Update - Good News, got my prescription for an Auto-CPAP!!!

I just wanted to post an update after my rants yesterday about the physician at the student health clinic not writing me a prescription for an Auto-CPAP. Well, I called my old physician who was my primary care doctor before I went back to grad school and they had an opening this morning at 8:30 a.m. ...I can't tell you how hard it is for me to be up at that time of day, but I made it there...he's only two blocks from my house. I rushed over to his office..ok, well walked the two blocks... armed with my information from cpap.com as well as some of the studies/presentations posted in response to my posts yesterday. I went in and told him I was ready to address my sleep apnea and that it was seriously affecting my quality of life. I told him that my insurance wouldn't cover anything to do with a sleep disorder, and in fact he should write the code for the office visit as something not related to my having a sleep disorder...since I have hypertension (likely due to my OSA) he put that code on the form... He questioned me a bit to see if I was in fact somewhat knowledgeable about my condition, treatment, and CPAPs and then gladly wrote me a prescription and wants to see me back in three months. He also gave me a lecture about being a bit overweight...but as I explained to him, when I wake up and feel refreshed it is easy for me to go throughout the day feeling slightly hungry and to actually exercise and watch what I eat, but when I wake up feeling like a trainwreck, I don't have the self control to keep myself in a slightly hungry state or exercise, etc. He understood I think. Also, I now remember that I really like this physician, he's good at what he does, and a friendly person as well...I'll likely go back to using him as my primary care physician instead of the student health center at the university even though its free there. In any case, I'm on my way to getting some treatment finally. It took me a long time to come to this point where I was ready to do something about it and also to be able to afford it...I'm really looking forward to getting on CPAP and hopefully responding to it. It's almost unimaginable to me that something as simple as getting a good nights sleep can have such debilitating effects on ones life, but it sure has with mine...

Thanks all for the info, suggestions,and words of encouragement yesterday...I was pretty frustrated then.

Tired-in-Tenn

Great news! Now get a good mask and you will be in good shape!

T 'n T

You made my day! Great to hear that our constant preaching about the benefits of the auto-pap have helped you to get a Doc to work with you. Your persistance has paid off.

Thanks for the update on your quest.

I am very happy for you!!

By the way, what part of Tenn are you from? My mother was born and raised in Johnson City.

We are looking forward to hearing how things go for you,
WELCOME WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE!!!

Way to go, TnT! You are another wonderful example of how great folks can be when they get the right information and want something enough! We seem to have an abundance of these kind of folks here. As well, we have others who are willing to share their own experience, information, hints, tips, even tricks that are so invaluable to others, especially the newbies who are as lost as I was a month ago.

Again, congratulations and welcome aboard! Best of luck in your treatment!

Good for you TnT. That is so great that you took charge and found a wonderful doctor that would help you get treatment with an autopap even when your insurance would not cover it.

I have been on autopap since July of 2004 and this wonderful group will answer all your questions and give you all the encouragement and support you need. Welcome aboard this crazy boat we are all in together.

Wishing you lots of ZZZZZZZZZZZ's with your new autopap.

Judy

Congratulations, TnT.

Well at least someone listens to me congrats. Hope u got software too. Very valuable tool.

very good news, good luck and keep us posted on how/when you're starting and managing with your apap. What mask/interface do you have? Be sure to get the htd humidifier, ok?

GZ

Tired-in-Tenn wrote:I just wanted to post an update after my rants yesterday about the physician at the student health clinic not writing me a prescription for an Auto-CPAP. Well, I called my old physician who was my primary care doctor before I went back to grad school and they had an opening this morning at 8:30 a.m. ...I can't tell you how hard it is for me to be up at that time of day, but I made it there...he's only two blocks from my house. I rushed over to his office..ok, well walked the two blocks... armed with my information from cpap.com as well as some of the studies/presentations posted in response to my posts yesterday. I went in and told him I was ready to address my sleep apnea and that it was seriously affecting my quality of life. I told him that my insurance wouldn't cover anything to do with a sleep disorder, and in fact he should write the code for the office visit as something not related to my having a sleep disorder...since I have hypertension (likely due to my OSA) he put that code on the form... He questioned me a bit to see if I was in fact somewhat knowledgeable about my condition, treatment, and CPAPs and then gladly wrote me a prescription and wants to see me back in three months. He also gave me a lecture about being a bit overweight...but as I explained to him, when I wake up and feel refreshed it is easy for me to go throughout the day feeling slightly hungry and to actually exercise and watch what I eat, but when I wake up feeling like a trainwreck, I don't have the self control to keep myself in a slightly hungry state or exercise, etc. He understood I think. Also, I now remember that I really like this physician, he's good at what he does, and a friendly person as well...I'll likely go back to using him as my primary care physician instead of the student health center at the university even though its free there. In any case, I'm on my way to getting some treatment finally. It took me a long time to come to this point where I was ready to do something about it and also to be able to afford it...I'm really looking forward to getting on CPAP and hopefully responding to it. It's almost unimaginable to me that something as simple as getting a good nights sleep can have such debilitating effects on ones life, but it sure has with mine...

