I have a resmed compact s8 with humidifier and have looked at the clinical menu and cant see any data about my ahi. I am on a rental machine right now -- while I like it I would like to know if it is helping. I do know that I am not as tired as I was two weeks ago and that My energy level is increasing. I am starting to enjoy some of my old activities, such as cooking meals again.
I dont know if i need to ask but I would like to know the numbers.
What has been others experience with this?
How do I get a machine that gives me more data?
5 posts
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How do I get a machine that gives me more data?
Ahhh!!! The power of sleep!
data
Read the zillons of postings on this subject and insist on an APAP.
You will never know andthing about your condition beyond how you feel the nexr day.
Do not let the DME tell you an apap is not covered- it is- even with an order for cpap.
If they act stupid as most do, get your order and send to this site.
You are in charge, not the DME.
You will never know andthing about your condition beyond how you feel the nexr day.
Do not let the DME tell you an apap is not covered- it is- even with an order for cpap.
If they act stupid as most do, get your order and send to this site.
You are in charge, not the DME.
Heh - okay. Regardless of the previous post there are a number of ways to go about this.
Certainly an Auto Titrating CPAP (or APAP) is one possibility, however they are not typically a covered item and most assuredly require a prescription stating so if you go through a traditional provider. Online providers are not regulated (Whereas traditional vendors are) and therefore can provide an APAP without a specific prescription for one.
However, an APAP is also not your only choice and in fact if you simply want to get some data to see how effective your treatment is there are much easier choices.
There are many standard CPAP machines that can record information regarding your leaks, apnea events and so forth in addition to basic compliance data (Hours of use). Both ResMed and Respironics make units such as these and they are pretty common.
If you are interested in looking at this just to see how you are doing you could talk to your provider about borrowing a unit for a short time to check up and make sure things are working as they should.
If you wanted to pursue this long-term talk to your provider to see if this is something that could be worked out as a permanent swap.
It's not at all uncommon for us to switch a patient out through a couple different machines at first in an effort to find something that is both comfortable and satisfies both the patient and thier doctor. It's one of the benefits of doing the 3-month rental situation.
Essentially what it boils down to (in my opinion) is that it's just like every other facet of life and business you deal with. TALK to your provider. Establish a positive relationship with them and they may very well bend over backwards just to make you happy.
As far as APAPs go - they do also record the same data the other machines do. They are not typically covered by insurance as they are considered a luxury. If you do decide to pursue this route again talk to your provider. If you go through a traditional DME you will need to get a new prescription stating both "Autopap" and a specific pressure range. Do not be very supprised if this isn't an easy process. It's not something that the typical patient pursues. Most of us who are active on this board are tinkerers and people who really get into the nitty gritty of the treatment. This is not the average CPAP patient.
My personal advice to you would be to try to get your hands on a unit with data recording and see how your treatment is. If it's like the 95% of the people in the world (Myself included) you will find your standard CPAP treatment does wonders and your AHI is nice and low and you can move on with life!
mattman
P.S. - Two CPAPs with data recording. The RemStar is my favorite by the way!
http://remstarpromseries.respironics.com/
http://resmed.com/Shared/StaticFiles/s8 ... sh-row.pdf
Certainly an Auto Titrating CPAP (or APAP) is one possibility, however they are not typically a covered item and most assuredly require a prescription stating so if you go through a traditional provider. Online providers are not regulated (Whereas traditional vendors are) and therefore can provide an APAP without a specific prescription for one.
However, an APAP is also not your only choice and in fact if you simply want to get some data to see how effective your treatment is there are much easier choices.
There are many standard CPAP machines that can record information regarding your leaks, apnea events and so forth in addition to basic compliance data (Hours of use). Both ResMed and Respironics make units such as these and they are pretty common.
If you are interested in looking at this just to see how you are doing you could talk to your provider about borrowing a unit for a short time to check up and make sure things are working as they should.
If you wanted to pursue this long-term talk to your provider to see if this is something that could be worked out as a permanent swap.
It's not at all uncommon for us to switch a patient out through a couple different machines at first in an effort to find something that is both comfortable and satisfies both the patient and thier doctor. It's one of the benefits of doing the 3-month rental situation.
Essentially what it boils down to (in my opinion) is that it's just like every other facet of life and business you deal with. TALK to your provider. Establish a positive relationship with them and they may very well bend over backwards just to make you happy.
