I need some "honest" opinions about my theropy

[abev]

I just read the post about cpap being a cash cow and it got me thinking about my own therapy. I was diagnosed a few weeks ago and I had not yet reached my deductable. My home care provider wants to charge me $1500 out of pocket for a machine. I understand that you receive extra care and support by going through the home care provider, but I am on a very tight budget and feel miserable from not getting enough sleep.

my question.......the machine that my insurance company would have given me would have had all of the bells and whistles as far as monitoring my OSA. I purchased my machine, the REMstar DS100 "basic" model from cpap.com just to get me started on the road to recovery....... Am I screwing myself for not getting a fancier machine with software, buy purchasing one that I can actually afford? .........Without all of the data, how do I know that I am getting the right combination of sleep and pressure for a newbie to the cpap world?..........Am I being irresponsible for putting my empty wallet before my health needs?...............or am I ok with how I am treating my OSA for now?

thanks,
abran

[Autopapdude]

I just read the post about cpap being a cash cow and it got me thinking about my own therapy. I was diagnosed a few weeks ago and I had not yet reached my deductable. My home care provider wants to charge me $1500 out of pocket for a machine. I understand that you receive extra care and support by going through the home care provider, but I am on a very tight budget and feel miserable from not getting enough sleep.

That is totally outrageous! If you look on the website for cpap.com, you will find that normal cpaps and autopaps range in price from $260-600. Basic Cpaps start at about $260, and the $600 is for a Data capable autopap. Unless you need a bipap or vpap, $1500 out of pocket is way out of line. What type of machine was prescribed for you, and do you have a copy of your prescription from the MD?

[jmelby]

The important question is how do you feel? You are missing out on data collection, but it is probably the case that you are better off with the machine you have than nothing at all. If you feel better, then it's working--you don't need graphs and numbers to tell you that.

[Wulfman]

Depends on how "empty" your wallet is.
If you have a titrated pressure (I presume you do since you were able to buy a CPAP), your odds are about 50% that it's the right pressure. On the other hand, it'll be more pressure than you had before, and should help you get some better quality sleep.

Assuming that your titrated pressure is reasonably close, one of the biggest obstacles to overcome is "the mask". It is probably the single, most important component of the therapy. Getting the "right" one is what makes this therapy work.

If you HAVE the extra money, or get some extra at some point, you may want to get another machine......for a backup and to finally see how your therapy is working. With the software, you'll be able to see the events, and leak rates.

There are numerous (data-capable) ones that show up on CPAPAuction or Craig's list and other places. Many are in like-new condition or with little use.

Good luck with your therapy.


Den

[Wulfman]

I just read the post about cpap being a cash cow and it got me thinking about my own therapy. I was diagnosed a few weeks ago and I had not yet reached my deductable. My home care provider wants to charge me $1500 out of pocket for a machine. I understand that you receive extra care and support by going through the home care provider, but I am on a very tight budget and feel miserable from not getting enough sleep.

That is totally outrageous! If you look on the website for cpap.com, you will find that normal cpaps and autopaps range in price from $260-600. Basic Cpaps start at about $260, and the $600 is for a Data capable autopap. Unless you need a bipap or vpap, $1500 out of pocket is way out of line. What type of machine was prescribed for you, and do you have a copy of your prescription from the MD?

I think you missed his second paragraph. He bought a machine from CPAP.COM.

Den

[thewetlizard]

I don't have all bells and whistles either. I do miss them? No. Do I even want all that mess? No. Ask yourself do you need all the bells and whistles?

[Autopapdude]

MY bad---I read quickly, as the $1500 stuck in my craw. As regards the "non data capable" issue, if money is an issue, at least get the basic pap, and stick with your titration. In the future, a data capable machine would make a big difference. As to whether or not one is "cheating one's self," I do think that basic cpap therapy is better than none, and data capable therapy is better than basic. So, it is a question of priorities and funds.

[Wulfman]

I don't have all bells and whistles either. I do miss them? No. Do I even want all that mess? No. Ask yourself do you need all the bells and whistles?

The machine in your profile IS a data-capable machine. If you do not have that machine, you might want to change your profile.


Den

[BleepingBeauty]

abev, having access to the data is extremely helpful (especially if you don't feel like your current therapy is meeting your needs). Any therapy is better than none, though.

I started out with the most basic machine, too (Respironics M Series Plus). With therapy not going well (and my doctor/DME unwilling to do what was necessary to get me a data-reporting machine), I bought my own on CraigsList. If you're going to look for another machine, peruse the auction site and CraigsList on a persistent basis (even checking the CL listings in places that are far away from you). I got a great deal on my current machine from a seller in WA state (I'm in Arizona), which had just 11 hours of use on it. I paid $100 + shipping.

