What to do next? Costs, benefits, unemployed

[itsjustme8]

The usual waking up not rested, snoring, working like a zombie and hitting a wall at 2pm. I'm a 55 year old male

1) I was diagnosed in 2010 with mild obstructive apnea (AHI=14) and began CPAP. I was 170lbs then
2) I gave my machine away to a brother-in-law who really had horrible apnea but no insurance
3) I do have a TAP3 oral appliance which has helped a bit. I'd give it a B-
3) I did an at-home study and AHI was 6. I'm 7 years older and now weigh 190lbs
4) Doctor is following insurance protocol and recommends an overnight study


Challenge: I've been unemployed since March and our new insurance has a $4000 deductible.

What would you do? If I bought a machine, wouldn't a doctor work with me to get pressure levels correct or do Imreally need another study?

[Guest]

What would you do? If I bought a machine, wouldn't a doctor work with me to get pressure levels correct or do Imreally need another study?

You've been a member since 2013. Spend some time searching, reading, and putting to work what you learn. You can do it ALL without a doc unless its complicated.

[kteague]

Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't have had so many sleep studies. There's always a possibility something has changed and a new study could be revealing, but for the usual OSA, with a good data capable machine one can successfully manage their own treatment. These days some providers and insurances find it acceptable to use an auto adjusting machine at home to find an effective pressure. Do you remember what pressure your old machine was set at? Unless you need higher pressures, a good used APAP will probably be cheaper than going through your insurance. If your pressure needs were say in the mid teens, you may want to consider a bilevel machine. Any direction you need can be found here.

[Julie]

We can help you get an inexpensive machine, but it would need to be one that collects data on an SD card so it can be read by Sleepyhead, free software most use here, and an Apap vs Cpap would be best (Apaps also do Cpap anyhow). If you want help with those, let us know.

[itsjustme8]

Thanks kteague. Sage advice. It's why I posted

I can't recall my pressure setting. I do recall my doctor suggesting I was "borderline". I guess I can't imagine that my apnea is getting better with being 7 years older and heavier

[itsjustme8]

Thanks Julie.

the machine I gave away was a Resmed S8 Escape. What do you think about getting a used machine through a site like secondwindcpap?

[RogerSC]

Thanks Julie.

the machine I gave away was a Resmed S8 Escape. What do you think about getting a used machine through a site like secondwindcpap?

I'm not Julie, but I bought a used S9 AutoSet through secondwindcpap and am perfectly satisfied with it. "Gently used" and cleaned up, their cpap's are fine. And 6 month warranty, as well.

[Okie bipap]

Check your local Craig's List. You can often find almost new machines listed for very reasonable prices. Only problem, is no warranty. Grayghost4, a trusted member of this forum also sell used machines. His prices are very reasonable, and he is very trustworthy.

[Julie]

Secondwind's great - have got things there and I'm in Canada. They really back up their stuff. But don't get any more 'Escape's because they don't give data.

[chronic]

Find a nice cheap auto pap with an sd card. Set the low pressure at about 10, set the high at 15. Look at your results for about a week or less and adjust it from there. Don't forget a nice mask of your choice. Probably will be your biggest problem.

[Janknitz]

Very important to get a full data APAP if you are going to do it yourself. Someone more "up" on it than I can tell you exactly which models are appropriate in ResMed and Respironics that will work well with the free open source Sleepyhead data application. You've been given some good sources above for where to look for gently used models. You can learn how to check run hours and what you should be looking for.

Nowadays you can buy complete masks, tubing and filters on Amazon without a prescriptions and for decent prices, or your primary care doctor can write a prescription so you can try masks on our hosts at cpap.com with return insurance until you find a good mask.