I have gotten suggestions, and seen a lot about the APAP. I also have seen that many doctors won't prescribe them. I have no idea if mine would or not. I am supposed to see him for the second time (first since therapy started), and I was wondering about the APAP. Is this something that everyone loves to have, or is it something that some patients find to be really helpful? I am wondering about all the benefits users on here have gotten using an APAP machine.
How do you go about talking to a doctor about this? My doctor is the only sleep doc in town. Anyways, what is so awesome about this particular type of machine?
Thanks in advance
Happy New Year
Chelle
Is APAP really the best way to go
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sapphireskye
- Posts: 121
- Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 2:22 pm
- Location: Colorado
- Contact:
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Bellcrest
Re: Is APAP really the best way to go
[quote="sapphireskye"] I am wondering about all the benefits users on here have gotten using an APAP machine.
How do you go about talking to a doctor about this? My doctor is the only sleep doc in town. Anyways, what is so awesome about this particular type of machine?
Thanks in advance
Happy New Year
Chelle
How do you go about talking to a doctor about this? My doctor is the only sleep doc in town. Anyways, what is so awesome about this particular type of machine?
Thanks in advance
Happy New Year
Chelle
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sapphireskye
- Posts: 121
- Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 2:22 pm
- Location: Colorado
- Contact:
Good luck Bellcrest
You are in the stages I am. Determined to make this work. I am not having the best go at it, but I am doing the best I can while waiting for a different mask. Now I have a sore throat, and hope to God I am not getting sick. I have been doing so well not getting sick, if I do get sick I will be very sad about it. Lets hope we both find a way to get this therapy to a comfortable level.
Praying
Happy New Year
Praying
Happy New Year
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johnnygoodman
- Posts: 784
- Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 5:13 pm
- Contact:
Greetings,
So you know, you can get an APAP with a CPAP prescription. If you have a CPAP prescription already, your doctor is not holding you back.
Here is the cpap.com Prescription FAQ:
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-faq/Prescriptions.html#133
I'm sorry to hear of your sickness. An APAP is not a magical answer, but many on this board believe that it is a better tool than strait CPAPs. I do too.
Good luck!
Johnny
So you know, you can get an APAP with a CPAP prescription. If you have a CPAP prescription already, your doctor is not holding you back.
Here is the cpap.com Prescription FAQ:
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-faq/Prescriptions.html#133
I'm sorry to hear of your sickness. An APAP is not a magical answer, but many on this board believe that it is a better tool than strait CPAPs. I do too.
Good luck!
Johnny
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Guest
It depends on what features you want, any special needs you may have, how much money you want to spend, and if you're interested in tracking your nightly results.
A CPAP is certainly adequate for most (with garden-variety OSA) and the least costly. If you want to see your nightly data, get a CPAP machine that offers the accompanying software, but make sure it gives more than just compliance information. If you'd like the additional features an APAP offers, but find you have an uninformed or misinformed doc who doesn't understand them, you may have to explain to him an APAP can be used either in CPAP-mode or auto-mode.
If you have an auto machine and use it in the auto mode, it can be set for a pressure range. The full range (as the machine arrives preset from the factory) is from 4-20cm. If you choose to narrow the range (which seems to give better results based on what the majority of users have been reporting here), you can set it to whatever range gives you the best treatment. There can be many variables occurring on any given night which may effect your pressure needs, such as sleeping position, mask choice, mask leaks, alcohol consumption, medications, illness, etc. An APAP used in auto-mode can address these variables. For example, if you were titrated at 10cm then maybe you'd want to try a range of 8-12. The auto machine will then adjust the pressure required as you are sleeping based upon your breathing patterns. It may use a pressure of 8 for just a few minutes, then maybe will go to 10 for 3 hours, then may go to 9 for 30 minutes, then may go to 11.... etc. Provided you have the software, you would examine your data on a nightly basis, experiment with a different set of ranges, and quickly discern the pressure range that results in the least apnea events. Within that pressure range, you are still getting only the pressure you NEED. If my range is set for 10-14 and I spend more of my night in the 10-12 range but occasionally go up to 13 or 14, I have never received more pressure than I required. This would not necessarily be true at a single set pressure, as there are times when it may be more than necessary, and times it may not be enough. It is important to note there are some users who conduct these self-titration experiments and discover they do, in fact, receive the best treatment from straight CPAP. Again, that's the beauty of the APAP; you can use it either way. Still others have discovered their titrated pressure was far different than what they actually needed. When you think about it, your titrated pressure was based on a few hours in a weird (to say the least) sleep environment. Through experimentation with your APAP, you would discover what works best for you.
