Question about "diagnosis"

[izzyb]

My father just had his sleep test and titration this week. And they said he had severe sleep apnea (38.3 per hr) and are setting him up with a CPap with a pressure of 19. I was shocked when my mother told me this and I called and talked with someone about it. The girl obviously hasn't heard about HIPPA as she was happy to give me any detail she could. Anyway, she, not being a tech, couldn't answer why they were not putting him on Bi-Pap since his pressure was so high. She was very reassuring that the doctor would do what was best, blah, blah, blah. What do y'all think about starting someone on CPap with a pressure of 19? That doesn't seem normal to me.

[sepool]

My doctor started me on straight CPAP, with no exhalation relief, at a pressure of 18. I didn't have any pressure problems. I did have mask problems. So it can work....

[rubymom]

My doctor started me at a pressure of 20. And from what I learned on this forum, you need to "fail" at CPAP before they'll allow you to get a Bi-Pap. (They being the insurance companies.) So I did...I failed at CPAP...got a Bi-Pap...love it! And my pressure on that runs between 12 and 14. Go figure!

Good luck!

[izzyb]

Oh, that's right. I did read one time on the boards that you have to try CPAP first. When I had my study done, the next morning they gave me a CPAP and then when I went in a couple of months later for the titration, they switched me to Bi-Pap. So I guess that counted as failure even though I hadn't even been titrated. Thanks!