Looking for opinions on my situation

[tarheelalum]

Hello. I was diagnosed with OSA about 3 weeks ago. I am having my titration study tomorrow night. I don't know how long its going to take for the doctor at the lab to give my sleep doctor the titration results, nor do I know how long its going to be for my next appointment with my sleep doctor to get the prescription. Even when I do get the prescription it might be a problem because my doctor apparently likes to prescribe brick cpap machines. And I've learned through reading, that is not what I want. So I've got a lot of indecision and possible wasted time in my near future as far as getting the care I need.

So yesterday I was at my orthopedic doc, he by the way was the one who suggested I get tested for OSA, and he asked about how the sleep apnea test went and I told him I indeed have OSA @ 30 AHI and O2 down to 70% at times. He said I shouldn't waste any more time with waiting for my sleep doctor to get their act together and I should buy a used apap machine in the meanwhile. And I was wondering what you all think about that? It might be a couple of months or a couple of weeks until I get a machine. Is 30 AHI and O2 down to 70% for 30 seconds at a time bad enough to act now? Or can I, should I, wait a couple of weeks or months more?

[chunkyfrog]

Since your orthopedic doc, as an MD, can write a prescription for "machine of patient's CHOICE,
ask him for the prescription for the machine you will USE.
Tear up the rx written by your brick-loving doc. Fire him if necessary.
There is no place in medicine for technical troglodytes.
Go ahead with buying the used APAP--backups are the best insurance.
All the bad stuff happens after hours or on the weekend--when providers are off.

[palerider]

Your orthopod has the right idea.

[Pugsy]

You can always get a used apap and it can be delegated to back up or travel status once you get your insurance provided machine once you jump through all those hoops and fight with the doctor about which machine you want.

We can even get you close after the first night with the optimal pressure settings should they drag their feet about getting you the results of the titration sleep study.

Only potential wrinkle might be if you are one of the very small minority that ends up with central apnea caused by cpap pressures and need a totally different machine.

BUT....you can always sell the apap here on the forum and if you buy it right you won't even lose any money if for some reason you end up needing a different machine.