Helping my dad

[FreeIndeed]

I have been on CPAP since a rough start last September and have learned a ton here. Even before I got started my father was diagnosed as needing CPAP therapy (ANd IC an tell from his naps - he needs it!) Anyway, he's been in for three sleep studies now and each time they tell him his results were inconclusive and they can;t give a recommended setting etc. He is very frustrated after spending over 3K out of pocket with no results and the same people telling him he needs to go back in and do another sleep study.
I think it's very important to get him started, but he doesn't want to go back in and waste another thousand dollars. He suggested buying a used machine and going at it much like I did when I started. I'm not even sure if you can get a used machine and am not sure what to think overall. ANy thoughts on this situation? I know when he does the sleep studies he tells me he just can't sleep with all the wires and the mask etc. and I can;t blame him for not wanting to keep repeating the same thing over again.

[OkyDoky]

I would suggest you get copies of those sleep studies from the clinic and see what they are basing their comments on.

[LSAT]

There are plenty of used machines available. If you can get a prescription, go to secondwindcpap.com .....If you have no prescription, there are several members here that have new CPAPs available. If nothing else...go to Craigslist.

[BleepingBeauty]

I think it's very important to get him started, but he doesn't want to go back in and waste another thousand dollars. He suggested buying a used machine and going at it much like I did when I started. I'm not even sure if you can get a used machine and am not sure what to think overall. ANy thoughts on this situation?

I'm in a similar situation with my own dad. I've suspected for years that he has apnea; but unlike your dad, mine has refused to get tested. I'm going to take his situation on, myself, with an old APAP machine I have. I used it a few years ago for a few months (bought it used on Craigslist - YES, you can buy a used machine in a number of ways). It's fully data-capable, so I'm planning on having my dad use it (probably just during naps at first, and set wide open pressure-wise), and then I'll look at the data, see what the machine is telling me, and then try to narrow down his pressure needs (if he DOES have apnea, of course).

If you're comfortable reading the data from your own machine, you should be able to do the same for your dad (and you can always get help with the data from others here on the forum). A used data-capable machine is easily found (Craigslist, secondwindcpap.com, someone on this forum may have a spare machine to sell, etc.) for low money. The mask is the hard(er) part of the equation, IMO. I'm going to FL (where my dad lives) soon and will bring my old APAP and a bunch of masks I have that might work for him.

I would suggest you get copies of those sleep studies from the clinic and see what they are basing their comments on.

I agree with this. There's lots of helpful information in the sleep study report(s); just be sure to get from 5-7 pages of detail (charts and graphs, not JUST the one- or two-page doctor's summary). I was about 18 months into my therapy before I got my sleep study information; people here clued me in to what the reports revealed, and my therapy changed dramatically (with no thanks to my sleep doctor at the time). My therapy has been successful because of what I learned right here and did on my own. Get the reports.

And I'll wish us both luck with our respective dads.

[Julie]

One thing to consider - if he's napping & sleeping on his back, but not a lot otherwise, that really complex concept might be what has the techs confused if his AHI drops when side sleeping. See if you can get him to just not sleep on his back (if this fits) and if it works meaningfully, he may have positional apnea that, if he stays off his back and maybe wears a soft cervical collar to keep his head up as many do, he might not need a machine. Worth checking into, no?

[OkyDoky]

I recently purchased a 0 hrs DS560 from Mark that I am very happy with. You might check to see if the Airsense is still available. You can see he also had a lot of good remarks from regular posters here. viewtopic/t102881/For-Sale--New-ResMed- ... t-675.html

[Jason0269]

Not sure how it would work for you, if your out of state but there are postings on Denver Craigslist for brand new Resmed S9 Cpap with auto set and heated humidifier for $400. My dad needed one a few months back and that's where I got his from. Thankfully the VA pays for mine.

[Tatooed Lady]

Another thought is that if you're on xPAP already, and have a prescription, use it to get a backup machine that can also be used to check his sleep. Then, if he's good without a machine, you'll have a spare unit "just in case." Out of pocket cost for an auto (assuming that's what your Scrip is) will be cheaper than another lab study.

OR...you can try to get him set up with a home sleep study. Still a few hundred bucks, but he might get more accurate info, since the equipment used is far simpler and he can sleep in his own bed. And, again, cheaper than the lab, with the added bonus of having ballpark info.

[palerider]

Another thought is that if you're on xPAP already, and have a prescription, use it to get a backup machine that can also be used to check his sleep. Then, if he's good without a machine, you'll have a spare unit "just in case." Out of pocket cost for an auto (assuming that's what your Scrip is) will be cheaper than another lab study.

OR...you can try to get him set up with a home sleep study. Still a few hundred bucks, but he might get more accurate info, since the equipment used is far simpler and he can sleep in his own bed. And, again, cheaper than the lab, with the added bonus of having ballpark info.

here's a new home test that I heard about that's 200$ https://winkhealth.com/#/index

[archangle]

See if you can browbeat the doctors into dispensing a good Auto CPAP. Check the links in my signature for good models, but the Philips Respironics Auto or ResMed AutoSet models are all good.

Then learn how to use SleepyHead and read his results and tinker if necessary to find the right pressure settings. As long as he doesn't develop central apnea, he'll probably be better off with "not exactly right" pressure vs. no CPAP. The machines will tell you if he develops central apnea.

Do you live near him, and do you think he'll let you help or even learn how to do the computer and self adjustment stuff himself?