My appointment today, Doc doesn't like APAP,Whod figure lol

[sapphireskye]

Well I went to my appointment, was there when they opened up bright and early. I didn't know what time my appointment was, but I got in early and am glad I didn't miss this one. I did get a script for a CPAP to use on here once I decide to buy a CPAP. Since I had mentioned autopap in my list of things, the doc automatically said that he doesn't like the autopap. I didn't ask him why or go into it. Truly, I do not know what I will get when and if we get the money so I can buy this CPAP straight out and not deal with insurance. I most likely will get a Remstar with Cflex of some sort. But, seems like so many docs for persons on this forum don't like the autopap lol. Either way, I got my script. He also upped my clonazepam for nighttime because of having some anxiety (which I already had). He must have figured it would help with my compliance. He also gave me a sample of astelin to help with my sinus problem. Lets see if this nasal spray helps, since it is an antihistamine and I have read good things about it on here. I cannot afford this yet, but have to sign up for the medicare prescription program, and then in about 3 months should have blue cross to get prescriptions filled. YEAH! If hubby can last at this job. Poor thing is trying to get adjusted to midnights. I think he may have sleep apnea too. He is always tired and snores heavily, and wakes up snorting. Maybe in the future there will be two hoseheads around. Also, I mentioned the air in the mask didn't feel like enough, but he said your pressure of 8 is fine. I was a good little patient (being funny), and got my stuff and left. He said he does not need to see me back unless I continue to have a problem
So, I hope within the next two months to get my own CPAP. First, I better get the mask issues and getting compliant issues downpat.

God bless you all
Happy 2006
Gnight, or good day

Chelle

[sleepy gal]

Hi Chelle, well Congratulations!! You got that scrip! You go girl!

Even if your doc doesn't like the autopap. I would encourage you to get it (when you can). I started out with a straight CPAP (remstar with c-flex and heated humidifier) and borrowed an APAP from the DME.....liked it so much. I now have the same model but an APAP....it can also run as just a straight CPAP if you decide you prefer that, so you don't lose that ability.

It will also be able to tell you if your pressure of 8 is right for you or not.

Too bad the doc didn't pay a little more attention to that....it sounds to me as though you do need a higher pressure. I know that when I was ramping there were times when I felt I couldn't breathe at the lower pressures. I don't use that feature any more!

By the way, my sleep doc does not like the idea of using benzodiazepams as they relax your throat muscles even more and could cause more apneas.....you might want to ask him about that issue.
Good luck.

[Guest]

YEAH! If hubby can last at this job. Poor thing is trying to get adjusted to midnights. I think he may have sleep apnea too. He is always tired and snores heavily, and wakes up snorting. Maybe in the future there will be two hoseheads around.

Sounds like you should schedule a sleep study for him ASAP. The sooner he starts CPAP therapy the more you two will increase your odds of a long healthy life together!!!

[dsm]

Sounds like you should schedule a sleep study for him ASAP. The sooner he starts CPAP therapy the more you two will increase your odds of a long healthy life together!!!

Chelle, The above is *seriously* excellent advice. Hubby has nothing to lose but a hell of a lot to gain.


Cheers

DSM

[sapphireskye]

Thing is we are waiting till we have either the money, or if his insurance will cover him. With his insurance it will have a $500 dollar deductible. It has a 12 month pre existing condition period which does not apply to me but will to him.
HE has never seen a doctor for sleep problems, or even mentioned it. So, I am hoping this will not be considered a pre-existing condition for him then. He has high bp and asthma which wont be covered for 12 months.

If not, I hope he will consider using the money he is getting to get himself help.

Poor guy is so tired, and I love him very much

God bless all
Chelle

[Griff]

What is it with Doctors not liking APAP's? It's driving me crazy trying to persuade my doctor to change my script to an APAP. We shouldn't have to beg for something that is obviously more beneficial - especially over the long run when things such as body weight and various medical issues can change. In your case sapphireskye, your sinus issues alone should warrant you an APAP prescription. It seem like alot of people who really need this are being deprived by their Doctors, and this doesn't even take into account dealings with a DME. I might try again with a request for an APAP. All he can do is say no and give you the script for the cpap - which will get you an APAP anywhere online. I think you owe it to yourself to at least give it a shot.

And I would also caution against the use of Klonopin. I have experienced some of my only actually discernable apneas (actually waking up not being able to breathe) while using this (Clonazepam).

[tomjax]

Your doc does not like apap, but increases your clonopin????????

go figure.

I would like for the next person who is headed to a sceptical doc to get a report from a user here and tyake it to the doc and ask him/her just what about this does he/she not like and what s/he considers better.

imho, your doc is stuck on stupid......
just for fun do a google search--- klonopin abuse----

[sapphireskye]

The cool thing is on CPAP.Com. My prescription will get me any kind of cpap I want. Even though it specifies C Flex, I was told by cpap.com I can get whatever
I choose once we get that money we are supposed to have. If that doesn't come, then I am screwed lol even in regards to insurance. SO, all you need is a CPAP script with your docs name and contact info and you are set to get whatever it is you need. Like I said, I am still not sure what I will get. Right now, I am still working on compliance. He is like well 4 hours a night is considered compliance. So, I guess I could be doing worse. It is hard adjusting to hubby not being home at night, having a cpap, and trying to get on a schedule when mine is all screwed up. I think the doc upped the Clonazepam short term because I am claustrophobic to some degree. Well,
off to Walgreens I go.

