Quick questions

[IndySleeper]

I have my follow up with the sleep doctor next week and had a quick question. I was prescribed a pressure of 6 after my study/titration, but have since raised that to 8 myself (and thinking of raising higher still)... that wouldn't "void" my prescription and cause insurance problems would it? Of course the only way the doctor would know is if I told him... my machine captures next to no data.

On a completely unrelated note... do any of you with nasal masks replace your seals in between getting new masks? My seal got warped during a cleaning (I'll be more careful next time) and leaks right into my eye now but I have 6 weeks yet before I can get a replacement mask.

Thanks everyone!

[Sergey45]

I didn’t understand your question. You are in process of finding right combination of mask/machine/pressure/whatever for your sleep apnea treatment. Why it should cause insurance problem. Just because of changing pressure in you machine?
Sergey.
http://www.sleepapneasymptom.medgrip.com/tips.html

[Slinky]

Call or go into your DME supplier and request new pillows for your mask. They should replace them. The HCPCS code for replacement nasal pillows or nasal seals is A7033. Be sure to ask them how long it will take for you to receive them. (They might have to order them).

If they refuse, be aware that Medicare allows new nasal pillows or seals every 30 days if needed. Most insurance companies follow this Medicare replacement policy.

Check with your insurance company about your benefits. Ask them how often they will reimburse for nasal seals/pillows HCPCS code A7033. If they comply w/this then you have the amunition you need w/your local DME.

IF you have to pay out of pocket for them, find them at cpap.com and purchase them directly. cpap.com is speedy in shipping them out and you will have them in a matter of days.

You might also ask your insurance company if the insurance will reimburse you directly if you provide the paid invoice as proof of purchase and stress the price if you get them from cpap.com vs what your local DME wants to charge you. And if your DME has given you a long estimate of how soon they can provide them, let your insurance know that you can get them in a week or less from cpap.com

Plus be sure to let your sleep doctor know of any static or delay by your local DME in getting the needed parts for you!!

Good luck and God bless.

[SisterShotgun]

I would like to know just out of curiosity how to raise the pressure on my machine..Doesn't tell how in the manual

[oceanpearl]

I would like to know just out of curiosity how to raise the pressure on my machine..Doesn't tell how in the manual

Either we are too dumb to know that or the DME's won't make any money if we do it ourselves.
I could tell you how to do it if you were on a Remstar. I am sure that someone here knows your machine secret places.

[GaCRT]

Here's the thing with adjusting your own pressure. It might void out your warranty on the machine if the makers of the CPAP found out you had adjusted your pressure on your own instead of taking it in to your local DME or Dr. This is because it is something that is supposed to be done by a technician and not the user of the CPAP. Silly I know but it is because setting the pressure to high or to low can be dangerous to your health also. So I would suggest asking your doctor if the pressure can be raised and if he says sure then you are in the clear....if he says he needs another study to do this then I might would just say that's okay and leave it at that. He will be none the wiser that you have already changed the pressure. Just be careful and don't go up much from what it was set on to begin with.

As for the seals your DME should have replacments and if not ask and see if they can hold off billing see whereas you only have 6 weeks left untill you can get a new one. They should be able to hold off billing for 6 weeks and just let you get a new mask. I work for a small DME company and this is what we do.

[Goofproof]

It might void out your warranty on the machine if the makers of the CPAP found out you had adjusted your pressure on your own instead of taking it in to your local DME or Dr.

I work for a small DME company and this is what we do.

The first statement is FALSE.

The second is probably true.

If you change your pressure, without the data to know what your treatment is doing, it's best to limit the increase to 1 cm. It's better to concern yourself to stopping leaks, wheather it's mouthbreathing or mask leaks. Jim

[DreamStalker]

Talk about sounding silly

... about as silly as putting salt in the HH to make it smell like ocean air at the beach

Please do tell how exactly changing the pressure on a machine is so dangerous that it will void the warranty


BTW -
Where did you get your certificate GaCRT? ... I should start selling some of those on E-Bay.

[oceanpearl]

Quite frankly I would be afraid to play with the pressure setting unless I was able to download my statistics from the CPAP. I have been on CPAP for many years and never touched the pressure settings until I got a card reader and software.
With the card reader it is very easy to see that there is a point when raising the pressure will trigger APNEA events
In my opinion anyone should concentrate on mask and stopping the mouth breathing before you consider any other changes. I never thought that I was mouth breathing until coming to this forum.
I am nor a doctor or r/t, Just gained some good information from this forum over a few months.
The people here have helped raise the quality of my life considerably and I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH!!!

