What is the expected time of delivery after titration?

Christy223 · Post by **Christy223** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 10:23 pm

Of your CPAP machine?

Just wondering, my DH had his titration today and he feels GREAT!

I am just anxious about how long he has to go without the CPAP. It is so hard on him to work nights and not sleep well to boot and try to be a productive Husband and Father not to mention employee!

Thanks for your help!

See...Waiting on Hubby to come home from second sleep topic to see our story!

Christy

Wulfman... · Post by **Wulfman...** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 11:26 pm

Christy,

My sleep study was two years ago, but it took almost a month to get the results back and get an appointment with my sleep doc to get the prescription. Then, the clinic didn't get the results to my insurance provider and that took about another 10 days to get all that taken care of. I can speak from experience that THAT was the longest period of time to deal with. (third week in March to end of first week in May) You know you've got it (I found out the night of my sleep study) and you WANT to start therapy......but it seems like FOREVER to get there.

I really hope your hubby's timeframe is much shorter.

Best wishes,

Den

tuna · Post by **tuna** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 11:39 pm

I had to wait 3 weeks!

jennmary · Post by **jennmary** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 2:04 am

I think it really depends. For me it took over a week to get results (supposed to be 3 weeks but I called them every day)...then insurance to preauthorize the machine which took a week (would have taken longer but i called them every day) then DME took 2 more days (would have taken longer but I called them every day.) So after titration it was just over 2 weeks for me.....I did the split study.
I am not saying you SHOULD bug everyone until they hate you. lol But that is what I did and it still took more than 2 weeks. I have heard a lot of people say it took closer to 2 months. It really stinks when you wake up feeling so good and know that you wont be able to feel that way again until you get your set up. Others are right.....longest wait in the whole process. Even if you have been living with it for 20 years, the time waiting for the machine is horrible. I cried the night after my sleep study. I didnt want to go to sleep because I knew that my great day was going to be over and I would just wake up feeling crappy again.
The good news is that you know it is coming. You know that even if it takes 2 months (I pray it doesnt) that there is finally a light at the end of that tunnel. I will keep you in my thoughts and hope that he starts treatment soon.

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 10:30 am

Umm. I was about as annoying as jenmary! And it took me two weeks of pestering to get my machine. I waited a week after my titration, during which the sleep tech said after two hours (split study), "You are not breathing!"

So, after a week, I started calling the sleep lab every day. They said two weeks, but I waited one, that seemed like enough time to me. It took forever for them to get the results back from the people who analyze it, then the sleep doc had to look it over and write a report and scrip. That scrip had to be sent to my dme and then I had to make an appt with the dme to give me the machine.

I remember calling the dme on the day they received the scrip. I called 1st thing in the morning to tell them they would be getting it that day--and to call me as soon as they got it, which they didn't. Then I called early afternoon and they said they had it and could get me in the next day. I was like--if you have time to talk to me on the phone now, why can't I come NOW?! I live literally 3 minutes away. No, too busy. Tomorrow. It takes forever to do the paperwork.

Ug. It would have been just as easy to just go pick it and the crappy mask they gave me up because the little advice they gave me doesn't compare to what Ihave found here.

So of course I was freaked during that 2 weeks. I had no idea how severe things were, only the freaky sound of the tech's voice echoing in my head. Every night I went to bed worried about what was going to happen while I slept.

Hmm. I sound a bit negative, sorry. It is a frustrating waiting game!

Jen

Christy223 · Post by **Christy223** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 12:25 pm

You can BET I will be as annoying or even more annoying than both of you! I have waited so long to see my DH feel like he did yesterday!!

My question.....Our primary care physican ordered the sleep study....so I guess the results will go to him. My question is will he be able to do everything that a "sleep doc" can do to get the machine to us or will he have to refer us to another dr.?

So if the dme gives you a "crappy" mask can you go out and purchase your own mask from someone like on this web site?

Thanks for all of your help!!!

Christy223 · Post by **Christy223** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 12:28 pm

Thank you all for the replies! I post a question and then watch the hundreds of "views" while sitting on pins and needles waiting for someone to answer!!

