After using for a week...Questions, Thoughts, Experiences

I was glad to ultimately get a good machine based on positive reviews i read here - the Resmed Autoset s9 - but it wasn't easy.

If i allowed my sleep center to corral me right where they wanted, i know i wouldn't have gotten Resmed, and doubtful i would have gotten a top Resperonics model either.

Something seems very wrong with Sleep Study $2500, then Titration study $2500, then the same people corralling you to their DME for another dip into the gravy train. All the way not sharing info, not discussing anything but leading you down the one path of taking you from one station to the next. Maybe i'm just a conspiracy theorist.

Anyway, my insurance only is "in-network" with 3 of the major/national providers, so i took my chances with Apria. From reading online i thought that i'd have the option to try a mask and return within 30 days. Not at this Apria retailer. Said they can't do it unless i can prove it's medically necessary that the mask chosen won't work. Seems like a big strike 1. I asked "what if it causes me irratation?", they said i'd have to come in and show the irritation before they would give another mask. Seems ridiculous. Question 1) what do you think?

I wanted the resmed N10 nasal mask, so they said "look like your head should be standard size" and gave it to me. After using it over the last week, i'm realizing to tighten it to fit my face, the velcro straps have to extend too far past the headgear to latch onto the headgear. Question 2) is this an obvious sign i have the wrong size? i'm jury rigging it to get it to work. before i go back to try to complain, i wanted to hear thoughts on this.

this morning i noticed wrinkle lines on my face where the mask was in contact. it looked a little frightful. question 3) does this mean too tight? does mask wearing lead to permanent lines?

i'm cautiously optimistic about the cpap making me feel better. i think i feel 10 years younger, and feel like i gained a foot of height. instead of spending the first few hours of my day achy, tired, hunched over, and struggling through the day with a body not running well, i feel like i've got my old body back from years ago and standing tall. anyone else ever feel this way? particularly feeling taller?

anyway, my next steps are to download the software mentioned on this site. i got my SD reader in mail today. i've changed my discipline around drinking before bed, as getting up and taking mask off and on again has been a pain, so i just stop drinking a few hours before bed now.

question 4) my machine is set on manual 4 pressure from dr. prescription. should i change the machine to the variable setting and let it give me more air if i ever need it?

thanks much!

dougndoug wrote:
Something seems very wrong with Sleep Study $2500, then Titration study $2500, then the same people corralling you to their DME for another dip into the gravy train. All the way not sharing info, not discussing anything but leading you down the one path of taking you from one station to the next. Maybe i'm just a conspiracy theorist.

Anyway, my insurance only is "in-network" with 3 of the major/national providers, so i took my chances with Apria. From reading online i thought that i'd have the option to try a mask and return within 30 days. Not at this Apria retailer. Said they can't do it unless i can prove it's medically necessary that the mask chosen won't work. Seems like a big strike 1. I asked "what if it causes me irratation?", they said i'd have to come in and show the irritation before they would give another mask. Seems ridiculous. Question 1) what do you think?

I wanted the resmed N10 nasal mask, so they said "look like your head should be standard size" and gave it to me. After using it over the last week, i'm realizing to tighten it to fit my face, the velcro straps have to extend too far past the headgear to latch onto the headgear. Question 2) is this an obvious sign i have the wrong size? i'm jury rigging it to get it to work. before i go back to try to complain, i wanted to hear thoughts on this.

this morning i noticed wrinkle lines on my face where the mask was in contact. it looked a little frightful. question 3) does this mean too tight? does mask wearing lead to permanent lines?

'

Yes, something seems very wrong with your Sleep Study costs but I don't know if there is anything you can do about that. My split-night study (1 session with diagnosis and titration) at Mayo Clinic Rochester in Jan. 2014 was $750! I don't believe that DMEs and clinics are permitted legally to be in collusion with each other. It is OK for the clinic to have an association with one particular DME but the clinic is required to give you a list of DMEs in your area for you to choose from.

Question 1 - their answer is BS! You have a right, in most situations, to exchange a mask within 30 days. If it causes you irritation you would have proof on your face anyway, but no, you don't actually have to prove that it's medically necessary. As a side note here, many people who have facial irritation or excessive leakage find that mask liners help with either of those things, and that leads to your question 3 - masks and straps can lead to lines on the face but not necessarily from being too tight... mask liners and strap pads will take care of those.

Karen at Pad-A-Cheek has nice mask liners and strap pads that many forum members use, go here: http://www.padacheek.com. You can also find RemZzz liners and strap pads at our forum host's website: https://www.cpap.com. Many DMEs carry RemZzzs and you can also find them at places like Amazon.

If you have to tighten the straps to make the mask fit your face, there is something wrong with the sizing or shape. You need your DME to give you a mask that fits your face when you are lying down. The cushion should take care of the seal, without the straps being particularly tight. Especially if your pressure is really at 4. It is medically necessary that your DME makes sure you have a mask that fits. Don't let them get away with the BS they have been giving you.

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