CPAP FOR SENIORS

JudyAnn · Post by **JudyAnn** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 1:18 pm

I signed up with CPAP for Seniors.com and they got all my records from my doctor and I am ready to go now that I am an official "senior" and have Medicare. I still work full time and have my work insurance as a secondary insurance. So once the RedMed S-8 Auto comes out I am going to order it through them instead of the DME I had before which he and I did not "click" well. He would not give me the Auto Spirit that they tested me on and instead he gave me the Auto Respond. Said insurance companies won't cover very often because it was so expensive. My insurance company at the time would have, I found out later.

Has anyone else on this list signed up with them? Just curious.
I hope it works out.

Thanks,

Judy

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 1:45 pm

WTG, Judy! After I hang on just a very few more years, I'll be signing up there, too.

JudyAnn · Post by **JudyAnn** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 2:22 pm

Hey RG,

You know I turned 65 in January and I was quite happy about it. People laughed that I was so happy to turn 65 and I said "yes, it means I have made it this far and I am getting $$ for it too!"

I was thinking about going part-time in January but I might work 1 more year full-time and then go part-time (3 days a week). The extra $$ helps and I feel good (now that I have 2 brand new knees) but the drive (50 miles a day) in heavy traffic here in Atlanta, GA is getting to me.

Oh well, being 65 beats the alternative.

Judy

johnnygoodman · Post by **johnnygoodman** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 3:53 pm

felineperson3 · Post by **felineperson3** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 4:57 pm

I will be turning 65 next month (Sept.) and after seeing the site for Seniors here I will be filling out the form then, too. The real bonus in turning 65 for me will be to quit paying for private insurance at the tune of $800/month with a $5000 deductible which I was just informed when it's time to renew will increase to almost $1500/month. Isn't that ridiculous, but they know that you're between the rock and hard place since not having insurance would totally bankrupt one (at least me) with just one major illness in this day and age. With increasing in age that is almost a certainty. The old adage for me has been "I can't afford the high insurance premium and I can't afford not paying it.". There should be some bonus for these "Golden Years"!!
I agree that turning 65 means $$$, Judy. BTW, we lived in the Atlanta area from 1995-2001 and I certainly can empathize and sympathize with you about the traffic there.

JudyAnn · Post by **JudyAnn** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 7:58 am

Hi Carley,

Yes, I agree with you all the way. They certainly don't make it easier for the "old folks" do they? Even with Medicare, one needs a supplement Medi-Gap insurance to pay what Medicare does not pay, but at least that insurance is not as expensive as what you are paying now.

The people at CPAP for Seniors are very nice and helpful. They do all the work, all you do is fill out an authorization for them to get your medical records. They called me once they got my records from my doctor and I told them that when the new machine that I want comes out, I will call them and they said that would be fine. I hope it will all go well. Time will tell.

Happy pre-Birthday to you on your milestone BIRTHDAY. I hope you have a wonderful day. Treat yourself to something very special on that day. I did, I went and got a massage and a pedicure and my daughter, my sister and her family took me to my favorite restaurant.

So you lived here and know what the traffic is like. Horrible, horrible but I like Georgia so I guess I will stay. Better than Michigan where I was from. What state do you live in now?

Judy

JudyAnn · Post by **JudyAnn** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:01 am

Hey Johnny..........

I guess the face means you are happy that we are starting to use yet another service that you have set up on this wonderful forum????

Thanks for all your good work.

Judy

felineperson3 · Post by **felineperson3** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 9:33 am

Hi Judy,
When we lived in the Atlanta area, we lived in Buford, GA which is approx.
40 miles northeast of Atlanta just off Interstate 85. I loved Georgia with all it had to offer, but we just found it very difficult getting to it.
We now live in a very small town in Illinois--Mt. Carmel, which most people have not heard of. It is approx. 40 miles northwest of Evansville, IN. The pace is much slower here and the most backed up traffic only occurs when a train is passing through or 3 or 4 cars get backed up at a traffic light.
The town doesn't offer much other than quietness, but it really doesn't take long to get to Evansville which has good shopping, restaurants, entertainment, etc.
Thanks for the early Happy Birthday wishes!!! Sounds like you had a nice birthday. Our oldest child of four , a daughter that still lives in the Atlanta area, celebrated her 46th birthday yesterday. That alone makes ME feel old!

