Question? About seeing your sleep doctor

[Dixie62]

After you finally start using your Cpap machine etc, how often should you be seeing the doctor to go over your toleration of the Cpap, checking to see if the machine's settings need to be changed etc?
Or do you just have to call yourself and make an appointment?
Thank you

[roster]

I have the software and no plans to see my doctor. If I ever did see her it would be for knowledge transfer, that is, transfer of my knowledge of my therapy from me to her. That's pretty much what she told me at our last meeting. "Keep doing what you are doing and come to see me every six months to let me know how you are doing." No thanks, I will put the $50 copay toward a dinner for my wife and myself.

That doesn't answer your question, but I am sure others will have some advice for you.

Regards,

[bdp522]

Never saw a sleep doctor, never will. My GP sees me once a year for a physical(gotta have it for the job), I bring him a copy of some reports from the software. He likes to get them to keep in the file, but never questions me about, or comments on them anymore. I get all the help I need right here.

Brenda

[5aces]

Fortunately,I was referred to a Doctor of Respirology that works out of the sleep clinic I attended.

When starting out with xpap,lack of follow up is a recipe for frustration and failure,particularily if you cannot benefit from its use for a number of reasons.

Even one problem can be a weak link in the chain needed to make xpap work.

Looking back over the past year since I started,I have been to see the doctor every 6-8 weeks and still have yet to put this treatment together successfully.

Some issues are greater than the support network you find on the internet and truly belong in the hands of a qualified doctor.

You must look after yourself and how you feel.

Remember with OSA there is no finish line,this is a chronic condition,not an acute event.

Pressure adjustments for changes such as weight may be necessary as you proceed.

Trust what you're feeling.

[Rustyolddude]

My sleep doc sched. a follow up appt. after titration, a little over 8 weeks down the road. I have to send my Data card to the DME/RT next Mon. (I've got a spare card & will save the data on the outgoing card before it gets mailed). My DMR/RT informed me that she will review the card data and make any adjustments to the pressure and if neccessary "program" a new Smartcard and send it out. According to her, she can reprogram my machine via the Smartcard in this manner. Don't quite know what the Doc. visit will be about other than expressing money from my wallet.

[carbonman]

Or do you just have to call yourself and make an appointment?
Thank you

There 'ya go.
I never saw the sleep doc.
PCP doesn't seem to be interested in cpap therapy.
More than willing to write Rx as I requested.
Not concerned w/compliance.
It's my life.....my responsibility.
Just right.

Through this group and the local library,
I am my own best therapist and am 24/7.
Very reasonable rates and my copays also go to dinner w/my wife.

[roster]

.............
Looking back over the past year since I started,I have been to see the doctor every 6-8 weeks and still have yet to put this treatment together successfully.

Some issues are greater than the support network you find on the internet and truly belong in the hands of a qualified doctor.

........

That gets the Contradiction of the Day Award.

5aces, why don't you start a new topic and lay out your condition and state of therapy in a comprehensive manner and see what members here can suggest? The exercise of just putting it to words may reveal some problems to you.

Regards,

[5aces]

Really,it takes time to treat sinus issues medically before moving on to surgical intervention.

Internet forums cannot treat ongoing sinus infections.

High BMI index must also be addressed in person.

Blood pressure and cardiac issues are also beyond the scope of a forum.

Privacy is also a concern for some of the more abashed and they really should seek individual consultation.

Some problems must be carefully measured and are not necessarily a reflection of the type of help sought out.

Certainly I am not the only member that has been adjusting for more than a year to this treatment,grateful for the help on here regarding compliance issues and problems.

Just a heads up for Dixie62 and I wish her all the success possible from here.

Heck,I didn't know anything about sinuses or the heart until I started cpap!

[roster]

OK 5aces, that puts it in a different perspective. You are regularly seeing a doctor for more issues that sleep apnea. That is likely necessary for you.

Someone who has only sleep apnea and visits a doctor that often is a different issue.

Good luck toward continued improvement.

[BlackSpinner]

I just saw the sleep doc after my titration and he said if I chose the pressure that the titration suggested and my AHI was almost 0 then I didn't have to come back. However if I didn't go with that level then I needed more visits.

You need to know your data - feeling good is not an indicator to trust. I feel great but my AHI is still above normal. Feeling great is very subjective. AHI is the real indicator. If that is well under 5 then you don't need to see the sleep doc again until you need a new prescription.

[Muse-Inc]

Sleep doc interview, PSG, pick up CPAP & get training, 60 days later to go over results of PSG & assess how I was doing & ck machine, 6 mos later to ck machine & order replacement mask, thereafter about every 6-8 months mostly to ck machine & order replacement masks (I was tough on OptiLife headgear) & assess therapy. I call now when I have problems related to CPAP therapy or breathing. We're communicating via phone right now to consult on making pressure changes to possibly eliminate wakeup problem I'm having and his request to get me on an APAP which ins keeps refusing to authorize (why they can deny my doc the right to treat me as he sees fit drives me nuts).

[rubymom]

I posted a similar question not too long ago after my first follow-up with the sleep doctor. I never got any instructions before or at my sleep study about seeing the doctor and the DME just contacted me, set me up and off I went. I figured I should follow up though. It was 4 months post sleep study and he wants to see me again in 4 more months. I didn't really see any value in going back. He read my card and identified some issues but had no real advice for me on how to improve anything. If I didn't have this forum, it would all be meaningless anyway. So I'm not sure I see the value in paying him in four months.

BUT I did recently receive a notice from my insurance company that I've been approved to essentially keep my machine for another four months. So I'm guessing that if I stopped seeing my doctor, those authorizations would stop as well? I need to contact the DME or the insurance company to understand my coverage better. I've read on here and my DME alluded to the fact that I would rent a machine for the first year and then it would be mine outright. My thought is perhaps stick with the doc for that first year then stop. I don't know what impact that would have, if any, on supplies though.

These are uncharted waters for me. Good luck to you!

[roster]

....... So I'm not sure I see the value in paying him in four months.

........

These are uncharted waters for me. Good luck to you!

Well the doc has charted many square miles of water. If you quit going to him, how is he going to make the payments on his yacht in order to continue charting waters?

[JimIllinois]

The insurance company won't continue to rent your machine from the DME if they don't think you are using it (or using it right). They depend on your doctor to certify that you are compliant, so keep him happy until the machine is paid off. Once they finish paying for it, it's yours and they aren't so persnickety.

DMEs like the continuing residual business of new masks and filters every six months, and insurance covers that cost as well, but it's the machine that's the big expense, and they want to make sure you're compliant.

[Dixie62]

Thank you all for your replies to my question, I really appreciate it.. I guess for now I will not worry about it.. I have no insurance so don't have to worry about them requiring me to see doc. As this is a borrowed machine,I looked and it has no data card. I will probably eventually buy a machine but will see how it goes for now.. The settings are now in my machine and just today I received my mask, tubing and filters. It took me a few minutes to figure out how or where to put the disposable filters.. When I do buy a machine I am not totally sure what kind.. I tested on and am now using a Resmed vantage s8 and it has a humidifier.
But I really do appreciate all the replies... It is really great to be able to come here and get such feedback..