how many nights to spend on CPAP to keep clinic happy?

[justray]

Hi every body.
I'm new to CPAP, I asked the sleep clinic technician, during my first year, before going back for my first annual assessment, how many nights during that year do I actually need to wear the mask, to satisfy them when they download any data from the machine, he did not give me a direct answer.He said if I was going on holiday and I did not want to take it with me, no problem, start again when you get home, if I get a cold, no problem when the cold has gone start again afterwards. What I am getting at is, out of 365 days in the year, are they after 100%, 75%, 50% compliance, What is the minimum??? .

anybody out there with the answer?
Thanks for listening.
justray. :

[mcdad]

I would use it as much as possible, and not worry about the clinic.

Its for your health.

[elena88]

Hi every body.
I'm new to CPAP, I asked the sleep clinic technician, during my first year, before going back for my first annual assessment, how many nights during that year do I actually need to wear the mask, to satisfy them when they download any data from the machine, he did not give me a direct answer.He said if I was going on holiday and I did not want to take it with me, no problem, start again when you get home, if I get a cold, no problem when the cold has gone start again afterwards. What I am getting at is, out of 365 days in the year, are they after 100%, 75%, 50% compliance, What is the minimum??? .

anybody out there with the answer?
Thanks for listening.
justray. :

HI there newbie! Just a little green and wet behind the ears like the rest of us who just started.. Well, now then, its sweet of you to want to
know how many nights you should wear it to satisfy THEM.. but kiddo, its all about YOU... save for the insurance compliance b.S. which is I think
four hours per night.. but that is not going to help you get optimum therapy..
First of all.. do you have a copy of your sleep study? probably not.. do you know if you are severe, moderate, or mild?
Nobody around here would dream of not taking their machine on vacation, and if we have a cold, we sit up in chair straight, or try to use a full face
mask.. this is quite serious business, and this machine is supposed to keep you from having a stroke, a heart attack, help stop a cascade
of health problems from finishing you off, or prevent you from having a car accident from
being overly sleepy... so, the answer is, you need to put in 100% of your effort to get 100% of the therapy..

[Mebake]

It will be 2 years in November and I have missed 1 night and that was only because I left the power cord home.


P.S. I did not sleep a wink

[jdm2857]

Medicare requires the patient to have used their xPAP for at least 4 hours a night for at least 70% of the nights during any consecutive 30-day period during the first 90 days of use. Otherwise they will not continue to pay for it. Many insurance companies fullow Medicare's rules.

But, as everyone else has said, your health depends on making your therapy work, and using your xPAP every time you sleep. Anything less is looking for trouble.

[djr1215]

Hi every body.
I'm new to CPAP, I asked the sleep clinic technician, during my first year, before going back for my first annual assessment, how many nights during that year do I actually need to wear the mask, to satisfy them when they download any data from the machine, he did not give me a direct answer.He said if I was going on holiday and I did not want to take it with me, no problem, start again when you get home, if I get a cold, no problem when the cold has gone start again afterwards. What I am getting at is, out of 365 days in the year, are they after 100%, 75%, 50% compliance, What is the minimum??? .

anybody out there with the answer?
Thanks for listening.
justray. :

It's not really the clinic who has a time-table like that. Mostly it's insurance. If they are going to pay for the equipment and any subsequent treatments you have to show that you're trying. For the most part you have to meet 80% of the nights with at least 4 hours of usage. So, unless your insurance has some other requirement, that will keep them happy and keep them paying for replacement masks, tubing, etc.
For your doctor and especially for yourself, your compliance should be 100% or as close to that as you can get - naps and all.
Am I there? No, not quite. I do use mine probably 98% of the time, I'm still fighting with myself over the necessity for all this and whether it's doing me any good (I started using CPAP in May).

[BlackSpinner]

Most people's bodies prefer to have oxygen 99% of the time - it keeps your organs alive.

[Uncle_Bob]

For your own sake

Go for 100% of your sleep every year.

attaching a balloon on the end of the hose and running it overnight to satisfy someone else is not going to help YOU

[Goofproof]

No more than 365 nights a year, any more and it might stunt your growth. Jim

[elena88]

Justray,
How about when you find the time, get a nice cup of your favorite beverage, and read the new users icon up top there, and the cpap wiki..

You are in for a what might be a bit of an adventure.. if its a challange, youre going to need the folks with so many years of expertise to
help you, if its easy, you will want to share your great story with us..

In any case, since you are curious about the compliance usage of the machine, might as well be curious about how the machine works,
how your therapy works, etc...

Come tell us all the new facts you find out.. your titration pressure, what sort of machine you have, the mask you have, get a copy of your sleep study, the eight page summery, and share that with us too.. we are here to help!

Hope to see you soon!

elena

[nanwilson]

OMG !!! Did I read this right? You want to know how long you NEED to use your equipment to SATISY some one else?
Obviously you don't plan on keep this therapy up.....oh well, we'll be reading you obituary VERY soon............................................................
Buddy, YOU need to use this equipment every night, all night!
Have you heard about the young teen- ager that decided to have a nap WITHOUT his cpap...guesse what....he didn't wake up.

You need to read as much as you can on this site, and please, please follow the advice you are reading. These people know what they are talking about, they are the experts on the subject. Its not an easy road to hoe but a necessary one, you must keep using your cpap. i have been at this since April, and haven't missed a night yet...and I mean all night. I feel so much better, my brain is working again and I'm soooo happy I wake up every morning. Please, please don't dismiss any of this...and please, please do NOT give up!

Good luck on your journey, as I'm sure you WILL follow all the advise you get.
Cheers
Nan