How to approach doc about trying a-pap.
Re: How to approach doc about trying a-pap.
I would get the software and change my machine to APAP and see how it goes. Its your machine and your health. You doctor is suppose to help you maximize the tools. If he refuses...then take matters into your own hands.
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Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
Mask: Swift™ LT For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Additional Comments: |
Diagnosed 08/31/10. Titration 9/02/10. Started CPAP 11/01/10. Auto mode 10-15cm. Alternate mask GoLife for her. Back up mask Full-life full face w/Pad-a-cheek mask liner. Comtec CMS F50 wrist pulse oximeter. Sobakawa Cloud Pillow, Sleepyhead software
- chunkyfrog
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Re: How to approach doc about trying a-pap.
+1
I was "given" an S9 Elite; after buying my Autoset 2 years ago, I can't imagine going back to straight CPAP.
My AHI's were consistently around 4 and 5 with straight pressure, now +/- 1 with APAP.
I took another approach. Just went ahead with the APAP and told him about it later,
showing my notebook with my AHI improvements.
They say it is easier to get forgiveness than permission. It is true.
I was "given" an S9 Elite; after buying my Autoset 2 years ago, I can't imagine going back to straight CPAP.
My AHI's were consistently around 4 and 5 with straight pressure, now +/- 1 with APAP.
I took another approach. Just went ahead with the APAP and told him about it later,
showing my notebook with my AHI improvements.
They say it is easier to get forgiveness than permission. It is true.
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- BlackSpinner
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Re: How to approach doc about trying a-pap.
Plus try to remember that the doctor works for you. S/He is just a contractor being paid by you and /or your insurance/taxes. No different then the plumber or car mechanic. YOU tell them what you want and if they can't/won't do it you fire them and go elsewhere.chunkyfrog wrote: They say it is easier to get forgiveness than permission. It is true.
_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine |
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Additional Comments: Quatro mask for colds & flus S8 elite for back up |
71. The lame can ride on horseback, the one-handed drive cattle. The deaf, fight and be useful. To be blind is better than to be burnt on the pyre. No one gets good from a corpse. The Havamal
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Re: How to approach doc about trying a-pap.
Its the going elsewhere that's the problem.BlackSpinner wrote:Plus try to remember that the doctor works for you. S/He is just a contractor being paid by you and /or your insurance/taxes. No different then the plumber or car mechanic. YOU tell them what you want and if they can't/won't do it you fire them and go elsewhere.chunkyfrog wrote: They say it is easier to get forgiveness than permission. It is true.
- BlackSpinner
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Re: How to approach doc about trying a-pap.
Its the going elsewhere that's the problem.[/quote]quietmorning wrote: Plus try to remember that the doctor works for you. S/He is just a contractor being paid by you and /or your insurance/taxes. No different then the plumber or car mechanic. YOU tell them what you want and if they can't/won't do it you fire them and go elsewhere.
Yes but keep the plumber in mind when you see your doctor. You don't need your plumbers permission to flush or clean the toilet or change cleaning supplies.
_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine |
Mask: Hybrid Full Face CPAP Mask with Nasal Pillows and Headgear |
Additional Comments: Quatro mask for colds & flus S8 elite for back up |
71. The lame can ride on horseback, the one-handed drive cattle. The deaf, fight and be useful. To be blind is better than to be burnt on the pyre. No one gets good from a corpse. The Havamal
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Re: How to approach doc about trying a-pap.
Yes but keep the plumber in mind when you see your doctor. You don't need your plumbers permission to flush or clean the toilet or change cleaning supplies.[/quote]BlackSpinner wrote:Its the going elsewhere that's the problem.quietmorning wrote: Plus try to remember that the doctor works for you. S/He is just a contractor being paid by you and /or your insurance/taxes. No different then the plumber or car mechanic. YOU tell them what you want and if they can't/won't do it you fire them and go elsewhere.
Gotcha!
Re: How to approach doc about trying a-pap.
You don't have to tell anyone if you experiment - how will they know unless you tell them?
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Re: How to approach doc about trying a-pap.
My machine records it. LOL. . .and like I told my kids when they were growing up. . .it's a family curse. . .we ALWAYS get caught. **laughs**Julie wrote:You don't have to tell anyone if you experiment - how will they know unless you tell them?
But seriously - they made sure I knew that the pressure is always recorded the first appointment I had a year and a half ago.
Re: How to approach doc about trying a-pap.
With the help of the great people on this board I changed my machine and started reading my own reports. When it was time to go to the doctor and she noticed the machine was set different I pulled out my reports and we went over them together. She was impressed that I knew what I was talking about and that it was working for me. She rewrote my prescription and sent it to the DME to have on file so everything was in order for the insurance. When my Mom had her sleep study 6 months after me I stepped up and helped her with her machine, reports and making this as easy as possible for her. Believe me she fought it from the start but now 1-1/2 yrs later she is doing great and uses her machine every night. I still read her and my reports every month.
You might be surprised with your doctor when you speak up.
