New CPAP'er

NeurosurgeryNP · Post by **NeurosurgeryNP** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 7:56 pm

I will be a new CPAP'er - just waiting for the titration part of my sleep study to be read and to touch base with my DME. Once they call me, do I have the right to request a certain make of machine - from doing research on this site, I am impressed with either the Remstar or the Puritan Bennett. Will they laugh at me if I ask for these?

Thanks all for all of your information and support. I am a health care professional. Prior to be worked up for and diagnosed with OSA, I had little knowledge of this process. I always thought it was a male problem, especially those overweight. I am a female, 30 years old, 5'8" and 195 lbs - somewhat overweight.....but not my typical impression for someone with OSA. I actually was diagnosed with depression 3 years ago - had some sadness related to 9/11 - lost a friend there - but my main problem was that I was sleeping all of the time, and napping a lot. I was started on Paxil which helped my mood some in the beginning, but I still was sleeping a lot (and still am - 8-9 hours a night and typically a 2 hour nap daily). I hvae read that many females are initially treated this way - without suspicion of OSA. Here I am 3 years later, and I was speaking with my pulmonologist (I have asthma as well), and he sent me for a sleep study which confirmed his suspicion that I had OSA. I also had noticed that during the past year, my BP has risen slightly to the 130/90 range during any dr's visit - far higher than my 110/70 range I had previously had. So, things are coming together and are making sense now. I never realized that OSA can have such a profound impact on my life as well as that of the patients I treat and their families. I have obtained so much information from this forum, and I thank you all. Not only are you helping me, but you are ultimately helping me care for my patients, as I have far more knowledge after finding this forum. I know that I am not alone in this adventure!

Cheers....I am sure I will need all of you once I get the hose. Please comtinue to be there for me! I will be running to you!

Jen - a soon to be hoser!

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:20 pm

Welcome to the club,

Well now you know that not only fat men get sleep apnea. Post menopausal women have an equal chance as men.

yes you can get whatever cpap you choose. Choose an auto titrating unit such as the Puritan Bennett 420E. Resmed Spiritor Respironics RemStar auto with C-Flex. They are all good. The RemStar has the latest gadget called C-flex to make exhaleing easier.

The mask seems to be the key to successfull treatment. The Resmed line is a safe bet. Beware of Respironics masks.

Others may offer their favoirtes.

Hint: Save yourself a ton of money and purchase online from cpap.com
Even with insurance you will probably be ahead . Just do the math to be sure.

Beware of the Evil DMEs.

Cheers,

Chris

NeurosurgeryNP · Post by **NeurosurgeryNP** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:25 pm

Thanks for the info Chrisp. Jen

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:29 pm

Hi Jen,

Welcome!
The patients and families you treat are pretty lucky to have you there for them, with you armed with insights about this condition. But sorry that you should have to deal with this like the rest of us. Still, we look forward to hearing how you do. This forum has been such an important part of my life, in helping me deal with this. I am so grateful I found this place when I did, some three months ago. I still need it alot, and also need to know how others are dealing with this. As you've seen, there are plenty of kind people here ready and happy to offer information, support and encouragement. It's like a family (squabbling, sometimes, but always reassuring). ...... I am wishing you every success and hope you keep in touch with us.

Linda

NeurosurgeryNP · Post by **NeurosurgeryNP** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:32 pm

Thanks for the encouragement Linda. Talk to you soon, Jen

Liam1965 · Post by **Liam1965** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 9:09 pm

Ask for what you want. If they give you a hard time, don't take no for an answer.

Keep in mind, the magic rule: A prescription for CPAP is a prescription for CPAP. What we refer to on here as an Auto-PAP or APAP is actually an "Auto Titrating CPAP", aka a CPAP.

Therefore, if you can't get the doctor to specify APAP on the prescription, or you can't get a DME willing to sell you one, find another DME, or go to cpap.com. Any scrip with CPAP on it will be good enough.

And I concur with what's been said about masks. Start with the ResMed line. Seems to be the single most consistent line of good masks, with a few others (Puritan Bennett's Breeze among others) which occasionally stand out as well.

Oh, and welcome. We're all here if you need us.

Liam, quick with a joke, or to light up your smoke, but there's someplace that he'd rather be. Asleep.

Machine	Mask