@menotpvcs, Thank you John! I knew it wasn't good. Funny story - I was showing one of the doctors at a local clinic my Kardia ECG readout on my phone and he thought it showed some PVCs but he took my phone with him and showed it to a couple of other docs and they thought it was minor. I take the ECG everyday for history and it normally shows a "normal" ECG but once in awhile it will tell me it's unclassified or possible AFIB. I had told the doctor about this too and he compared with a recent ECG I had and didn't think it was abnormal. I have an app on my phone that downloads the data via bluetooth from my CPAP machine. It showed my AHI as 17.4 for the 8 hours of sleep last night using the CPAP. The doctor is looking to get the number down around 4 for the AHI. I have an appointment in about 8 weeks where I have to take the machine back and they download the data.

John
P.S. - I really do take it seriously even though I make some jokes about it sometimes.

@johnbishop- I would think that the new C-paps are set up so the Drs. can view your numbers, etc. remotely. At least my newer machine I've had for 2yrs. is that way? The 2 previous machines I had, had a card reader that I brought in for them to read. Unless they need to make some in office adjustments (also which I believe then can do remotely) that would be the only reason? It used to be that often clients would lie about the frequency of them using the machine at all and the only way was for them to have the machine and view the internal program that would give them that info. Since essentially you are renting the machine until the payments pay for the machine and the proof that you are in fact using it needs to be verified by ther dr. to your insurance carrier or medicare.

@thankful Yuppers, that's what the doctor told me when he went through the procedure. He gave me a sheet with a list of 5 or 6 CPAP providers in the Rochester area but I told him I was going through Mayo Clinic as it's my in network provider and would be easier insurance wise. That's when he explained how it's paid for and you basically rent it for 13 months and then it's yours but has a 2 year warranty. The one he ordered for me or suggested I get is the Dreamsense as it has an auto function that you can use to lower the starting amount of air being pushed for 15 minutes to let you get to sleep if the pressure is hard to get used to. Mine is set to start at 08 and go as high as 18. I just have to turn it on and push another button to make it drop to 04 for 15 minutes. It does send data to the cloud if you use the app supplied (IOS or Android) by the CPAP company (www.dreammapper.com) but the doctor told me that they don't access it but it is used by researchers to write papers which seemed to bother him. He also told me he has to write a prescription every year after verifying the usage.

John

My machine is set for 15 to 20. I had something like 55 events when tested many years ago. Now if I cannot use it because the mask broke or I have a bad cold, I have trouble getting to sleep because it seems so strange without it. My father had sleep apnea and ending up dead because of it. He kept getting strokes since the loss of air causes the heart arrythmias which lead to clots. So may I encourage you John in keeping up the therapy. The use will prolong your life.

Thank you @johnhans -- night two with the mask was even easier.

@johnbishop- Yes, I have that "ramp" feature as well as a "warm-up" mode. I really like the warm up mode especially in the winter months mostly because their is less likely any issues with condensation and the air I'm breathing is warmer than the cool room which I like. My air hose is a heated one so I have less issues unlike my older machine which needed a "cozy" for winter months. The ramp-up is a nice feature especially when you are new to C-pap although I still have mine preset for a 10 minute ramp up till it reaches my perscribed pressure of 11.

@thankful -- I like the F&P Simplus full face mask but not really keen on the head gear I got with it. The quick connect straps on the bottom are good and it has two that slide over the top connectors but you can't easily take it off and put it back on for the nightly trip to the biff. Maybe it just takes more practice. I do like the mask as the excess air goes through smaller holes above the nose and it's pretty diffused and quiet. I have a follow up appointment in the middle of September which I'm guessing is when they will download the data from the CPAP machine and tell me some new numbers to plug into it or maybe they will do it for me although it's not hard to do. I was going to ask if I could just email them the report so I don't have to cart the device to my appointment but I'm thinking that will not fly.

My device also has the heated air hose and water temp to reduce the condensation. I didn't like it so much the first night because our bedroom is in the basement and it's always cool. It may be nicer in the Winter though to breath the warmer air. I hope I don't have to find out until sometime in February ☺