JudyAnn · Post by **JudyAnn** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 10:17 am

Hey Carley,

Your small town sounds wonderful. I am attracted to small towns too but a little warmer than Indiana *LOL* I love the town of Dahlonega, GA.

How long have you been diagnosed with SA? I diagnosed myself last July. Had all the symptoms and some scarey ones where I woke up with my heart beating 200 miles a minute. So I finally asked my doctor who had me fill out a 5 page questionnaire and then he called me the next day to set up my sleep test. That was a joke as I did not sleep the whole night (they said I slept 2 hours) and diagnosed me but I had to come back another night and sleep with the mask on. This time I got a sleeping pill to make me sleep. I guess not knowing what to expect the first time and being nervous about it, helped me not to sleep. *LOL*

What kind of CPAP do you use and mask. As you can see, I use Resmed Auto Respond and the Activa. I guess its good, its quiet and that is what I like. It was quite an adjustment though and it took me 6 weeks to finally keep the mask on. I don't like having this disorder but at least there is something out there to help us get some sleep now.

Judy

felineperson3 · Post by **felineperson3** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 1:10 pm

Hi Judy,
To answer a couple of questions--

How long have you been diagnosed with SA?

What kind of CPAP do you use and mask

I was officially diagnosed last October although I am sure I have had sleep apnea most of my life. I have been married 48 years and my husband says I have had it all that time. No physician ever bothered or was concerned enough to follow up on it even though we had made mention of it numerous times. When we were first married I scared Jim (my husband) many times with my cessation in breathing. He finally had just accepted it as a way of life with me since the doctors never voiced any concern. Finally my hypertension had reached the point even with 3 medications daily for it and after a heart catheterization disclosing that I had developed CAD that my primary physician that I have now decided it was time to have a Sleep Study. I was like you with being so wired up and nervous I could not sleep the first night and the second night wasn't much better with the mask since the technician had it so tight and I was so uncomfortable that I couldn't relax then either. Anyway, somehow through it all they obtained enough info to give them the data they were looking for and I was then prescribed this new way of sleeping. After trying numerous masks such as the Comfort Select, Nasal Aire, Ultra Mirage, and the Aura which all either leaked terribly or left sore areas and indentations in my face I have found the Breeze with the large pillows to be my interface of choice. I also have the Swift which I could use if my Breeze was out of commission and I also like the Swift except the Breeze is more comfortable for me since it doesn't cause me to choose which side of my face to connect the hose to and since I'm a side-sleeper and switch sides throughout the night that makes the Breeze my favorite so far. I use the RemStar Auto with the heated humidifier and I have the Encore Pro Software with the Smart Card reader to help me monitor my new sleep style. I have had lots of problems adapting to all of this, but I have been determined to give it my best try and look at the sleep paraphanelia as my friend. I have been able to subtract one blood pressure pill off of my daily medications so far and I am trying to exercise for an hour daily (20 min. on the treadmill, 20 min. on the XL glider and 20 minutes on the stationary bike). Except for emergency type situations I start my day now doing this while my morning coffee is cooling and even though many days I would prefer not doing it I force myself and then afterwards am glad I did. I have lost about 17 lbs. since January which is a very slow weight loss and discouraging at times, but I'm preservering and I would like to lose at least another 18 lbs. My metabolic rate must be extremely low now that I'm older because I never had this much difficulty losing weight in my younger years. I know that I do feel better from better quality sleep even with arousals from the equipment and it has helped my husband to sleep better since he doesn't hear me snoring and sees I am breathing now in a regular pattern. I'm just sorry it has taken most of my life to find the solution, but I also am thankful that even though treatment is late it is better than never.

I love the town of Dahlonega, GA.

