[Symptoms] CPAP or jaw surgery?

[Dog Slobber]

Another thing that concerns me is that I remember reading some horror story about CPAP usage. The firmware was outdated, or the setup was wrong or something, point being, it resulted in some sort of injury.

This concern is (probably) completely unfounded. I would love a reference, so it could be properly refuted. It's simply not possible to refute a non-sourced, non-specific allegation.

New CPAP users are notorious for associating their first medical issue since starting CPAP with their CPAP.

New CPAP user: My CPAP gave me Blue Skin Disorder
CPAP community: You can't get Blue Skin Disorder from CPAP
New CPAP user: Well I got it right after I started CPAP.  If it wasn't the CPAP what was it?
William Shatner: You need to get a SoClean
New CPAP user: Take my money


CPAP *is* the gold standard for Apnea treatment.

[goku]

Since you are in Spain, the Wellue oximeter may be marketed under the name, Viatom. It seems they use different names depending on your geographical location (day-of-the-week or what side of the street you are on - sarcasm ). They do not record apneas. They record SpO₂, pulse, and movement.

How do you interpret the data that this device logs properly to extract a conclusion? what should I be looking for exactly?

Also, can someone explain how do you keep your CPAP and tubes clean from any mold? specially if you use the humidifier feature. Mold grows pretty much the day after using it if it's not completely dried. This is one of the main issues I see, that it could end up pushing mold particles into the lungs, doesn't sound like fun. Even if it's tiny amount, over decades it can build up.

[RainbowFish]

The oximeters typically have both their own apps for your computer and cellphone for graphing the variables mentioned.  They also create datafiles in the computer app's download that can be imported to OSCAR.  OSCAR takes data from both your CPAP SD card and the oximeter data file and makes one unified report that includes both the CPAP data on "air things" like the apnea events, machine pressures, and minute ventilation; and oximetry "people variables" like pulse, limb motion, and O2 saturation.  This site and it's members are knowledgeable regarding data interpretation, but, of course, you should also bring the reports to your provider to interpret and advise on how to optimize your treatment.  

As far as cleaning the tube.  The ResMed APAP I use has a drying phase after it is disconnected to evaporate moisture in the tube, and I rinse the tube (disconnected from the machine) with baby shampoo weekly and hang it to dry.  It is recommended to use distilled water in the reservoir, which mostly is to prevent buildup, but I also like that it is sterile.

[CorruptAlligator]

50/50 vinegar/water in the tube with a tube hanger. Let it soak for 1hr+, and then rinse it out. Turn off autostart on the airsense, put in the humidifier chamber without any water inside. Turn on mask fit mode, and let it air dry.

[goku]

Since you are in Spain, the Wellue oximeter may be marketed under the name, Viatom. It seems they use different names depending on your geographical location (day-of-the-week or what side of the street you are on - sarcasm ). They do not record apneas. They record SpO₂, pulse, and movement.

They have 3 ones:

https://www.viatomtech.com/pulse-oximeter

The wrist one is the most complete. I saw a video and there is this comment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZBU6Byh0Q0

" Why is the reading drop so much during sleep time. I had a feeling it not accurate to drop so much. Can you update the software. "

Im not sure if I should buy this. Will it really be accurate?

I liked that one because it sits on the wrist instead of having too much weight on the finger which may feel weird

https://www.viatomtech.com/fs20f

The oximeters typically have both their own apps for your computer and cellphone for graphing the variables mentioned.  They also create datafiles in the computer app's download that can be imported to OSCAR.  OSCAR takes data from both your CPAP SD card and the oximeter data file and makes one unified report that includes both the CPAP data on "air things" like the apnea events, machine pressures, and minute ventilation; and oximetry "people variables" like pulse, limb motion, and O2 saturation.  This site and it's members are knowledgeable regarding data interpretation, but, of course, you should also bring the reports to your provider to interpret and advise on how to optimize your treatment.  

As far as cleaning the tube.  The ResMed APAP I use has a drying phase after it is disconnected to evaporate moisture in the tube, and I rinse the tube (disconnected from the machine) with baby shampoo weekly and hang it to dry.  It is recommended to use distilled water in the reservoir, which mostly is to prevent buildup, but I also like that it is sterile.

See previous post. If the CPAP will work depending on also oximeter input, then its crucial it's accurate, but someone complained it wasn't. How do I know im getting real, accurate results?

