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Please offer advice
#1
Please offer advice
I could use some advice here,if anyone can help.
I saw a sleep dr in May2012 and had a short take home test.I was waking up gasping for air,and really struggling.
I am obese,and I was given ativan years ago and am planning to decrease in Jan with the help of my GP.I am older 58yrs.
So nothing is covered in my country and i have no insurance.So I did not have an overnight sleep study.
I did buy the machine and the dr just said we should set it at 14.That was in May.
Then I was sent to some therapists who felt sorry for me,and helped some with the mask and adjustments.
During the first 3 months I GAINED 30 pounds.My stomache bloated to abnormal pregnacy size. Its horrible.(I read the air posts on here.)'
But the 14 pressure I just cant breathe and I still wake up short of breath.
I tried a c-pap pillow, I tried a heated hose.I called the sleep dr and got an appointment to pay for a study and ask for help to lower pressure.NO ONE WILL LOWER PRESSURE. so here i am a year later left at same pressure.
The people helping me say its treating my apnea but they cant get much form the resmed machine,they like resporinics.for data.But I feel like i am dying ,sorry but i do.
So before Christmas the respirologist rented me a bipap machine,said he felt sorry for me but all of this is just a GUESS.A guess???
The bipap makesmy mouth dry and they told me not to tell sleep dr,about using it.
I am sooo confused ....why would anyone guess and just leave me at the same pressure.?
I am almost afraid to go to sleep.and I am afraid to use the bipap.The sleep dr just yelled at me in May,DONT COMPLAIN.I dont have much choice here but have thought to reduce my pressure on my own but I dont know how.Is this a wise idea?and how can I do this?

I feel awful every day,I am sorry to ask but I am desperate.My stomache hurts so bad.My teeth are rotting form the dry mouth( have a humidifier but it runs out of water in just 2 hrs.On the c-pap I can sleep for 4 hrs and my mouth is alwys open ,I tried tapin it shut,I tried the band to keep it shut,AM i DOING SOMETHING WRONG HERE?
I feel I cannot carry on.
Please if you have any advice I would be grateful.I cannot see the dr until jan 30-have thought about stopping the c-pap altogether but am unsure of that.I am so lost.
thank you
kayla
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#2
RE: Please offer advice
(12-29-2012, 07:16 PM)kayla Wrote: I could use some advice here,if anyone can help.
I saw a sleep dr in May2012 and had a short take home test.I was waking up gasping for air,and really struggling.
I am obese,and I was given ativan years ago and am planning to decrease in Jan with the help of my GP.I am older 58yrs.
So nothing is covered in my country and i have no insurance.So I did not have an overnight sleep study.
I did buy the machine and the dr just said we should set it at 14.That was in May.
Then I was sent to some therapists who felt sorry for me,and helped some with the mask and adjustments.
During the first 3 months I GAINED 30 pounds.My stomache bloated to abnormal pregnacy size. Its horrible.(I read the air posts on here.)'
But the 14 pressure I just cant breathe and I still wake up short of breath.
I tried a c-pap pillow, I tried a heated hose.I called the sleep dr and got an appointment to pay for a study and ask for help to lower pressure.NO ONE WILL LOWER PRESSURE. so here i am a year later left at same pressure.
The people helping me say its treating my apnea but they cant get much form the resmed machine,they like resporinics.for data.But I feel like i am dying ,sorry but i do.
So before Christmas the respirologist rented me a bipap machine,said he felt sorry for me but all of this is just a GUESS.A guess???
The bipap makesmy mouth dry and they told me not to tell sleep dr,about using it.
I am sooo confused ....why would anyone guess and just leave me at the same pressure.?
I am almost afraid to go to sleep.and I am afraid to use the bipap.The sleep dr just yelled at me in May,DONT COMPLAIN.I dont have much choice here but have thought to reduce my pressure on my own but I dont know how.Is this a wise idea?and how can I do this?

I feel awful every day,I am sorry to ask but I am desperate.My stomache hurts so bad.My teeth are rotting form the dry mouth( have a humidifier but it runs out of water in just 2 hrs.On the c-pap I can sleep for 4 hrs and my mouth is alwys open ,I tried tapin it shut,I tried the band to keep it shut,AM i DOING SOMETHING WRONG HERE?
I feel I cannot carry on.
Please if you have any advice I would be grateful.I cannot see the dr until jan 30-have thought about stopping the c-pap altogether but am unsure of that.I am so lost.
thank you
kayla
Hi Kayla. welcome to the forum. Is your machine a ResMed S9 autoset or a ResMed auto vpap? Either way, you can get the clinicians manual for the S9 series from the private links section of the Main Board. You need to update your profile with the exact machine that you have. Look next to the power button and see what it says. It is easier for someone to help you if they know what you have.
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#3
RE: Please offer advice
What kind of mask do you have? A full face mask may help with the dry mouth.

