You all are so knowledgeable...

First, I'm so happy to have found this forum. Thanks for all the information so far. I had no impute in the decison-making process regarding my CPAP machine or mask. The mask is the one that was used during the 2nd part of my sleep study. The CPAP machine was simply delivered to my home by a supplier. (I'm currently questioning what I've received since it doesn't correspond with the delivery slip. I'm wondering if there's some insurance fraud taking place.) No one called to give me any information and I didn't realize that there were so much variety. Did anyone else have this same experience. I haven't even seen my prescription. I just called my ENT's office and requested one last week so I can bring it with me to the sleep conference. I also haven't seen my reports copies of which are also being mailed to me. I've been trying to familiarize myself with the vocabulary so I can bring some of my own information to the next ENT visit.

Frogso,

Welcome to the forum!

Don't take for granted anything/everything that the doctors, ENTs, DMEs, insutance company, etc. have been doing on your behalf. Scrutinize all of it. In the opinion of most of us, you should have the right to chose your equipment and not have to take what's handed to you. This is YOUR therapy and you'll be using it for some time to come.

Best wishes,

Den

My impression is that even the best sleep labs routinely look at the recommended pressure shown by the titration study, have the secreatry write it on a prescription pad with standard instructions rubber stamp it and fax it to the DME of their choice from the list approved by your insurance company. A good sleep lab specifies heated humidifier and asks what type of mask you were randomly assigned during titration and whthere it worked well.
A few very progressive sleep docs look at the prescription and review it with the patient, and some even recommend auto-PAPs for those wide range of varying AHI in different positions. The sleep docs who are very intere4sted in sleep apnea actually like getting the data from the cards, the others find it a nuisance.
You need much more information than the average sleep doc and sleep lab provides to get that which is optimal for you, one day the raised voices of CPAP users will change all this and you will get the information you need. I hope that other illnesses also receive the same kind of information from healthcare providers but have my doubts

Use this clickable link to get loads of information that Mile high sleeper put together.

BLOGSPOT

I'm sure if you take the time to read it, it will help tremendously.

Brenda

For what its worth, if that is indeed your machine (Fisher & Paykel HC 234), I have the same model. If you have questions about it, feel free to post them. This is a straight CPAP machine with a built-in heated humidifier. As Arthur has pointed out, thee is some research that suggests that the presence of a heated humidifier can be very important to whether you use and stick with CPAP or not. In my personal experience, this machine is quiet, it has a 2 year warranty (some machines also have 2 year warranties, others have only a 1 year warranty), and the machine has a feature to adjust the amount of humidity it has based on the temperature of the room air and also based on mask leakage. You can adjust the humidity level and you can adjust for altitude. It also has a ramp feature which starts the machine at its lowest pressure (4 cm H2O) and gradually increases it to your presecribed pressure (very useful for newbies and for people who need higher pressures).

While I like my machine very much, it does have limitations. Some people experience difficulty with exhaling against the CPAP and they may benefit from a feature (sometimes called bipap and sometimes referred to (if I understand correctly) as CFlex) where the machine will blow one pressure for your inhalation and a lower pressure for exhaling. The HC 234 does not do this.

Some people benefit from a feature known as autopap (or APAP) where the machine will adjust its pressure depending on the machine's perception of your apnea activity. This allows the machine to use higher pressures only when needed and lower pressures at other times. Some people swear by this feature and others may not find it helpful (also such machines can be run in CPAP mode at a single pressure too). The HC 234 does not provide this feature.

Finally, some machines provide ongoing information for the doctor and DME and sometimes for the user regarding data such as leak rates, episodes of apnea and hypopneas, and pressure usage that can be helpful in determining how well our equipment is helping you and to help determine any changes in your needs over time. The HC 234 essentially records compliance data (hours used, hous per night of usage) that these other machines also record. I would also point out that neither the ramp feature nor the integrated humidifier are unique although the auto humidity adjustement is proprietary. To avoid confusion, I would point out that this machine does NOT have the heated hose (this is apparently found on the
F & P 600 series CPAP machines).

While I am happy with my machine, I would note that I am on a low pressure (5) and that this machine might not be as helpful for those who need higher pressures or want more information.

I would recommend, if you have not done so already, that you get a copy of your sleep study and titration study and (first) study up on those reports, (second) study up on what you think your needs are and what type of machine you thinkwill best meet those needs (talking with your insurance company regarding what they will or won't cover might be helpful as well) and then (third) discuss these issues with your doctor who is prescribing your equipment.

If you are having ANY trouble with the mask you have been issued, research about your available options and try to figure out what about hte mask isn't working (for example, do you breathe through your mouth, is the mask either too tight or too leaky). These can be addressed through some homework but I would not hesitate to talk with your doctor about trying out other masks. If you and the mask are getting on OK, then don't sweat it.

Hope things work out.

Best wishes,
Bill

PS- Do check out the Mile High Sleeper link too. It has great information.
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap machine, bipap, humidifier, cflex, Titration, CPAP, DME, Altitude, APAP

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap machine, bipap, humidifier, cflex, Titration, CPAP, DME, Altitude, APAP

Very nice post, Bill, with lots of good information for Frogso. And a very well balanced description of your machine.

I used a separate F&P HC 150 heated humidifier with quite a few autopaps and bi-level machines of other brands. I really liked the way the F&P humidifier worked. I wish F&P made more types of machines although straight cpap works just fine for many, many people.

If F&P would get into designing some kind of exhalation relief, an autopap, and a bi-level machine (and software for detailed data) I believe they'd find quite a large sleep market for even more types of their nice machines.

Thanks to all. All your encouragement and information was great.

For the record, I I have edited/updated my previous post (of 10/09) for the following reasons:
-I found out the the auto humidity adjustment corrects for the temperature (NOT the humidity) of the room air and also for mask leakage;
-I forgot to mention the ramp feature;
-I thought I would clarify that this model CPAP does NOT have the heated hose;
-I thought I would clarify what features are likely to be unique (the auto humidity adjustment) and which are not (ramping, integrated humidifier).

Best wishes,
Bill