35,600 hrs time to upgrade

[qckndrty]

So 13 years and four months of nightly use (except for the few days after hurricanes in 2004), I'm in the process of obtaining a prescription to upgrade my bipap machine. It still runs beautifully, but know it's exceeded it's life expectancy.

Found my original sleep doctor though he's with another medical group. Of course he prescribed a new sleep study but I was able to convince him to do the at-home method which is much less expensive. I'm actually having a little anxiety of having to sleep without my trusty machine and mask but he wouldn't simply write a scrip without the test.

It's amazing the technology that's available today and looking forward to a new machine very soon. Doubtful that a new one will last as long but I'll keep the old one as a backup. Lots of reading and decisions on the type of machine for upgrade but I feel in good hands with this community.

[Sir NoddinOff]

All I can say is WOW... that's a lot of hours. Hope you do as well on your new machine. Keep your old machine (if it's working okay) for a backup in case there are problems with your new one.

[Cowboy Casey]

that is awesome, Man that's allot of hours..

Cheers

[BlackSpinner]

Of course he prescribed a new sleep study but I was able to convince him to do the at-home method which is much less expensive. I'm actually having a little anxiety of having to sleep without my trusty machine and mask but he wouldn't simply write a scrip without the test..

Unless you lost a lot of weight you may want to consider having your regular GP or dentist write a prescription.

[qckndrty]

I had no idea a dentist could write a scrip. It being 13+ years, I suppose some type of study is warranted.

My primary doctor is only interested in money and would give me a referral only so I bypassed that waste and went directly to the original sleep doc. He couldn't get my original records from his previous employer, though. Guess it's been too long.

[BlackSpinner]

I had no idea a dentist could write a scrip. It being 13+ years, I suppose some type of study is warranted.

My primary doctor is only interested in money and would give me a referral only so I bypassed that waste and went directly to the original sleep doc. He couldn't get my original records from his previous employer, though. Guess it's been too long.

Then you can demand them under HIPPA - they have to provide them.

[chunkyfrog]

If Medicare requires a re-diagnosis in spite of evidence of a cure, it is irresponsible,
and may constitute a tort, (harmful act) which could warrant examination in the courts.
I'm just waiting for some ambitious litigator to put together a class action.

[Drowsy Dancer]

I think it's a wise decision to get a new primary machine at this point, but you might well find that the new machine lasts just as long as the old one.

[codinqueen]

There is a limit to how long medical records are kept, and 13 years is probably way over that limit. Each state has laws governing how old medical records need to be before they are purged. I am not sure of the number of years now, but in 1995 If the patient is not seen in that Drs' office within 7 years in GA & FL they are within their rights to destroy the records. Can you imagine how many OLD medical records would be in storage all over the world if there were not limits set by law? In the case of a minor, hospitals are required to keep the records available, I think, in some form (usually in past was microfiche) until the patient is at the age of majority plus 7 years.

If you get a sleep study done, you should always ask for a copy and keep it in your home medical records file. You never know when you might need it.

And insurance is not likely to pay for a new machine if there is not a sleep study performed first to be sure you need it and to titrate the settings.