minus EPAP] = 10 - 6 = 4

[justMongo]

Please explain to me pressure support?

Thanks....Don

Pressure support is the difference between EPAP and IPAP
If EPAP (exhale pressure) is 6 and IPAP (inhale pressure) is 10
Pressure support [IPAP minus EPAP] = 10 - 6 = 4

Zonk: can you translate from his serial number to exact type.
I'm still not sure if he's got a VPAP S or a VPAP Auto.

Mine says VPAP Auto just above the power button.

Don in Austin -- look just above the pwer button....

[trish6hundred]

Hi Don,
Better luck to you this time around. You got a great deal on that machine, CONGRATULATIONS.!.
If you like the pillows, you might try a chin strap to help you keep your mouth closed.
Hang in there for more suggestions.

[diamaunt]

I was told it was bilevel and variable. Indeed, it has those options in the setup. For some reason, I can not find an actual model number on the unit.

Don in Austin

Hey Don in austin... *waves from Dallas*

look on the back of the unit, on the bottom of the label is a REF number, that's the actual model number.

if the REF number is 36004, then you have a VPAP S
if it's 36006, it's a VPAP Auto
if it's a different 36xxx, let me know and I'll look it up