We always enjoyed visiting Dahlonega(the Gold Mine Town), too.

felineperson3 · Post by **felineperson3** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 1:21 pm

Rather than edit my message which was too lengthy already I am putting a P.S. here:
I want to thank everyone responsible for their hard work and time in maintaining this forum. It has afforded so much support and encouragement to me and by reading the posts of others I was able to realize that I was not alone in my struggles with this new way of having to sleep. Without stumbling onto this forum I might have given up.
Again, thanks one and all and God bless!

Flower51 · Post by **Flower51** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 2:48 pm

Hi ladies...I hope you don't mind this "young whipper snapper" peeking in ...I am only 53 after all. Just to tell you I'm enjoying this thread...a small town sounds great to me. I've lived in a city most of my life and there's just so much boom box bass one can handle rattling the windows in our brick house!
I really enjoyed your story re the changes you've made and exercising, etc...You might want to drop into post on another thread on this board re same....I'm trying to remember the name of the thread...something about "Too Lazy to Lose Weight" ???? You'd be an inspiration there. Terry

JudyAnn · Post by **JudyAnn** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 2:52 pm

Hi Casey,

Thank God you finally found out what was wrong. I think that years ago, they did not know that much about SA. I have the high BP too and was on 5 pills but since being on the machine (my new "forced" friend) I am down to 3 now and if I could just lose this extra (a lot) weight, I know it would go down evern further.

That is great that you are doing all of that exercise. I had a double knee replacement 4 months ago and I need to get going so I am going to use my apartment's treadmill and when it gets cooler outside, I am going to force myself to walk a certain amount of time a day. Like you said below, I echo those sentiments exactly..............

I want to thank everyone responsible for their hard work and time in maintaining this forum. It has afforded so much support and encouragement to me and by reading the posts of others I was able to realize that I was not alone in my struggles with this new way of having to sleep. Without stumbling onto this forum I might have given up.
Again, thanks one and all and God bless!

Keep up your good work Carley and when we get discouraged, we will always have someone who cares and will lift us up again. I thank God for this forum too and for all the wonderful people on it.

Judy

felineperson3 · Post by **felineperson3** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 7:24 pm

Hi Flower 51,
Glad to have you join in even if you are just a "young whipper snapper" at such a young age of 53. Give you enough time and you will catch up with Judy Ann & me. The great thing is you'll probably even age better with your diagnosis and tx. being started at a younger age, too.
I didn't know about your knee replacements, Judy Ann, but I'm happy things went well for you and that is all behind you now.
Wishing both of you sweet dreams and restful sleep!

JudyAnn · Post by **JudyAnn** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 9:55 am

Hi Flower 51 and Casey,

Yes, I wish I was as "good" as you Casey in the exercise department. I guess I grew up in a time when no one exercised or jogged or worked out, only body builders did that back in the 1950's and 1960's and we all know what the world was doing in the 1960's. I need to get motivated and get some energy. Sitting here at work all day, does not do it.

Yes, I had a double knee replacement on 4/11/05 and let me tell you that it was the roughest and slowest recovery period ever. Having to wear my equipment in the hospital was not pleasant either as I was hooked up from my arms with IV's, both legs in velcro stabilizers and my nose hooked up to my machine. I felt like a "mummy". I am doing fine now. I still have some stiffness and slight aches but its so much better now that I can walk without that awful bone/bone pain. I don't have to take the wheel chairs in the stores anymore and no more using a cane. I am now the "Bionic Old Woman" with her new "baby knees".

Well, Terry you are kinda young but you are so welcome to join in. I agree with you about the lure of a small town. The older I get, the quieter I want. When were you diagnosed with SA? When I was first diagnosed last July, I was really depressed about it because I did not know a soul who had this and I desperately wanted someone to talk to. I was so happy to find this forum and another forum to ask questions, to realize that I was not alone and that I had a "shoulder" to lean on or cry on.

I have learned so much from everyone here and it has been a blessing for me. Well, now that I have yammered on and on, I will close now and wish all the "Hoseheads" a good night's sleep tonight.

Judy
Atlanta, GA