the rest of my sleep study test (cont)

d.green · Post by **d.green** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:27 pm

jules wrote:Dan,

Were you diagnosed using a home study in the first place? If so what monitors did they use if you can remember?

Were you only put in the lab for the cpap part of the test?

What was the diagnosis you were give if you know that?

I was diagnosed in the lab. I have posted my test on here for everyone to see.

jules · Post by **jules** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:31 pm

Maybe I missed it but what I saw was the cpap / bipap part of the test. Did you post a part where on cpap or bipap was NOT used (diagnostic part)?

What happened for them to get you to the lab with the machine trial?

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:36 pm

d.green wrote:I am back from the doc, and I returned the CPAP. I did not get to speak with the doc, and for me to get a VPAP would cost me $1,700.00 out of pocket. My doc will not make the VPAP medically needed. Kaiser is not willing to here what I have to say. I was look for a new doc and get back on the hose asap.

Dan

Dan, your argument with your doctor should have been there is NO REM sleep on the PSG. Until that happens concluding you are effectively treated with CPAP is well Kaiser.

For the time being, I would get a Sandman Auto and bill Kaiser for out of pocket. Make sure you keep the copy of your PSG and if you have the CPAP prescription from Kaiser, you can use that script to order a Sandman Auto. If you get the software for the Sandman Auto it will tell you of that residual AHI how much is obstructive and how much is Central. I suspect it will do a much better job at treatment, you just have to use the reporting software to make sure it is not making the centrals show up worse.

So I think you were right in returning that machine. If you are going to spend out of pocket money, might as well get a machine that works for your SDB. For $589 you can get the Sandman:

https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/covid ... chine.html

If anything, you can deduct the amount from your annual deductible (if purchased in Jan).

d.green · Post by **d.green** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:07 pm

jules wrote:Maybe I missed it but what I saw was the cpap / bipap part of the test. Did you post a part where on cpap or bipap was NOT used (diagnostic part)?

What happened for them to get you to the lab with the machine trial?

I was diagnosed in June 0f 2007. Here is a copy of that report.

I hope everyone can read this.

jules · Post by **jules** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:29 pm

That was what I was looking for - no centrals that night recorded - the first half of the night was no CPAP. Now with this follow up testing you have lots of centrals - imho there was no point talking about all the centrals without knowing if there were centrals during the diagnosis.

You were diagnosed with OSA with an AHI of 20, given cpap and O2. I assume the results you had posted the last couple of days were the follow up they suggested.

Did you not stay on the cpap before?

d.green · Post by **d.green** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:46 pm

jules wrote:That was what I was looking for - no centrals that night recorded - the first half of the night was no CPAP. Now with this follow up testing you have lots of centrals - imho there was no point talking about all the centrals without knowing if there were centrals during the diagnosis.

You were diagnosed with OSA with an AHI of 20, given cpap and O2. I assume the results you had posted the last couple of days were the follow up they suggested.

Did you not stay on the cpap before?

A year ago I was seeing a real good doctor that was concerned about my health. I am now with kaiser and have had three in home stardust test. So. I asked for a new test because the stardust test showed a lot of centrals.

i

jules · Post by **jules** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:50 pm

And Kaiser is "blowing you off" it seems. Kaiser seems to like to do that.

Can you change insurance? Can you go back to this other doc and pay out of pocket?

You indicate you are in Denver area- is there anything else? I know National Jewish is there but can you get to someone there? Maybe someone else from the Denver area has leads. We used to have a tech from Denver who would chat but he hasn't been around for a few months.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:51 pm

Ha, Ozij!!! Your concern about the desaturations??? Did you notice that a PFT, ABG and T3H (can't read the last one) ... levels maybe?? I'm using Explorer but there's no magnifying glass in the corner and the one in the tool bar is for Search. I'm using Win XP.

Dan, did you ever have those recommended pulmonary function tests? The PFT is a lung function test done w/you in a clear plastic booth, the ABG is an arterial blood draw rather than venous blood draw and the T3H is a venous blood test for thyroid function.

Did you ever see an ENT for evaluation (Ear, Nose, Throat specialist)???

I never heard of the StarDust test. What is that?

d.green · Post by **d.green** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 4:01 pm

Slinky wrote:Ha, Ozij!!! Your concern about the desaturations??? Did you notice that a PFT, ABG and T3H (can't read the last one) ... levels maybe?? I'm using Explorer but there's no magnifying glass in the corner and the one in the tool bar is for Search. I'm using Win XP.

Dan, did you ever have those recommended pulmonary function tests? The PFT is a lung function test done w/you in a clear plastic booth, the ABG is an arterial blood draw rather than venous blood draw and the T3H is a venous blood test for thyroid function.