Did the doctor just put you on a random pressure without a sleep study? Is your machine an auto machine? If so it may be better to set the numbers wide open and let the machine adjust to your breathing. I am still new to cpap so others may be able to post better solutions.
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#4
RE: Please offer advice
(12-29-2012, 07:34 PM)Roxy Wrote: What kind of mask do you have? A full face mask may help with the dry mouth.

Did the doctor just put you on a random pressure without a sleep study? Is your machine an auto machine? If so it may be better to set the numbers wide open and let the machine adjust to your breathing. I am still new to cpap so others may be able to post better solutions.

thank you Roxy and others Okay I have aRESMED 9 AUTO-and I watcxhed the video - I had no idea there was a filter? it was filthy after almost a year, so I left it out,where can I get another?Can I use it without it?
I have a full face mask.AND YES DR JUST PUT ME ON random pressure. Its horrible...
I am not very good with setting anything but I cant live like this anymore.The ramp is set for like 5 mins and I am scared to touch anyhting,what can I do? How do I set the numbers to be wide open?
thank you for your quick response.
That was really nice of ou.
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#5
RE: Please offer advice
hunningsedaniel -how do I change my profile? i am sorry I seem like a ditz but cant think straight.
anyway it is a resmed9 auto -and I live in Canada,where in some provinces they cover apnea but not in mine,it is a $ driven industry and that's okay but the dr gets paid by healthcare.Not sure why any dr would do this ,,the respirologist said cannot change pressure w/o dr and that it was a good guess between 14 and 19 ? this is an awful palce to live if one has health problems.I see the manuel but am unsure if i should change pressure or how to really.I am so tired,thinking that I should stop using c-pap for a night or two? any advice is welcome.However I do remember waking up gasping for air with out it.do you need more info from me?
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#6
RE: Please offer advice
ok changed profile
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#7
RE: Please offer advice
I would not use it without a filter. Each month, my DME send me a new filter and mask cushion. I think that you can get a filter online.

I have the resmed auto and it is set from 12-17. It adjusts the amount of pressure on its own. I am using the flexifit mask. It is a full face mask that has a portion that goes under the chin. I find that the flexifit is the best match for my face. I tried, Amara, Quattro, Quattro FX and Liberty and they really did not work well for me.
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#8
RE: Please offer advice
(12-29-2012, 08:31 PM)Roxy Wrote: I would not use it without a filter. Each month, my DME send me a new filter and mask cushion. I think that you can get a filter online.

I have the resmed auto and it is set from 12-17. It adjusts the amount of pressure on its own. I am using the flexifit mask. It is a full face mask that has a portion that goes under the chin. I find that the flexifit is the best match for my face. I tried, Amara, Quattro, Quattro FX and Liberty and they really did not work well for me.

Okay but the filter is really filthy ,and I cant get a filter today so have to use it without one for now.I have never heard of flex fit mask but I will check it out.I cant believe no one said anything about the filter.Maybe there was no air coming in because of it being so clogged.
thank you for the help ,I still am unsure what todo except wait and see what the dr says.
thank you for your ideas and if anyone has any others I would appreciate it.
kayla
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#9
RE: Please offer advice
Greetings, Kayla. To help you understand what's available, your S9 Autoset machine can function in two different modes--like two different types of machines. In the CPAP mode, it provides a set, constant pressure. In its auto mode, it can vary the pressure during the night to meet your minimum pressure needs to control apnea events. Here is the link to instructions on how to set your own pressure(s):
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...P-Pressure
The fact that the doctor had your machine set to 14cm pressure indicates that it is now in the CPAP (fixed pressure) mode of operation. With instructions in the link, you can change your machine over to its auto mode where the machine can find the pressure range you need and also adjust it during the night, as needed and all automatically. What Roxy was referring to when she mentioned having your machine set "wide open" means that if you pick a fairly wide range between the minimum and maximum pressures on the Autoset, it will give the machine a wide range of pressures in which to find what works best for you. In its auto mode, you set the range of possible pressures for the machine. The widest pressure range is something like 4 to 20 cm, just to give you an idea of the usual scale of pressures.
There is a rectangular dark colored plastic "door" on the back of the machine on the left side (as you face the ResMed logo from the front). The bottom of this door lifts up and away from the back of the machine, and under it is a similar sized white filter that lifts out easily. This is the filter referred to which should be changed when it gets dirty. It's white when new.
I hope this helps a little for starters.


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#10
RE: Please offer advice
kayla
ask the RT for new filters or you can get from Canadian Supplier #20
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...plier-List

in the meantime, you can wash the dirty filter and re-use till new filters arrive
wash gently with your fingers, rinse well, place filter between two sheets of kitchen towels or something to absorb the moisture and leave to dry
if something reason the old filter get thrown away, you can still use the machine till you get a new filter

it best be advised by your doctor about pressure changes
I would encourage to read and read some more
the manual is available via email and would tell everything you need to know about the machine
scroll down to section three and make sure you ask for the right one
http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-pr...tup-manual

ask the RT to try different masks and different types so you can figure which type works best for you

Resmed FAQs
http://www.resmed.com/au/service_and_sup...c=patients

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