You do not have to obtain your machine through your sleep doc/DME. You can obtain it online and get the machine of your choice (not the machine your sleep doc/DME decides to give you, which is often based on what will provide them with the largest profit margin). If you choose to buy online, you'll need a copy of the prescription for the machine. It is ideal for your doc to write a very generic prescription, not specifying any particular manufacturer or model, and not containing any expiration date. It is not necessary for the doctor to specify CPAP or APAP on the prescription. If you are only going to be ordering APAP machines, a pressure setting is not required on the prescription. It will come to you at 4-20. The prescription only requires a stated pressure level if you order a straight CPAP machine.
If you are doing this through insurance, (many don't; either they don't have insurance or they find it too big a hassle and not worth it because of the deductible), be sure your doc includes a heated humidifier in the prescription. (While the humidifier itself doesn't require a prescription, it helps push through the cost to your insurance company).
The insurance billing code for the machine is the same regardless of APAP or CPAP (E0601 NU) and the billing code for the heated humidifier is E0562 NU. You can contact www.billmyinsurance.com and they will work with you insurance company to determine your coverage.
You'll find www.cpap.com usually has the best prices and they always include the manual which has instructions for how to easily set up and operate your machine, as well as how to change the settings. If you get your machine from your sleep doc/DME they will cut open the box and remove the instructions before they give you your machine.
Perhaps the single greatest tool in XPAP therapy (CPAP or APAP) is the software that goes with your machine so you can see how you're doing. You no longer have to wonder if you're getting the best treatment possible, you no longer have to schedule a full followup PSG to check your results, you no longer have to make a drs. appt. every time you want to change your pressure, and you no longer have to pay exorbitant prices by making every move through a DME.
You will also no longer have to go back to your doctor for a new prescription if you'd like to try a different machine because cpap.com will keep the original (non-expiring) one on file.
A CPAP is certainly adequate for most (with garden-variety OSA) and the least costly. If you want to see your nightly data, get a CPAP machine that offers the accompanying software, but make sure it gives more than just compliance information. If you'd like the additional features an APAP offers, but find you have an uninformed or misinformed doc who doesn't understand them, you may have to explain to him an APAP can be used either in CPAP-mode or auto-mode.
If you have an auto machine and use it in the auto mode, it can be set for a pressure range. The full range (as the machine arrives preset from the factory) is from 4-20cm. If you choose to narrow the range (which seems to give better results based on what the majority of users have been reporting here), you can set it to whatever range gives you the best treatment. There can be many variables occurring on any given night which may effect your pressure needs, such as sleeping position, mask choice, mask leaks, alcohol consumption, medications, illness, etc. An APAP used in auto-mode can address these variables. For example, if you were titrated at 10cm then maybe you'd want to try a range of 8-12. The auto machine will then adjust the pressure required as you are sleeping based upon your breathing patterns. It may use a pressure of 8 for just a few minutes, then maybe will go to 10 for 3 hours, then may go to 9 for 30 minutes, then may go to 11.... etc. Provided you have the software, you would examine your data on a nightly basis, experiment with a different set of ranges, and quickly discern the pressure range that results in the least apnea events. Within that pressure range, you are still getting only the pressure you NEED. If my range is set for 10-14 and I spend more of my night in the 10-12 range but occasionally go up to 13 or 14, I have never received more pressure than I required. This would not necessarily be true at a single set pressure, as there are times when it may be more than necessary, and times it may not be enough. It is important to note there are some users who conduct these self-titration experiments and discover they do, in fact, receive the best treatment from straight CPAP. Again, that's the beauty of the APAP; you can use it either way. Still others have discovered their titrated pressure was far different than what they actually needed. When you think about it, your titrated pressure was based on a few hours in a weird (to say the least) sleep environment. Through experimentation with your APAP, you would discover what works best for you.
