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JTSleep
+0 points
·
about 5 years
ago
Original Poster
Hello Everyone, I am very new to CPAP, actually I have not acquired this device as of yet. I am told my insurance will purchase me one, however I want to be able to choose and purchase my own. I want one that is very comfortable and not intrusive. I don't mind paying more for a quality machine that brings more comfort. I was distracted enough with the sleep study devices being on me that I don't want this product to defeat the purpose. I appreciate any advise for a newcomer as well and heads up on what I should be aware of. Lastly how are your results? Is anyone getting amazing results? Did anyone get some very bad results? I appreciate your input as well as details behind your replies. Thank you!
I would say the best machine is the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet For Her. Don't settle for a fixed pressure machine as the automatic pressure adjust machine costs very little more. It can be set to fixed pressure if that is what you finally need. I also suggest the "For Her" version regardless of sex as it has an extra mode for those that need less pressure. It can be set to behave just like the regular machine if more pressure is needed. Again it is the same price as the regular model.
This said the part of the setup that is much more difficult to recommend is the mask. You are really best to buy from a place that has a mask return policy, or will let you try a few different ones before you buy one.
My wife was diagnosed with an AHI of about 80 and now gets <1 almost every night. Her apnea is exclusively obstructive. I was diagnosed with an AHI of 37 and I do well to get <3 for AHI. Most of my AHI is central and a CPAP is not very effective in dealing with central apnea, just obstructive apnea. That said 3 is better than 37!
why do you say this one is the best? I'm looking at some of the 1500 dollar airsense 10 vauto and it makes it sound like that s a better syste, but i dont know the honest difference Is it because that is bipap and not cpap maybe?
The big difference is that the AutoSet will go up to 20 cm of pressure and 3 cm differential between inhale and exhale (EPR). The AirCurve VAuto will go up to 25 cm of pressure and I believe around 10 cm differential between inhale and exhale. Unless you need that extra pressure and breathing assistance with a bilevel I would not recommend it. An AutoSet is more in the $800 range.
Ditto on the Resmed machine. 25 years ago I shared a hotel room with a CPAP user,and the noise from the machine was terrible, so I was dreading using one. But technology has changed, the machine is silent. Mask comfort and fit are key, and such a personal choice that it is Impossible to recommend what will be best for you. Here's hoping you adapt to this new wrinkle easily and begin sleeping well. Good luck.
Like you, I found the sleep test to be awful, and the CPAP, while not as bad, was still very uncomfortable. It took me several weeks to get used to the mask, and I still take a lot longer to fall asleep than I used to. But my numbers went from the mid-30s to under 3, so I suppose that's a success.
JTSleep
+0 points
·
about 5 years
ago
Original Poster
I see responses like I went from mid-30s to under 3, I guess the bigger question is do you feel more energetic and less sleepy now that it is down to 3? Overall do you feel better?
Sometimes I think I do, and sometimes not. I know I was really drowsy the first few weeks on CPAP, which I'm not so much anymore. I take more naps now. I don't wake up gasping for air anymore, which is a huge plus. On balance, I'd say I don't feel better or worse. I was surprised by the diagnosis, as the only symptom I'd had was the waking up gasping, but other than that, I always felt good.
I was not really suffering from a lack of sleep, but I did get up frequently in the night and often had a hard time getting back to sleep. Now with CPAP I most often sleep through the night without getting up. Last night was 8 hours. Keep in mind that a CPAP is most likely to be a disturbance to your sleep until you get used to it. It takes some commitment to stick with it. I initially did not like wearing it at all, but now I look forward to it.
JT, the heart PVC's and lack of concentration to read were things I had attributed to aging. My primary care doc suggested a sleep test after all cardiology testing could find no reason for PVC's. The SA diagnosis and treatment have completely stopped the PVC's and really improved concentration. So, yes, significant improvement, along with the apnea numbers going down.
I have some recollection of someone trying them, but no personal experience. Seems to me that there are adhesive strips or something that holds the mask on and that they can be expensive. About all it achieves over a normal nasal pillow mask is elimination of the straps. The straps tend not to be the irritation point, but keeping them on can be an issue.
bonjour
+0 points
·
about 5 years
ago
Sleep
Commentator
Do your research and make sure the machine meets your requirements.
AirSense 10 is a line of CPAP models
AirCurve 10 is a line of BiLevel models
Which you should use depends on the details of your Apnea.
I prefer the Auto machines for their versatility.
You can get your choice of machine, you may need to "shop" different DMEs or you can go Self-Pay. The machine will need to match what your prescription is. Auto vs non-auto is the same billing code so that should not be a problem except for the fact the DME make more money from the cheaper, simpler machines.
Masks, look at the ResMed P10 Pillow mask, it has a simple strap and Sierra has modified the strap so that is definitely a possibility.
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