talked to DME about apap

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 2:29 pm

My situation is a bit different, while I had a low pressure, I did not have any centrals. I do not know much about centrals other than what I have read on this forum. If you do a search for central sleep apnea there is information that should come up. From what I recall reading, there are machines that are used for centrals (bipap s/t maybe?).

TM

CollegeGirl · Post by **CollegeGirl** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 2:37 pm

I, too, started out with a titration of 6 cms. I couldn't even BREATHE at 6 cms, so I talked my sleep doc into upping it to 8, but he wouldn't up it further. I KNEW, though, that I hadn't slept at ALL during my titration study, so when I still wasn't feeling better after using CPAP for several months, I asked my GP for an APAP script and got it. Turns out I need a pressure of 11-12 - DOUBLE what I was originally titrated at.

If you think your titration study was flawed and your pressure is not high enough (are you still waking up not breathing, etc?), an APAP can definitely be useful.

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:09 pm

I kind of agree with College girl BUT BUT BUT work with your doctor on the issue of Central apneas. We are not medical professionals and you don't want to fool with central apneas.

I agree with Wulfman that you have one of the very cheapest (for the DME) units there. $329 I think without the humidifier.

I would want data, I would want to know at what pressure my central apneas were happening in the sleep study. I would want to know if I should be in BiPAP if my pressure needed to be raised due to those central apneas.

I think at this point you need to speak with your doctor about "what if my sleep study titration was wrong?" And ask the other questions on your centrals. And tell him you are not feeling better, would a machine with data collection be appropriate so you and he could figure out why you don't feel any better.

bairdbeth · Post by **bairdbeth** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:15 pm

I had to pay an upgrade fee, but got the M Series Pro instead of the Plus. It has been good to be able to keep track of more than just compliance detail. My DME was very accomodating and got me what I wanted. Just ask them, if you do want one to keep data. The worse they can say is "No" I'm very happy that I got the info here to ask for the upgrade!

Sneezie · Post by **Sneezie** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 8:13 pm

I don't know anything about my tiration study except that the next morning the tech gave me my machine, mask and told me he set it at 6. The info I gave was my initial sleep study. I don't have a report from my tiration study.

Sneezie · Post by **Sneezie** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 8:38 pm

so when I call my neurologist should I ask my machine to be changed to a bipap or apap. I am soo confused!

poopedknot · Post by **poopedknot** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:09 pm

Not to rain on your parade Sneezie but you really need to have the sleep study in hand, or at minimum access to a good knowledgable sleep practitioner with your study who you can discuss this with. There are pretty strict criteria to be met to qualify for a BiPap from most insurances or Medicare. I would suggest that you don't rush your decision until you have the study results with you. It appears that your current order, while maybe not optimal, is at least beneficial to some degree for the time being.

I would also suggest, if you have not already done so, that you visit
http://www.apneasupport.org/forum-4.html for a bit more insight from a somewhat different perspective. You might find some help there in the analysis of your test results.

Patience will pay you dividends I suspect.

Just my 2 cents worth.

John Galt · Post by **John Galt** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:27 pm

I, too, can attest to the power of taking control of your medical care. My first sleep study resulted in a pressure level of 7. So, they prescribed a very basic cpap that only tracked compliance, but didn't track my apnea episodes. I struggled for nearly a year. Then I had a second sleep study. This time they lowered my pressure to 6. I continued to struggle. I couldn't convince them to give me a different machine.

So, I purchased my own apap. I quickly learned that my AHI ranged between 10 to 20. I used the apap to discover my 90% level and found that I need to be at 11. I then contacted my sleep doctor and he concurred with this adjustment. My AHI is now running under 3, apparently for the first time in a year.

You can't always trust the results of an abbreviated sleep study that occurs in a laboratory setting under less than idea conditions. I was able to sleep only about 3 hours in my first study and just a bit longer in my second study. My home data is much more valid and reliable.

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 5:00 am

Hi. Just find it interesting that those numbers were not from your titration study. Which would mean the centrals present were not pressure induced. Which would make me wonder how many the titration study showed. I would ask my neuro doc, but whatever doc referred you for the sleep study in the first place should be willing to go over your test results thoroughly. Often docs give us the degree of detail on our results that we express an interest in. No need for great depth if only getting a blank stare back. Let them know you want to understand your study, not just know your results. Best wishes.

talked to DME about apap

so what should I get?

Centrals?