It's official - I have OSA

[Tash]

Hi all! I just spoke with my primary doctor (well, his secretary, actually). Anyhow, the sleep study report is in. I have "moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea" and my pressure for CPAP is 8. She will send me a copy of the report, and a copy of the prescription. She is sending the prescription to Apria (DME) and will add to the prescription my request for Auto CPAP and a full face mask. Apparently the sleep study report recommended nasal mask with chin strap (that didn't work well for me during the sleep study, I don't know why they assume it would otherwise...)

Anyhow, I will give you all the numbers once I get my copy of the report. I should be hearing from Apria by Friday (hopefully ) so maybe soon I will actually start getting some real sleep.

Thanks again for this forum and the great people on it - I have learned so much in a short amount of time, and it is because of all of you!

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): auto cpap, CPAP, Prescription

[Glennlivet]

Hi. Just read your post. I have been researching obstructive sleep apnea. It would appear that I hold all the classic symptoms. As one who has just gone through a diagnosis, can you please provide me with any information as to what my next step should be in having this looked at. Also what are the steps or procedures involved in a diagnosis. Cheers

[Tash]

Glennlivet,
Here is what I know:

With my insurance (Cigna), my primary care doctor had to refer me for a sleep study (even though my ins. does not require referrals for specialists...)

I went to a split night sleep study at the sleep diagnostic center, which had little hotel-like rooms (bed, tv, nightstand, equipment). I recommend taking your own pillow, a bottle of water, an eye mask (in case the light they use to videotape you while you sleep keeps you awake), and a magazine.

Ask the sleep tech to let you try several masks (nasal mask, nasal pillows, full face mask)... my sleep tech agreed to let me try a nasal mask and a nasal pillow during the study, but failed to wake me up to switch...

During the split night study, the first part is to determine if you actually have sleep apnea, then the second part of the night is used to determine your titration for CPAP (the pressure needed to stop the obstruction). I wouldn't expect the sleep tech to tell you much after the study, but ask anyhow, maybe they will. The best I got was that I "had a lot of trouble"
when I slept on my back (which, after the report translates to moderate to severe sleep apnea).

The sleep doctor (whom I have never met) then reviewed the sleep study, wrote the report, and forwarded it to my primary care physician. My doctor wrote a prescription for the DME (durable medical equipment provider). I called my doctor's secretary, and she is having the doctor add some specifics to the prescription (Auto CPAP, heated humidified, full face mask). I requested a copy of the sleep study report, and a copy of the prescription.

Now, I wait. The DME will call (by Friday, hopefully) and set up a time to bring my equipment. I have no idea what I will end up with, but I did give a "wish list" to my doctor, (Ultramirage Full Face mask, Resmed Auto CPAP with C/flex, heated humidifier) and I will find out if my DME (Apria) supplies those or not.

I am sure others on this forum have more information, but this is what it was like for me. Be sure to ask the sleep tech questions, try a lot of masks, pay attention to how you feel, mask leaks, physical reactions, etc ( eyes red after the study, burping, bloating, did they make you wear a chin strap, etc...) during the sleep study, then come back to this forum and post it. Everyone here has been quite helpful in leading me to what masks/machine might be most helpful, but even then, I know that it just depends on each person and will still have to figure it out once I get my stuff.

Good luck!

[Colorado Jan]

Newgal...

You do not HAVE to use Apria, you know. You can call your insurance company and see what durable medical equipment providers they use in your area. When I called mine...I was given 10 DME's. Some did not do CPAP, some were oxygen only. So you can call around. You can call and ask what brands they carry. Your doctor is just sending you to the one he KNOWS will work with your insurance and that he's sent people to before. He really has no idea what the DME is actually like. (My husband is a doctor...I'm not calling doctors dumb by any means...I just know they don't always click on all the details). Anyway, your doctor doesn't really care what DME you use....he is just used to referring people to Apria.

