I've been a newbie for 5 years…

[sleepyowl]

Greetings All,

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 5 years ago, and up until recently, I was one of those folks who failed at using my CPAP. I tried to use it a couple of nights when I first got my machine and got a horrible sinus infection. I never went back to it. Then, I tried it once again about a year ago - got to where I would wear the mask all night. Then I went on vacation, brought my machine but didn't use it, then I just stopped using it again when I got home. Fast forward to last week - I've gained a huge amount of weight and I have no energy to even move hardly. I tried it once again with a tenacious resolve to finally make this work, bought a new mask (the Wisp, I'd been using a full face and had bad claustrophobia issues) and I'm happy to say that this morning I finally woke up with my mask on. I didn't remove it in my sleep, and I feel amazing today. This forum has been invaluable for me. I have a couple of "newbie but not so newbie" questions:

1. I have my first machine from 5 years ago - the RemStar DS150. It's my understanding that there's no way to get good sleep data from it. Is that correct, or have folks found a way?

2. I have different insurance now, and the sleep study counts towards my $1900 deductible. I simply can't come up with the money now. Is it now common for sleep studies to count towards the deductible? Anyone have insurance where this isn't the case?

I promise to keep at it now. My new sky-high hypertension is a good motivator.

[ChicagoGranny]

I have different insurance now, and the sleep study counts towards my $1900 deductible. I simply can't come up with the money now.

Why would you need another sleep study?

Save your money for a data-capable machine. You can get some good deals on discontinued models and lightly used models.

With a good machine and free Sleepyhead software, you can optimize your machine settings.

Do you have a doctor who would write you a script for a machine? If not, there are ways around it.

[Wulfman...]

Greetings All,

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 5 years ago, and up until recently, I was one of those folks who failed at using my CPAP. I tried to use it a couple of nights when I first got my machine and got a horrible sinus infection. I never went back to it. Then, I tried it once again about a year ago - got to where I would wear the mask all night. Then I went on vacation, brought my machine but didn't use it, then I just stopped using it again when I got home. Fast forward to last week - I've gained a huge amount of weight and I have no energy to even move hardly. I tried it once again with a tenacious resolve to finally make this work, bought a new mask (the Wisp, I'd been using a full face and had bad claustrophobia issues) and I'm happy to say that this morning I finally woke up with my mask on. I didn't remove it in my sleep, and I feel amazing today. This forum has been invaluable for me. I have a couple of "newbie but not so newbie" questions:

1. I have my first machine from 5 years ago - the RemStar DS150. It's my understanding that there's no way to get good sleep data from it. Is that correct, or have folks found a way?

2. I have different insurance now, and the sleep study counts towards my $1900 deductible. I simply can't come up with the money now. Is it now common for sleep studies to count towards the deductible? Anyone have insurance where this isn't the case?

I promise to keep at it now. My new sky-high hypertension is a good motivator.

Welcome to the forum.

To answer your questions.......

1. Other than "hours used", your machine collects NO data.......PERIOD!
No way to get any data from it because there is none collected.

2. Many of us who either had high deductibles or expensive insurance plans have purchased our equipment out-of-pocket.
There are any number of avenues to do that which are cost effective.
Many online sellers like https://www.cpap.com
Specialty sellers for "lightly used" equipment like http://www.secondwindcpap.com
A number of forum members also have had some new or lightly used machines for sale.


Den

.

[sc0ttt]

1. DS150 is a brick. In fact, it's been called a sub-brick. No information for you.

2. Agreed, $1900 is a big hit. You might not need a new sleep study though - if you still have the old prescription you can probably use it to get a new machine. No telling how your insurance would view that, but you could use your prescription to buy a new deluxe auto titrating machine and learn to do it yourself. If you don't have the prescription, your doctor might give you a new one without a new study. And you could always buy a nice used machine without a script for even cheaper.

[sleepyowl]

Do you have a doctor who would write you a script for a machine? If not, there are ways around it.

[/quote]

I do. I'm going for my physical in May. My doc had ordered the sleep study about a year ago. I hope he's willing to write an RX for a new machine and updated supplies w/o a new study. Keeping fingers crossed.

[lilly747]

I have different insurance now, and the sleep study counts towards my $1900 deductible. I simply can't come up with the money now.

Why would you need another sleep study?

Save your money for a data-capable machine. You can get some good deals on discontinued models and lightly used models.

With a good machine and free Sleepyhead software, you can optimize your machine settings.

Do you have a doctor who would write you a script for a machine? If not, there are ways around it.

+1

grayghost4 is a forum member who many have bought from and are very happy with their purchase. I just bought from him, waiting shipment.

[ChicagoGranny]

I hope he's willing to write an RX for a new machine and updated supplies w/o a new study.

Make sure he understands that you don't want to pay $1900+ for a new sleep study. Or won't pay it.

I'm thinking you may be talking about your GP, and he may not be experienced in writing scripts for CPAP machines. You could ask him to write it for an APAP w/heated humidifier and heated hose. Machine settings factory default of 4 - 20 cm pressure.

Do you know what pressure your current machine is set to?

[sleepyowl]

Make sure he understands that you don't want to pay $1900+ for a new sleep study. Or won't pay it.

I'm thinking you may be talking about your GP, and he may not be experienced in writing scripts for CPAP machines. You could ask him to write it for an APAP w/heated humidifier and heated hose. Machine settings factory default of 4 - 20 cm pressure.

Do you know what pressure your current machine is set to?

That's really what I need. I think a heated hose would be amazing. I have COPD and think I might also benefit from a BiPap (?). My original prescription pressure was 9. I have it at 10 right now.

[palerider]

Make sure he understands that you don't want to pay $1900+ for a new sleep study. Or won't pay it.

I'm thinking you may be talking about your GP, and he may not be experienced in writing scripts for CPAP machines. You could ask him to write it for an APAP w/heated humidifier and heated hose. Machine settings factory default of 4 - 20 cm pressure.

Do you know what pressure your current machine is set to?

That's really what I need. I think a heated hose would be amazing. I have COPD and think I might also benefit from a BiPap (?). My original prescription pressure was 9. I have it at 10 right now.

if you have copd, then a resmed S9 vpap auto or aircurve 10 Vauto machine would be great, you can tune them to adjust pressure delivery so that it makes it easier for you to breath.

[sleepyowl]

if you have copd, then a resmed S9 vpap auto or aircurve 10 Vauto machine would be great, you can tune them to adjust pressure delivery so that it makes it easier for you to breath.

Good to know!

[robysue]

if you have copd, then a resmed S9 vpap auto or aircurve 10 Vauto machine would be great, you can tune them to adjust pressure delivery so that it makes it easier for you to breath.

Good to know!

A bi-level machine, such as the Resmed S9 VPAP Auto or the Resmed AirCurve 10 Auto, requires a script that specifies a bi-level or BiPAP or VPAP. A script for a plain old CPAP will not allow a DME to sell you a bi-level.

And it's a pretty rare doctor that will write a script for a bi-level machine without a titration study. And insurance won't likely pay for a bi-level unless there's some kind of letter of medical necessity provided by a doctor. And bilevel machines are approximately twice as expensive as the APAPs in the same model lines.

[sleepyowl]

Thanks everyone for the great information. Like I said, I'll find out in May what my doctor can/is willing to do, and it's good to have the information about where to purchase out-of-pocket. I made it through night two and I'm feeling great today.