Sleep Apnea - CPAP machine

[Toyerk]

Hi there, still have my first machine if anyone is interested drop me a pm, it is a Philips Remstar Pro and has a humidifier, I do not have a hose and mask for it though. See pic of model attached.

I am currently using the the Philips Respironics Bipap Auto was diagnosed over 10 yrs ago and been using the CPAP since, best decision I've made.

 

[Majedi]

Hey guys. Need some help please. Can anyone tell what a sleep study costs. I don't have medical aid. Currently in hospital with a bearing knock. Suspect it's due to my OSA. Thanks

 

[koffiejunkie]

A machine blows air through a pipe into a mask that covers my nose and mouth.

Just a comment: There are also masks that only cover your nose. I've found this to be more comfortable. It takes a bit of getting used to, since your tongue has to be resting against your pallet to close of your mouth (otherwise the wind just blows out your mouth). But I must say I sleep much better.

Others have also mentioned: Get the automatic one, rather than the constant one. The automatic will back off pressure when you exhale. It takes a few minutes to calibrate, but after that you stop feeling like it's forcing air down your throat. Mine is a Philips Dreamstation Go. It's nice and compact, very quiet, has a battery attachment for travelling, etc. The mask is a different brand - I don't remember which, I'm travelling at the moment.

I have yet been unable to sleep with the thing. Who has one of these and do you think I should push through with this thing?

Definitely yes. I've gone from sleeping 9-10 hours and feeling like I didn't sleep at all, to feeling fresh on 6-7 hours.

There are some challenges. Recently I have had a persistent cold, with pretty severe nasal congestion. This makes using the machine difficult - I may have to get the nose + mouth cover for those occasions.

 

[Capt Haddock]

This may help: I reduced my weight from 85Kg to 72Kg and my OSA stopped. (I am a 1.8m male). I still snore, but my wife tells me it is a "gentle" snore.

 

[Surv0]

You must see the US adverts for CPAP machines, you would honestly think 5 out of 6 people need them. I heard you can get a mouth piece which pushs you bottom jaw out like an underbite, and this opens up your airways enough. CPAP machines look horrid. I need a device to open my nose up more at night.. seems to shut off if I lie on my sides.

 

[koffiejunkie]

This may help: I reduced my weight from 85Kg to 72Kg and my OSA stopped. (I am a 1.8m male). I still snore, but my wife tells me it is a "gentle" snore.

^^ This. Adipose tissue accumulate everywhere. Turns out, that includes around the airway.

 

[Ryan Innes]

I can't sleep without my machine now after initially hating it.

Loadshedding isn't helping either, need to get a ups big enough to keep it going in the wee hours of the morning.

The Airsense 10 also sends reports which you can access via the website giving all your stats for the previous evening.

 

[Superjakes]

Necro alert!

I have done a sleep study and subsequent titration test with a company in Pretoria. I am waiting for the final report, but I cannot imagine that I would not be prescribed a CPAP machine. Please guide me to not make the same mistakes you did and to get the best value as well as impact on my life quality.

Thanks in advance!

 

[koffiejunkie]

I won't comment on different machines, since I've only ever used one, except for saying if you travel a lot, it might be worth asking for one that has a battery option. Mine does, and it makes it possible for use in e.g. long haul flights.

My top tip: Pick a mask that connects to the pipe on the top of your head. The other style hangs down in front of your face, and you get tangled up it in if you move much during sleep. The one on the top allows you route the pipe at the top of the mattress or hang it off a hook or something, giving you much more free experience.

 

[Superjakes]

I won't comment on different machines, since I've only ever used one, except for saying if you travel a lot, it might be worth asking for one that has a battery option. Mine does, and it makes it possible for use in e.g. long haul flights.

My top tip: Pick a mask that connects to the pipe on the top of your head. The other style hangs down in front of your face, and you get tangled up it in if you move much during sleep. The one on the top allows you route the pipe at the top of the mattress or hang it off a hook or something, giving you much more free experience.

Thanks! The one they gave me for the trial/test attached from the front. The two issues I had were linked, I believe. The machine is automatic and increases pressure while I sleep (doesn't seem to reduce pressure again); secondly, when the pressure goes up, my mask started to leak. That made me wake up to restart the machine and everything would be better again. So, I didn't have a night of uninterrupted sleep. I did feel much more rested after using the machine, though, and can feel the difference now that I don't have it anymore.

I would like one with a battery, to be able to use it during load shedding, etc. I also need the humidifier, as my mouth gets very dry. All of this depends on the price of course (and how much Discovery would pay for it).