Did you ever see an ENT for evaluation (Ear, Nose, Throat specialist)???

I never heard of the StarDust test. What is that?

I will copy the Stardust test, but what it is is a in home sleep study test. I had a pft, but not in a booth, I had the one where you blow into a mouth piece and this hand held machine.

d.green · Post by **d.green** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 4:10 pm

Here is the stardust test, and the fpt states my lung age is 71.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 6:17 pm

Ah, yeah, the Spirometry. Its part of a full PFT (pulmonary function test) and often the only one done. Heck, its easier and cheaper. I have COPD and have a full PFT once a year but a Spirometry whenever indicated thru out the year.

Thanks for the explanation of what a StarDust test is. That June 2007 sleep test looks like it was a split night too. And like you didn't get much sleep that night!

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:13 pm

Jules, asking for the pre-titration PSG was a very good idea.

Slinky, very small looking glass with a plus in it and a precentage number next to it in one of the bottom corners. But you can also contrl+scroll on the mouse - independently.

Dan,
The doctor who cared about you said you needed oxygen in addition to cpap therapy, did you ever get it?

While you're fighting for better treatment, please take back your machine and use it - with oxygen - it is much better than nothing. Not enough, but better than nothing.

He also said that if all else failed, you should use 2 liters of oxygen.
Has your doc in Kaiser seen that original recommendation? I'd copy it, run a marker through the supplemental oxygen recommendation, and make everyone in the ciruit sees that.

You've got a fight before you - for your health, for good therapy, for the right machine - you need all the help you can get, even the small amount you were getting from your present machine.

One of our members with the worst breathing problems travelled all the way from California to Denver to be diagnosed in National Jewish hospital, you're very fortunate to live in Denver.

Use this, http://www.nationaljewish.org/about/peo ... index.aspx look for a doctor who specializes in sleep apnea.

No doctor is going to appreciate being told what kind of machine to give you but any good doctor who will see all the papers you've show us, and hear your continuing symptoms will realize you have a medical need for better treatment than what you are getting now. Don't trash what was done, don't tell the doctors "that was a bad titration, because I had no REM". They have all the necessary information for your complex condition in the present data.

There's more than one machine to treat complex sleep apnea - if that's what you have.

Summary of the steps I would take if I were in your place:

Get back the machine
Show first doc's recommendation for oxygen
Ask for the supplemental oxygen if I didn't have it
Study that vpap adaptsv video http://www.vpapadaptsv.com/ResMed.htm to make sure I understood what complex sleep apnea is
Contact National Jewish hospital in Denver http://www.nationaljewish.org/about/peo ... index.aspx look for the sleep center.

Good luck, and keep us posted.
O.

Editing typos....

StillAnotherGuest · Post by **StillAnotherGuest** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 5:23 am

Well, SAG has been trying to follow this thread, but he admittedly has great confusion.

Like what an

d.green wrote:fpt

was. Although SAG admits to having a little lexdysnia from time to time (yet, if SAG was truly lexdysneic, wouldn't he have immediately recognized that word?)

Dan, did you have supplemental oxygen during ANY of the studies?

Do you have the results of the PFT?

You live in Denver, huh? The "Mile High City", as it were? That's significant, gotta calculate that variable in, too.

SAG

d.green · Post by **d.green** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:15 am

jules wrote:And Kaiser is "blowing you off" it seems. Kaiser seems to like to do that.

Can you change insurance? Can you go back to this other doc and pay out of pocket?

You indicate you are in Denver area- is there anything else? I know National Jewish is there but can you get to someone there? Maybe someone else from the Denver area has leads. We used to have a tech from Denver who would chat but he hasn't been around for a few months.

I cannot change insurance at this time. I am on worker's comp, and my current ins in from my wife's job. I would love to go back to my old doc, but it cost to much to see him. I have a good doc now, but to get any CPAP machines I have to go to a pulmonary doc.

d.green · Post by **d.green** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:19 am

[quote="jules"]That was what I was looking for - no centrals that night recorded - the first half of the night was no CPAP. Now with this follow up testing you have lots of centrals - imho there was no point talking about all the centrals without knowing if there were centrals during the diagnosis.

You were diagnosed with OSA with an AHI of 20, given cpap and O2. I assume the results you had posted the last couple of days were the follow up they suggested.

Did you not stay on the cpap before?[/quote

No, the ins I had at the time only would let me rent the CPAP and oxygen, and that was costing about $700.00 a month. I found out I had sleep apena after I got hurt on the job and was and still am on worker's comp

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