Pressure Settings

[Joshkins]

I got my machine on Nov 20th. After first night it was like a miracle. But ever since then I faded back to being tired. The pressure was set at 4-20. A few weeks later I stopped using the useless sleepmapper and started monitoring my reports with sleepyhead. AHI was going back and forth between 3 and 8 range and that when I would be having events my pressure would still be down at 4 and let many events happen and when it would rise when there seem to be clusters it would soon drop back down to 4 to start the cycle all over again. So I started adjusting the pressure up. And over the period of 2 weeks have settled on the pressure lucky number 13. It seems to decrease all the events to between 0 - 0.2 Above 13 and I start seeing centrals. And I am back to feeling great again. On my prescription it has the pressure wrote as "To Be Determined" Should I set the machine back to 4-20 and wait for the doctor, or leave it at 13 and make an appointment and bring my printout results to him? Kinda feel like it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission in this situation.

[kaiasgram]

I got my machine on Nov 20th. After first night it was like a miracle. But ever since then I faded back to being tired. The pressure was set at 4-20. A few weeks later I stopped using the useless sleepmapper and started monitoring my reports with sleepyhead. AHI was going back and forth between 3 and 8 range and that when I would be having events my pressure would still be down at 4 and let many events happen and when it would rise when there seem to be clusters it would soon drop back down to 4 to start the cycle all over again. So I started adjusting the pressure up. And over the period of 2 weeks have settled on the pressure lucky number 13. It seems to decrease all the events to between 0 - 0.2 Above 13 and I start seeing centrals. And I am back to feeling great again. On my prescription it has the pressure wrote as "To Be Determined" Should I set the machine back to 4-20 and wait for the doctor, or leave it at 13 and make an appointment and bring my printout results to him? Kinda feel like it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission in this situation.

Well done Josh! I would do the same thing (in fact I did when I was starting out). It would be hard for the doc to argue with the success you're having.

[Joshkins]

Thanks! I just feel like I been handed this machine and told "Here you go, now leave me alone" I haven't seen the dr since September when he ordered a sleep study test.

[TangledHose]

Yes, way to go Josh......the 4 - 20 wide open setting is not the most efficient way to run an APAP (unless for a specific medical reason). Sounds to me you have things well in hand.....I bet the Dr will agree!

[Logies101]

Thanks! I just feel like I been handed this machine and told "Here you go, now leave me alone" I haven't seen the dr since September when he ordered a sleep study test.

Same here Joshkins, I think that's pretty typical from what I hear. And as far as the DME goes, it's like here's your machine, good luck, now goodbye and don't bother me anymore, unless you need to BUY something. Doctors appts every 3 months or so are ridiculous as some people just suffer from appt to appt. Sad situation. Thank God for this site where there are so many people helping each other out cause we're all in the same boat.
I don't see how the Doc can reprimand you at all, it's your health after all, not his.

[palerider]

I got my machine on Nov 20th. After first night it was like a miracle. But ever since then I faded back to being tired. The pressure was set at 4-20.

It's fine to set a machine to the default settings for a few nights to see what kind of pressures you need.

it should be criminally negligent of the doctor to LEAVE it that way for months.

you did the right thing.... and I don't see any reason to give that quack anymore money just to tell him you fixed his mistake.... but that's up to you.

[Cyndi5000]

i thought about doing the same thing since I could tell with the sleepmapper my AHI is all over the place and I dont want to undergi another sleep sudy to determine the correct pressure. Can ayone tell me how to do that with my CPAP. Manufacturers handbook doesnt address the issue.

[palerider]

i thought about doing the same thing since I could tell with the sleepmapper my AHI is all over the place and I dont want to undergi another sleep sudy to determine the correct pressure. Can ayone tell me how to do that with my CPAP. Manufacturers handbook doesnt address the issue.

it'd help if you told us what you had.... if you'll check your posts, you'll see there's no mention of what machine you have.

[Cyndi5000]

So sorry thought if it was in your profile it would appearin your posts. REMstar plus auto CPAP

[Joshkins]

thanks for the support y'all. Much appreciated!

