New to Forum and Sleep Apnea

[davemo]

Hello all,I am so grateful i found this forum to give me advice My background ,i did a in home sleep study mid december of 2024 at wifes suggestion tests came back i had severe sleep apnea. Just did a in hospital sleep study 2 nights ago 1.17.25 but have not received any information from my doc yet. The tech was a little reluctatant to diagnose anything (as they should be) but definately said i had a pretty high pressure . Sooo I am waiting to get the presciption to get a machine meanwhile questions have arisen in my mind lol. DO most people use a local DME company or go online for thier equiptment? I am looking at the resmed  10 or 11 series machine depending on what doc says. I saw these were recommended in the wiki. Also i used a resmed f20 face mask 2 nights ago as i breathe thru my mouth and didnt really care for the nose bridge part of it. It lost pressure there and it was hurting the bridge of my nose. I do have a beard and when researching masks today i saw these hybrid masks that look appealing to me. Any recommedations on a mask for beard? Any recommendations in general for me as a new user??

Thanks in advance for any advice

[G. Szabo]

I suggest you post your anonymized sleep study (once you have diagnosed and obtained the prescribed device) along with the recorded events in OSCAR. Your local DME will suggest a mask and an instrument covered by your insurance. 
Buying your instrument is another more pricey avenue.

[cexer]

in another post of mine i already elaborated a bit about the 11:
"it has a less solid stand, the motor of the air mini and there is this mic which many turn off (audio analysis).
on the other hand it has advanced blue-tooth connectivity. one could get cheaper wireless oximetry, then.
it has auto ramp for the ones who need it, a timezone-setting.
it's also servicing doctors and providers more."
but yeah, compared to the resmed 10 it got bad ratings.

there's a youtube video in which the devices are compared
from this australian guy.

mask for a beard ? the p10 if you don't mind having a gun up your nose. it might be still an option, i don't know.
there is resmeds mask guide. there are also other manufacturers.

[cexer]

with the f20 my skin was really squashed and red on the bridge of my nose in the beginning
and i even had a small wound. i just continued using it, cause those masks aren't cheap
and after a few months it went all good in MY CASE and i had no problems there since.

others may give you better advice, since i had no other mask yet.
there is another thread about nose-pillow masks.

[davemo]

Just an update to my apnea journey. I got a call from the hospital where i did the initial cpap titration and they gave me 2 options. Do a bi pap titration at the hospital,or refer me to an apponitment with a sleep specialist in a larger city.So i am having issues i guess where i am having shallow breathing and actually stop breathing for a few seconds.The nurse said with my COMPLEX apnea i would prolly end up seeing the specialist anyway so i chose that option.Now i wait to hear about an appt and bi pap test.