Help with diagnostic & titration PSG / Do I have CSA?

[Pugsy]

How does this sound to everyone? Is it likely that I can not do well on a DeVilbiss machine but do better on an F&P machine? Could it just be that my condition varies? I guess I will find out this week.

Thanks for keeping us updated.

There are differences in the machines in regards to the algorithms. So..... maybe.... I think you are going to be a special case.. You bought the Intellipap? Insurance?

Titration good night could also be from the fact that the tech was there to fine tune things every little step of the way. This happens. People go home after the titration "had the best sleep I had in years and feel awesome",,, then come home and try to duplicate it and just can't. For me I can't remember when I felt worst than I did after the titration study. Horrible, horrible night. So anything was an improvement to that night.

At least you got some important questions answered.

[jcb1]

...I think you are going to be a special case.. You bought the Intellipap? Insurance?

I agree. I bet I have the same results with the F&P machine. I bought the Intelipap online and submitted the invoice to my insurance for out of network reimbursement. It would have still been cheaper to buy the Intelipap online and not even use my insurance than to go through my in network DME to buy the F&P machine (saved about $1000). If I need an ASV machine I will have to do a payment plan with the DME and that is really scary since those machines cost around $7000.

I have Blue Cross / Blue Shield PPO plan that pays 70% in network and 50% out of network for DME. All of the in network DMEs I checked had really high prices compared to online.

I will post again when I know more about how the F&P machine performs for me.

[Pugsy]

When checking insurance vs DME charges, find out what your insurance actually "allows" for the machine.
There is often a large adjustment off the starting price when insurance is involved and then you only have to worry about your portion of the "allowed" charge and not the initial billed amount. Might give you a better idea on what to expect with that high end machine cost. You could also probably sell the Intellipap and recoup some of your out of pocket expenses. Won't make much of a dent in that cost but at least some.

I do know that often there has to be documented "failures" at the other xpap modes before insurance companies want to shell out for that high dollar machine. It depends on the insurance company.

[jcb1]

So I've had several nights on the borrowed F&P Icon Auto and I'm feeling the same or worse when I wake up. The interesting thing is, so far my AHI numbers are lower. I was able to get a hold of the software and It looks like it is recording the same amount of events as the Intellipap but its calculating AI, HI and AHI differently. I haven't had a chance to really analyze it in depth yet and I still need to look into this more. I will post when I have figured more out. I just wanted to give a quick update that it seems to be providing the same or worse therapy with lower AHI stats. I still have no clue why I did feel more rested some mornings with the F&P machine.