Got My Second Set of Results

[AmyD]

I knew I had slept better the second night in the sleep lab because I felt refreshed in the morning for the first time in years. I got the results today to show how much better:

Time in Stage 3+4 w/o CPAP: 38 minutes. w CPAP: 61 minutes!
Apnea index on my back w/o CPAP: 14.3. w CPAP: 0!!!!
PLM arousals w/o CPAP: 29. w CPAP: 7.

I can't wait to get this machine to take home!!!!!!!!

[rested gal]

Good for you, Amy! You have the right attitude, and you've come to the right forum to get support and help for "doing CPAP" when the time comes.

As excited as you are, and as much as you're looking forward to having your own machine, do take the time to dig into janknitz's great advice BEFORE you let the DME give you a machine:

LINK to Janknitz's excellent - "WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU MEET YOUR DME Part I"
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/what-y ... me-part-i/

And BEFORE you accept the machine the DME wants to give you, double check the name of the machine, to be sure the machine they want to give you can record and show you "full data" (AHI and leak info...not just hours of use.)

viewtopic.php?p=307168#p307168
My list of machines that record "full data" (AHI and leak info) and those that don't -- updated January 2011.

Better to delay (if need be) treatment a few days or a week while sorting out what machine the DME will let you have or finding a DME who will cooperate with you on the specific machine you want.... than to accept a basic machine that won't provide the kind of data that can enable you to optimize your treatment as time goes by. I'm not a doctor though. That's just my opinion.

[AmyD]

Thanks for all the info. I have a week before my appointment so I have lots of time to learn what I need to know.

[AmyD]

I looked in the definition section of the wiki but didn't have any luck. DME?

[Hawthorne]

You are Canadian, as am I. DME stands for "Durable Medical Equipment" provider. We don't call them that in Canada. it's the place where you got your cpap machine and get your cpap supplies.

[Hose_Head]

I looked in the definition section of the wiki but didn't have any luck. DME?

DME means durable medical equipment. It's the company that you will buy your cpap from.

You're in Toronto and will likely get your cpap through Ontario's assistive devices program (ADP). ADP will pay for 75% of the costs for your cpap, hose and mask. You can (and should) insist on getting a fully data capable cpap as per rested gals advice. Fully data capable does NOT mean compliance data only. Your DME may feign ignorance on the difference: don't let them trick you.

Also, don't let the DME charge you more than the ADP approved price for your equipment. Your cost should be no more than the 25% co-payment of the ADP-approved price. If your DME insists on charging you more, then go to a different DME because that one is trying to rip you off. I'm unsure what the ADP price is these days, but three years ago, it was $1180 for a cpap and humidifier. I recommend you call them to find out the current prices.

Here are some ADP links:

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/pub ... dp_mn.html
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/p ... b_adp.aspx
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/pub ... /resp.html

[AmyD]

Thanks, hosehead. Even if you are a typical Torontonian who thinks they live in the center of the universe

I'm in the KW area.

[Hose_Head]

Thanks, hosehead. Even if you are a typical Torontonian who thinks they live in the center of the universe

I'm in the KW area.

Whoops! My bad !!!

[rested gal]

Thanks for all the info. I have a week before my appointment so I have lots of time to learn what I need to know.

Since you have a whole week ahead of you...

Types of machines:
viewtopic.php?p=56836
"Whats the differences in BIPAP, XPAP, APAP, CFLEX"

Common abbreviations and definitions:
viewtopic.php?t=14902
"Learning lexicon of cpap terms"

Another very comprehensive glossary:
http://www.sandmansleep.com/resources/glossary.cfm

LINK to Janknitz's excellent - "WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU MEET YOUR DME Part I"
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/what-y ... me-part-i/

LINK to Mile High Sleeper's great information resource for cpap users.
http://www.smart-sleep-apnea.blogspot.com/

ALL LINKS by rested gal Not really "all", but a lot!
viewtopic.php?t=17435

[NotMuffy]

If you're going with PR, the newest version of SysOne is called the Aniversary Edition (or The Enhanced Version), but I only see a few folks who are offering it right now. It has some new features, so you might at least ask. That might also impress the DMEADP people in Tontario so they might say "Whoa, this one knows her stuff, so we better not pull a fast one!"

Just about the time I was going to ask, "Why didn't anybody notice this! Who's on watch tonite?", I see that Slinkster noted this a month ago.

OK, the only reason I posted at all was to show off my new logo and go "HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA on you Belichick!!!!!!!"

[NotMuffy]

OK, the only reason I posted at all was to show off my new logo and go "HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA on you Belichick!!!!!!!"

Hmmmm.

Mr. Belichick just PM'ed me with this photo



and the reply

"Gee, NotMuffy! Looks like I'll have to go home and just sit around watching reruns of 'Law and Order'."

"Or whatever."