Getting my first CPAP on Tuesday... And I can't wait!!

[D-Rob70]

Hello, Everyone.

My SA journey began in April 2010 in Las Vegas of all places.

I was there for a fan gathering of my favorite radio host and I won airfare and tickets for 2 to the event. My wife could not go, so I brought my brother with me. Our other brother lives in California, so he made the drive to stay with us in our room.

The first night we were there, my brother from California did not sleep. He was too worried about me stopping breathing when I sleep. He was so worried, he called our mom and talked to her about it and he spoke to me the next day and I assured him that I would not die in the next 3 days.

Now my wife, whom I have been with for 17 years, has been trying to get me to see a doctor about this for a while. But it took my brother being worried about it to get me to go.

I went for my sleep study and they said I stopped breathing 35 times an hour on my side, and 97 times per hour on my back, and that was all I needed to hear.

I went for my titration and haven't slept that well in a VERY long time. I felt like a million bucks the next day. I am VERY receptive to new things and adapt well to my surroundings.

So, I am hoping that me being so receptive to the nasal pillows leads to a short learning curve. I know my wife may be looking forward to this more than I am because of my eardrum shattering snoring problem. The tech at my titration said that I didn't snore at all that night.

So I am looking forward to Tuesday and will let you all know how it went.

Thanks for listening.

[jweeks]

I went for my sleep study and they said I stopped breathing 35 times an hour on my side, and 97 times per hour on my back, and that was all I needed to hear.

Rob,

That is a pretty sobering statistic. I was in much the same situation 2 years ago--I am essentially untreatable on my back, but I respond to a BiPAP pretty well on my side. I shudder to think about how little oxygen my brain was getting before CPAP.

So I am looking forward to Tuesday and will let you all know how it went.

I had 3 different sleep studies, and then had to wait another 10 days to get my machine. It was probably 60 days from when I was first referred to my sleep doctor to the day I got my machine. I almost went nuts waiting for the machine after realizing how much better I felt after my last sleep study.

Welcome to the forum. I wish you luck getting set up and getting started. Please post back to let us know how it goes.

-john-

[Physician]

Which machine and appliance(s) have you chosen ?

You will LOVE CPAP therapy. The CPAP is my best electric friend.

[Emilia]

Hi D-Rob... welcome to the forum. It sounds like you have a very positive attitude and that is more than half the battle. I hope you take to this like a duck to water..... I was one of the lucky ones who did so. I've been 100% compliant and have not had any mask issues.... pure beginner's luck.

I hope you will be getting a good, fully data capable machine so you can monitor your therapy via software. Once you know what you are getting, you can go up to the User Control Panel (top left) and then to Profile, choose Edit Equipment and from the pull down menus, select your gear. Then choose to show it in TEXT not icons.

So, I guess this was one time that what happened in Vegas didn't stay in Vegas? Good thing!! Happy sleeping and sweet dreams!

[tony72]

Also,please don't looik at cpap as a handicap it will save your life in the longrun.

[Mr Earwig]

Any chance you will sublet your cpap hose? I got kicked out of my last place.

[Slinky]

*giggle*, Mr EarWig. (Get used to the humor here, D-Rob!)

NOW is THE time to call your insurance, ask what local DME CPAP providers they are contracted with (hopefully you will have the option of more than one as that gives your more bargaining/negotiating room to get the equipment you want - w/in reason, of course) and then shop your options BEFORE you commit to any one of them.

NOW is THE time to explore the various CPAP brands and models. Take our word for it, you ARE going to regret it if you don't INSIST on AND GET a fully data capable CPAP (or bi-level PAP, if it is determined that you need a bi-level).

Be aware that while there ARE some good local DME providers out there .... far too many tend to commit "sins of omission", be "less than truthful", actually quite ignorant ... or out and out right liars.

Most all insurances pay by HCPCS (insurance) code, NOT by brand and model. The fully data capable APAPs and CPAPs are the EXACT same HCPCS code as the bare-bone, entry-level, compliance data capable only CPAPs that most local DME providers prefer to pawn off on unsuspecting newbies. Be prepared to diplomatically refuse any PAP but a fully data capable one. And be aware that just because a PAP has a data card does NOT mean that it is fully data capable.