Of course, you have to use caution when purchasing something sight-unseen from a long-distance private seller. But with due diligence, you can find a gently-used data-reporting machine for little money. Even if you can't afford the software and card reader to go with it for awhile yet, the data you get from the LCD screen is better than nothing, and your DME should be willing to read the data card for you periodically and give you a copy of the detailed printout, so you can see what's really happening during your sleep and make any needed adjustments.

Just wanted you to know that you can acquire a better machine at an affordable price, if that's your desire. Best of luck.

[KatieW]

If money is tight, you just do the best you can afford. You might want to keep a notebook, to keep track of how you feel--how many hours you slept, if your sleep was restful, your machine setting, mask, etc. for the 1st few weeks. This will help you to see patterns and make "corrections". Best of luck to you.

[Judy R]

I can certainly understand the money issue. I have the same problems too. When I got my Machine 3 years ago, I paid for it out of my own pocket, as I hadn't met my insurance deductable as of yet, I paid $1000.00 plus for the machine and the mask. At the time I didn't know about CPAP.com. When I did stumble upon the site, I could of kicked myself, for buying my machine through a DME. But, don't beat yourself up about this, at this point,like everyone has said having the machine and the right mask is the most important thing. I still don't have the software or cardreader yet, but when I can afford them, I will get them. But, I agree with KatieW, keep a written diary of your sleep, it will help in the long run. Good Luck, and Happy Sleeping.

[hyperjma]

In my opinion... It's my opinion remember....
I really like my Resmed Machine.... It is one of the more up to date machines with all the "bells and whistles" as you say. But I actually do make use of them. I think you should use them if you have them. DH (dear husband) and I bought a card reader with the special software that my machine uses, and we download and read the data once or twice a week. If you do this, it actually makes you more involved with your sleep-therapy! And it makes me feel more comfortable because i know what is going on. For instance, we went on a vacation last summer and my medical supply lady had checked my machine/data card and had 'updated it'. Well, while doing that she made a huge mistake and when I used the machine it felt like I was being forced to inhale for less than a second and then forced to exhale very very quickly! Because I was so familiar with the machine, I was able to call my sleep-lady (as i call her ) and get it fixed under her 'phone supervision' right away.

I suggest you look at the machines and compare their technical differences, not just how they look, etc. If you are willing to use the 'bells and whistles', then pay for them! (It will be worth it!)

Hope this helps!
Jessica

[kteague]

I don't need bells and whistles, but I consider data basic, not a bell or whistle. If a careful examination of the titration report shows it was likely "successful" then going on with a no-data mahine at the titrated pressure is probably just fine, and better than no treatment. Folks have been doing it like this for years, though with questionable results. I just know that at least two of my titrations were termed "technically suboptimal" since the titration didn't include (enough?) time in REM while supine. If your titration looked good, I think you can relax a bit and get a machine that's one step up when a good opportunity coincides with your ability to bear the expense. I don't think that would be irresponsible in any way. By the way, I have bought an autopap and even a like new bipap for $250 each. Deals are out there if you take time to educate yourself on the ins and outs of buying used. Or, if after getting used to your current mode of treatment you still symptomatic, you can rethink your decision.

[Muse-Inc]

I really regret not having data the first 26 months of my hosehood...I made progress but very, very slowly. I wonder how much more recovered I might be if I'd have had data that allowed me to optimize my therapy during that time...I will never know. I know for sure that I would not have had a 6-month backslide in my CPAP therapy with recurrence of symptoms of untreated apnea if I'd had data; I'd have known immediately that I was losing therapy air because I would have seen the increase in leak on my daily data on the machine's LED (buying software & carb readers not needed).

Please consider this decision carefully.

[tillymarigold]

OK. I'll offer the flip side: I bought the software for my first machine. Checked it religiously at first, then less and less. Adjusted my pressure occasionally, saw how I felt, it took about 6-8 months to find what I thought was the right range.

That machine died a bit over a year ago, just before the warranty was up and the new machine I got as a warranty replacement did not use the same software. The new machine displays for the last 6 sessions the time, AHI, and leaks (OK or HIGH); but I hardly ever even look at them. And frankly, I don't miss the software. And I don't think I would have done anything differently if I hadn't had it at first, nor if I did have it now.

Not everyone needs to have the software.

But I do want to point out that my initial setup--data-capable AutoPAP, mask, software, filters, and a hose cover--was under $1000.