Newbie with some questions

[Foxtrot3000]

Good morning

I did my first sleep study last month and then had a call from the sleep lab saying the doctor ordered a second sleep test so I went back on the 15th and they put me on a cpap for the night to find my pressure settings. I have not seen my sleep doc yet about any of the results so I don't have any real info a about my results from eather study yet. I go In to see the sleep doc on Wednesday for the results but what I am wondering is if I am put on a cpap if it would be wrong of me to go through the local dme to get everything then in a few months when my deductible is required again(700) if I should just buy a blower and give the one that my insurance is going to make me rent but keep everything else like the humidifier and such?
I have aetna for insurance and when I called the insurance company and asked there coverage of cpap equipment they said that the cpap it self is a forever rental. After the machine is paid off they switch me to a matinance plan where every six months they would bill me and I would never own it. All the other stuff is an out right buy.

Also I drive truck for a living and I have been trying to get the details about the rules for sleep apnea and no one seems to give me an answer. All I know is I have to be compiant but no one can tell me if I am sophist to take time off to get compiant or if I can keep driving and what not. Any one have any idea? Thanks for your time

Foxtrot

[123.Shawn T.W.]

Welcome FoxTrot!

I too am a truck driver! (I drive for Heartless Express! )

Here is the ruling (as much as it is) straight from the horses mouth ... http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety-securit ... Apnea.aspx

Basically says that if you are diagnosed with "moderate (AHI greater than 15), or severe" sleep apnea (SA) that you are required to be compliant. (I have mild) being compliant usually means you need to get treatment (keep the mask on your face at the prescribed pressure) for a minimum of four (4) hours a night, 70% of the nights ... however ... it also could mean that to be "treated" ... could also require that the "treatment" needs to bring you below an AHI of five (5) (this is not spelled out, and could be a "state" thing)

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I would not even bother with the rental thing ... and just buy a good Auto Cpap machine (APAP) I would recommend the Philips Respironics System One Series 60 model 560 (even though I just bought another used 550 model, since I'm already set up with that model, they are discontinued now)

Here are two video's of why I like the Philips Respironics System One (PRS1) series ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi0SJN2bqHk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ail9WDggLso

Get a 12 volt cord $25-$40 .... if you don't want to run a power inverter ... I use a 12 volt cord (though I used a inverter when I was with Werner, Heartless does not allow inverters!) and can run the APAP, a 40 qt cooler, plus a fan all night long, and still have plenty of battery left in the morning to start the truck!

[Pugsy]

You know you might consider just buying out of pocket right now and be done with it.
By the time you pay for the humidifier and rent the blower until January you may just be swapping dollars depending on what they want you to pay for the humidifier out right and the monthly rental.
Do the Math.
But wait till after your visit with the doctor to make sure you are going to be prescribed a regular cpap/apap machine and not a bilevel machine (sometimes prescribed for pressure needs reason or centrals).

You can buy a PR System One 60 Series Auto CPAP with humidifier, heated hose, travel bag, etc for around $650 or so from cpap.com..call them for exact numbers as there is a discount from the MSRP that is shown.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... -tube.html

Forum member STLMark has a new zero hour 560 machine like above for $400 and for another $75 you can have the heated hose option.

It's a great machine...full data with software easily available and easy to use.

There is of course the ResMed S9 Autoset from cpap.com but it costs a little under $1000 and when paying out of pocket it isn't worth the difference in cost IMHO and I have had the opportunity to use both brands. Also it is 24 volt machine and not the 12 volt so a special converter is needed depending on power source.

I see that Shawn has already spoke up...I was going to suggest that you contact him since he is OTR truck driver.

Oh...you can still use a brick and mortar DME store for your masks and other supplies if you want to and decide to buy your machine out of pocket. You don't have to buy a machine from them to use a brick and mortar store.

Finally....that never owning thing that your insurance offers...it has one advantage. If something goes wrong with the machine after warranty has expired it's easier to get a replacement machine because they own it and not you. Warranties are typically 2 years. Again do the math...how much is that 6 month maintenance contract? Last I heard it was somewhere in the $60 range.

[123.Shawn T.W.]

Yes, I would recommend the "brick and mortar" store for your mask selection, especially at the beginning ... masks can be difficult to find the "right one" for your face ... without a good mask fit, you will be frustrated, and may quit, and/or not get treatment because of the leaks are too high ...

A good Durable Medical Equipment (DME) office will let you try a BUNCH of different mask, to get you one that will work for YOU! Should be no charge beyond the first mask in the first 30 days ... but depends on the actual DME, and their policy!

Some are good, some are far from it ... if you are in the Tucson area, let me now, I think I finally found a good one! Here is their website http://www.medoneaz.com/ they actually have an office in Tucson off from Prince (520) 300-6434

Have your Dr write the prescription for the actual model of the APAP (can be switched to CPAP) that you want, and "Mask of patients CHOICE" (this does not lock you into a nasal mask, when in a few weeks you may decide you need a full face mask (ffm)

[123.Shawn T.W.]

Here is a GOOD explanation of some of the "tricks" the DME may try ... http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/what-y ... me-part-i/

This explains some good and bad machines ... http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/ (the PRS1 560 is the most recent model put out, and replaces the 550)

[Foxtrot3000]

Thanks for the replys
I am going to start out with the rental mainly because I just can't afford to buy everything right now but when I called the dme checking stuff out they did tell me over the phone that the only machines they give out for cpap is the s9 autoset and that's kinda the machine I wanted anyway. It's just a mom and pop shop type of dme. The other option I had was apra and from what I have been reading I just don't want to go there. Lol. And I live in Ohio so don't think ur dme would be right for me because that would be one long drive
btw I drive for swift. I know not the best company but they seem to do right by me so I stick around

Foxtrot

[123.Shawn T.W.]

That is a good machine ... just make sure you empty the humidifier every "morning" before driving ... I have "heard" that they can get water splashed back into the blower ... and cause problems!

If your gonna run a inverter, (you will need a 300 watt or bigger) it does not make much difference ... the Re$med 12 volt cord is 3-4 times the price as the one from Respironics ...

[Foxtrot3000]

Ohhhh one more quick question.

When I go in to see my sleep doc on Wednesday is there anything I should ask him about? I already plan on getting a copy of both my sleep study's and getting a copy of the percription (if he gives me one and I think he will) but anything else? I plan on getting him to give me one that says machine and mask of patients choosing that way I can get stuff from the web when I want too.
Foxtrot