Laurie
You might be surprised with your doctor when you speak up.
Laurie
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Today is a new day: Laurie
Re: How to approach doc about trying a-pap.
You act as if you are breaking some law or something. Take control of your health and your treatment. Again the doctor works for you....you do NOT work for the doctor. Without patients, the doctor would have NO job.quietmorning wrote:My machine records it. LOL. . .and like I told my kids when they were growing up. . .it's a family curse. . .we ALWAYS get caught. **laughs**Julie wrote:You don't have to tell anyone if you experiment - how will they know unless you tell them?
But seriously - they made sure I knew that the pressure is always recorded the first appointment I had a year and a half ago.
If your doctor is refusing to try help you to resolve your issues then why are you paying him? I guess you just like giving away money for a service NOT rendered! lol If you have spoken frankly with the doctor and he refuses to listen and refuses to give you a reason why he will not even try...time to get a new doctor.
I had a doctor that was not treating me they way I wanted. He solution to all my problems was a new pill...of and I was lazy. I finally got fed up with his pill pushing and told him no more pills. Then I got a copy of my lab results to take to doctor at my company because I had a work related injury. We discovered I had abnormal lab values going back over 2 years that was steadily getting worst and not better. He was not treating the problem nor did he refer me to a specialist to get treatment. I went 2 years with no treatment for auto-immune disease and critically low Vitamin D levels. This idiot of a doctor was more concerned about my cholesterol levels than what was really going on.
When I went back to him. I did not discuss what the company doctor had found. I simply asked for a referral to rheumatologist because I felt I had a problem that needed further attention. He asked me why and I told him that I had been speaking with someone else who suffered from auto-immune disease and they suggested based on my symptoms that I see a specialist.
This quack got all huffy...saying "oh now your friends have MD degrees and know more than I do" I said as a matter of fact they obvious do...you missed changes in my lab values over a period of 2 years....but you must have read the labs because you could call me to tell me about some diet you wanted me on for my cholesterol. I also let him know I did not like his attitude...and when he tried to verbally berate me again...I gave him an old fashioned southern tongue lashing as loud as my voice would go. The whole clinic stopped because by that time we were standing in the hall!! I let everyone in the clinic know what a quack he was. I had already changed doctors and the company doctor had already made a referral to specialist.
Later the doctor apparently had some legal issues with other patient complaints.
So again you get what you pay for...and you will get no where if you continue paying for a doctors care that is not delivering the care that you require.
_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
Mask: Swift™ LT For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Additional Comments: |
Diagnosed 08/31/10. Titration 9/02/10. Started CPAP 11/01/10. Auto mode 10-15cm. Alternate mask GoLife for her. Back up mask Full-life full face w/Pad-a-cheek mask liner. Comtec CMS F50 wrist pulse oximeter. Sobakawa Cloud Pillow, Sleepyhead software
- zoocrewphoto
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Re: How to approach doc about trying a-pap.
A doctor who actually reads reports enough to notice a pressure change probably cares about the data and will look at your data to see how it is working.
A doctor who doesn't care probably won't even notice your changes.
A doctor who doesn't care probably won't even notice your changes.
_________________
Mask: Quattro™ FX Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control |
Additional Comments: Resmed S9 autoset pressure range 11-17 |
Who would have thought it would be this challenging to sleep and breathe at the same time?
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Re: How to approach doc about trying a-pap.
There is another cpap support called Apneaboard. You can goggle them and register. After you register, you will have access to the section containing instructions on how to get to the clinician's menu of the most commonly used machines. Then you can change your machine from constant to Auto.
At Apneaboard I learned how to gain access to my husbands Respironics M series machine. He was snoring! And not having any leaks. We switched machines for 3 nights and I looked at his data on my S9 Autoset. After two years at 9cm, he needed to be at 11cm... That's why he was snoring.
At husbands next appointment he told the Dr. what we did at home and showed him the detailed data printout from those 3 nights. The Dr agreed and wrote in hubby's chart that he was increased to 11cm for treatment.
No argument... just the facts.
Present the facts, be reasonable, be firm. Patients have rights. It's explained on that sheet of paper everyone gets when they are hospitalized. Same when you walk into the Dr office. You have the right to receive the treatment you need.
Best wishes and good luck to you!
Cindy
At Apneaboard I learned how to gain access to my husbands Respironics M series machine. He was snoring! And not having any leaks. We switched machines for 3 nights and I looked at his data on my S9 Autoset. After two years at 9cm, he needed to be at 11cm... That's why he was snoring.
At husbands next appointment he told the Dr. what we did at home and showed him the detailed data printout from those 3 nights. The Dr agreed and wrote in hubby's chart that he was increased to 11cm for treatment.
No argument... just the facts.
Present the facts, be reasonable, be firm. Patients have rights. It's explained on that sheet of paper everyone gets when they are hospitalized. Same when you walk into the Dr office. You have the right to receive the treatment you need.
Best wishes and good luck to you!
Cindy
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Mask: Opus 360 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control |
Additional Comments: Swift FX as back-up |