CPAP/ VPAP setups

[chelseauk]

Hi.

I was diaganosed with SA a couple of weeks back (60/hour) - so bad.
And it looks like the NHS are about to let me down - i'll know more later today. But the consultant said 2 weeks and when i rung to check progress - a technician laughed and said more like 6 months.

So unless they were wrong ... heres hoping... It looks like a private one for me.

But I'm not entirely sure what makes a good setup and what parts there are. Also i assume the old saying of you get what you pay for applies.

I assume i'll need some sort of mask, and a machine - but do you buy the pipe as an extra and are any other bits needed ?

I know that humidifiers attachments can help - but is it worth trying without one first ?

I assume a VPAP machine is better than CPAP - but any suggestions on a decent model.

Finally what happens about servicing and repair.

So many questions...

Thanks in advance for any replies.

[chelseauk]

update

Well,

It turns out i'm a priority - but the person who should have been dealing with it is off sick - so i'm now booked in for the 23rd of October !

That said - i'd apprieciate any thoughts on being a CPAP newbie.

[Joe McManus]

Hi.

Hi Blues fan, welcome!

I assume i'll need some sort of mask, and a machine - but do you buy the pipe as an extra and are any other bits needed ?

A machine, a mask and the tube in between the two is the bare minimum to get going. The tube comes with the machine, at least in my experience.

I know that humidifiers attachments can help - but is it worth trying without one first ?

Yeah I'd do without first and see how you go. The NHS oftentimes don't supply humidifiers so you don't want to buy one yourself when it's not needed. It tends to be people who've had operations in the nasal area before, those with dry noses and those with common nosebleeds who go for humidifiers. Or if you travel to dry-air regions often.

I assume a VPAP machine is better than CPAP - but any suggestions on a decent model.

VPAP, CPAP, APAP, they all do the basic thing of making sure you get air very well. APAP, or Auto CPAP or Variable PAP - whatever the manufacturer decides to call it, has the advantage that the machine can adapt with you as your circumstances change. For example, if you get a traditional fixed pressure CPAP machine and you loose a lot of weight over the next 2 years, you might have to get the machine re-programmed to accommodate for the new physiology. And Auto titrating CPAP will be able to do this automatically.

Technology like C-Flex or whatever each manufacturer calls their equivalent of exhalation relief, would be a recommended feature as many people feel they are having to make an effort of breathing out without such pressure drops on exhalation.

Finally what happens about servicing and repair.

Depends where you get it. If on the NHS you'd get a telephone number of the clinic who you'd ring in case of trouble. You can also ring the manufacturer direct. If you get your equipment privately, your first port of call would be the shop you bought it from or the manufacturer direct.

[chelseauk]

Thanks for the information - it's useful. Can i suggest you make this - or something like it - a sticky for the site - the whole setup thing is a bit daunting.

[Joe McManus]

Snippets like this will slowly make it into the FAQ at http://faq.cpap.co.uk - glad to hear you find it useful! Took me a while to find out about all this, with all the acronyms etc. so I'm happy to share it in a way as useful as possible.

[MoutheBreather]

It would help in getting a proper mask for you if you know whether you predominantly breathe through the nose or your mouth.

Hope you get some swanky equipment!

[Joe McManus]

Forgot to mention I have a Respironics M-Series Auto CPAP which has everything it can possibly have, from C-Flex to ramping, to alarms when the mask comes off, to a card reader and auto-titration. And it's nice and small too and quieter than the old Remstar machine I had.

[JackTheSnorer]

Yeah, the pipe, or tube, comes with the machine or if you have a funky mask it may come with the mask. Either way, there should be no reason to have to get one unless you want yours longer, then you can extend a rube with an extra tube at the end of it.

As far as the mask design/type is concerned, this mainly depends on how sensitive your skin is in areas. Unfortunately, there's a lot of trial and error involved with masks.

I don't think you can call VPAP or APAP or Auto CPAP "better". They just have more chance of being more comfortable. As far as unblocing the airways, they should all be as good as the next one.

[acebass]

It would help in getting a proper mask for you if you know whether you predominantly breathe through the nose or your mouth.

The only problem here is that you have to know which type you are. having suffered with cataargh for many years and being pretty much unable to breathe through my mouth, I naturally assumed I was a mouth breather. After my nights CPAP trial in the Sleep clinic it turns out i'm actually a nose breather and was able to cope with just a nasal mask. I would never have worked this out by myself. Thakfully the Cpap has cleared my cataargh problem completely so it has it's upsides too.......