God bless
Chelle

[sapphireskye]

Unfortunately, I take Klonopin daily for anxiety and restless legs. I am not really sure if I will be able to handle the nighttime dose with the other medicine I am on. I have personally weaned myself off stuff before, that was interesting.
It is best to make sure a doctor takes you off any medication properly, or you can have physical issues even if you are not "psychologically addicted" Your body becomes accustomed to stuff, and you will suffer physical withdrawals on Klonopin, and other benzodiazepines. I have to admit, I am slowly getting more used to this darn CPAP. I am still waiting from my DME on my different mask order. Did you know that even a beta blocker like Atenolol (for BP and arrythmia), can cause you to have withdrawals and can even kill you if you just stop it cold turkey. That is pretty scary, considering I have forgotten to take it before and you can tell.

Have a great night

Chelle

[sleepy gal]

Hi Chelle, it's Nan again...re: Klonopin for RLS/PLMD....if you go to the Southern California Restless Leg Suppport group web site and then to the patient letters with a medical response, you might find that Klonopin is no longer considered (at least by that doc) a good med for RLS....one of the reasons is that it has such a long half life. If you are taking for anxiety only and not RLS ....still some concern about apneas with it.

But whatever you do don't take any SSRI's(i.e.Lexapro,Prozac, Paxil etc.) for anxiety if you have RLS. Or antihistamines. It will make it much, much worse!

Better meds are the dopamine agonists such as Requip and Mirapex. You might want to ask your doc about that. Your sleep doc doesn't sound to up to date on anything! Perhaps your primary care might be of more help if there are no other sleep docs around. There is a lot of information you can get on RLS from the RLS Foundation web site as well as the southern california one. And clearly lots of information here at CPAP talk that you could copy and take for info on CPAP treatment.

I too have RLS/PLMD .... it disrupts my sleep more than the apneas. That might also be one of the reasons you are so tired and not sleeping well.

Hope your hubby can manage to get some help soon.

Take care,

Nan

[Nenetx2004]

I had a doctor that didn't want to prescribe an autopap. He suggested that I have surgery to correct the problem. Yeah, right. So I found another doctor. I'm still struggling with fatigue (other issues in my life are the cause of that) but I'm doing better than I was on straight CPAP.

Jeanne

[Severeena]

I went to my new Sleep Apnea doctor today and he said the best RLS med is Requip. He put me back on this drug for my RLS.

I will report on my visit in another post.

[Snoredog]

If you have limited insurance or no insurance, you should order a Remstar Auto w/Cflex from cpap.com with your existing script and be done with it. Your wasting your time asking your doctor or insurance for an autopap. If you want an autopap you have to pay for it yourself 9 times out of 10.

Doctors don't like them for numerous reasons but the biggest reason is you don't need to go back to them as often so they lose revenue if you don't make that appointment.

If your hubby doesn't have insurance then install the EncorePro software on a PC and have him use the autopap for a night, print out the report and take it to your GP, they can diagnose OSA from his symptoms and that report. A PSG is only required for diagnosis of OSA by insurance, if you don't have any insurance and it's coming out of your own pocket use a autopap or your doctor can write a script for that home-study PAT test, but it costs about the same as a autopap or $500+. His titration pressure would be the 90% pressure found on the autopap report. Educate yourself on the process and you can save yourself a ton of money.

[Jan in Colo.]

Doctors don't like them for numerous reasons but the biggest reason is you don't need to go back to them as often so they lose revenue if you don't make that appointment.


The biggest reason is that they don't KNOW about Autopaps. The whole use of CPAP in the home has only been around 25 years. I have no idea when Autopaps became available to the general public for home use but I'd guess 10 years? Less? And as we've all seen from our experience with docs of all types...they just don't understand the prevalence of sleep apnea nor the side effects. It is a fairly new field in medicine. It just hasn't taken a place of importance in their heads. And further, I will guess that at some point in the past there were articles in JAMA or something that said APAPs weren't good therapy. That's the last thing the docs read on it...APAPs have improved and docs haven't caught up with the latest info on the subject.

It has nothing to do with income. And if you found a doctor that you DO suspect of padding his wallet in some fashion, then run. You have found a stupid doctor. The best doctors don't have time for that nonsense.

Jan in Colo.

[sapphireskye]

Thanks for all the info on the Klonopin and the new med requip. I may eventually discuss this with my new pcp. I am on Klonopin first and foremost for anxiety, but now my PCP just has me on the night dose the sleep doc signed me up for. I think he will be very flexible in working with me.

We are waiting on money, before I can order the CPAP from CPAP.com. That is the only thing keeping me from getting it. I am very much insured with having Medicare and Medigap, and in April will have Blue Cross too which becomes primary. I am planning on definitely buying a machine regardless of having insurance. I have also thought about seeing if once hubby gets a doctor if they will order a home sleep study. But, we may just wait till we have his insurance and they should cover it because I don't think they can say it is a pre existing problem since he has not consulted, nor been diagnosed with any sleep disorder.

I may just get the autopap anyway just because I have heard so many good things about it. Thanks for all you guys' help and it is very much appreciated.

God bless
Chelle

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