Sleep Apnea/Where can I find an affordable sleep study and cpap etc.

Oh, I know. You're preaching to the choir here. Schneider sent me to a sleep clinic, but it was away from any of their operating centers. When I came to Crete, I had already studied their program, and it was a rip-off. Their "sleep centers" were right in their operating centers, and they were charging you $900 bucks for a machine, and not allowing it to be filed on insurance, so it was an all-cash deal for the most part. I wanted no part of it, and made it clear to them when I came on board. In addition, even if a driver fell on the "do not need" side of the graph by just a small amount, they were being forced to get a machine anyway.

I have no problem with the science of sleep apnea. My father is a physician and has been a CPAP user for over a dozen years. But as I have stated in several threads on TTR, I have a monumental problem with SA being treated as the "cash cow of the moment". You've got it figured out. I hope the news spreads.

 

with the auto machines, you want to close the settings up. Set at 4 minimum and 20 maximum isn't good. If you read the card or the screen information, it should tell you the amount of apnea events you have and the type. ie, obstructive or central. Try to hone down the settings. For instance my setting is 10cm/h2o.
An auto would be set for my needs at say..... 8min and 12 max.
If you minimum pressure is too high, over what you need, it can cause central apneas, and if the gap is too wide like 4 cm/h20 and 20cm/h20, it can take too long for the machine to respond to an apnea event.
Thats what I gather from the sleep apnea forums.
check them out, some good info.
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/

http://awake.truckersforacause.com/

http://www.cpaptalk.com/CPAP-Sleep-Apnea-Forum.html?sid=f72183aec7d048ca9b6f27c3d34e0050

http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-pressure/free-sleep-apnea-tracking-software-for-your-computer

 

I didn't realize I was in such bad shape. Thanks for the analysis.

 

Chibob, if you know your setting is 6cm/h20, thats what is needed to stop or prevent the apnea episode. So the machine will be chugging away at 4cm until it senses an apnea coming on, and then it ramps up to 6cm to prevent the apnea event. From 4 to 6 cm isn't a problem. If you needed 15cm, and it was working away at 4cm, then the ramp up time is signifigant and an apnea event may take place before the machine can react. Then it isn't effective and distrubs your sleep pattern.

Why do you leave the max setting at 14cm? It might be better to drop it closer to your needs. Like 8 or 9cm. I have read that too high of a pressure induces central apneas. This is where the brain forgets to send the signal to breathe. Obstructive is just that, your/my throat closes or relaxes and cuts off the airway. A positive pressure can deal with obstructive airways, but can do nothing for central.

i was having around 60 apneas per hour without CPAP, within the first week on CPAP it dropped to around 5.
Anything 5 and under is considered normal. I had mine fine tuned to stop a suffocated feeling in the night, and the Dr boosted the pressure 1cm with a perscrption to go 1cm more. I set my machine up one notch, and I don't feel like I'm suffocating and my apnea events have dropped to 0.5- 3 max. Depends on stress, alcohol intake and a few other triggers. I too feel more energy, and I can get up super early, work all day, and stay up late and not feel tired at all.When bedtime comes, I strap on the gear, and off to dreamland, and boy do I dream....lol.

In my province, testing is free, and the Ontario goverment pays up to 80% of the cost of the CPAP up to $750, or something like that. I feel sorry for guys in the States that have to fork over large amounts to test($1800 is a crime), and buy machines outright. Its preventing alot of people that really need it from getting it. And the companies are pushing this testing and prehire crap like its a campaign platform.
I don't blame anyone who buys one online, and works to find a safe setting themselves. Its not rocket science.
48Packard said it well......
"I have no problem with the science of sleep apnea. My father is a physician and has been a CPAP user for over a dozen years. But as I have stated in several threads on TTR, I have a monumental problem with SA being treated as the "cash cow of the moment". You've got it figured out. I hope the news spreads."

Good luck with your auto-CPAP, you sound like you know you are doing.

 

please call me at 337-515 2114 and we can help you with something reasonable

 

4-14 is the range the doctor has it set for. The machine is finding you normally use 6. You can just leave it alone or talk to your sleep doc about narrowing the pressure range.

If you want more details check the forums at the American Sleep Apnea Association web site. DO NOT try to adjust the pressure yourself.