[rested gal]

Quite frankly I would be afraid to play with the pressure setting unless I was able to download my statistics from the CPAP.

I wouldn't be afraid to do that. In fact, here's a study where people were given brief instructions about how to change the pressure on the straight cpap machines issued to them and were told to experiment with the pressure (no software or downloads) at home, to see if they would be able to find an effective pressure. They were able to successfully "self-titrate."

Can Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Titrate Their Own Continuous Positive Airway Pressure?

In my opinion anyone should concentrate on mask and stopping the mouth breathing before you consider any other changes. I never thought that I was mouth breathing until coming to this forum.

Good point, that. Mask problems and mouth breathing issues (if not wearing a Full Face mask, or controlling the mouth leaks in other ways) are probably greater hindrances to getting good treatment than picking a "perfect" pressure.

[rested gal]

As for the seals your DME should have replacments and if not ask and see if they can hold off billing see whereas you only have 6 weeks left untill you can get a new one. They should be able to hold off billing for 6 weeks and just let you get a new mask. I work for a small DME company and this is what we do.

Good suggestion, GACRT. I was able to pick up a new mask for a lady here in town...she's on Medicare and was due for a new mask, but not new "headgear" yet. The DME fellow kindly did just what you're talking about...let her have the entire mask and billed for the headgear reimbursement later.

[GaCRT]

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:46 pm Post subject:

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Talk about sounding silly

... about as silly as putting salt in the HH to make it smell like ocean air at the beach

Please do tell how exactly changing the pressure on a machine is so dangerous that it will void the warranty


BTW -
Where did you get your certificate GaCRT? ... I should start selling some of those on E-Bay.

Goofproof Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:34 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GaCRT wrote:
It might void out your warranty on the machine if the makers of the CPAP found out you had adjusted your pressure on your own instead of taking it in to your local DME or Dr.

I work for a small DME company and this is what we do.


The first statement is FALSE.

The second is probably true.

If you change your pressure, without the data to know what your treatment is doing, it's best to limit the increase to 1 cm. It's better to concern yourself to stopping leaks, wheather it's mouthbreathing or mask leaks. Jim

_________________

Here is the reason I say that. Whenever I set up a new CPAP they always come with a provider quick set-up guide that says "IMPORTANT! Remove this guide before handing the device to the patient. Pressures should only be adjusted by qualified personnel." Or "Only medical professional should adjust pressure settings" That is quoted straight off of the booklets. That is why I said it MIGHt void your warrenty. No other reason.

[Wulfman...]

I would like to know just out of curiosity how to raise the pressure on my machine..Doesn't tell how in the manual

Here ya go!

Den



1. Accessing the Clinical Menu

Turn on the device and wait until the standby (RAMP/SETTLING) screen appears on the LCD.
At this stage you can adjust the ramp/settling time.

Press the DOWN and RIGHT keys simultaneously for 3 seconds to access the clinical menu.


2. Changing Options and Settings.

Press the LEFT (menu) key to access the SETTINGS menu screen.

Use the UP and DOWN keys to scroll through the RESULTS, OPTIONS and SERVICING menu screens.

From a menu screen, use the LEFT (enter) key to access the parameters in that menu.

Use the UP and DOWN keys to scroll through menu parameters.

Use the LEFT key to view or change each parameter setting as required.

Press the RIGHT (exit) key until you return to the standby (RAMP/SETTLING) screen.

[Patrick A]

I would like to know just out of curiosity how to raise the pressure on my machine..Doesn't tell how in the manual

Here ya go!

Den



1. Accessing the Clinical Menu

Turn on the device and wait until the standby (RAMP/SETTLING) screen appears on the LCD.
At this stage you can adjust the ramp/settling time.

Press the DOWN and RIGHT keys simultaneously for 3 seconds to access the clinical menu.


2. Changing Options and Settings.

Press the LEFT (menu) key to access the SETTINGS menu screen.

Use the UP and DOWN keys to scroll through the RESULTS, OPTIONS and SERVICING menu screens.

From a menu screen, use the LEFT (enter) key to access the parameters in that menu.

Use the UP and DOWN keys to scroll through menu parameters.

Use the LEFT key to view or change each parameter setting as required.

Press the RIGHT (exit) key until you return to the standby (RAMP/SETTLING) screen.