Cyndi5000 are you sure your system is a plus. I was under the impression that they were bricks.

[Sleeprider]

I got my machine on Nov 20th. After first night it was like a miracle. But ever since then I faded back to being tired. The pressure was set at 4-20. A few weeks later I stopped using the useless sleepmapper and started monitoring my reports with sleepyhead. AHI was going back and forth between 3 and 8 range and that when I would be having events my pressure would still be down at 4 and let many events happen and when it would rise when there seem to be clusters it would soon drop back down to 4 to start the cycle all over again. So I started adjusting the pressure up. And over the period of 2 weeks have settled on the pressure lucky number 13. It seems to decrease all the events to between 0 - 0.2 Above 13 and I start seeing centrals. And I am back to feeling great again. On my prescription it has the pressure wrote as "To Be Determined" Should I set the machine back to 4-20 and wait for the doctor, or leave it at 13 and make an appointment and bring my printout results to him? Kinda feel like it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission in this situation.

Isn't this why doctors prescribe auto machines? Great story. As to the question, it appears you have everything worked out. I have no idea why you'd make an appointment to review this as you've found the correct solution. If there are problems that you can't solve on your own in the future, that would be the time to schedule and appointment. No apologies needed or asked for that I can see.

[OkyDoky]

Isn't this why doctors prescribe auto machines? Great story. As to the question, it appears you have everything worked out. I have no idea why you'd make an appointment to review this as you've found the correct solution. If there are problems that you can't solve on your own in the future, that would be the time to schedule and appointment. No apologies needed or asked for that I can see.

Sometimes insurance requires this face to face doctor meeting within 30 to 90 days after starting treatment for payment. My doctor looked at data 2 months old data sent by DME (when I had current with me) stated looks good, call when you need me.

[palerider]

So sorry thought if it was in your profile it would appearin your posts. REMstar plus auto CPAP

sometimes.

please remove the water tank, turn the machine over, and look for a REF number on the blower half.

what's that number?

[Joshkins]

Isn't this why doctors prescribe auto machines? Great story. As to the question, it appears you have everything worked out. I have no idea why you'd make an appointment to review this as you've found the correct solution. If there are problems that you can't solve on your own in the future, that would be the time to schedule and appointment. No apologies needed or asked for that I can see.

Sometimes insurance requires this face to face doctor meeting within 30 to 90 days after starting treatment for payment. My doctor looked at data 2 months old data sent by DME (when I had current with me) stated looks good, call when you need me.

I wish the insurance would say something along these lines to me because I didn't even get close to meeting my deductible last year and probably won't this year. They haven't paid a dime for any of this. So far I've have paid over 1k out of pocket. They got me a $200 discount on my home sleep study but they haven't paid anything. I have really grown to hate sickna insurance. They use to be great but not anymore.

[OkyDoky]

Isn't this why doctors prescribe auto machines? Great story. As to the question, it appears you have everything worked out. I have no idea why you'd make an appointment to review this as you've found the correct solution. If there are problems that you can't solve on your own in the future, that would be the time to schedule and appointment. No apologies needed or asked for that I can see.

Sometimes insurance requires this face to face doctor meeting within 30 to 90 days after starting treatment for payment. My doctor looked at data 2 months old data sent by DME (when I had current with me) stated looks good, call when you need me.

I wish the insurance would say something along these lines to me because I didn't even get close to meeting my deductible last year and probably won't this year. They haven't paid a dime for any of this. So far I've have paid over 1k out of pocket. They got me a $200 discount on my home sleep study but they haven't paid anything. I have really grown to hate sickna insurance. They use to be great but not anymore.

I would venture a guess most of us didn't know how this worked when we started. Especially with the communication running from doctor's office to DME to Ins. We're in a fog and listening to everything and nodding yes but very little sinks in and then when we have questions especially with the DME you are left on a central call center line for 30 to 45 minutes only to be promised a call that never is returned.
This forum is where I have learned how to be in control of and make decisions for my health and finances. Ask your Insurance for a list of what they will pay on CPAP and approved providers. Decide if it's more benefical to you to go through your Ins. to help meet your deductiable or if paying out of pocket is better.