Thanks Again!!!!

christinequilts · Post by **christinequilts** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 1:09 pm

It depends a lot on fast your sleep lab & doctor score the test & write the script...and get it transcribed & then how quickly your DME contacts your insurance and if there are any hangups on the insurance end if pre-approval is needed. My first go round, it took 9 days to score my titration, then I got a phone call regarding the results, which because they showed BiPAP ST didn't work for me for my severe CSA (Central Sleep Apnea), the person calling didn't think I needed to seen any time soon & wanted to schedule me to see the sleep doctor in 6-8 weeks. I conveniently didn't have my calender in front of me and since it was after 5pm, I asked if I call back the next day to schedule my follow up with my sleep doc Funny thing, I never did have to call the next day when someone who knew what they were doing looked at my chart- they called me & wanted me in the office that day. I couldn't do that, so I was seen the following day-lol. A couple days later I an appointment with the labs DME to pick up my trial BiPAP ST, which they were not charging me for, so we could see if BiPAP ST did help enough to warrant its use. When it finally got to the point were I had a script for my own machine & was dealing with regular DME, it only took a couple days for the paperwork to go through & get my own machine, though I wasn't in any big hurry as I had a machine to use temporarily.

Fast forward to this past Fall when I had my latest titration on the VPAP Adapt SV on a Thursday night, into Friday morning. My study had been scored by noon Friday, DME verbally contacted, full report & order faxed first thing Monday morning. And I could have picked my machine up that day if I had wanted to, but since it was the first time this particular location of my DME had dealt with the Adapt, they wanted the ResMed sales rep to help out & inservice them, so I had to wait from Monday until Wednesday. Not bad, considering it still hadn't been a full week since my titration.

REK · Post by **REK** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 1:17 pm

I have had my equipment for two years now. The RT went over the results of my sleep over that very morning. I had my equipment within five days. I also had an appointment with the sleep doctor two weeks after my sleep over and she went over the results more thoroughly. Six weeks after my first sleep over I had my second one during which I was switched from just a nasal mask to a full face mask (which I received within three days). I am still trying to find a comfortable and well fitting mask, however, I think I have settled on the new Liberty mask by ResMed, just have to wait for the insurance company to come up with the prescription code for it. Getting my replacements and original equipment was very positive and prompt for me.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 1:17 pm

Here's a small thread regarding getting started on cpap and what we would have done differently. You might find it useful.

viewtopic.php?t=17632&postdays=0&postor ... nt&start=0

I had to wait a few months for my machine, but only because I didn't bug anyone and had to wait to get in to see the sleep doctor. Once I had the prescription, I purchased online and submitted the bill to my insurance for reimbursement.

I only went online because my only local DME sucked (too small and rural Arkansas).

Get a pretty good idea of what equipment you want before you accept inferior products. That's a major step in the right direction.

In other words, read the forum and especially the YellowBulb section.

Good luck.

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 2:45 pm

My question.....Our primary care physican ordered the sleep study....so I guess the results will go to him. My question is will he be able to do everything that a "sleep doc" can do to get the machine to us or will he have to refer us to another dr.?

My ear-nose-throat doc ordered my sleep study and said I wouldn't need to see a sleep doc. I, however, think since my osa is severe, and my insurance covers it, that I need to see the specialist. My ent doesn't really know much about apnea other than the basics and the surgery uppp.

If your husbands osa is in the severe range, I would follow up with a sleep doc and also ask about whether seeing a sleep dentist for an oral appliance would help.

Keep learning. You are doing a great job of being supportive. I'm sure your husband is glad to have you in his court!

Jen

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 2:57 pm

I guess it may depend on how pushy you get.

After my study, the techs told me they would send a copy to my doc and he would get in touch with me. They told me the recommended pressure was 12.

I fibbed a bit and told him the doc said I could get the machine after the study.
It was about 7 AM and I told them to call the doc because I wanted it NOW.

Bottom line- I walked out from my study with the machine used in the study.
May not work with all- worked for moi.

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 3:22 pm

Wow, after reading this post I don't know whether to feel special or what. I had my sleep study and my MD who sent me to have the sleep study called the sleep doc and got a hand written copy of the report the next morning. Called me before lunch the next day and said come by my office and pick up your perscription, go get a machine and sleep under it tonight. Real shock! I went down and got the machine and had it set up by 3p.m. the day after the sleep study. Of course my AHI was 60.4, maybe that had something to do with it. Kinda thought he might lose a patient if he waited.

fire549 · Post by **fire549** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:56 pm

Got mine before I left the sleep center after a split-night study.

jtm · Post by **jtm** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 10:31 pm

The doc came to the lab the morning of my titration. He wrote the script, the RT had me choose a DME and faxed the info. The DME got the insurance approval and I stopped by and picked it up that day.