Bring Sleepyhead data to appointment?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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Rainmom17
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Bring Sleepyhead data to appointment?

Post by Rainmom17 » Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:36 pm

Hi, I've got my first appt next week since starting cpap about a month ago. I have been 100% compliant, and my AHI is consistently under 5 now, so I'm sure they'll be happy with that. I did change the minimum pressure a couple of weeks ago (gradually went from 5 to 7), without consulting them. And my AHI consistency has come about since I changed the pressure. So, I'm wondering, in your experience, would it be good for me to arm myself with printed off Sleepyhead graphs to show why I made the pressure changes and that it has improved my therapy or do you think that would be unnecessary? I have no idea what my doctor will think, as the only time I've met him was for about 5 minutes at my original consultation.
Thanks for any input!

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chunkyfrog
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Re: Bring Sleepyhead data to appointment?

Post by chunkyfrog » Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:40 pm

I did.
And it turned my sleep doc into a data geek.

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Bertha d

Re: Bring Sleepyhead data to appointment?

Post by Bertha d » Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:48 pm

I did, and my doctor said "good for you" and encouraged me to keep it up.

D.H.
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Re: Bring Sleepyhead data to appointment?

Post by D.H. » Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:52 pm

My sleep doc says to bring the card from the machine to his office. Therefore, I bring that and he uses whatever software he's used to (not sure what he uses, or if there's even a consumer version of it).

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Pugsy
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Re: Bring Sleepyhead data to appointment?

Post by Pugsy » Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:04 pm

The doctor may or may not be aware of SleepyHead and may prefer Encore which is the official Respironics software.
He may even have Encore available in his office. Not a problem...SleepyHead will match up to what Encore might show but just presents it visually a little differently. Overall numbers will match though except maybe with a rounding up or down. SleepyHead goes to 2 decimal points and Encore only goes to 1 decimal point. Not enough of a difference to mean anything.

Or he may not even look at the detailed data all that much. You never know about these guys. Some will take the time to really go over things with you and others are happy to glance at hours of use and overall average AHI and that's it and you are on your way.
Some docs will give you a pat on the back for taking the initiative and some will slap your hands for it.

If you want Encore Pro we can get it for you but it's a real bitch to install and use and there's only a Windows version and the install rate is poor. Used to be one in five attempted installs would fail for some reason but I think it's higher now...and my last attempt to install it on this new laptop...failed on me and another person the very next day.

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Re: Bring Sleepyhead data to appointment?

Post by parzad » Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:06 pm

Most docs won't have the software unless they are associated with a DME, then you prob don't want to do business with them, I won't. So most docs will order a download from the DME weeks before your appt.

Let's face it, if you don't have the info to show how much you are using and the results - what is the point of the appt?

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Okie bipap
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Re: Bring Sleepyhead data to appointment?

Post by Okie bipap » Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:23 pm

My sleep doctor is at the lab where I had my last two sleep studies done. The sleep clinic, lab and associated DME are owned by the local healthplex. Our personal physician is also associated with the healthplex. They look at my breathing results since I was last in to see them. They are aware I have made changes to my therapy, but have said nothing since my apnea is well controlled. My AHI is under 2 about 90% of the time, and under 1 about 50% of the time.

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TedVPAP
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Re: Bring Sleepyhead data to appointment?

Post by TedVPAP » Tue Aug 22, 2017 9:12 pm

A few months ago my machine broke and they wouldn't give me a script to buy a new machine until I saw the doctor since it had been a few years since I last saw him. I was seeing him every 6 months. I made the appointment and immediately bought a machine off of Craig's List as I need therapy now, not 3 months from now. Today was the appointment. He asked me questions to update his files. Finally he asked about my treatment and whether I still needed a new machine. I told him how happy I was with the new machine I bought and the settings I settled on (my AHI is usually less than 1). He asked me what I paid. I brought my SD card with me and offered the data to him and he responded that he didn't have a card reader but the front desk might. When checking out I asked at the front desk and he said I would need to provide it to my DME. Then he asked to schedule an appointment in 6 months. I told him that I'll call when I need another appointment. What a racket.