You do not have to obtain your machine through your sleep doc/DME. You can obtain it online and get the machine of your choice (not the machine your sleep doc/DME decides to give you, which is often based on what will provide them with the largest profit margin). If you choose to buy online, you'll need a copy of the prescription for the machine. It is ideal for your doc to write a very generic prescription, not specifying any particular manufacturer or model, and not containing any expiration date. It is not necessary for the doctor to specify CPAP or APAP on the prescription. If you are only going to be ordering APAP machines, a pressure setting is not required on the prescription. It will come to you at 4-20. The prescription only requires a stated pressure level if you order a straight CPAP machine.
If you are doing this through insurance, (many don't; either they don't have insurance or they find it too big a hassle and not worth it because of the deductible), be sure your doc includes a heated humidifier in the prescription. (While the humidifier itself doesn't require a prescription, it helps push through the cost to your insurance company).
The insurance billing code for the machine is the same regardless of APAP or CPAP (E0601 NU) and the billing code for the heated humidifier is E0562 NU. You can contact www.billmyinsurance.com and they will work with you insurance company to determine your coverage.
You'll find www.cpap.com usually has the best prices and they always include the manual which has instructions for how to easily set up and operate your machine, as well as how to change the settings. If you get your machine from your sleep doc/DME they will cut open the box and remove the instructions before they give you your machine.
Perhaps the single greatest tool in XPAP therapy (CPAP or APAP) is the software that goes with your machine so you can see how you're doing. You no longer have to wonder if you're getting the best treatment possible, you no longer have to schedule a full followup PSG to check your results, you no longer have to make a drs. appt. every time you want to change your pressure, and you no longer have to pay exorbitant prices by making every move through a DME.
You will also no longer have to go back to your doctor for a new prescription if you'd like to try a different machine because cpap.com will keep the original (non-expiring) one on file.
-
Guest
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sapphireskye
- Posts: 121
- Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 2:22 pm
- Location: Colorado
- Contact:
HEY GUYS THANKS
Thank you for all the info. It was helpful. I really hope to have the freedom soon to get whatever machine I so choose. That is why being in the beginning/tough stages this website is a Godsend. CPAP.com does have very good pricing too.
God bless
Chelle
God bless
Chelle
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sapphireskye
- Posts: 121
- Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 2:22 pm
- Location: Colorado
- Contact:
HEY GUYS THANKS
Thank you for all the info. It was helpful. I really hope to have the freedom soon to get whatever machine I so choose. That is why being in the beginning/tough stages this website is a Godsend. CPAP.com does have very good pricing too.
God bless
Chelle
God bless
Chelle
-
Guest
To me the choice can be simple.
If you don't have money/insurance issues (incl battles with DMEs as it seems for many folk) then your initial choice of an APAP is probably best.
Because they can nearly all run in CPAP/APAP mode the affordable AUTO offers the best of both approaches.
Getting the software adds another dimension. But I found that for myself, one brand of AUTO appeared to give far more accurate feedback than another (and therein lies a long story currently being discussed elsewhere).
What are facts about AUTOs are ...
1) The majority of AUTO users here appear to be very happy with them
2) From some comments here one might believe that they are the 'perfect' answer to xPAP therapy when in fact that is not always so. There are some 'issues' in how they behave & what they appear to report (i.e. search cpaptalk for 'runaway'), it should uncover the stories of several folks who have woken up with one brand of AUTO operating at maximum pressure and staying there.
3) AUTOs usually have as an option, good software for reporting nightly statistics. The caution re this data though is that there is evidence that what one AUTO may report as your AI HI AHI numbers, may be quite different
to what another AUTO reports (assuming the same conditions & events).
For most people this won't and shouldn't matter as the data is going to be relative & the really important measurement is energy levels & alertness during the daytime relative to what the AUTO reported during the night.
4) AUTOs have become popular devices for those among us who want to do their own home sleep studies. The results reported here seem to be as good as one might expect from a wired up sleep-in study.
Whatever xPAP device you settle on, the ultimate test is how you feel in terms of improved tiredness & alertness and *also* that you can sustain any improvements past the initial honeymoon period of therapy.
A point I make repeatedly re xPAP is that AUTOS were *primarily* invented to help provide exhalation relief to users, not as tinker toys for us experimenters. We are in the minority (by far) even though we love the chance to tinker.
The exhalation relief is by way of a lower starting pressure that the machine tries to stay at for as long as it can while also trying to determine how your breathing is behaving.
