virtual Sleep appointment today, random questions

[nicodan]

Background. I have been on CPAP therapy for 25 years come this summer. I do know a little about all this and have had to be my own advocate many times in this journey.


My last appointment with my Dr was 2.5 years and before that 4 years ago. (He was a new dr. for me 4 years ago as my old one had quit practicing.
At Both appointments he agreed my therapy was working and I didn't need to see him every year on the dot. However, he would like to see me every two years. My equipment was new 4 years ago.

So now its been 2.5, my machine broke,and I need a new RX to replace it and of course everything is closed. Virtual visit today.
He said he would send an RX but couldn't guarantee they would fill it because I hadn't had a sleep study in over 20 years. He was wrong, I told him to dig deeper as I had had two, since then. He told me this when I was a new patient 4 years ago, and that he could not find my old information ever tho the Dr that had ordered the two previous sleep studies had been in the same practice. I found them thru my PCP and got them sent over to him 4 years ago.
Today, he eventually found the last one was 2009. That is correct. He seems hung up on the fact that my original study 25 years ago never made to his office. That clinic was a grass roots effort at the time with lots of problems. I moved 3 states away less than a year later. I thought that sleep study report came with my chart, but no one can find it since then. Nothing I can do about that now.

So my question. How often do you all have a sleep study?


My stats everyday show me at 100 percent most of the time. No, I don't have the program on my computer like some of you do, but I do check the My
Air stats. I was overly disappointed the last time I saw my Dr. that his printout, that he was thrilled with, looked exactly like what I have at home.
2nd question: Do they not have better data coming off these machines than I can see at home?

He told me if I get sick with Covid ( randomly, not a topic we were discussing) that I would need to sleep in a different room from my husband. Yes, I knew that. But then he said it's because the CPAP machine can spread it...
3rd question..have you all heard that?

[LSAT]

I had my one and only sleep study when I started CPAP...12 years ago. Since then I have done everything by myself as far as changing machines,and masks as well as making adjustments and following my data. When I needed a new machine, my Primary care doctor wrote the prescription. I have been using the same DME for about 8 years.

[Respiration99]

So my question. How often do you all have a sleep study?

I had one in 2013. Doubt I'll ever get another one, but then our system here (Australia) is very different from yours.

2nd question: Do they not have better data coming off these machines than I can see at home?

Resmed have a program called AirView which allows docs to "manage" their patients. https://www.resmed.com/au/en/healthcare ... ystem.html

How much data they actually see is not really defined. I suspect it's not a lot more than MyAir gives. To get proper detailed data you need to use ResScan or Oscar - both of which require the use of an SD card in the machine. If you haven't tried Oscar you might be surprised at how much information it provides.

He told me if I get sick with Covid ( randomly, not a topic we were discussing) that I would need to sleep in a different room from my husband. Yes, I knew that. But then he said it's because the CPAP machine can spread it...
3rd question..have you all heard that?

Yes, there is widespread advice that CPAP can help spread the virus. This is because exhaled air (carrying in virus in tiny droplets) is expelled through the mask vents into the room. In hospital ventilators the expired air goes through a filter to ensure no nasties get out into the room air. Having said all that, the use of a CPAP has been known to stop the disease progressing in some cases. There is still an awful lot we don't now about this disease, and there just hasn't been the time or resources available to follow the usual research protocols to see how it really behaves.

[nanwilson]

Yes, I manage my own therapy and have for the over 10 years. My pulmonologist "suggested" I needed to have another sleep test a couple of years ago , I told him, no thanks but if he needed to see how well I was doing, I would bring in copies of my results for him to look at. Needless to say, he said no that was okay.... I guessed he needed to get a new mercedes, and I was part of his payment. Ha ha NO THANKS. The folks on here are very knowledgeable and are ready and willing to help anyone that needs it. When you have a question regarding your therapy, just ask........... and you won't be paying for a new mercedes or Lincoln

Cheers and stay safe
Nan

[chunkyfrog]

I see my sleep doc (or his PA) every year.
This is because Medicare and my supplement pays for all my supplies.
This year it was on Zoom.
Our cat declined to appear for the chat.
She has no problem sleeping--ANYWHERE.