Speaking from the perspective of physicians (not DMEs, I don't know anything about their business) ... Medicare reimbursement rarely even covers a doctor's overhead. They're not "happy" with Medicare rates, many of them simply feel an obligation, duty, or desire to serve as many patients as they can...

Not to hijack this thread, but why in the world are these non-data-capable machines even made? I just don't understand the shoddy state of CPAP therapy. Thank goodness my HMO requires Apria (ugh) to provide us with decent equipment (if so-so service). Getting cranky, better go to bed. And yes, DebMo...

As I understand it, the machine cannot detect any apnea you have while your mouth is open and the therapy air is escaping. So your AHI can be low, but you're still having apneas. That's where the leak rate comes in -- if it's high you may well be opening your mouth. Your leak rate of 35% seems high,...

There's no one "best" mask, it's very personal, so you'll need to give more info about what didn't work with the masks you tried. Can you say more about your experience?

No need to give up ... lots of folks have gotten on the right track with advice from the good folks here.

What is taping? What kind of tape? How? Where? How do you know if the pressure is right and how do you change it? I am only two weeks in, but the leaks are upsetting my husband and I'm not sleeping. You're more likely to get responses to questions if you register on the forum and then start a new t...

I've been using a Swift LT for Her and having problems with the pillows leaking. Was going to buy a Breeze mask to try it out, then saw this very interesting post. Do people prefer the Swift headgear to the Breeze? I'm just guessing that's why one would do this modification rather than just using th...

Heated hose fixed all rainout for me -- except for the night I mistakenly had the APAP's humidifier turned up all the way (and got rainout in the mask). I use a Swift LT (nasal pillows), humidifier on the lowest setting, room temperature around 60 degrees. An insulated hose cover had not worked for ...

Please considering seeing an opthalmologist (an M.D.) instead of an optometrist (not an M.D.), as well as a neurologist. I would never trust my eyes to an optometrist other than to get a prescription for glasses. Fwiw. Pam

Dry throat can mean you're breathing through your mouth, which means you're not getting therapy. Perhaps switch to a full-face or hybrid mask? Have you tried different masks? Also suggest you stop waiting for others to follow up with you. They might, they might not, but in the end managing your heal...

The way I have been able to think about this productively for myself is that I am pulling health and healing towards me . Does that make sense? If I took the attitude that somehow health was going to "find" me, or that other people need to know what works for me and they need to tell me, I'd still ...

Grateful to my HMO for moving faster than some. From primary care doc to referral to having my APAP was about 5 weeks. Would've been faster if I'd been able to clear my calendar to take advantage of earlier appointments. But my HMO starts with in-home sleep studies and titrates at home using APAP, s...

I came across this video showing one approach that might help. I don't have a big problem with swallowing air, but it happens that this is the way I sleep naturally. https://www.youtube.com/user/TheLankyLefty27#p/u/6/lL0GndbTrSE The fellow who did this video (he's an RT) has several others that I fo...

My sister is a neurologist and she says she's had people storm out of her office when she's recommended a sleep study. I guess those folks are in that "non-compliant" group ... or would prefer to comply by taking a pill.

... I'm wondering if it would help for you to go to just one more cardiologist at somewhere like the Cleveland Clinic (or another facility) whose specialty is heart issues. +1 on that and on seeing an eye doctor. Please. Learn to make them your partners, they really can be very helpful! And you may...

I'm sure the AHI etc is shown on the LCD, but I don't have that machine so I can't give you specific instructions. Do you have the manual? If not, a search on this board will find the instructions. When you say "it didn't work," it helps to have those numbers to start to analyze why. Good that the m...