Are there any video tutorials for someone brand new to this whole thing? And I would also like to see how people properly clean this. I don't want to use the wrong product, and then have the tube push me particles into the lungs that cause dryness and stuff.

Btw, im barely sleeping. My tongue just blocks the air pathway. Im seriously considering surgery if a CPAP can't properly push air into my lungs getting past the tongue block.

The thing is, when im a fully relaxed position, the tongue tends to naturally sit on the roof of the tongue and probably due jaw and maxilla recession there is no space for the air to travel.

The only other alternative I can think of is this:

https://www.cigna.com/individuals-famili...ice-zm6313

But like I said, I don't want to be exposed to some plastic/silicone device for 8 hours daily. And im not sure how good it is to push the lower jaw forward, it is like permanently jutting your jaw for 8 hours. So either the CPAP does the trick or I have to go through jaw surgery. Im having no REM sleep. I think im aware all night just with eyes closed, since knowing I can choke on my sleep makes me aware of the position of the tongue all the time instead of fully relaxing. I need a solution fast and I feel like I have to do a full course on CPAP, APAP, BiPAP, all the different models, the software, how to set it up etc, how to properly extract the data from the oximeter and dump it into the machine and also get past the polysomnography and buy the machine. It's so much work and im so tired, I just want a proper sleep.

[Crimson Nape]

The F20F is like the CMS-50D.  Users have reported that they had problem keeping it on and resorted to using adhesive tape. Plus, it doesn't support onboard data storage.  I was thinking more of the Check Me O2 Max or the O2Ring models.  They have onboard data recording capabilities. Their data can be incorporated into your OSCAR's CPAP data.

[goku]

The F20F is like the CMS-50D.  Users have reported that they had problem keeping it on and resorted to using adhesive tape. Plus, it doesn't support onboard data storage.  I was thinking more of the Check Me O2 Max or the O2Ring models.  They have onboard data recording capabilities. Their data can be incorporated into your OSCAR's CPAP data.

I was watching this video and I read some comments saying that this is not accurate:

"Do you really think your blood oxygn is 94? you shoullld probably check that out? My point is , this is a really really bad product, its completely inaccurate"

"I just bought one and it kept going off last night. I had to move the sensitivity to 80%, and it still went off. I have a finger O2 meter that I use in my emt jump pack and I checked it every time the sleepu went off. The difference was significant, sleepu would wake me and say that I’m at 71% and I check my other monitor and it says 96%. I don’t trust this wellvue monitor but I’ll give it another try tonight but on my thumb and we’ll see what happens."

"Would be awesome if you could wear both the CheckMe Max and the O2Ring at the same time and then compare the results as far as detections, alarms, how many artifacts, etc. I read one comment that said the results were quite different in that the CheckMe caught many more events. They both measure every second but Checkme records data at 2 second instead of the O2Ring's every 4 seconds but the CheckMe has more battery so could use a faster processor and do more complex analysis, or they could be exactly the same software routines and accuracy. I just don't know. CheckMe has FDA Clearance through a 510k but O2Ring is only registered, which means that the FDA has not reviewed anything at all. Could that mean that there is a significant difference? I just don't know."


The thing is, how do we even know it's accurate?

[Crimson Nape]

Part of your wish has come true. Here is a thread comparing the O2Ring to the Checkme.

http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...#pid446571

Your readings can be dependent on which digit you choose to use the oximeter on. I posted a link in the other thread and have reposted it below for your review.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4627972/

- Red

[goku]

Part of your wish has come true. Here is a thread comparing the O2Ring to the Checkme.

http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...#pid446571

Your readings can be dependent on which digit you choose to use the oximeter on. I posted a link in the other thread and have reposted it below for your review.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4627972/

- Red

So we need someone to test O2ring vs Checkme all things equal (same finger vs same finger) to find out what's more accurate.

[clownbell]

Back to OPs question about machine rental. ResMed Airsense 10 AutoSet is the best choice. AutoSet is the key word. 14 days is plenty of time to evaluate.

With regard to cleaning, some do it daily, some weekly, some never. It's really your choice, whatever makes you comfortable. If you want to do so, a simple method is to buy some baby shampoo, run a sinkfull of water and soak your gear. Some folks use a toothbrush to scrub the silicone cushion. When I soak my air hose, I hang it in the shower to dry. It's ready to go by bedtime.