Thanks all for the info, suggestions,and words of encouragement yesterday...I was pretty frustrated then.

Tired-in-Tenn

very good news, good luck and keep us posted on how/when you're starting and managing with your apap. What mask/interface do you have? Be sure to get the htd humidifier, ok?

GZ

Tired-in-Tenn wrote:I just wanted to post an update after my rants yesterday about the physician at the student health clinic not writing me a prescription for an Auto-CPAP. Well, I called my old physician who was my primary care doctor before I went back to grad school and they had an opening this morning at 8:30 a.m. ...I can't tell you how hard it is for me to be up at that time of day, but I made it there...he's only two blocks from my house. I rushed over to his office..ok, well walked the two blocks... armed with my information from cpap.com as well as some of the studies/presentations posted in response to my posts yesterday. I went in and told him I was ready to address my sleep apnea and that it was seriously affecting my quality of life. I told him that my insurance wouldn't cover anything to do with a sleep disorder, and in fact he should write the code for the office visit as something not related to my having a sleep disorder...since I have hypertension (likely due to my OSA) he put that code on the form... He questioned me a bit to see if I was in fact somewhat knowledgeable about my condition, treatment, and CPAPs and then gladly wrote me a prescription and wants to see me back in three months. He also gave me a lecture about being a bit overweight...but as I explained to him, when I wake up and feel refreshed it is easy for me to go throughout the day feeling slightly hungry and to actually exercise and watch what I eat, but when I wake up feeling like a trainwreck, I don't have the self control to keep myself in a slightly hungry state or exercise, etc. He understood I think. Also, I now remember that I really like this physician, he's good at what he does, and a friendly person as well...I'll likely go back to using him as my primary care physician instead of the student health center at the university even though its free there. In any case, I'm on my way to getting some treatment finally. It took me a long time to come to this point where I was ready to do something about it and also to be able to afford it...I'm really looking forward to getting on CPAP and hopefully responding to it. It's almost unimaginable to me that something as simple as getting a good nights sleep can have such debilitating effects on ones life, but it sure has with mine...

Thanks all for the info, suggestions,and words of encouragement yesterday...I was pretty frustrated then.

Tired-in-Tenn

Congratulations! I was so glad to read your post. I am new here, just found the site, and read your posts with almost as much frustration as you were feeling.

Good to know there are some reasonable and kind docs out there!

Hope all goes well.

Aw right! I think sometimes the family GP is our best source to listen to us and "feel our pain". My own is very interested in everything I am finding out and has even requested copies of my sleep reports/studies for my files. I was very surprised since she was the original referring physician that they didn't send her any.

I have been increadible lucky with my Doctor's. My physician asked me a few questions, referred me to an ENT specialist, who ordered the sleep study, got the diagnosis, prescribed an APAP (which I picked up today). It took about three months for all of this to take place.

Sleeping of my APAP, I am getting ready to go to bed and hope for a long awaited good nights sleep.

Scott

Mikesus wrote:Great news! Now get a good mask and you will be in good shape!

Hi Mikesus, I ordered the Mirage Activa Mask with my REMstar Auto C-Flex CPAP and also got the heated humidifier...I wanted to make sure I had the best chance of compliance over the long run, so decided to spring for the humidifier and the c-flex option on the APAP. I've read this is a good mask, but I guess everyone is different, so I'll have to see. cpap.com said I'm only two days shipping time away, so hopefully I'll get to start using it this weekend!

Tired-in-Tenn

Sleeping With The Enemy wrote:I am very happy for you!!

By the way, what part of Tenn are you from? My mother was born and raised in Johnson City.

We are looking forward to hearing how things go for you,
WELCOME WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE!!!

I'm in Knoxville, came here for grad school and love it! East Tennessee is a beautiful place to live...much better than the big city I was living in before I came here...

I'll definitely post updates on how things are going once I get everything and get it set up. I'm sure I'm going to have plenty of questions too!

Tired-in-Tenn