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Haven't used my CPAP in several years
#1
Haven't used my CPAP in several years
Hi,

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 3.5 years ago. I got a CPAP machine (Resmed S9 H5i) and used it very sparingly for less than a month. I had a hard time sleeping with it, and didn't give it the amount of diligence I should have to make it a habit. This past week I had an endoscopy/colonoscopy and the dr said I was thrashing during the procedure and asked my wife if I had ever had been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Bottom line is that I need to start using the machine again. I will call my doctor tomorrow, but in the time it takes me to get back to the dr, would it be ok for me to try to use the machine again now without any input from a doctor? Or should I wait until I talk to him before I start up with the machine again?

Thanks

Chris
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#2
RE: Haven't used my CPAP in several years
Hi chrisd467,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
It wouldn't hurt to start using your machine again. If you are having trouble breathing against the pressure, try using Expiratory Pressure Relief, (EPR,) try setting it to two and see how that works for you, hang in there for other suggestions.
Better luck this time around with your CPAP therapy.
trish6hundred
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#3
RE: Haven't used my CPAP in several years
It depends what sort of relationship you have with your doctor. Is he aware you haven't been using your cpap?

If your serious about trying again, then it wouldn't hurt to use your machine until you can see your doctor.
Use SleepyHead or ResScan and print reports for your doctor to look at.

OpalRose
Apnea Board Administrator
www.apneaboard.com

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INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE.  ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA.  INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#4
RE: Haven't used my CPAP in several years
Chris, there is no reason not to use the machine...you should never have quit. Your prescription is probably still active, and the S9 Elite and Autoset can give you plenty of data to fine tune the therapy. Your profile shows a full-face mask. Did you ever try nasal or pillows? CPAP is a lot more comfortable if you tolerate nasal interfaces.
Sleeprider
Apnea Board Moderator
www.ApneaBoard.com

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INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#5
RE: Haven't used my CPAP in several years
Thanks. I tried it last night, and did have problems with breathing against the pressure, so I will check the EPR setting tonight. Hope that will make a difference.

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#6
RE: Haven't used my CPAP in several years
(10-30-2016, 09:13 PM)Sleeprider Wrote: Chris, there is no reason not to use the machine...you should never have quit. Your prescription is probably still active, and the S9 Elite and Autoset can give you plenty of data to fine tune the therapy. Your profile shows a full-face mask. Did you ever try nasal or pillows? CPAP is a lot more comfortable if you tolerate nasal interfaces.

I am actually using a nasal mask now. I had a hard time with the full face mask. Thanks for noticing that in my profile. I changed it so it is now correct. One other question. What is contained in the prescription? I am pretty sure I dont have that anymore. I was looking through the settings last night and I think the pressure settings looked pretty low and wanted to make sure they were set to what the prescription said (assuming thats whats in the prescription).

Thanks

Chris
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#7
RE: Haven't used my CPAP in several years
Chris, you should download #Sleepyhead and see what kind of results you're getting. We can probably help you dial things in if there are any questions or issues. The easiest way to get a prescription is just to ask your primary doctor to write the script. You can probably tell him what you are set to now, and that would suffice. If you can recall where you had the sleep study, try to get a copy of the results. They may have to pull it out of archives, but this could save you thousand$$ going forward, and will ensure you can continue to get prescriptions and equipment.

If you can do these simple things, you can probably get updated equipment and supplies through insurance. If a nasal mask is working for you, you would be blown away by the lightweight and silent Resmed Airfit P10 nasal pillows. You can find that on Amazon if you want to give it a try.
Sleeprider
Apnea Board Moderator
www.ApneaBoard.com

____________________________________________
Download OSCAR Software
Soft Cervical Collar
Optimizing Therapy
Organize your OSCAR Charts
Attaching Files
Mask Primer
How To Deal With Equipment Supplier


INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#8
RE: Haven't used my CPAP in several years
(11-01-2016, 04:04 PM)Sleeprider Wrote: Chris, you should download and see what kind of results you're getting. We can probably help you dial things in if there are any questions or issues. The easiest way to get a prescription is just to ask your primary doctor to write the script. You can probably tell him what you are set to now, and that would suffice. If you can recall where you had the sleep study, try to get a copy of the results. They may have to pull it out of archives, but this could save you thousand$$ going forward, and will ensure you can continue to get prescriptions and equipment.

If you can do these simple things, you can probably get updated equipment and supplies through insurance. If a nasal mask is working for you, you would be blown away by the lightweight and silent Resmed Airfit P10 nasal pillows. You can find that on Amazon if you want to give it a try.

Thanks. I will definitely check out the nasal pillows. I sleep on my side most of the time, will there be any issues using pillows sleeping on your side? I wish I actually read through these forums when I first got my equipment. There is so much information to be learned. I just installed sleepyhead and got my screenshot. Would you suggest I just upload it here, or start another thread on the main board?

Thanks

Chris

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#9
RE: Haven't used my CPAP in several years
Here are a couple links showing how to best organize charts: http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...ganization
and how to use a hosting site like Imgur to post them. http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...pnea_Board Again, there is a lot we can do with the data to help you optimize comfort.

Lots of us without the mouth breathing problem use the P10 pillows, and they work on your side, back and even mostly on our stomach. I enjoy that I can be close to my wife and not blow air all over her, or wake us up with the noisy jet of air. If one of the reasons you ditched CPAP before was intimacy, that's not a problem with this interface. Add a fleece hose cover for even more comfort and to lose the medical look.
Sleeprider
Apnea Board Moderator
www.ApneaBoard.com

____________________________________________
Download OSCAR Software
Soft Cervical Collar
Optimizing Therapy
Organize your OSCAR Charts
Attaching Files
Mask Primer
How To Deal With Equipment Supplier


INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#10
RE: Haven't used my CPAP in several years
Here are my images from my 3rd night (last night). I have slept better each night. Last night I took the mask off at 3:25 due to a pain on my face near my nose from where I had been laying on it for some time (laying on my side) I ordered the P10 pillows and they will be here tomorrow so hoping that will make the difference to be able to make it all the way through the night.

I really dont have specific questions. Just wondering what your observations are on my few hours of sleep with the machine.

[Image: F3wyV61l.png]

[Image: 6a1ZoKAl.png]

Thanks

Chris
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