Just starting out. Hello All

[Radio]

I recently had a sleep study, recommended by my cardiologist. The only info I got was a phone call from him. The test did show sleep apnea, and the sleep clinic was recommending cpap treatment.

I'm about 40 miles from the nearest sleep specialist. After calling my family doctor a GP he is recommending that he treat the sleep apnea, and avoid the specialist unless there is a problem or complication with treatment.

My family doctor has scheduled a second visit to the sleep clinic for a titration. The earliest I can get in is Dec 27. I am on a cancellation list and would like to get the second study done as soon as possible. I want to get as much billing as I can on this years tax and insurance.

I am reading as much as I can here and will try to get an auto pap that stores the detailed data. (of course that depends on how the testing progresses.) I don't have any of the sleep study findings as I will not be seeing my doctor till after the titration.

Any thoughts or opinions on my family doctor taking the lead instead of a sleep specialist? Any other advise for someone "new the experience"?

I am sure as time progresses I will have many questions. So following the advice given in the "new to cpap" threads I thought it would be a good idea to start a first post.

[Pugsy]

Welcome to the forum.

Unless you end up with some unusual situations or complicated sleep apnea there is no reason your GP can't manage things.
Heck...there's no reason that you couldn't manage things yourself if all you have is plain jane vanilla OSA.
No need to see a specialist unless you run into problems or complications or more than plain old OSA.

As for getting as much as possible on this years expenses...if you don't get the titration study until Dec 27 that's cutting it real close to get that study evaluated and get you to a DME and for them to get insurance approval and get you a machine in your hands before the new year.

My suggestion is this...get your GP to go ahead and write the order/RX for the machine...get an apap or auto adjusting capable machine and use it until the titration study....and you might do so well self titrating that you don't need the in lab titration.
This is assuming you don't have a diagnosis of central sleep apnea...chances are your diagnosis will be obstructive sleep apnea.
You also want a full data machine. Not all machines gather data above hours of use.
wiki/index.php/CPAP_models

[Sheriff Buford]

Start educating yourself here. Have the take charge attitude. Get a copy of your sleep study and make a copy of your prescription. We will help you with all your issues.

Sheriff

By the way...…. welcome!!

[nicholasjh1]

Also, As far as I know a titration study isn't necessary, and usually the doc will assign 4-20 on an autopap... making the titration study a complete waste of time...

My advice is get your doc to prescribe an autopap, use this board to help you get the numbers... start at 7-20. IE cut the wasted money and time. get on therapy and start your new life.

[nicholasjh1]

ALso yes a sleep specialist may not be any better than a GP, I know mine was a complete waste of an extra 500 bucks and time.... this is because they are usually pulmonary specilist... and unless they have a specific focus on Apnea they often barely know more than the GP... since they are actually lung specialist not SA specialist.

[zonker]

welcome to the asylum!

i agree with what pugsy has said. (i'd be a fool to argue with her!)

you have no doubt also found in your reading here that there is a portion of us who are less than pleased with sleep doctors and their advice. as sheriff points out, we are mostly self treating.

one favor to ask of you, if you would; once you get your data capable machine, please come back to this thread. doesn't mean you have to post in this thread forever, but for the first few months, it makes it easier for the experts here to keep track of you and your progress.

good luck!

[Grace~~~]

welcome {snip}

ha ha ha


Hi Radio.

You've found the right place. Great and very very smart people have their eyes here! Looking forward to following your success.

[palerider]

welcome to the asylum!

Please note, Zonker is speaking for himself, and his auto-bondage fetish.

[zonker]

welcome to the asylum!

Please note, Zonker is speaking for himself, and his auto-bondage fetish.

hey, now. you PROMISED to keep that secret!!

[palerider]

welcome to the asylum!

Please note, Zonker is speaking for himself, and his auto-bondage fetish.

hey, now. you PROMISED to keep that secret!!

Oops

[Radio]

Hello again. I am bumping this thread again with more questions. I am finally getting setup with cpap and already feel I have some issues. I did pick up my machine from Lincare. Resmed Autoset. The mask I wanted to try Resmed F30 was not in stock and should be on the way express mail.

My disappointment was the doctor's prescription is for fixed pressure at 10 inches of water. Also the good people at Lincare have my machine set up with only the most basic settings available to the user. Not even the expanded user settings. The gentleman who reviewed the machine explained how very important not to change any settings except by doctors order sent to them. Also no SD card installed.

So I have the machine but not using it yet. The first thing I did was added a SD card. Then set the machine so I have at least the expanded user settings. I would like to try the machine, and with help be responsible for changing any settings that will benefit my treatment and sleep numbers.

My question is how much data will the DME receive if I start changing settings? Will flags go off on my account?
My other question is how much data my Doctor or even the DME receive if they do not have the SD card? I thought only basic data was supplied through the modem and the data card would be needed for my doctor to see detailed data.

Thanks

[Okie bipap]

You can purchase an SD card at your local Walmart. They are not very expensive. As far as changing your settings, all DMEs tell you that you can not make any changes to your settings. Most of us here have made changes to our settings. If you do decide to make changes, do not do so based solely on one night . Changes should be made based on trends. I would recommend you get at least a week of using the machine before even thinking of making changes. It will probably take you a few nights to get used to sleeping with the alien thing on your face. Don't be surprised if you can not stand it for the entire night the first night. My first night, I only lasted two hours before I took it off. I took me about a week before I got to where I could actually sleep with that thing on my face.

[palerider]

10 inches of water.

Centimeters of water.

Also the good people at Lincare have my machine set up with only the most basic settings available to the user. Not even the expanded user settings. The gentleman who reviewed the machine explained how very important not to change any settings except by doctors order sent to them.

THEY can't legally change the settings, but you can.

Also no SD card installed.

put one in.

So I have the machine but not using it yet.

boo

The first thing I did was added a SD card.

yay!

Then set the machine so I have at least the expanded user settings. I would like to try the machine, and with help be responsible for changing any settings that will benefit my treatment and sleep numbers.

My question is how much data will the DME receive if I start changing settings? Will flags go off on my account?
My other question is how much data my Doctor or even the DME receive if they do not have the SD card? I thought only basic data was supplied through the modem and the data card would be needed for my doctor to see detailed data.

Everything except the high rate breathing and pressure data is sent.

If someone notices you've changed your settings, they may or may not bitch at you, tell them to stuff it. Remind your doctor that he works for you, and you're doing what's needed to maximize the effectiveness of your treatment.