New user introdution

[ModestPossum]

Hello everybody!

I'm going to start APAP therapy soon. I'm a mid-40s male, and I've been dealing with fatigue/exhaustion for the last few years.

After ruling out almost any other possibility (they went all crazy routes), I've done a sleep study. Surprisingly, AHI numbers were relatively low (not even in the moderate apnea range), but I had a really high number of hypopneas correlated with arousal. After seeing the results and taking into account my other coexisting conditions, my medical team suggested I get on APAP, hoping it would improve fatigue. Anyway, I won't bore you with more medical details

Thank you for all the posts, information, FAQs, etc, community put together. Although I just glazed the subject (I'm pretty functional, and I try not to dwell too much on my medical issues), I already learned a lot (for example, that AirSense 10 comes with or without AutoSet ).

It's going to be a journey, and sooner or later, I will kindly ask for your help/support.

I'm looking forward to posting my first OSCAR data for analysis

[Miss Emerita]

Welcome!

I'm glad you're getting a ResMed Airsense 10 Autoset machine; it's an excellent one. Be sure you also get an SD card to put in the machine's card slot.

Do you know whether you're going to try a nasal pillow mask, a nasal mask, or a full-face mask? If you breathe through your nose during the day, you should probably try a nasal pillow mask or a nasal mask. If you have opportunities to try a few masks, do!

When you get your machine and mask, watch a few videos about how to fit your mask, and then set up your machine during the day or evening outside your bedroom and use it with the mask for a few hours while you watch TV, read, or use your devices. This will help you adapt to the new experience. You might even consider doing this for a few days before you try using the machine at night. (Just be sure you understand how many hours per day you have to use the machine to stay compliant.)

We're happy to help with questions large or small as you get going.

[ModestPossum]

I'm glad you're getting a ResMed Airsense 10 Autoset machine; it's an excellent one. Be sure you also get an SD card to put in the machine's card slot.

Oh yeah - I'm definitively doing that. I appreciate ResMed allows patients to access data directly, rather than only allowing physicians to access it.

Do you know whether you're going to try a nasal pillow mask, a nasal mask, or a full-face mask? If you breathe through your nose during the day, you should probably try a nasal pillow mask or a nasal mask. If you have opportunities to try a few masks, do!

Good question! Although I breathe through my nose during the day, I think I will go with a full face mask for the start. I would like to avoid the risk of inefficient treatment due to an open mouth during the night. I usually spend one day per week in the workshop wearing a 3M respirator for ~8 hours. Hopefully, it would be "per-training" for masks at night. On the other hand, a larger mask seems like a bigger risk of moving out of position if it catches on a pillow (I'm a side sleeper).
I need to ask DME on their test/return policy.
Mask choice is one of my main concerns, but I guess it's going to be a process of trial and error and part of the cost of the therapy.

When you get your machine and mask, watch a few videos about how to fit your mask, and then set up your machine during the day or evening outside your bedroom and use it with the mask for a few hours while you watch TV, read, or use your devices. This will help you adapt to the new experience. You might even consider doing this for a few days before you try using the machine at night. (Just be sure you understand how many hours per day you have to use the machine to stay compliant.)

Oh, this is a great suggestion - Thank you! I thought about spending some daytime with the mask alone, but I haven't thought about using the machine as I would at night.

[Miss Emerita]

I bet your respirator experience will stand you in good stead. You're right that finding the best mask can take some experimenting. Everyone's face and sleep habits are different, so you'll have to find the mask that's perfect for you.

Come back to this thread when you're gear arrives; we'd love to offer what help we can as you get going with your therapy.

[ChicagoGranny]

Although I breathe through my nose during the day, I think I will go with a full face mask for the start.

Unless a user knows they breathe through their mouth at night, it's best to start with a nasal interface. Full-face masks are more difficult to keep from leaking. And they cover a bigger area of the face. I hope your DME has a 30-day mask swap period.

I'm looking forward to posting my first OSCAR data for analysis

I'm a fan of OSCAR, but I recommend a free account at SleepHQ.com instead for newbies. Once you upload your data to SleepHQ, you can post a link to it in this thread. It will already be formatted properly, your personal identification will already be redacted, and you don't need to bother with using a hosting site for images. SleepHQ also allows the cpaptalk members to zoom in to your graphs when helping you. (I might also switch to SleepHQ after using OSCAR for many years.)

Your choices!

[ModestPossum]

Unless a user knows they breathe through their mouth at night, it's best to start with a nasal interface. Full-face masks are more difficult to keep from leaking. And they cover a bigger area of the face. I hope your DME has a 30-day mask swap period.

I appreciate your advice! You bring up a valid point. It wouldn't be the first time my intuition turned out wrong
I'm pretty sure insurance will not cover multiple masks, but maybe I will get one out of pocket and verify with data which works better.

I'm a fan of OSCAR, but I recommend a free account at SleepHQ.com instead for newbies.

Another valid point - indeed ability to zoom can provide better insights. I will see if I can upload only days I would like to ask for comments about.
With all data leaks (experian, change health etc) I'm not super excited about uploading all my sleep data to the cloud. So for daily usage I think I will go with OSCAR as long as feature set is sufficient.

[ChicagoGranny]

I'm not super excited about uploading all my sleep data to the cloud.

ResMed has it.

I take the other approach. I've been in multiple medical studies and gave researchers I never met everything - access to my medical records at each medical practice I use, access to my health insurance, access to my Apple Watch, and access to MyChart. Recently, I gave Apple access to MyChart.

If I run for President, every detail will be exposed.

[ModestPossum]

ResMed has it.

I'm sure we both know ways to mitigate that.

I take the other approach. I've been in multiple medical studies and gave researchers I never met everything - access to my medical records at each medical practice I use, access to my health insurance, access to my Apple Watch, and access to MyChart. Recently, I gave Apple access to MyChart.

I'm not touching that argument with 10ft pole Let us agree on - You do you, I do me

[ChicagoGranny]

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑Tue Sep 10, 2024 8:10 pm
ResMed has it.

I'm sure we both know ways to mitigate that.

Assuming you use insurance, let's see what happens when your DME demands compliance data.