surprised at self treating

[Bertha deBlues]

I agree this board is helpful. All I am saying is that it should not be used as a diagnostic tool.

I wonder how many here have actually engaged in self-diagnosis. Can't speak for anyone else, but I started with an in home sleep study, followed up by an overnight study, then my doctor prescribed a machine and mask for me.

[chunkyfrog]

Of course, most of us see the doctor first. The diagnosic test is key.
The titration is quite possibly replaceable by in-home tweaking. (A cash cow for some greedy clinics)
Just remember that not everyone has access to standard care.
Free clinics work with very limited funds. Often their world is down and dirty.
"Do what you can with what you've got." Life is a battlefield.
Self diagnosis is not ideal, but for some, it is the only hope.
You do not give up because it is hard; you pull up your boots and forge ahead.
Mistakes are made as easily in an office as at home.
Two of the major reasons why people die are they don't see a doctor---or they do.

[Midnight Strangler]

I disagree about treating yourself. Would u attempt your own blood test? Diagnose and treat your own diabetes?

I do test my blood several times per day and adjust my insulin.

A qualified sleep dr/pulmonologist who has a respitory therapist in the office is the best way to go. Besides if you have insurance you get your equipment from a qualified place that sells medical equipment. To just keep buying masks is rediculous. In addition, the docs computer houses all the data and then some that you do not get if you have a machine that gives you some stats.

If I have you lined up correctly, you are a newbie who hasn't used CPAP successfully. If you ever get to the point you can use it successfully, then come back to revisit this discussion. In the meantime, we know many things that you have yet to learn.

[WearyOne]

I agree this board is helpful. All I am saying is that it should not be used as a diagnostic tool.

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I may be missing something, but most of what I read is helping people fine turn their treatment AFTER they've been diagnosed with a full sleep study or an at-home sleep study. That includes helping find the right mask, how to change your pressure if you have the data (Sleepyhead, for example) to support making changes...and so on. The list of help received around here is endless and priceless.

As far as buying your own equipment...there many people who do not have insurance or who have insurance with a really high deductible. It's less expensive to purchase a machine online new or through a site with used equipment such as secondwind.

Over ten years ago, I had great insurance. Had a sleep study, a titration, then got my machine at a DME provider. I still had to go through about five masks before I found one that worked. So using a local DME provider didn't help me in the least.

I 100% agree that the best route for DIAGNOSIS is through a doc and sleep study. But once diagnosed, I see no problem whatsoever in handling the rest of it on your own, with maybe a yearly visit to the sleep doc (and that many times isn't even necessary).

[amess]

All drs are not created equal that is for sure. If you have no insurance then I guess you have no choice but to buy this stuff used. But at least know what condition you are treating first.

I dont like getting this kid of personal stuff on line from a third person. There is a cleanliness thing here. No idea where its been and are you able to clean it good enough? Is this the right mask for you?

And , if you have no insurance please think about getting some. This is how America operates. If you have some major illness you will not get the treatment you need without it, unless of course you are rich and can pay out of pocket.

[amess]

Along with your dr you can monitor yourself after you know what the problem is. Yes sometimes drs are useless. If that's the case, find one that is not.


Just jumping in an assuming you have sleep apnea or diabetes (example) is not the way to go. What if you have brain tumor instead of sleep apnea? What if there is some other reason for your night sweats or rash other than diabetes? An educated patient sees a doctor or doctors to get a diagnosis then follows treatment to get the best result. If you go the other way alone--good luck.

[guest two]

Along with your dr you can monitor yourself after you know what the problem is. Yes sometimes drs are useless. If that's the case, find one that is not.

It took me five tries to find a doctor that would work with me to optimize my therapy. All were board certified in sleep medicine, 3 were pulmonologist, 2 were neurologists. I ended with a pulmonologist.

Just jumping in an assuming you have sleep apnea or diabetes (example) is not the way to go. What if you have brain tumor instead of sleep apnea? What if there is some other reason for your night sweats or rash other than diabetes? An educated patient sees a doctor or doctors to get a diagnosis then follows treatment to get the best result. If you go the other way alone--good luck.

I think your are off base here. Again, most people here have been diagnosed, but many have not received adequate care. Are you receiving adequate care? Have you been diagnosed? Have you a prescription and a machine? If so, are you enjoying restful restorative sleep? If not, why not?

[Pugsy]

if you have no insurance please think about getting some.

What do you do if you can't afford the insurance...they don't give it out for free?
And don't say "sign up for Medicaid" because it's not automatic in all states that if you can't get Obamacare's insurance with subsidies that you immediately qualify for Medicaid.
It's not nearly as easy to get on Medicaid as people think.

Obviously seeing a doctor and at least getting a home sleep study done is ideally the way to go but sometimes we don't get ideal in real life.

