New member

Quixotic · Post by **Quixotic** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 3:46 pm

Just wanted to tell you all how nice it is to have found this website and to learn from you all. I have always had people tell me I had sleep apnea as well as showing all of the clasic symptoms and finally got a baseline sleep study a few years ago in an effort not to drive my wife away with my 'honking' as she calls it. The report came back with the word Severe circled alot. Well thanks to earplugs we are still married. After 4 years of distraction (getting married, to much work and adopting 2 kids) I am finally going in tonight to get a CPAP evaluation and prescription.

At this point I am not sure what type of machine I will end up with or even what my insurance will cover. Other CPAP using friends only advice is to make sure that I request a machine with a built-in humidification. Any other advice for my visit would be greatly appreciated.

Again, thanks to this website and to all of you sharing your thoughts and experiences.

k

snorzalot · Post by **snorzalot** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:02 pm

Welcome aboard!

This is a great forum for learning more about OSA and therapy.

Good luck with your compliance

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:17 pm

I hope you will go back and read up on this.
Many newbies post here and this has been addressed many times.

I hope you insist on an APAP.
Do not let the DME BS you- it will be convered and the advantages are that it is fas superior to plaain cpap.

Look into the billmyinsurance.com on this site,
Call them- they can be a great source of help and info.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 9:26 pm

Quixotic, your cpap using friends are telling you right. Do be sure to get a HEATED humidifier. Some people don't need or like heated humidification...in that case it doesn't have to be turned on or even connected to the machine. But, boy, if you DO need it, it needs to be right there ready to turn on from the get-go.

Quixotic · Post by **Quixotic** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 9:55 am

thanks for the info friends. I will keep it in mind.

Last night went fairly well. 4 different masks throughout the night to find one that did not leak much and a grumpy person helping me. The night seemed to go onfor a very long time. Hardest part may have been staying on my back for an entire night. Back hurt a bunch this morning.

All she would tell me when I was finished this morning was that I needed a pressure of 11 and that a DME would call me and bring a machine to my home to set me up.

I will research what I can of APAP machines. I have been impressed with what I have read about the Remstar Auto.

Thanks again for your advice!!

sleepylady · Post by **sleepylady** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 10:04 am

Quixotic,

I would make sure to talk to your doctor before the DME brings your equipment. If not, you will more than likely end up with a very simple basic CPAP machine. It's important if you are dealing with insurance to know many rent the machines for a certain length of time. For the humidifier they buy those generally right then and there. Sooo if the DME brings you a ResMed machine and then you later decide you need a Remstar, then you'd be buying a humidifier twice unless you get a nice DME who will take it back.

Now when talking to your doctor make sure they write the prescription for what you want. Some DME's can get stubborn on what equipment they want to give you. For instance my doctor wrote out a prescription for the Puritan Bennett 420e APAP. Well my DME tried to give me a ResMed APAP. I had decided on the P&B for many reasons, one being the size and second being the software. Since the DME doesn't normally carry the P&B machines it took a lot for me to get one. In the end I had to go to the top person at the DME company and say listen this is what I need and why. If I can't get it then I'll go somewhere else. Long and short is I got what I wanted, however, it took persistance.

Best of luck and let us know what you end up getting.

Melinda

Quixotic · Post by **Quixotic** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 3:30 pm

Thanks for the advice folks!

The other night at the sleep clinic went fairly well. The tried 4 different maskes on me throughout the night to find something that fit and did not leak. In the end I needed a pressure of 11cm.

In consideration of your comments concerning apap and heated humidification I sent a letter to my sleep doc and requested those things. I assume that made a difference because when the DME called those things were included in the script.

Went to the DME today at lunch to get my machine & mask. Respironics Remstar plus c-flex with heated humid. and the respironics comfort gel nasel mask. I liked the Flexfit 407 mask as it gave me an excelent seal against leaks but seemed to rub my notrils just a little.

I guess I need to get some dstilled water on the way home and begin this adventure.

ps: I just fell asleep while writing this response. My boss woke me up! (and that is not the first time)

SO thanks again! I certainly appreciate your comments and this forum.

k

hecate · Post by **hecate** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 3:38 pm

Quixotic wrote:Thanks for the advice folks!

...In consideration of your comments concerning apap and heated humidification I sent a letter to my sleep doc and requested those things. I assume that made a difference because when the DME called those things were included in the script.

Went to the DME today at lunch to get my machine & mask. Respironics Remstar plus c-flex with heated humid.

The Remstar plus is a CPAP not an APAP https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... ifier.html. For a respironics apap you would need a Remstar auto https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... ifier.html

Liz

Quixotic · Post by **Quixotic** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 3:43 pm

thanks for the clarification Liz. We shall see how it all works I guess. My DME lady seems to be pretty willing to work with me.

New member

New member

machines

long night

thanks

Re: thanks