There are 2 very important reasons why exhalation relief is so important ...
1) Breathing out effort:
- doing so against high pressures can initially be painful (a couple of days chest pains is a common symptom)
- anyone who experiences regular nasal congestion & can't always control it with medication, finds the effort problematic
2) Mask Leaks:
- The mask that provides a perfect seal has not really been invented yet so the lower the cms the less frustration a user will experience with mask leaks etc:
- anyone with a full face mask that seals very well above 15 cms has either a perfect shaped face for their mask or has a miracle mask
The medical desire (ignoring the issues of DME's attitudes etc:) is to obtain maximum patient compliance *and* commitment. The xPAP device manufacturers desire (apart from running a profitable business) is solving the 2 most critical problems in xPAP therapy
1) Exhalation relief
2) Mask sealing
Cheers
DSM
BiLevels
If you don't have money/insurance issues (incl battles with DMEs as it seems for many folk) then your initial choice of an APAP is probably best.
Because they can nearly all run in CPAP/APAP mode the affordable AUTO offers the best of both approaches.
Getting the software adds another dimension. But I found that for myself, one brand of AUTO appeared to give far more accurate feedback than another (and therein lies a long story currently being discussed elsewhere).
What are facts about AUTOs are ...
1) The majority of AUTO users here appear to be very happy with them
2) From some comments here one might believe that they are the 'perfect' answer to xPAP therapy when in fact that is not always so. There are some 'issues' in how they behave & what they appear to report (i.e. search cpaptalk for 'runaway'), it should uncover the stories of several folks who have woken up with one brand of AUTO operating at maximum pressure and staying there.
3) AUTOs usually have as an option, good software for reporting nightly statistics. The caution re this data though is that there is evidence that what one AUTO may report as your AI HI AHI numbers, may be quite different
to what another AUTO reports (assuming the same conditions & events).
For most people this won't and shouldn't matter as the data is going to be relative & the really important measurement is energy levels & alertness during the daytime relative to what the AUTO reported during the night.
4) AUTOs have become popular devices for those among us who want to do their own home sleep studies. The results reported here seem to be as good as one might expect from a wired up sleep-in study.
Whatever xPAP device you settle on, the ultimate test is how you feel in terms of improved tiredness & alertness and *also* that you can sustain any improvements past the initial honeymoon period of therapy.
A point I make repeatedly re xPAP is that AUTOS were *primarily* invented to help provide exhalation relief to users, not as tinker toys for us experimenters. We are in the minority (by far) even though we love the chance to tinker.
The exhalation relief is by way of a lower starting pressure that the machine tries to stay at for as long as it can while also trying to determine how your breathing is behaving.
There are 2 very important reasons why exhalation relief is so important ...
1) Breathing out effort:
- doing so against high pressures can initially be painful (a couple of days chest pains is a common symptom)
- anyone who experiences regular nasal congestion & can't always control it with medication, finds the effort problematic
2) Mask Leaks:
- The mask that provides a perfect seal has not really been invented yet so the lower the cms the less frustration a user will experience with mask leaks etc:
- anyone with a full face mask that seals very well above 15 cms has either a perfect shaped face for their mask or has a miracle mask
The medical desire (ignoring the issues of DME's attitudes etc:) is to obtain maximum patient compliance *and* commitment. The xPAP device manufacturers desire (apart from running a profitable business) is solving the 2 most critical problems in xPAP therapy
1) Exhalation relief
2) Mask sealing
Cheers
DSM
BiLevels
### Sorry for the double post - was guested while refining the wording. Pls use below entry, I can't get at the one above.
To me this choice can be simple.
If you don't have money/insurance issues then your initial choice of an APAP is probably best because they can nearly all run in CPAP/APAP mode so an
affordable AUTO offers the best of both approaches.
Getting the software adds another dimension. But I found that for myself, one brand of AUTO appeared to give far more accurate feedback than another (and therein lies a long story currently being discussed elsewhere).
So people are perfectly happy to let their medical advisors analyse any sleep data gathered from a machine. Others are happy to read the data nightly off their machines (ResMed family). Others want to obtain all the software & then download and analyse their own data. All AUTOs will be able to allow the latter providing one obtains the required software. Not all CPAPs will provide the detailed data.
Facts about AUTOs are ...
