3 ms·

Any particular suggestions? I need to go shopping soon.

DenisM 11y ago
I swear by my Resmed AutoSet S10. They have too many S10 models, so be sure to get the AutoSet (or higher), as it dials the pressure up and down. I'm kicking myself for sticking with an older S8 model for far too long, all the misery I endured was entirely unnecessary! Proper pressure is the key to compliance. This machine has auto-set, so the minimal required pressure is used; it has better algorithms for it (compared to S8); and it has exhale relief (it drops the pressure when you start exhaling). It's easier to exhale, thus reducing the overall pressure. An additional way to reduce the pressure is a neck pillow. I use one with a silly name of Dr Dakota. Aside from keeping your chin from falling down, it keeps your neck straight, and so it opens up the airways. It's a big deal if you have bad posture, like I do. This was a dramatic improvement for me. Further, reducing the pressure will reduce leaks, and thus reduce pressure further, as the machine won't need to compensate as much. A virtuous cycle, if there ever was one. And lastly, reducing the pressure allowed me to use a nasal pillow mask, which is very comfy, easy to maintain, and has the lowest leaks of all designs I have tried. I can't use it at high pressure due to mouth leaks, but I can handle it at the low pressure, and due to mostly zero leaks now ... the pressure goes down even more. Combining all of these, I brought my leaks to zero (like, 90%th percentile), and AHI to less than one, like 0.6 is in there most of the time. That's only one event per the 90-minute sleep cycle. Good luck!
- lumpypua 11y ago
  Thanks for the extensive answer! I did an at-home CPAP trial after a sleep and they gave me some POS machine and I hated it. Unfortunately getting anything more fancy is going to require jumping through insurance hoops. rolleyes Pretty new to this whole thing. My posture definitely makes a big difference, I'm at 9 AHI sleeping on my side but 50+ on my back untreated. I'm gonna duct tape pillows to myself or something. Glad you found something that works for you!
  - DenisM 11y ago
    Pay cash. You can get a refurb at $600. It's totally worth it. Speaking side-sleeping, I have sewn a sock with a tennis ball to the back of my sleeping tshirt. It worked well, but it's hard to wash. So I bought this contraption: https://www.amazon.com/stream/ref=nav_upnav_mobile_T2_DetailAW https://www.amazon.com/stream/ref=nav_upnav_mobile_T2_Detail... Side-sleeping is a big deal, but it's even better with a neck pillow.
    - joshu 11y ago
      Where do you get refurbs?
      - DenisM 11y ago
        I saw some on google shopping. Didn't try ordering though. Also, check craigslist. In Seattle there are several people selling them right now at $400.
    - DenisM 11y ago
      Better link, I hope. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DTLLYQ6/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DTLLYQ6/
      - lectrick 11y ago
        Believe it or not, I also snore on my side. sigh
        DenisM 11y ago
        Of corse. But a better question to ask is if your AHI takes a plunge. If it goes down from 20 to 10 for example you are halfway there to control your apnea. A good CPAP machine will tell you what your AHI is. Even the S8 does, though you have to get to the system menu (hold down and right arrows for five seconds).
  - lectrick 11y ago

I swear by my Resmed AutoSet S10. They have too many S10 models, so be sure to get the AutoSet (or higher), as it dials the pressure up and down. I'm kicking myself for sticking with an older S8 model for far too long, all the misery I endured was entirely unnecessary! Proper pressure is the key to compliance. This machine has auto-set, so the minimal required pressure is used; it has better algorithms for it (compared to S8); and it has exhale relief (it drops the pressure when you start exhaling). It's easier to exhale, thus reducing the overall pressure. An additional way to reduce the pressure is a neck pillow. I use one with a silly name of Dr Dakota. Aside from keeping your chin from falling down, it keeps your neck straight, and so it opens up the airways. It's a big deal if you have bad posture, like I do. This was a dramatic improvement for me. Further, reducing the pressure will reduce leaks, and thus reduce pressure further, as the machine won't need to compensate as much. A virtuous cycle, if there ever was one. And lastly, reducing the pressure allowed me to use a nasal pillow mask, which is very comfy, easy to maintain, and has the lowest leaks of all designs I have tried. I can't use it at high pressure due to mouth leaks, but I can handle it at the low pressure, and due to mostly zero leaks now ... the pressure goes down even more. Combining all of these, I brought my leaks to zero (like, 90%th percentile), and AHI to less than one, like 0.6 is in there most of the time. That's only one event per the 90-minute sleep cycle. Good luck!

lumpypua 11y ago
Thanks for the extensive answer! I did an at-home CPAP trial after a sleep and they gave me some POS machine and I hated it. Unfortunately getting anything more fancy is going to require jumping through insurance hoops. rolleyes Pretty new to this whole thing. My posture definitely makes a big difference, I'm at 9 AHI sleeping on my side but 50+ on my back untreated. I'm gonna duct tape pillows to myself or something. Glad you found something that works for you!
- DenisM 11y ago
  Pay cash. You can get a refurb at $600. It's totally worth it. Speaking side-sleeping, I have sewn a sock with a tennis ball to the back of my sleeping tshirt. It worked well, but it's hard to wash. So I bought this contraption: https://www.amazon.com/stream/ref=nav_upnav_mobile_T2_DetailAW https://www.amazon.com/stream/ref=nav_upnav_mobile_T2_Detail... Side-sleeping is a big deal, but it's even better with a neck pillow.
  - joshu 11y ago
    Where do you get refurbs?
    - DenisM 11y ago
      I saw some on google shopping. Didn't try ordering though. Also, check craigslist. In Seattle there are several people selling them right now at $400.
  - DenisM 11y ago
    Better link, I hope. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DTLLYQ6/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DTLLYQ6/
    - lectrick 11y ago
      Believe it or not, I also snore on my side. sigh
      - DenisM 11y ago
        Of corse. But a better question to ask is if your AHI takes a plunge. If it goes down from 20 to 10 for example you are halfway there to control your apnea. A good CPAP machine will tell you what your AHI is. Even the S8 does, though you have to get to the system menu (hold down and right arrows for five seconds).
- lectrick 11y ago