Stuck in middle between Dr & Supplier: CPAP vs APAP?

[crankybear]

I met with my family dr. and she reviewed my sleep center studies, which claims I have severe sleep apnea and the report recomended a cpap. I have just received my prescription for a cpap. When I asked Dr. about what options I have, I was told the supplier would know best and is trustworthy. Supplier told me that my sleep apnea must not be to bad, since it calls for a cpap. I asked if I should have an apap, since report said severe. I was told that would be no problem, if Dr. changed my srcipt. I feel my dr. simply read report to me and did not understand the reports any more than I did.

Should I be requesting an apap over a cpap. ? If so, what should I be telling or asking? I feel that I am stuck in the middle between dr and supplier.
Please give me some feedback that I can go to Dr. with.

[zoocrewphoto]

I would ask for the apap. You can use it in apap mode and cpap mode, so it can go both ways. The cpap can only do cpap. Auto is great if your pressure needs go up and down during the night. Often, sleep apnea is worse when sleeping on your back and during REM. So, this way you can have a lower setting for most of the night and the ability to go up as needed.

Just make sure your machine will give you full data.

[edm_msu]

Crankybear,
My sleep study said 9cm H2O. My general practicioner doctor wrote a prescription for a CPAP. The DME supplied a CPAP. Then I read about an Auto CPAP here and decided I wanted one. I requested an Auto from the DME and they said that I needed an Auto prescription. I went back to my general practicioner doctor and she wrote a prescription for an Auto. The DME did not accept it because a range wasn't specified. I went back to my general practicioner doctor again and she said that she did not know what to specify and offered another sleep study. These are very expensive so I did not do that. Then I went to see a sleep specialist and requested an Auto. My AHI is severe on my back and moderate overall. He thought about this and said that the maximum pressure would be needed on my back and less pressure would be needed if I wasn't on my back. He wrote a prescription for 6 to 10cm H2O. I think part of his reason was that people have problems accepting XPAPs and this might make it easier to use for me.

Anyways, an Auto does work better for me. Even if it doesn't work better, you can still use it as a CPAP. It was worth the trouble to get the Auto. If I had to do it again, I would request an Auto prescription before the second sleep test.
Good luck,
Ed M.

[ChicagoGranny]

Whichever machine you eventually get make absolutely certain it is data-capable and is compatible with a readily available software. This is probably more important than the APAP/CPAP decision.

However I would also make certain to get an APAP because they are only a few dollars more and can function in APAP or CPAP mode.

Stick with the forum and let the members help you throughout the process of selecting machines and masks and learning to use CPAP. When you have selected an exact model contact the GP and ask her to write a new prescription for that exact model. Then the supplier cannot legally supply anything else.

I recommend this machine - https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/resme ... chine.html

The prescription should read - resmed s9 autoset cpap machine with heated humidifier with pressure settings _______

Be very careful that the machine is truly the AutoSet model because ResMed has other models with similar names but without data capabilities.

Lean on the forum for help.

[ChicagoGranny]

BTW, that is normal for GPs to not know crap about machines and studies. You need to get educated, take control of the process and hold her hand to lead her through.

[Janknitz]

Try this: "Dr., I've been doing some research and I think that the following prescription will be best for me: "Auto-adjusting CPAP with patient access to AHI and leak data set at ______ cm pressure, mask of patient's choice". If you have a preference for a specific model, then ask the doctor to order exactly that: "ResMed S9 Autoset set at ______ cm pressure, mask of patient's choice". It's also helpful if your doctor writes "Dispense as Written" on the prescription.

Your doctor should have no trouble writing either of the prescriptions above, but if your doctor is intimidated by your taking responsibility for your own health then you have bigger issues.

PLEASE be sure to read my blog post "What you need to know BEFORE you meet your DME" before you talk to a DME.

[Sheriff Buford]

If the doctor is giving you a choice and you have a say (which you do...) get an autopap. That being said, as long as you get a data-capable machine, there are many folks getting sucessful treatment of their apnea using cpap. Educate yourself as much as you can. Your health is depending on you. Best of luck!!

Sheriff

[chunkyfrog]

If Resmed products are available, only S9 series are current; s8 or lower is old technology,
and are available gently used for very low prices.
Avoid anything with the word "escape" in the name.

[crankybear]

All went well. Supplier agreed to tell Dr. to upgrade script to an APAP. Met with supplier and they gave me a resmed s9, which seems to be the best by what everyone says at cpaptalk. FYI My overall apnea hypopnea index was severe at 71.8 events/ hr.
Tonight will be my first night!

[archangle]

All went well. Supplier agreed to tell Dr. to upgrade script to an APAP. Met with supplier and they gave me a resmed s9, which seems to be the best by what everyone says at cpaptalk. FYI My overall apnea hypopnea index was severe at 71.8 events/ hr.
Tonight will be my first night!

"ResMed S9" means nothing. We need to specify the model name, which will be Escape, Escape Auto, Elite, or AutoSet.