1) The majority of AUTO users here appear to be very happy with them
2) From some comments here one might believe that they are the 'perfect' answer to xPAP therapy when in fact that is not always so. There are some 'issues' in how they behave & what they appear to report (i.e. search cpaptalk for 'runaway'), it should uncover the stories of several folks who have woken up with one brand of AUTO operating at maximum pressure and staying there. Not nice if one left the AUTO upper setting at 20 cms.
3) AUTOs usually have as an option, good software for reporting nightly statistics. The caution re this data though is that there is evidence that what one AUTO may report as your AI HI AHI numbers, may be quite different
to what another AUTO reports (assuming the same conditions & events).
For most people this won't and shouldn't matter as the data is going to be relative & the really important measurement is energy levels & alertness during the daytime relative to what the AUTO reported during the night.
4) AUTOs have become popular devices for those among us who want to do their own home sleep studies. The results reported here seem to be as good as one might expect from a wired up sleep-in study.
Whatever xPAP device you settle on, the ultimate test is how you feel in terms of improved tiredness & alertness and *also* that you can sustain any improvements past the initial honeymoon period of therapy.
A point I make repeatedly re xPAP is that AUTOS were *primarily* invented to help provide exhalation relief to users, not as tinker toys for us experimenters. We are in the minority (by far) even though we love the chance to tinker and analyse.
The exhalation relief is by way of a lower starting pressure that the machine tries to stay at for as long as it can while also trying to determine how your breathing is behaving.
There are 2 very important reasons why exhalation relief is so important ...
1) Breathing out effort:
- doing so against high pressures can initially be painful (a couple of days chest pains is a common symptom)
- anyone who experiences regular nasal congestion & can't always control it with medication, finds the effort problematic
- unhapiness with this can lead to abandoning therapy & thus non-compliance
2) Mask Leaks:
- The mask that provides a perfect seal has not really been invented yet so the lower the cms the less frustration a user will experience with mask leaks etc:
- anyone with a full face mask that seals very well above 15 cms has either a perfect shaped face for their mask or has a miracle mask
- Excessive mask leaks can become another reason why some people abandon therapy
The medical desire (ignoring the issues of DME's attitudes etc:) is to obtain maximum patient compliance *and* commitment and thus improved health.
The xPAP device manufacturers (machines & masks) desire apart from running a profitable business is delivering working solutions for xPAP therapy plus in most cases solving the 2 most critical problems in xPAP therapy
1) Exhalation relief
2) Mask sealing
Cheers
DSM
_________________
CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, DME, AHI, seal, auto, APAP
To me this choice can be simple.
If you don't have money/insurance issues then your initial choice of an APAP is probably best because they can nearly all run in CPAP/APAP mode so an
affordable AUTO offers the best of both approaches.
Getting the software adds another dimension. But I found that for myself, one brand of AUTO appeared to give far more accurate feedback than another (and therein lies a long story currently being discussed elsewhere).
So people are perfectly happy to let their medical advisors analyse any sleep data gathered from a machine. Others are happy to read the data nightly off their machines (ResMed family). Others want to obtain all the software & then download and analyse their own data. All AUTOs will be able to allow the latter providing one obtains the required software. Not all CPAPs will provide the detailed data.
Facts about AUTOs are ...
1) The majority of AUTO users here appear to be very happy with them
2) From some comments here one might believe that they are the 'perfect' answer to xPAP therapy when in fact that is not always so. There are some 'issues' in how they behave & what they appear to report (i.e. search cpaptalk for 'runaway'), it should uncover the stories of several folks who have woken up with one brand of AUTO operating at maximum pressure and staying there. Not nice if one left the AUTO upper setting at 20 cms.
3) AUTOs usually have as an option, good software for reporting nightly statistics. The caution re this data though is that there is evidence that what one AUTO may report as your AI HI AHI numbers, may be quite different
to what another AUTO reports (assuming the same conditions & events).
For most people this won't and shouldn't matter as the data is going to be relative & the really important measurement is energy levels & alertness during the daytime relative to what the AUTO reported during the night.
4) AUTOs have become popular devices for those among us who want to do their own home sleep studies. The results reported here seem to be as good as one might expect from a wired up sleep-in study.
Whatever xPAP device you settle on, the ultimate test is how you feel in terms of improved tiredness & alertness and *also* that you can sustain any improvements past the initial honeymoon period of therapy.