Just some more information to confuse you, lol.

Jan in Colo.

[Lyn]

Just a note ...
The Auto CPAP with C/flex is by Respironics, not ResMed.

[Tash]

oops, my bad. I meant Remstar Auto CPAP with Cflex (which is Respironics, right?)

[SnoreNoMore2005]

NewGal, Congratulations on your diagnosis and welcome to the club. I use Apria healthcare in Tampa and they are pretty good. The previous DME (PSA Healthcare) was terrible or worse.

I hope you've got an APAP with software. Otherwise you will be "driving blind" as RG would say. A pressure setting of 8 is pretty low. Of course, you might do better with a 7 or a 9 and the APAP and sofware will tell you that.

Good luck to you. This is a great forum and you can get lots of help here... in fact far more help than you will get from a DME or Doc.

SnoreNoMore2005

[neversleeps]

Hi. Just read your post. I have been researching obstructive sleep apnea. It would appear that I hold all the classic symptoms. As one who has just gone through a diagnosis, can you please provide me with any information as to what my next step should be in having this looked at. Also what are the steps or procedures involved in a diagnosis. Cheers

If you go to the top part of this page and click on CPAP Videos or CPAP FAQ you'll find a ton of info.
Here's a link to the sleep lab video:
Introduction To The Sleep Lab (00:05:29)

[snork1]

...."I should be hearing from Apria by Friday "......

That would be a small miracle. Any interaction I have had with DME's is they TELL you "don't call us, we'll call you", but in reality you need to keep calling them or it will stretch out to be a long long long long time to get anything from them.

There are a very few exceptions to that rule.
Even fewer exceptions of people that have had good experiences with Apria.

Good luck, and keep bugging them.

Lets see....How many months has it been since I dropped off my Remstar auto for a warranty repair through my DME? Luckily I got a replacement and that machine is my backup...if I EVER see it again. Still waiting for that "call back", and that was from the DME that is BETTER than our local Apria.

[Tash]

Sorry for the late reply, all.

Colo. Jan - thanks for the info re: choosing a DME, I will wait and see how long it takes for Apria to call me. If I don't hear from by Friday, I'll call my insurance co and start calling DMEs myself.

Snork1,
I am sure hoping you are wrong on this (small miracle for them to call by Friday), no offense. HOwever, you are probably right. I appreciate the info, and will roll up my sleeves and be ready to pester the heck outta' whatever poor DME I finally end up with

[cybergoon]

My problem with Apria was that they wouldn't let me try out masks at all. I couldn't even put one up to my face in the packaging in their office without buying it. "Hrmmm...You look like a medium shallow, no...maybe large..." My new DME (LinnCare) is working very hard to make me happy. That's what I need from a DME.

[sthnreb]

Hi. Just read your post. I have been researching obstructive sleep apnea. It would appear that I hold all the classic symptoms. As one who has just gone through a diagnosis, can you please provide me with any information as to what my next step should be in having this looked at. Also what are the steps or procedures involved in a diagnosis. Cheers

Cpap.com also has a dvd you can get for free explaining what to expect from a sleep test. Contact them for info.

[Tash]

Unfortunately, Snork1 was right. So far, no miracle here (i.e., no phone call from my DME, definitely didn't happen by last Friday....)

So, let the games begin, I have started the telephone campaign to get my equipment.

Keep your fingers crossed for me, eh?

[Tash]

Unfortunately, Snork1 was right. So far, no miracle here (i.e., no phone call from my DME, definitely didn't happen by last Friday....)

So, let the games begin, I have started the telephone campaign to get my equipment.

Keep your fingers crossed for me, eh?

[snork1]

[quote="newgal"]Unfortunately, Snork1 was right. So far, no miracle here (i.e., no phone call from my DME, definitely didn't happen by last Friday....)

So, let the games begin, I have started the telephone campaign to get my equipment.

Keep your fingers crossed for me, eh?