(04-10-2016, 04:33 PM)0rangebear Wrote: I just read finished reading this entire thread......Fascinating

Back in the 1980's when the new oral medications, home test kits, and insulin pumps and A1C test were becoming available to the public. I had more that one conversation with a doctor or nutritionist about Self Management of diabetes.

Many of them stressed that in was not only illegal but life threatening to change my own dosages, perform my on blood testing, and experiment on myself.

I walked out on more than one Dr. Who said. If you going to come to me, your going to follow my regime without exception. I will not have a patient self medicating.

My response to that attitude then and now is; thank you for your time, b ut you not the doctor for me. I interviewed several doctors before I met the endocrinologist I use now as my primary Dr. He was very open to the idea of Self Management.

I have Self Managed my diabetes now for 30 years. My Doctor is a great advisor and counselor, and he recognizes that have had far more success controlling my BSL than the doctors and dieticians did before I took control.

Today almost all diabetic experts will tell up front that you hive to take charge your self and Self-Manage your own diabetes; no one can do it for you.

From what I have learned about this Positive Airway Pressure therapy in the last year, it appears to be another madly that requires self management to be successful.

I time this will become the norm.

(04-11-2016, 06:58 AM)Luvmyzzz Wrote: I agree with you Orangebear to a certain point, not everyone is as closely in tune with their own well being, I for one can see the relevence to your stand, although some individuals have so much going on with their health, they are over whelmed and don't want to understand or even try to help themselves. It's nice to know there are MD's who can trust their patients to look after their own health needs, too many are either too busy to take the time to get to know the individual and what their capability of handling a delicate "life line" of optimum health and well being. There are also Md's who fear the repercussions of any accidents that have a high probability of happening and flat refuse to go deep into self medicating.

(04-11-2016, 10:19 AM)FrankNichols Wrote:

(04-11-2016, 06:58 AM)Luvmyzzz Wrote: I agree with you Orangebear to a certain point, not everyone is as closely in tune with their own well being, I for one can see the relevence to your stand, although some individuals have so much going on with their health, they are over whelmed and don't want to understand or even try to help themselves. It's nice to know there are MD's who can trust their patients to look after their own health needs, too many are either too busy to take the time to get to know the individual and what their capability of handling a delicate "life line" of optimum health and well being. There are also Md's who fear the repercussions of any accidents that have a high probability of happening and flat refuse to go deep into self medicating.

I agree with this. for those that can and want to, I strongly advise to find a doctor you can work with and that will work with you. However, I really do think those are the minority among us, and we should be careful in calling doctors stupid or hard to get along with. For most, and I do mean most by a large margin, the doctor needs to decide and they need to strictly adhere to the prescriptions. This forum represents a very small percentage of the people on CPAP machines and most here are highly motivated and capable of making treatment decisions giving help on forums like this one. But "rugged individualism" that is often seen online can lead to dangerous results if the wrong people see that advice and follow it instead of their doctor.

I am glad the forum is here, and I devourer all the info I can get. But, that said, I do firmly believe in having/finding a doctor you can discuss your treatment with even if you are planing to make real time treatment decisions. If you don't like your doctor, or think your doctor is a jerk, find another one.

(02-23-2012, 04:26 PM)SuperSleeper Wrote: [Note: parts of this thread were copied over from our old forum (thread started in May, 2009); some posts have not been included for the sake of brevity, and some posts have been cleaned up for clarity, accuracy & updated info]

RespiratoryChip Wrote:I am a Respiratory Therapist who works in the home care field. Prior to working here I worked in a sleep disorder lab. When I stumbled across this site I was shocked. I saw the article at the begining that states with such bravado that there is no law that states you cannot change the pressure on your own CPAP machine. You are correct to a point. The law of common sense would tell you not to manipulate the pressures when you are completely unaware of the consequences. Hell you can go buy a gun and stick the barrel in your mouth, I don't suggest you try that but it can bring about the same results. The pressures are set by the Physician to the optimum level to alleviate the apneic events. Elevating them too high and you can cause more apneic events or possibly reduce flow of blood to the brain. These machines are medical devices not toys, so the author who compared them to a leaf blower is showing just how little his understanding is of these systems. I would strongly suggest any person who feels they do not get enough relief from their CPAP unit to consult their physician or homecare provider. Otherwise feel free to follow the advice of the collectively ignorant and take your own life or well being into your own hands.

(04-12-2016, 01:57 PM)Adoniscmj Wrote:

(02-23-2012, 04:26 PM)SuperSleeper Wrote: [Note: parts of this thread were copied over from our old forum (thread started in May, 2009); some posts have not been included for the sake of brevity, and some posts have been cleaned up for clarity, accuracy & updated info]

RespiratoryChip Wrote:I am a Respiratory Therapist who works in the home care field. Prior to working here I worked in a sleep disorder lab. When I stumbled across this site I was shocked. I saw the article at the begining that states with such bravado that there is no law that states you cannot change the pressure on your own CPAP machine. You are correct to a point. The law of common sense would tell you not to manipulate the pressures when you are completely unaware of the consequences. Hell you can go buy a gun and stick the barrel in your mouth, I don't suggest you try that but it can bring about the same results. The pressures are set by the Physician to the optimum level to alleviate the apneic events. Elevating them too high and you can cause more apneic events or possibly reduce flow of blood to the brain. These machines are medical devices not toys, so the author who compared them to a leaf blower is showing just how little his understanding is of these systems. I would strongly suggest any person who feels they do not get enough relief from their CPAP unit to consult their physician or homecare provider. Otherwise feel free to follow the advice of the collectively ignorant and take your own life or well being into your own hands.

If I had not adjusted my own pressure I would still be getting way to much and I would have stopped using it altogether, as my doctor was slow to respond and my issue was more of an annoyance to him than what he would have liked. I was set at the default pressure 4-20. My machine would spike up to 16 and it was terrible. I now have it adjusted down to 7.8 to 9.5 and my AHI is 0.0 and the machine goes down in pressure steadily as the night goes on until it is sitting at 7.8. I don't see this as a problem. Some people shouldn't do this and those that do most understand the implications of their actions. Please don't let it trouble you so much. I question that I even need CPAP with what has been going on with my readings in SH.

(04-12-2016, 03:19 PM)Luvmyzzz Wrote: I feel for anyone who has a Doctor that doesn't listen...I have MORE choice words, but I'm sure I can't use 'em...I am lucky, I have a doctor that specializes in SleepApnea patients and he deals with ALL the problems, he is a very "hands on" type o' guy, I wish I could share him with everyone here who has these issues!