Do I have to wait for another sleep study? Sick and tired!!

[Itsjustme869]

I had a sleep study back in 2012 and was diagnosed with mild apnea. I tried CPAP but eventually gave my machine to a relative who was in really bad shape

The wait time in my area is really long and my study isn't until September. I'm sick of the constant daytime fatigue and naps where I feel awful.

I'm heavier than I was 5 years ago. Does any think it's possible to go back to my original sleep study doctors from 2012 to simply get back on CPAP without the study? Do machines now automatically adjust pressure levels or are they manually set?

[TASmart]

Depends on how the original prescription was written. Some here have permanent prescriptions, whereas mine expires annually. You need to get a copy of yours. As far as manual or auto adjust, there are both. I have not been a fan of the autos, but recently my AHI jumped from 2-3 to over 10. It was due to a medication and I have had to use the auto to retitrate my pressure from 10.8 to 14-16 cm h20.

[Goofproof]

You can buy a APAP, under the table or off the back of a truck. Jim

[Itsjustme869]

I forget....with a CPAP machine do you set the pressure levels or need the doctor to guide?

[big_dave]

I forget....with a CPAP machine do you set the pressure levels or need the doctor to guide?

Officially, a doctor needs to prescribe the pressure level. However, I lost my insurance and I had to do my own setup--it's not rocket science. You will need a fully data-capable machine, software to download the data such as Sleepyhead, ResScan, or Encore, and the motivation to make it work. An auto-adjusting APAP works best for doing your own setup but is not essential. Search the board to find out how other people have done their own setup.

[kteague]

In addition to what others have said, if using the same insurance, there is often a 5 year replacement schedule, but some require that the prior machine they paid for be nonfunctioning before replacement. With my last prescription I was told the insurance also required a doctor's statement saying I was benefiting from the treatment. New users may be required to meet compliance or usage guidlines. Consider based on your personal insurance situation whether the combined costs and time involved are worth going through your insurance. You can get a good slightly used machine online for sometimes less than deductible, co-pays etc. (Some board members and organizations have a good reputation on used machines.) A few days for shipping and you'd be up and running. Let us know how we can be of help however you move forward.

[Itsjustme869]

Such great advice from everyone! I'm going to press forward on Monday with the office of the conglomerate I'm dealing with. I just found out the practice I dealt with in 2012 is part of the same group now.

Seems pretty logical to not have to wait for another study especially as my insurance only covers in home.

I simply want to get in with it already!! I'm at bit mad at myself and my various doctors for not coming to this conclusion.

[Guest]

there is no such thing as an "auto-titrating" *whatever*-device!

Auto-CPAP (APAP) just lets the device decide what pressure is needed at the moment - between the porperly titrated boundaries! (and these boundaries ARE IMPORTANT!)
Depending on the brand and model there are some more settings like pressure relief, which is not just for comfort, the choosing of the proper algorithm (or the speed of pressure rises and drops) which an APAP will NEVER change!
(although if you get a data-capable machine the folks here can help you set it up and help you titrate the device yourself^^)

IHT are not better in terms of diagnostic as a sleep lab! - they are only more comfortable to the patient at the expense of much less data at a moch lower accuracy. Plain and simple SA (sleep Apna) can be "diagnosed" with that ... if it gets complicated like UARS for example and so on - IHT will never ever detect that!