Central apnea change in diagnosis

[yoflow]

Hello everyone,
My doctor retired and my new doctor changed my diagnosis from central, to obstructive sleep apnea, without any study. She does not seem to believe in use of Resmed 9 ASV machines, which I have used for the past six years. "Those machines are too expensive." Am I missing something? Have any of you had this experience? I am confused and concerned. Thank you for an insights.

[Julie]

Did you ask why she changed it?

Why do you want to continue with the older machine - there are newer ones out there, or do you not have insce?

[Miss Emerita]

If you have a copy of your original sleep study report, could you remove identifying information and post it here so the experts can take a look?

[Pugsy]

You don't earn a certain diagnosis without good cause and you don't go changing a diagnosis without good cause.

Just because a certain machine is expensive isn't a good cause.

Either you didn't ever have central apnea in the first place or your new doctor is an idiot and needs to be fired.

[yoflow]

Thank you all for the feedback.

What the new doctor said was that the previous doctor had not tried me long enough on the other machines. This is from my sleep study:

I was titrated to a high of ABPAP to a high of max IPAP 10, minEPAP 5, PS3 which due to pressure intolerance resulted in a CAI of 128.3 AHi 128.3 (7 total apneas of which 7 were central). qualifying of a diagnosis of complex sleep apnea, after which I, titrated with ASV Auto to a high settings of max PS 12, Min PS 4, Maz EPAP 15Min EPAP 8 which normalized airflow most of the night.

So, I think I qualified for ASV Auto therapy and have used it for the past six years. I do need an order for a new mask but think I shall dismiss this new doctor, otherwise.

If I had complex sleep apnea I probably still do, right? Thanks agian for the help folks, this stuff isn't easy!

[Pugsy]

Most likely you still have complex sleep apnea unless there was something odd causing the central apnea part and whatever it might have been just up and went away on its own. Not totally impossible but not very probable either.

I do know of a couple of people who had central apneas because of the pain medication they were on...serious heavy duty pain meds...and once they were able to get off the pain meds the centrals went away.

[yoflow]

Thanks again , I am not on any heavy pain medications, the new doctor did not want the office notes. She just wanted what was going on now. I am doing well but don't know that would be so, without my ASV machine.

I don't think she had any reason to change my diagnosis, other than, perhaps, a bias.

[palerider]

I do need an order for a new mask but think I shall dismiss this new doctor, otherwise.

If you're in the US, your old Rx may be fine for a new mask, plus, you can buy mask *parts* most anywhere, ebay, amazon, cpap.com without a Rx

[yoflow]

I am changing to a Amara View because my nose skin was breaking down. Thank you!