DIY approach / dial winging?

Hello all, first sorry if this post is in the wrong spot or is against any rules - I have read all the help forums but just wanted my own post.

I have been struggling with severe sleep apnea and alllll related symptoms for the last 1-2 years. About a 7 months ago I got a referral from my doctor to have a sleep test, had the test a couple weeks ago and still have to wait for results and follow up and etc etc, long story short I can’t wait any longer, my sleep and symptoms are getting much worse and I am wetting the bed 1-2times a week now.

My mother has an old spare resmed s9 autoset that still works perfectly fine. I’ve got a f20 large face mask and hose arriving today and I’m going to attempt to use the Cpap tonight. I’ve done some reading on here and it seems everyone is quite divided on the diy approach or tuning the settings, I want to make it clear I am going to go down the doctor approved route but until then I could be waiting months so I am going to have to diy it till then.

My mother actually has been using cpap for over 10 years and has never had a doctor or cpap company tune her settings, she’s never researched any settings either, just simply changes the pressure and humidity as she sees fit, so that is providing some confidence to me that I can probably get some relief by doing it myself.

I just wanted to come on here and share that I’m doing this and hopefully I can get some helpful guidance before tonight or for the next couple months, any tips or tricks etc. thanks everyone!

Welcome to the forum.

Go get this provider/clinical manual for the S9 machine
https://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap- ... tup-manual
You can request the manual be sent to you via email.
Get it....there's a lot of information in it that isn't in the link below with pictures

Setup instructions with pictures

https://mail.apneaboard.com/resmed-s9-cpap-setup

You will need a SD card if the machine doesn't already have one. Any generic SD card 32 GB or less will work fine.
If it already has a SD card in it you will want to erase the data from the machine and SD card that belongs to your mother because you don't want her data clouding your data.
There is a way to erase all the old data (explained in that manual that I suggest you go get).
There is a setting on the machine that will do it.

Are you going to be using a heated hose or non heated hose?

Do you have an idea as to what settings you are going to start with? Remember right now we just want to get you comfortable so you can sleep with the mask and machine. Without sleep it doesn't matter much does it?

Shawnpittman wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 01, 2025 9:50 am

I’ve done some reading on here and it seems everyone is quite divided on the diy approach or tuning the settings

I don't know what topics you're reading, but to portray this community as divided on self-management is simply not true.

The occasional YouTube video from flat-earthers doesn't mean society is divided on the shape of the earth.

The S9 has one serious flaw/inconvenience with SD Card use. Failing to turn on the write-protect switch when inserting it into your computer will cause it to be re-formatted the next time you insert it into your S9.