 

[koffiejunkie]

Thanks! The one they gave me for the trial/test attached from the front. The two issues I had were linked, I believe. The machine is automatic and increases pressure while I sleep (doesn't seem to reduce pressure again); secondly, when the pressure goes up, my mask started to leak.

Water tape is your friend You'll get used to the pressure. After a while you won't even notice it except for the first few seconds.

That made me wake up to restart the machine and everything would be better again. So, I didn't have a night of uninterrupted sleep. I did feel much more rested after using the machine,

That's great!

though, and can feel the difference now that I don't have it anymore.

Yeah no joke. I felt sleepy this afternoon and went to lay down for a bit. Fell asleep for about 2 hours. Woke up from the gasping sounds, realised it was me. Pounding headache, felt like I've been breathing into a bag for too long. SPO2 on my watch for that two hour segment looks less than ideal.

I also need the humidifier, as my mouth gets very dry. All of this depends on the price of course (and how much Discovery would pay for it).

Some have a humidifier function built in (you may need the reservoir add-on). I think mine does but I've gotten used to the dry mouth.

 

[Flash27]

What causes this?

 

[Superjakes]

What causes this?

Different factors. Age, Obesity, etc...

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

Gets real expensive real quick unfortunately. Humidifier is extra, then I'd advise a heated pipe or it can precipitate water in the pipe which is awful. My discovery plan only covered like R4500, it's under "medical devices".

Gonna need a big battery which I couldn't find here, just connected it to my main inverter.

Get the latest resmed mask that connects at the top, may have to import, pretty sure I went to the same sleep lab and they offloaded one of the ancient mask designa on me which was awful.

 

[Matt91]

Had no idea how bad sleep apnea was for your body. Thinking I should get my snoring checked out too.

...R11000 for the machine and R17500 for the sleeplab...

Oh nevermind.

 

[Superjakes]

Gets real expensive real quick unfortunately. Humidifier is extra, then I'd advise a heated pipe or it can precipitate water in the pipe which is awful. My discovery plan only covered like R4500, it's under "medical devices".

Gonna need a big battery which I couldn't find here, just connected it to my main inverter.

Get the latest resmed mask that connects at the top, may have to import, pretty sure I went to the same sleep lab and they offloaded one of the ancient mask designa on me which was awful.

Which machine and mask are you using?

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

Which machine and mask are you using?

ResMed airsense 10 with humidifier and climate line hose with an airfit f30 mask.

The f30 is a million times more comfortable than the Quatro mask they gave me initially. The f30i has the connection at the top of the head rather than the face but that doesn't bother me.

 

[Ryan Innes]

I've also got the ResMed airsense 10 with climate hose, need to replace my headgear as it's farked.

You can register your machine on the ResMed website, choose UK region as that's where the machines come from I'm SA if I remember correctly. It will tell you how many episodes you have per hour per night etc.

To put it into perspective, my sleep study showed that I was having around 50 episodes per hour, it's now around 2 on average.

Loadshedding has farked my sleep up properly over the last week.

 

[Superjakes]

I've also got the ResMed airsense 10 with climate hose, need to replace my headgear as it's farked.

You can register your machine on the ResMed website, choose UK region as that's where the machines come from I'm SA if I remember correctly. It will tell you how many episodes you have per hour per night etc.

To put it into perspective, my sleep study showed that I was having around 50 episodes per hour, it's now around 2 on average.

Loadshedding has farked my sleep up properly over the last week. View attachment 1177220View attachment 1177222

This seems like pretty cool functionality.

In my original test - they measured 96 episodes per hour for me, with SPO2 dropping to 66% at some stage. I am however still waiting for the doctor's report before I can move forward. It seems like quite a laid back industry: if they tell you a report can take between 5 and 7 working days, it will take between 5 and 7 working days, who is the patient to question that... Patients need more patience.

 

[Leno]

ResMed airsense 10 with humidifier and climate line hose with an airfit f30 mask.

The f30 is a million times more comfortable than the Quatro mask they gave me initially. The f30i has the connection at the top of the head rather than the face but that doesn't bother me.

I have the same machine, hose and mask, the Climate air hose was worth the money for not getting drowned in condensation

I also alternate with the Resmed P10 Nasal Pillow as the nose mask sometimes itches and puts pressure on my sinus

I've also got the ResMed airsense 10 with climate hose, need to replace my headgear as it's farked.

You can register your machine on the ResMed website, choose UK region as that's where the machines come from I'm SA if I remember correctly. It will tell you how many episodes you have per hour per night etc.

To put it into perspective, my sleep study showed that I was having around 50 episodes per hour, it's now around 2 on average.

Loadshedding has farked my sleep up properly over the last week.

Have you tried the Oscar software? Offers way better stats on your sleep apnea compared to the manufacturers apps, https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/