As far as APAPs go - they do also record the same data the other machines do. They are not typically covered by insurance as they are considered a luxury. If you do decide to pursue this route again talk to your provider. If you go through a traditional DME you will need to get a new prescription stating both "Autopap" and a specific pressure range. Do not be very supprised if this isn't an easy process. It's not something that the typical patient pursues. Most of us who are active on this board are tinkerers and people who really get into the nitty gritty of the treatment. This is not the average CPAP patient.
My personal advice to you would be to try to get your hands on a unit with data recording and see how your treatment is. If it's like the 95% of the people in the world (Myself included) you will find your standard CPAP treatment does wonders and your AHI is nice and low and you can move on with life!
mattman
P.S. - Two CPAPs with data recording. The RemStar is my favorite by the way!
http://remstarpromseries.respironics.com/
http://resmed.com/Shared/StaticFiles/s8 ... sh-row.pdf
Machine: REMstar Pro 2 C-Flex CPAP Machine
Masks: 1) ComfortGel Mask with Headgear
2) ComfortSelect Mask with Headgear
3) Swift
Humidifier: REMstar Heated Humidifier
Masks: 1) ComfortGel Mask with Headgear
2) ComfortSelect Mask with Headgear
3) Swift
Humidifier: REMstar Heated Humidifier
-
NightHawkeye
- Posts: 2431
- Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 11:55 am
- Location: Iowa - The Hawkeye State
Cookie246, the first thing you need to do is forget about insurance coverage, and forget about your local equipment provider, for a few minutes anyway. Instead, decide what sort of equipment you want. Here are the basic questions you need to ask:
1) Do you believe that monitoring and adjusting your treatment will be beneficial? (Hint: The sleep industry's batting record helping patients adjust to xPAP is below 500. Fewer than 50% of folks in this country are able to adapt to the therapy.)
2) Do you believe a machine which can adapt to changing pressure needs is warranted? (Hint: Everyone's pressure needs vary. Your pressure needs will change, too.)
If you conclude affirmatively for either or both of the above, then there are a couple more questions you need to answer.
3) What's your personal time worth, and what's your perseverance level for dealing with your DME and sleep doc? (Hint: They think a one-size-fits-all approach for xPAP therapy is acceptable. You'll have to convince them otherwise. Good luck.)
4) What is your total out-of-pocket expense if you get your desired equipment from a local provider vs an online provider? (Hint: Many folks have posted about belatedly concluding they would have been better off simply ordering the equipment online and getting on with their therapy the next day. Come to think of it, I don't recall ever reading a post from somebody who regretted buying online rather than going through their local providers.)
Hope this helps a little, Cookie246.
Regards,
Bill
1) Do you believe that monitoring and adjusting your treatment will be beneficial? (Hint: The sleep industry's batting record helping patients adjust to xPAP is below 500. Fewer than 50% of folks in this country are able to adapt to the therapy.)
2) Do you believe a machine which can adapt to changing pressure needs is warranted? (Hint: Everyone's pressure needs vary. Your pressure needs will change, too.)
If you conclude affirmatively for either or both of the above, then there are a couple more questions you need to answer.
3) What's your personal time worth, and what's your perseverance level for dealing with your DME and sleep doc? (Hint: They think a one-size-fits-all approach for xPAP therapy is acceptable. You'll have to convince them otherwise. Good luck.)
4) What is your total out-of-pocket expense if you get your desired equipment from a local provider vs an online provider? (Hint: Many folks have posted about belatedly concluding they would have been better off simply ordering the equipment online and getting on with their therapy the next day. Come to think of it, I don't recall ever reading a post from somebody who regretted buying online rather than going through their local providers.)
I agree with you mattman. If we were average CPAP patients, then more than half of us would be non-compliant with our therapy. Many folks come here not really wanting to tinker with their therapy, but out of necessity they learn how.mattman wrote:Most of us who are active on this board are tinkerers and people who really get into the nitty gritty of the treatment. This is not the average CPAP patient.
Hope this helps a little, Cookie246.
Regards,
Bill
You face an uphill battle to get an APAP. The insurance company's negotiated price for xPAP is often below the dealers cost for an APAP. You will need all the help you can get from your doctor and DME to work though this situation. In my case, the continous pressure from a CPAP caused major stomach discomfort. The variation in pressure with an APAP solved the problem. My doctor declared the APAP a medical necessity, the DME wanted to sell something and the insurance company knew I wouldn't give up. Somehow these three people worked it out. A team approach is probably your best hope to get an APAP. Then you have to convince the insurance company that it is cheaper to buy you the software than to pay for repeat visits to the doctor to download data from your machine.
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