I was first diagnosed in 1997 and I believe the setting number was a 7  not very strong.  I was tested again several years later and got yet another new CPap and the number was raised but I do not know why.  Since that time I have had to go very strong pain medication for 3 failed back surgeryies with nerve damage that was caused between the first and second surgery that was 4 weeks apart that goes down my left leg and into my foot.  I take Morphine 12 hours release every 12 hours and quite a bit of it.  The last time I was tested they changed me to a BiPap even though all these years I have not been able to wear the masks.  Since I was told my WLS Dr. Glas**** requires you to wear it I have been trying to wear this thing now for several months and still with several different masks have not been able to wear it.  With the machine I have now BiPap i have 4 different settins and one of them is 30 and it causes the air to blow past the mask which wakes me up and it causes a suction that has that masked sucked onto my face to the point the last time I tried to wear it for approx 40 min I woke up and the whole right side of my face was numb.

The pulmonary Doctor I was sent to before my surgery is schedules said there was a different type of machine I should have been put on and I'm affraid my surgery will not be postponed even though I have passed everything that is required just so I go through yet another sleep study and get yet my 4th machine that my insurance company has to pay for that I can't use.  I believe this is ridiculous when in fact when this surgery works I won't have this problem any longer.

Any ideas for me?

i had that happen to mine, and i too thought the top did not come off the tank - but when i actually sat and looked at the book there was a small little latch on the tank that pops the lid off. i was sure there had to be a way since it was important to keep it clean - voila there it was. good luck with that.

Gosh, I'm counting on going off this "thing" as well.  I have to go back to my MD.  I'm down 70 lbs, but I don't think that this is enough as yet to even consider it. 

DONNA MY NAME IS ELVINA AND I WAS JUST DIAGNOSED WITH SLEEP APNEA AND I DONT HAVE ANY INSURANCE AND DESPERATELY NEED THAT CPAP MACHINE WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED? SO THAT I KNOW HOW MUCH SHIPPING WILL COST I AM IN NORTH CAROLINA

I agree with ya Heather, this is exactly how I've gotten used to my machine, it works!