study results.

RedThunder94 · Post by **RedThunder94** » Thu May 11, 2006 4:43 pm

hello all, as some of you may or may not know i went in for a sleep study last week, my other thread has all the details, anyways today i got a call from the dme my insurance uses, he gave me a small batch of numbers from my study, he said i had 37 or 38 events per hour? i guess, and that i had very little rem sleep and my o2 sats went down to 81%, so the sleep doctor has prescribed me an apap with c-flex, i go tomorrow to get set up with the machine, any last minute ideas that i may need to ask him? thanks in advance.

Moogy · Post by **Moogy** » Thu May 11, 2006 5:13 pm

RedThunder94 wrote:, i go tomorrow to get set up with the machine, any last minute ideas that i may need to ask him? thanks in advance.

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Ask for a copy of the entire sleep study report.

Ask if your insurance will buy or rent the unit.

Ask if you can switch units if the one they give you is not working well.

Insist on trying several different masks, WITH the pressure on, LYING DOWN, so you can see which one fits best and minimizes leaks.

Just my opinions, take em or leave em.

Moogy

RedThunder94 · Post by **RedThunder94** » Thu May 11, 2006 5:22 pm

he said after i sign a waiver or something he will give me a copy of my sleep study and that my insurance will rent to own, dunno about trying different machines, i will ask him that for sure, he said that we will need at least 45 minutes or so to get everything set up, i wonder if trying different masks are included in those 45 minutes....

i already have a flexifit431 and a resmed mirage ff mask, maybe i should let him do a nasal so i can have all the bases covered.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Thu May 11, 2006 5:56 pm

Since it is "rent-to-own", ask the DME for your total costs, in full, in writing. ....

Before you see the DME, go to cpap.com to check out the same equipment - Respironics Auto with cflex., check the price.

Make sure you get a heated humidifier that goes with the cpap machine.

If the DME hems and haws, find out if your insurance company will let you deal with cpap.com, buy outright, and then get reimbursed. Or use billmyinsurance.

Don't be in too much of a hurry to sign on the dotted line. You've had sleep apnea for a long time - take a little time and don't be rushed into getting equipment immediately and paying an arm and a leg. Once you sign for equipment, it's hard to get out of the contract - without a big hassle.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu May 11, 2006 7:17 pm

Excellent advice from Moogy and Linda,
This is one of those areas that while it may seem too logical to even mention, it is somehow a focus that gets lost over and over. One of those emotion sells that you wind up leaving the appointment wondering "what just happened," yet too exhausted to win the objective. I don't know if they wear us down,or just plain bully us, but somehow it always boils down to the point that they gain an upper hand easier.
It may sound like I've got a beef, and really I don't! But we must start making dme and other medical entities being held accountable to the sleep apnea sufferers.

I do feel that sleep apnea has not been respected in the wide differences of patient specific needs, vs. product features and even patient preferences in comfort level.

I constantly must remind myself that in this era, medicine has become a business, no longer is it the "calling" of days past. I often wonder where the line is between being dutifully informed and "marketed to" begins and ends. This should not be a luxury market.

I'm sure there are many postings and articles that give specifcs on getting the job done. One thing I hear a lot about is the large number of sleep masks that patients have had to purchase themselves because they could not find a dme source that was willing to work with them on a try before you buy basis. I have six "used once" masks myself in the "closet of wastes" of mine.
They indicate the sterile issue, indicating that government regulations prohibit them reselling the mask once you've tried it. AND YET, I've seen instructions in many mask packaging insets that describe to the dme on how to re-sanitize the product. So I question some of the gray area ethics here,but then it doesn't seem that too many dme are worried about losing my business. Also they don't consider that the costs of masks is something you are going to balk at. Now the CPAP machines are probably different.
I know it is unfeasable, but I have often longed for some type of co-op or even a registry service that shared so many of these "unsuitable for one, but valuable to another" products.
Considering this advice, Please bite your tongue and tie down your wallet when it comes to these decisions. You will be ever so glad that you did.
Peg

RedThunder94 · Post by **RedThunder94** » Thu May 11, 2006 7:38 pm

all in all i believe that my total out of pocket will be about 365 or so, that covers my deductable and the 20 percent or so of co-pay, so it'll hurt, not to bad but nonetheless. i'm pretty happy that the insurance is actually gonna spring for the apap, lol. thanks for all the replies...

