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anyone home..
how you folks doing...?
been pretty quiet around here!
how you folks doing...?
been pretty quiet around here!
posted by:
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Boston
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Unsu...
Re: Knock Knock...
Tue, March 20, 2007 - 2:06 PMStill trying to take it all in.
I've gone for two polysomnograms (did I spell "sleepover" correctly?); one with CPaP, one with BiPaP. Felt like crap the morning after both.
Within 48 hours of each, I get phone calls from a very pushy person at the medical supplier who's trying to shove a machine down my throat (almost literally) without a chance to consult with an MD. Told her where to put the dam things until I get time to have more consults.
At least the specialist is a straight shooter.... -
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Re: Knock Knock...
Tue, March 20, 2007 - 2:25 PMI just want you to know that it's completely normal to feel like total crap after a sleep study. I think we all did! I know I sure did.
Forgive my impertinence, IMHO a machine, whether CPaP, BiPap, or APaP is by prescription ONLY and must be ordered specifically by your doctor and set to a prescribed treatment level. A medical supplier has no business calling you and trying "to shove a machine down your throat". I would have done the same thing you did! I don't blame you for being miffed.
When I had my sleep study, I tested on a CPaP machine which is the one most commonly used. It worked for me, along with a nasal only mask so we knew I didn't need a mask to cover both my nose and mouth. The machine and mask I have in my home are NOT the same models I was tested with. The machine in the sleep lab was a "titrating" machine that used a varying number of prescription settings to determine which one worked best for me. My mask in the lab was a "standard" testing mask which didn't have the greatest fit imaginable; especially with wires hanging out all over the place. My doctor ordered a new, relatively "state of the art" machine for me with humidification. I use a ResMed Elite7 CPaP with a ResMed Ultra Mirage II nasal face mask.
Do yourself a huge favor and talk to your doctor. He or she can probably stop the annoying calls and remind the medical supplier that THE DOCTOR is the one making the decision in which machine is right for you.
I wish you the best and let us know how it all works out, OK?
Love,
Leah -
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Re: Knock Knock...
Tue, March 20, 2007 - 4:03 PMHey Ned,
I'm with Leah on this - only your doc knows what you need. There are very specific settings necessary for these machines...if not, why go through a study at all?!
These DMEs really can be pushy and expect NO customer service from them other than to sell you stuff. I'm so disgusted with my old one I haven't even bothered to find a new one. Also, these people are not terribly educated in my experience, so anything out of the norm is a problem for them.
It took me about two weeks (jk) to get all that glue crap out of my hair. Good luck with that.
Hugs to you and Mrs. Nedly.
D. -
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Unsu...
Re: Knock Knock...
Wed, March 21, 2007 - 8:37 AMThanks to you both, ladies.
A bit of clarification came from a phone conversation this morning with the head of the hospital's Neurosicences Dept. I will be getting a Bi-Pap machine, but setting the in/out pressures equal, for starters, so that it behaves more like a CPaP.
The supplier actually was calling me on an MD's order, which pissed me off even more. The first time was the result of my primary signing-off on the lab tech's preliminary results without consulting me. The fact that the lab tech was an ethnic ESL, and 99% unintelligible, led me to believe that neither he nor my primary really knew what the hell the situation was.
After the second night, they called on order from the specialist, again, someone who didn't consult me first. Although he knows his stuff, he ignored the fact that I had specifically noted on the morning-after sheet that I had trouble all night with the BiPap pressure settings.
The department head got it right. "First thing we gotta do is get you comfortable with the machine. THEN, we crank the settings. Even if you're only two hours a nite, for the first coupla nights, while watching TV or something, that's where we'll start."
Hugs back.... -
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Re: Knock Knock...
Wed, March 21, 2007 - 8:46 AMM...what is the different between Bi-Pap and CPap?
I am so new at all this..am in learning mode..
glad to see you are getting at least somewhere ..sorting your issues..out.. -
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Unsu...
Re: Knock Knock...
Wed, March 21, 2007 - 9:03 AMCPap = Continuous Positive Air Pressure; Bi = bi pressure, or more simply: a bit higher pressure for the inhalation, then it drops off so that you can exhale against an easier flow.
The machine I had was either too strong for inhalation; I ended up swallowinig and belching air a bit, or not long enough, and I had to suck harder to get enough air while the thing was cycling down.
The specialist told me that i might need higher pressure available from a BiPap, because I was still having episodes on the Continuous machine even as it was cranking out pressure at 90% or so.
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Re: Knock Knock...
Wed, March 21, 2007 - 9:07 AMBiPap vs. CPap:
CPaps deliver a constant pressure throughout one's breathing cycle.
BiPaps deliver different pressures during inhalation and exhalation. So, on my BiPap, when I breathe in the pressure rises and when I exhale, the pressure drops (allowing for easy exhale). BiPaps are also called "Bi-Levels".
So, on my BiPap prescription, I have (2) air pressure setting involved.
:)
MC -
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Re: Knock Knock...
Wed, March 21, 2007 - 1:21 PMah huhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
thanx....
I keep thinking that ..with the stress of breathing out..is good for my lungs..
because ..my friend Scotty gave me a great breathing exercise which is to purse your lips...when breathing out..to make more pressure on your exhale..it is suppose to put more oxygen in your body...
I did a blog on breathing exercises ..once..let me dig it up here..and I will post it..
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