Take control of managing your own treatment. View your doctor as a consultant. Find good consultants when you need one.

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or.slacker
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Re: Bring Sleepyhead data to appointment?

Post by or.slacker » Tue Aug 22, 2017 11:40 pm

I just had my first followup visit with my doc at 6 months. I had changed my settings on day 4, and skipped meeting with the doc until my insurance called them and told me I had to meet with a doctor or give the machine back. I showed up with sleepy head on my laptop. Explained what I changed and why. Doc was amazed, and used my plots instead of hers for our review. She like what I did, and we now have a great relationship. She told me to come back if I ever have an issue, or the insurance makes me, otherwise I'm good to self manage. And she gave me a another prescription for cpap.com in case I want to order more items. So my advice be honest and upfront with you doc, and remember they work for you.

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cby1
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Re: Bring Sleepyhead data to appointment?

Post by cby1 » Wed Aug 23, 2017 10:19 am

I did, and it convinced him that I need pressure > 20 cm., hence a BiPAP trial. I had to show him detailed graphs that showed clusters of RERAs and Hypopneas, and the corresponding high flow limitations with the pressure maxed at 20 cm at the same time - i.e., the CPAP was unable to adequately address the FL.

He's kind of research-oriented, so that helps - although I don't think he usually looks at things in the level of detail I showed him, he immediately recognized the issue.

I agree with a previous poster that it makes sense to get the "official" software for your machine as well - showing the analogous data/graphs from it will help to "validate" what Sleepyhead is showing - in my case, that was Resmed's ResScan software.

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Pap-Daddy

Re: Bring Sleepyhead data to appointment?

Post by Pap-Daddy » Wed Aug 23, 2017 11:40 am

TedVPAP wrote: I brought my SD card with me and offered the data to him and he responded that he didn't have a card reader but the front desk might. When checking out I asked at the front desk and he said I would need to provide it to my DME. Then he asked to schedule an appointment in 6 months. I told him that I'll call when I need another appointment. What a racket.
Software is just an additional expense most Drs won't have unless they own a sleep lab or DME - that is where the real racket is. There must be a billable code for insurance.
I just bring a copy - the dr always asks can I keep this to show? Certainly, Avg AHI .2 used 100%.
parzad wrote:Most docs won't have the software unless they are associated with a DME, then you prob don't want to do business with them, I won't. So most docs will order a download from the DME weeks before your appt.

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: Bring Sleepyhead data to appointment?

Post by ChicagoGranny » Wed Aug 23, 2017 11:58 am

Software is just an additional expense most Drs won't have unless they own a sleep lab or DME
The machine manufacturers provide their software free to sleep doctors. I think most doctors have software available and read their patients' cards as part of any visit.

Guest

Re: Bring Sleepyhead data to appointment?

Post by Guest » Wed Aug 23, 2017 3:57 pm

ChicagoGranny wrote:The machine manufacturers provide their software free to sleep doctors. I think most doctors have software available and read their patients' cards as part of any visit.
Thats two assumptions.

D.H.
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Re: Bring Sleepyhead data to appointment?

Post by D.H. » Wed Aug 23, 2017 6:11 pm

If the doctor requests that you bring in the card from your machine (as mine did), that's giveaway that he already uses appropriate software and won't need a printed (or printable) report.


Otherwise, call the office before the appointment and ask if they want you to bring the card in. If they say they don't need it or don't seem to know what you're talking about, then bring your printout.

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: Bring Sleepyhead data to appointment?

Post by ChicagoGranny » Wed Aug 23, 2017 6:30 pm

Guest wrote:
ChicagoGranny wrote:The machine manufacturers provide their software free to sleep doctors. I think most doctors have software available and read their patients' cards as part of any visit.
Thats two assumptions.
Here is a third one for you.

The machine manufacturers provide lunch free to sleep doctors.