RedThunder94 · Post by **RedThunder94** » Fri May 12, 2006 6:12 pm

okay, seems like i lucked out, the guy was really nice told me all i needed, gave me a comfortfull 2 ff mask and even tossed in the heated humidifier, he said the doc prescibed me a pressure setting of 6 low and 18 high, seems pretty steep, he hooked me up to it and it is very comfortable on the lower settings, it had gone from 6 to 7 automatically, he also had a resmed cpap there that was set up to 10 that he hooked me up to to feel the difference in pressure, wow, big difference, the effort to exhale against it was pretty astonishing to me, man i'm glad i got the auto, he said a straight cpap would be too uncomfortable for me since my settings were kinda high, so that's where the apap and c-flex came into play, so i'm happy, can't wait to see how well i'll do tonight.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): resmed, humidifier, C-FLEX, CPAP, auto, APAP

DME_Guy · Post by **DME_Guy** » Fri May 12, 2006 9:35 pm

Sounds like you're off to a good start! Good luck with your therapy. We have the same machine and C-flex makes a very noticable difference.

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Fri May 12, 2006 10:55 pm

redthunder:

a heated humidifier is basic standard equipment. i'd be concerned if your dme didn't "throw in" a heated humidifier. plus, you can get a copy of your sleep study from your sleep doc and you don't have to sign a waiver -- a waiver for what? ( a doc may have you sign a release just indicating that they gave you the report.)

caroline

RedThunder94 · Post by **RedThunder94** » Sat May 13, 2006 7:14 am

well it was some paper or something saying that i understood what we talked about, i guess, any ways, wow, i actually slept though the night with only one bathroom break,

i guess i got used to it pretty quick, only issues are the condensation in the mask that liked to drip on my face occasionally, humidifier was set to 2, maybe i need to do a 1 or not have the ac on at night, and i also have a pain in my right side kinda like i ran a mile or something,

i was roused a little in the wee hours of the morning cause i noticed having a harder time exhaling than usual, i guess the machine had jacked up the pressure to stop an event or something, i was gonna look and see what pressure it was at but fell asleep before i could even look, lol.

the bridge of my nose hurts a little, got a nice little red mark to prove it. all in all though i feel better, woke up and i'm not feeling sleepy like i normally do, geez, if that's just from one night, man, i can't wait till i get even better.

hours on the machine, 10.3, i had it on for an hour taking my afternoon nap, so that means i slept a total of 9.3 hours continuous with only the one break, sweet!

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier

Bonnie · Post by **Bonnie** » Sat May 13, 2006 10:12 am

Congratulations on your easy entrance to the world of OSA. You seem to be off to a great start and have a good attitude.

For the condensation, consider an Aussie Heated Hose. One of those "I can do with out my TV but I REALLY need my heated hose" items .

Also you might want to consider software to monitor your nightly events. Seeing as most people know their bodies better than a doctor or DMEs it is so nice to be able to track'N tweak..

And most importantly, anytime you have issues or questions, just post it here and you'll get results....guaranteed!!

RedThunder94 · Post by **RedThunder94** » Sat May 13, 2006 10:53 am

the heated hose will take care of the condensation in the mask? wow, i thought it would only work if i got condensation in the hose itself, hmm, the dme guy told me to keep the hose under the blankets and that would help, so i did, i only had the foot and a half going to the machine uncovered.

Bonnie · Post by **Bonnie** » Sat May 13, 2006 8:36 pm

I would get condensation in the hose traveling up to the mask hose, gurgling and water snuffling. I'd wake up, take it off and shake it out, reconnect and go back to sleep. A PAIN! I too slept with the hose under the covers and it worked somewhat but with the heated hose and my REALLY cool bedroom there has been no rainout. I've had my hose a month and have had no condensation in either hose. Truly, it's been a blessing.

RedThunder94 · Post by **RedThunder94** » Tue May 30, 2006 7:02 pm

well, i got the hosecovers from offerocker today, that should help with the rainout problem, seems i got used to the therapy really quick, have yet to go through a noncompliant night, got the machine on when i go to sleep and when i wake up, i already have gottten to the point where i won't fall asleep without the machine on, it has over 160 hours so far on the ticker and still counting, and i don't feel too sleepy when i'm driving, all in all, i feel better.

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Tue May 30, 2006 7:24 pm

RedThunder94: AMAZING! So happy for you that you've adjusted so easily.

I'm pretty happy that the insurance is actually gonna spring for the apap

WOW! How did you manage that? My 'evil-dme' has been fighting me on my Rx for an APAP; they even called the NP and said they called the insurance company. They're saying it is "too expensive" DUH !!!
I'm glad that you're starting out with the best combo: APAP CFLEX.
I found the CFLEX to make a tremendous difference in breathing comfort.
Continued good luck!
How is your oxygen level?
Thanks for the 'plug' for the hose cover/comfort sleeve.

study results.

study results.

Re: study results.

Agreed

Mask

Additional Comments: Large mask collection