overwhelmed!

yankeeblue · Post by **yankeeblue** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:54 am

I've read the Collective Wisdom threads, I read alot of the threads here, and now I feel so overwhelmed! so many terms, so many machines and different masks! I know everyone has a fav, and everyone's opinion can be so varied. Where do I start to even begin to weed thru all the machines available? When it comes my time to decide, will I have the info to say no to the bad machines before it is too late?
I read on one thread three machines to say no to....because they do not have full data access. ok, that's one point to remember...I also have allergies, so Im told that I should probably go with the warm humidifers from the start.
Any other tips or warnings?
I have full insurance, so I want to go for the top of the line with the machine. I will worry about which mask after that! oye! so many decisions and choices!

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:04 am

Welcome to the forum.

Yes, there's a lot to digest.

Where are you in the "process"? Have you had a sleep study yet? Have you and the doctor gone over the sleep study report? (be sure to get a copy of the sleep study AND your prescription when that time comes)

Den

bap40 · Post by **bap40** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:09 am

I too did my research beforehand and had everything written down. One of the best machines out there is the Respironics M series...A/flex. It is the one machine that offers everything in one package. Unfortunatly, most DME's (these are the home care providers who actually hand out the machines) will not hand them out unless you have a prescription for that particular machine. My suggestion is to get a script for what you want and not to back down. I had to fire my first provider because they would not give me the machine I wanted. My new one gave it to me without any questions. So stick to your guns...

yankeeblue · Post by **yankeeblue** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:15 am

[quote="Wulfman"]Welcome to the forum.

Yes, there's a lot to digest.

Where are you in the "process"? Have you had a sleep study yet? Have you and the doctor gone over the sleep study report? (be sure to get a copy of the sleep study AND your prescription when that time comes)

Den

HI Den!
My sleep study is this thursday night. (apr. 17) Im just trying to do all my homework before hand and get the most knowledge I can, so I am prepared. I'm pretty sure that I will have apnea. I have been told for years, but I have always resisted it. I have all the signs. When they gave me a short quiz in the office, I answered yes to almost every question. She circled 17+Severe. So, with the information, I just want to be sure what I am getting into so that I am not sorry afterwards. I read that getting the prescription written just right is the key. I want to know what to tell my Dr before he writes it for the generic kind.
Thanks for your replies!

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:01 am

Welcome, Yankee!

You're headed in the right direction - getting the right machine is the first thing to focus on. I have the Respironics M-Series with Aflex; however, if you have severe apnea and need a high pressure, the doc may recommend a BiFlex - others can speak to that better than I can! When I asked sleep doc she first said they were going to give me a straight CPAP. I noted that I hoped to lose weight and she said that in that case, I'd be better off with the APAP so I could use a range of pressures. So that's what I got (with insurance) and luckily I had no argument from DME.

You are right that the amount of information can be overwhelming so just think of it like a salami ... you don't eat a whole salami, you eat it one slice at a time. Same with xPAP info - "eat the slice" that's most important at the time.

Just be sure to get a machine that can provide not only compliance data but also AHI, leak rate, etc.

Good luck!
Mindy

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:13 am

yankeeblue wrote:HI Den!
My sleep study is this thursday night. (apr. 17) Im just trying to do all my homework before hand and get the most knowledge I can, so I am prepared. I'm pretty sure that I will have apnea. I have been told for years, but I have always resisted it. I have all the signs. When they gave me a short quiz in the office, I answered yes to almost every question. She circled 17+Severe. So, with the information, I just want to be sure what I am getting into so that I am not sorry afterwards. I read that getting the prescription written just right is the key. I want to know what to tell my Dr before he writes it for the generic kind.
Thanks for your replies!

You've got a leg up on lots of people.....they usually find out they've gotten screwed......after-the-fact.
As far as the prescription goes, it depends on whether you're going to get your equipment through a local DME or from an online seller like CPAP.COM.
If you're going the "local" route, it's a good idea to get the doctor to write the prescription for precisely what you want. However, if you're going to buy online, a generic CPAP prescription will allow you to get an APAP/Auto. And, many insurance providers are willing to reimburse their insured (group members) for out-of-pocket purchases because they would consider you to be "in-network".
If the doctor doesn't want to write it the way you want it......he/she needs to be reminded about who is working for whom. They're getting your money and consequently they're working for YOU. (some of them tend to forget that)
Also, if you're going the "local" route, be sure to ask your insurance provider if there are multiple DMEs in the area that are in the plan. Then, shop around at each of them and get a feel for how they do business and will treat their customers......AND, what kind of equipment (and services) they have and are willing to provide. Do all this BEFORE you get your prescription. In addition, do NOT let your sleep doctor fax your prescription to ANYBODY. It's yours and it's good for "life".

By the way, I bypassed the locals and purchased all of my equipment from CPAP.COM. I haven't had ANY regrets.

Den

glh · Post by **glh** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:47 pm

yankeeblue,
Getting your doc to write a prescription for the right machine is important, but equally as important is finding the right mask. It's not unusual for users to experiment with different masks before making a decision. Make sure your DME gives you a trial period before buying. Insurance typically will only pay for one every 6 months or so. Of, if you buy from cpap.com, buy the option insurance.
Good Luck

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:22 pm

yankeeblue, you've been doing your homework for sure! Good for you.

I know what you mean by how overwhelming it is to be trying to sort through all the info, all the machines...what they do, what their names are...so many confusing "R" names in the mix.

About five years ago I dove into message boards, doing the same thing you're doing now. Trying to figure out what's what, and what should I get. Only difference was, I knew I'd be buying my equipment online (no insurance) and would not have to deal at all with any brick and mortar DME.

cpaptalk.com didn't exist back at the time I first started digging in to apnea message boards. You're lucky, in that you can get a LOT more specific information nowadays, from this great message board.

wulfman, mindy, and bap40 are giving you good advice.

And glh is absolutely right about the mask being a big key toward being able to doing this crazy new way of trying to go to sleep. Most of us could manage fine with just about any machine, even the simplest cpap. It's the mask that can be the most difficult piece of the puzzle to get right, so do inquire extensively regarding how many times you'd be able to swap masks in the first month or two, when you're checking out your local DMEs.

If your sleep study results in a "cpap" recommendation, I'd get one of these machines:

If I needed exhalation relief --
Respironics REMstar Auto with A-flex M series.
Encore Viewer software (DT3500 card reader.)

If I handled the pressure at the sleep study fine, and didn't need exhalation relief --
Puritan Bennett Goodknight 420E autopap.
Silverlining software (uses a download cable.)

If the sleep study results in a "bilevel" recommendation, I'd get this one:

Respironics BiPAP Auto with Bi-Flex (M series or the older model.)
Encore Viewer software (DT3500 card reader.)

Good luck! You're going to do very well indeed...the signs of success with "cpap" are already written all over you, thanks to the research you've already been doing.

Mask

Additional Comments: Also use Swift Nasal mask