A point I make repeatedly re xPAP is that AUTOS were *primarily* invented to help provide exhalation relief to users, not as tinker toys for us experimenters. We are in the minority (by far) even though we love the chance to tinker and analyse.
The exhalation relief is by way of a lower starting pressure that the machine tries to stay at for as long as it can while also trying to determine how your breathing is behaving.
There are 2 very important reasons why exhalation relief is so important ...
1) Breathing out effort:
- doing so against high pressures can initially be painful (a couple of days chest pains is a common symptom)
- anyone who experiences regular nasal congestion & can't always control it with medication, finds the effort problematic
- unhapiness with this can lead to abandoning therapy & thus non-compliance
2) Mask Leaks:
- The mask that provides a perfect seal has not really been invented yet so the lower the cms the less frustration a user will experience with mask leaks etc:
- anyone with a full face mask that seals very well above 15 cms has either a perfect shaped face for their mask or has a miracle mask
- Excessive mask leaks can become another reason why some people abandon therapy
The medical desire (ignoring the issues of DME's attitudes etc:) is to obtain maximum patient compliance *and* commitment and thus improved health.
The xPAP device manufacturers (machines & masks) desire apart from running a profitable business is delivering working solutions for xPAP therapy plus in most cases solving the 2 most critical problems in xPAP therapy
1) Exhalation relief
2) Mask sealing
Cheers
DSM
_________________
CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, DME, AHI, seal, auto, APAP
xPAP and Quattro std mask (plus a pad-a-cheek anti-leak strap)
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Guest
Which brand of AUTO is the inaccurate one? I want to stay away from that one. Which brand of AUTO is the accurate one?dsm wrote:Getting the software adds another dimension. But I found that for myself, one brand of AUTO appeared to give far more accurate feedback than another (and therein lies a long story currently being discussed elsewhere).
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Colorado Jan
Three ideas sold me on the APAP machines:
1) The idea that APAP will be a machine that will be right for you for a long, long time. It is a multi-use machine. It can be used in basic CPAP mode and many find that mode is their best treatment. And it can be used for APAP mode. Many others find THIS is their best treatment.
2) And whichever group you fit in, APAP will be useful for "mini-sleep studies" if you have any changes in your medical condition, weight loss for example.......or even a cold, or allergies, or other conditions that may not have been there when you had your ONE NIGHT ONLY sleep study...
3) APAP machines have available software that is fun to tinker with. I'm not as into it as many are, but it is nice to be able to look at your stats every once in a while....some might even call it necessary to determine if your treatment is working properly.
One thing: It has been said repeatedly that you do not have to have a prescription that says APAP to get one. Well, that is only partially true. To get one from CPAP.com online, which is a very good way to go if you can, then you do not need the script to actually say APAP. BUT if you are going through a DME, they will often require a script that specifically says APAP on it. Yes, the insurance code is the same and their reimbursement is the same for it...which makes them want to give you a cheap CPAP machine unless your specific script for APAP makes then do otherwise.
Good luck!
Jan in Colo.
1) The idea that APAP will be a machine that will be right for you for a long, long time. It is a multi-use machine. It can be used in basic CPAP mode and many find that mode is their best treatment. And it can be used for APAP mode. Many others find THIS is their best treatment.
2) And whichever group you fit in, APAP will be useful for "mini-sleep studies" if you have any changes in your medical condition, weight loss for example.......or even a cold, or allergies, or other conditions that may not have been there when you had your ONE NIGHT ONLY sleep study...
3) APAP machines have available software that is fun to tinker with. I'm not as into it as many are, but it is nice to be able to look at your stats every once in a while....some might even call it necessary to determine if your treatment is working properly.
One thing: It has been said repeatedly that you do not have to have a prescription that says APAP to get one. Well, that is only partially true. To get one from CPAP.com online, which is a very good way to go if you can, then you do not need the script to actually say APAP. BUT if you are going through a DME, they will often require a script that specifically says APAP on it. Yes, the insurance code is the same and their reimbursement is the same for it...which makes them want to give you a cheap CPAP machine unless your specific script for APAP makes then do otherwise.
Good luck!
Jan in Colo.
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Guest
Re AUTOs.
I have stated above that anyone using an AUTO can work from the relative results (relative to how they feel in terms of alertness and energy levels) when looking at the stats the machines produce.