Also know that Resmed, Respironics and Fisher & Paykel will replace FREE to the local DME providers most any of their masks that a patient has tried and been unsuccessful w/IF the DME provider will fill out a form and return form and mask to the manufacturer W/IN 30 DAYS. So you will want to know how lenient a local DME provider's mask exchange policy is. Once they've found you needed PAP pressure THE MASK becomes THE KEY to SUCCESSFUL PAP therapy.

Good luck - and welcome to the forum!

[D-Rob70]

So what should my initial demands/requests be. They are sending a rep to my house on Tuesday. My pressure has already been determined to be 12. And I am leaning toward the nasal pillow type of gear. Maybe with a ff mask as a backup for when I might get sick/stuffed up. Should I just demand a data capable unit straightaway? I wonder how many clients the reps get that do diligent research and come at them with information that the patient shouldn't know? LOL. Wait til they get a load of me.

[cflame1]

here's a link to rested gal's list of data capable machines

viewtopic.php?p=307168#p307168

I'd go for one of these right at the beginning. Otherwise it's a struggle to get it later.

[Slinky]

Earlier I said and I will repeat myself here: "Be prepared to diplomatically refuse any PAP but a fully data capable one. REMEMBER, you can catch more flies w/honey than w/vinegar. And be aware that just because a PAP has a data card does NOT mean that it is fully data capable."

Have you educated yourself on which brand and model PAPs are fully data capable? How else are you going to know if what they've brought w/them and are offering you is fully data capable??

Why not jump start the process by calling the DME provider and asking them what brand and model CPAP they want to provide you with? If you know which are fully data capable you will know whether what they are intending to provide is fully data capable or not. If what they intend to bring out isn't satisfactory NOW is the time to tell them that you want a PAP capable of providing Leak, AHI and AI data.

[Janknitz]

After you figure out what data capable machine you want, check out this post on my blog http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/what-y ... me-part-i/. This will help you understand how these things are covered by insurance and what you need to know before the DME tries to play any games with you.

If you KNOW what your insurance will and will not cover, how they will cover it, and how much they will cover, the DME can't treat you like a sucker.

You may luck out with a great DME, but then you will know an appreciate it.

[msradar65]

I had a somewhat similar experience that you had. I was at a friends house who has terrible sleep apnea. I begging and pleaded with my friend to get tested. I got nowhere. But while I was there my friends complained that I snored and snorted like a train!! So I went and got a sleep study done. I have moderate sleep apnea.

I am hoping that when I go back to visit my friend again that I will not be seen as a freak....and that sleeping with CPAP is really not bad at all.

I would recommended Resmed S9 autoset with climateline hose. I love mine!! I am so glad I was able to get mine. I also use a nasal pillows. I use Swift LT for her. I love my mask. I have been on the hose now two weeks. Been 100% complaint and sleeping with the CPAP all night since my 3rd night.

Oh and get the Lanilosh for the nose...its great!! I would also recommend that CVS has a generic version that is just as good as the brand name stuff. I wish I had saw that when I was searching for the stuff. Lanilosh is expensive at $11 for a small tube but well worth the money. The generic CVS brand is running about $2 less.

[D-Rob70]

It looks like I am well covered. Like 90%.

I believe they pay by HCPC, so, theoretically, I could get any machine I want?

Here is a link to a .pdf that I found for my insurance co.'s DME/CPAP language.

http://www.cigna.com/customer_care/heal ... nt_svc.pdf

And thanks, Janknitz, for the blog link. It is helping a ton.

It looks like this is what they offer http://www.hhme.com/index.cfm?fuseactio ... &pageid=18

The DME's main site is http://www.hhme.com , I guess.

[cflame1]

be prepared for a fight... that's a Plus machine and isn't fully data capable.

try for a 400/450 at least... that's a Pro (the difference between the m series and the PR S1's is the 50).

[D-Rob70]

I have decided to call Cigna tomorrow and see what my options are. I figure I should know what I am allowed before the DME ever even gets here. Maybe I can find a better solution than the DME that my Doc has hooked me up with.

I have Cigna and I see where they possibly have a dedicated service provider (maybe Apria, or CRApria LOL).

I KNOW that I do not want to be stuck with subpar equipment because I fancy myself a geek who NEEDS to know all this data that I read on here.