When someone has 2 choices.
Attempt to self diagnose and self treat and maybe get some real relief
or
do nothing and be miserable and potentially a danger to themselves and others (falling asleep when driving)
it's pretty much a no brainer which option to try if at all possible.

As for cost...some people who do have insurance have deductible so high that it's just less costly to go the DIY route.
If you had a $5,000 deductible...and going from paycheck to paycheck then footing the bill for the sleep studies and all the doctor stuff and DME inflated equipment costs... just can't be done. There simply isn't enough money left at the end of the month.

[Guest]

All drs are not created equal that is for sure. If you have no insurance then I guess you have no choice but to buy this stuff used. But at least know what condition you are treating first.

While I do agree not all docs are created equal, I also know the sleep industry is a very corrupt business. People here have managed to save their lives and jobs. We haven't lost anyone yet and that says something.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion and here is mine. Maybe this forum isn't for you.

[RicaLynn]

I did not need a board certified sleep specialist to tell me I had sleep apnea -- I had more than enough anecdotal and symptomatic evidence to know for certain (family hx, loud irregular snoring that disturbed my sleep partners, fatigue, etc.). I DID, however, need a sleep study in order to get my ACA insurance plan to pay for a Cpap machine. And once I had my equipment, I found the folks in this forum VERY helpful in fine-tuning my therapy and helping me through the bumps in the road. I have not seen a sleep specialist since my initial study 3 years ago, and I am confident my primary physician can assist me with any prescriptions I may require. I currently have three functional APAP machines in my possession, more than enough to serve my needs for the next 5-10 years if maintained properly, so why would I need another sleep doc?

As far as used equipment goes, I'm probably not as germaphobic as most and have no issue with purchasing a used *machine* from a non-smoking household, but as with any second-hand purchase it's caveat emptor. Replaceable parts are easily found as far as masks go, so once you've found one (or two) that works for you, I also see no issue in purchasing from or trading with other PAP'ers to ensure continuation of therapy.

[Goofproof]

All drs are not created equal that is for sure. If you have no insurance then I guess you have no choice but to buy this stuff used. But at least know what condition you are treating first.

While I do agree not all docs are created equal, I also know the sleep industry is a very corrupt business. People here have managed to save their lives and jobs. We haven't lost anyone yet and that says something.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion and here is mine. Maybe this forum isn't for you.

What's needed is a NUN, that treats Sleep Apnea, but not the one that carries a ruler! Jim

[Hang Fire]

I dont like getting this kid of personal stuff on line from a third person.

You may not have thought of this, but there is an easy solution --- don't buy it.

And , if you have no insurance please think about getting some. This is how America operates.

You don't have a clue.

[palerider]

I disagree about treating yourself.

You're more than welcome to your newbie, ignorant, wrong "OPINION".

It won't change what *works*.

Would u attempt your own blood test? Diagnose and treat your own diabetes?

Diabetics do it *EVERY DAY*.

In addition, the docs computer houses all the data and then some that you do not get if you have a machine that gives you some stats.

You're wrong about that *too*.

[poppi2]

I disagree about treating yourself. Would u attempt your own blood test? Diagnose and treat your own diabetes?

A qualified sleep dr/pulmonologist who has a respitory therapist in the office is the best way to go. ......... In addition, the docs computer houses all the data and then some that you do not get if you have a machine that gives you some stats.

Moral of story --see a doc

My sleep dr/pulmonologist prescribed me a "brick". His computer housed the number of hours per day that I used my brick. He did ask me how I felt.

After I found this board and learned that full data machines are available, I bought one using my health savings account. Too bad for me, that my good insurance was used six months earlier on a useless brick. I'm still pissed about that.

[Janknitz]

I think the majority of people here were diagnosed by a doctor after either an in lab sleep test or a home sleep test. The people who tend to want to bypass the doctor for diagnosis often don't have insurance or have deductibles too large to be useful, OR they were diagnosed long ago and want to give CPAP another go after failing the first time.

Once diagnosed, then self advocacy becomes important. First to make sure that the DME doesn't stick you with a brick, and secondly to optimize treatment in order to be successful. In lab titration studies are not always all that accurate for the real experience of sleeping with CPAP night after night and some people need to tweak settings for comfort so that they can learn to sleep with CPAP (like turning off ramp!). Tweaking the settings here and there for comfort and to optimize efficacy are a matter of personal choice.

And no, it's NOT dangerous, unless the CPAP machine falls on your head. I do agree that self-treatment might prevent someone from seeing a doctor and having a more serious condition diagnosed, but again, the people who are doing that may not have the financial wherewithal to get an adequate workup in the first place. And certainly if CPAP is not working for someone despite sincere effort, it's time to look at other possibilities.