First visit with Doc, what should I bring?

[Sleepy Pilot]

When my sleep doctor diagnosed me with OSA, he said over the phone, “I’ll write a prescription for a CPAP at 10cm. Let’s see how that works.” I made an appointment for Monday, which will be 20 days of data. From everything that I have learned here, reading my data and researching my numbers, I believe an S9 Auto or a PRS1 Auto 60 with a small range will be more beneficial to me. I was thinking about printing out my 20 days and have them to discuss, but CPAP.com said the software for the Respironics 460P is not available. SleepyHead is all I have and I’ve read here that it is a mistake to approach a doctor with non-industry accepted program data. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the data and event flags come from the machine. Why does a doctor care, which program graphed the machine’s data? It is the event detecting by the machine that matters. I’m going to stop by my DME and ask the to use their software and print out my results just before my doctor’s appointment. I don’t trust they will provide me with the same level of analysis as SleepyHead.

So, if I’m trying to bring supportive evidence to my appointment, what kind of information should I bring?

[Guest]

Hi SleepyPilot, I also have my first Dr. visit since beginning Apap and have been wondering what to bring along. So I will be watching your thread and looking for suggestions too. Thanks for asking the question!

[BlackSpinner]

Print it out anyway. Explain the authentic software is not available.
Make a list of questions leaving space for answers. bring to copies, one for him/her one for you. Make notes of the answers for your self or ask to tape the interview.

You are a pilot. Treat it as if you were going to fly a new plane.

[Pugsy]

Most of the time the doctors will only look at the summary usage reports (if they look at all).
Some will look at the detailed nightly reports.
I would suggest maybe a weeks worth of detailed nightly reports along with the summary usage page. Most recent and the most typical report.
Most doctors won't put the reports under the microscope like we do.
They will look to see how many hours you are using the machine on average along with maybe average AHI and ask you how you are feeling and that will be the extent of it.

Respironics does have software that will work with the 60 series machine. CPAP.com doesn't have it though and they can't really tell you about it because it is for DMEs and doctors. EncoreViewer is the patient version of the software that cpap.com can talk to you about but it won't work with the 60 series machine.

EncoreBasic and Encore Pro (2.5 version or higher) will easily work with the 60 series machines and this is what doctors offices will be using. Most likely Pro but Basic offers the exact same reports as Pro.
Here's an example of what the reports look like from an ASV machine.
http://www.healthcare.philips.com/pwc_h ... _Guide.pdf

Basic is much smaller and easier to manage and can be obtained if you know where to look or who to ask.
I am not recommending Pro anymore since Basic is so much easier to use and the reports are identical. Pro is a real PITA to manage.

SleepyHead was developed by a cpap user and most doctor's won't have a clue what they are looking at beyond maybe the AHI.
While it would be easy enough for the docs to understand SleepyHead it is unlikely that they will want to spend the time.