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Hi
I have just switched from a Respironics CPAP machine to a DeVilbiss APAP machine. What a difference!
I have had a lactose intolerance for longer than I have been on CPAP therapy. The intolerance has lead to stomach cramps and bloating, no matter how careful I am to avoid dairy products. For the last six months, the symptoms have been getting worse, and have really been interfering with life, and with a good night's sleep. I wondered if it was the CPAP causing me to swallow lots of air, but as the symptoms lasted all day, I assumed not.
At my last sleep apnoea checkup, back in July, I asked my consultant whether I'd be better off on APAP. She politely told me that APAP was popular with "geeks" [that's me :-)] who like analysing data but that medically there was no difference in the outcome of CPAP and APAP treatment.
I have to say, she was wrong. I've had the machine for just over a week, and the bloating is gone. The old machine was set to 10cm H2O. The new machine runs at an average of 6.2 and for much of the night it runs at the base level of 4, though it has maxed at 12.9 H2O.
The machine reports:
Average AHI: 4.5 Per hour
Average AI: 0.1 Per hour
Average HI: 4.4 Per hour
Average NRI: 0.8 Per hour
Average EPI: 0.9 Per hour
I don't know how this compares with the previous machine (it was too dumb to tell me), but I know when I was diagnosed (using oximetry) I was at 86 de-sats/hour.
Happy new year!!
Jonathan.
Views: 231
Happy New Year to you as well Jonathan, and great to hear you got a better machine for you. APAP's are not just for 'geeks' as you have proved and for some people can make all the difference - again like you've proved. I'm sure you'll be telling the consultant this 
However, it can also work the other way around - some people are better off on straight CPAP than APAP. Just like the masks, it's a case of individual needs.
You can type in the smartcode on this link + you'll be able to see what pressures were used, and seeing as you're a 'geek' you'll love this 
https://www.intellipap.com/
(I don't think you need to type in your address either).
Hi Kath,
I actually splashed out on the additional $US50 upgrade for the DeVilbiss SmartLink module, software, data card and card reader, so I can luxuriate in the charts and statistics it produces :)
Not sure I will be telling the consultant anything, as when I mentioned my "last" appointment with the consultant, it was pretty much that. She said I was managing my condition, and therefore discharged me. Whilst I retain an NHS CPAP machine, it will get an annual check, which takes 5 minutes. It's a Respironics machine which only stores compliance data, so in effect I am on my own. That said, I'm not backward in coming forward if I need to see someone!
Jonathan.
Kath Hope said:
Happy New Year to you as well Jonathan, and great to hear you got a better machine for you. APAP's are not just for 'geeks' as you have proved and for some people can make all the difference - again like you've proved. I'm sure you'll be telling the consultant this
You can type in the smartcode on this link + you'll be able to see what pressures were used, and seeing as you're a 'geek' you'll love this
(I don't think you need to type in your address either).
I've got the SmartLink module too, but was disappointed to find there wasn't much more info to see than you can get online, unless that's changed? I've had mine about 4 years.
Bearing in mind some clinics seem to discharge people these days it would make more sense to let their patients have a data-compliant machine, then they could spot any problems themselves!
do not say anything about the smart link, they like to be in charge let them think that
only complain when some thing is not right and you can be vague about how you know and just say it is a feeling i have
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