It is very clear that the leading AUTOs on the market are all quality machines (I have pulled almost all of them apart & can attest to their sophistication & how well manufactured the leaders are).
My issue came about when I was comparing one with another & found the HI AI & numbers were more or less reversed and the AHI 'numbers' completely on differing scales. This was important to me because I was wanting to identify all hypopnea events to see if they matched personal observations over a period of time. I had a specific reason for this and the result is that I believed I would solve a key therapy requirement for myself with a move to a BiLevel with Assisted Control (also known as Timed).
One machine's figures closely matched the personal observations & another machine's did not. This observation in no way diminished the ability of either machine to deliver xPAP therapy. The issue was in what the printout stats meant to me in relation to my research in regard to my therapy.
Because the observations were not what I can call scientific, it becomes a debateable point as to where the issue really lies.
I am not going to say any more on this than what I have said above.
Cheers
DSM
I have stated above that anyone using an AUTO can work from the relative results (relative to how they feel in terms of alertness and energy levels) when looking at the stats the machines produce.
It is very clear that the leading AUTOs on the market are all quality machines (I have pulled almost all of them apart & can attest to their sophistication & how well manufactured the leaders are).
My issue came about when I was comparing one with another & found the HI AI & numbers were more or less reversed and the AHI 'numbers' completely on differing scales. This was important to me because I was wanting to identify all hypopnea events to see if they matched personal observations over a period of time. I had a specific reason for this and the result is that I believed I would solve a key therapy requirement for myself with a move to a BiLevel with Assisted Control (also known as Timed).
One machine's figures closely matched the personal observations & another machine's did not. This observation in no way diminished the ability of either machine to deliver xPAP therapy. The issue was in what the printout stats meant to me in relation to my research in regard to my therapy.
Because the observations were not what I can call scientific, it becomes a debateable point as to where the issue really lies.
I am not going to say any more on this than what I have said above.
Cheers
DSM
xPAP and Quattro std mask (plus a pad-a-cheek anti-leak strap)
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rested gal
- Posts: 12883
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
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(bold emphasis, mine)dsm wrote:But I found that for myself, one brand of AUTO appeared to give far more accurate feedback than another (and therein lies a long story currently being discussed elsewhere).
To the Guest who is now worried that there is an "inaccurate", "inferior" autopap out there:
If you will look closely at the words I changed to bold in dsm's statement, he's talking about his personal impression...reflecting his understanding of how these machines report data.
dsm did not say one machine was inaccurate, nor did he say one machine was inferior...two things you asked about in your question, Guest. He's talking about his experience, his opinion, his understanding of what was going on, his interpretation of how two machines differed in their treatment reports for him.
If you'd like to see more thoughts regarding dsm's statement, here's a link to the "long story currently being discussed elsewhere" that he mentioned. A thread started by Jerry69:
Dec 24, 2005 subject: Doing my own sleep study - surprising results
I'd suggest that in addition to reading dsm's personal impressions in that thread, you take note of the posts by ozij, neversleeps, and especially those of a Guest whose posts begin with these words:
Page 6 -
"The seemingly different data reported by both machines is likely accurate in both cases."
Page 6 -
"One other question deals with either manufacturer's definition or cut-off point between scoring an obstructive sleep event as a hypopnea versus scoring that same obstructive sleep event as an apnea"
Page 7 -
"AutoPAPs are hit or miss. But absolutely nothing in this thread should lead us to believe that they miss with intolerable frequency across the SDB patient population. DSM's experience cannot be generalized."
Page 7 -
"DSM, a couple thoughts regarding some of your comments and observations:"
Page 8 -
"That lack of standardized definition exists throughout sleep science, DSM. Not just APAPs."
I'm not a doctor, nor am in the health care profession. However, it's my impression (my opinion, my belief) that MOST people who want to use an autopap do not have to worry at all about which brand to get. ANY autopap will give good treatment to MOST people. Not all people. MOST people.
I've used autopaps (and their software) from all three major manufacturers. I got equally good treatment from all of them. The data from each was different, as to be expected imho. The important thing -- the treatment I received -- was equally good from all three brands.
The odds are with ya, Guest! If you want an autopap, just choose whichever machine you want. Your chances are good that ANY autopap will treat you quite effectively.