Finally getting my APAP - Glad to be back on the forums.

[Gryphon]

Finally found a doctor that listens and agreed with me about my wish to obtain an APAP system that can adjust with me. I know my pressure levels change through out the year and depending on my allergies or if I sleep on my back or sides my levels can change by as much as 2.5 just from side sleeping vs. back some times more.

My new doctor agreed that the DME's can be a bit of a crap shoot so right now I have the support of a doctor willing to write me orders for what ever I want. Just waiting on the DME at this point.

When I walked in to his office I had been separated from my past DME and sleep doctor for over 3 years my former CPAP system died as I had to keep upping the pressure to maintain my numbers. I first borrowed a used family system but then I was able to acquire a brand new system from a family friend who was getting out of the CPAP business but staying in home oxygen and had set it up my self at a pressure of 13.8. My numbers average in the low 2's for AHI. New sleep doctor was so impressed by my numbers and my ability to articulate my experiences with my current treatment that he wants to just support me. If I want them to step in they will, if I have any questions they'll help, but he's willing to monitor from afar and let me control my own treatment.

I'm looking at getting an "AirSense 10 AutoSet" and will for now continue to use my Quatro full face mask... I've not been actively researching cpap equipment for the longest time but have settled on the AirSence as a good system that should cover my needs. As I currently have an S9 that I got my self through no involvement from insurance or doctors my new doctor is writing the order for a full replacement of my old defunct REMStar Pro system. I'll keep my S9 as a backup and the older RemStar Pro as a power outage backup as it works fully off of DC with a simple plug adapter.

If any one has any other recommendations or things I need to think about before talking with the DME I'm all ears. I have a battery system in my house that I set up years ago that can power my spare RemStar system for almost a week but don't know yet what kind of results I'm going to get with running the AirSence on such a system. I know I'll need to get my hands on a DC adapter for the system as I rather not use a 3rd party inverter and deal with the power loss from that. Though looking at the adapter for the AirSence it looks like some sort of inverter anyway so I may be at a loss regardless in that department.

I'm using a Mirage Quattro full face at this time and am interested in "Trying" the AirFit but am open to suggestions of something else I could ask to try when I visit the DME sometime in the next week or two.

I'm rather excited about finally having a self adjusting system and a doctor that will support me, respect me as a person, help explain if I'm wrong about something not just issue orders.
I'm just hoping that the DME doesn't cause me issues.

Wish me luck.

[kteague]

Congrats on finding a doctor who respects what you've learned and is willing to work with you on your treatment. Welcome back to the old neighborhood.

[Sir NoddinOff]

Finding a great sleep doctor is like hitting the Lotto big time... it makes things so much easier. DMEs are another story but hopefully you'll find the right one. If not, as you've already found out with your old S9, you can always control your own therapy and buy new or used equipment from CPAPtalk members or elsewhere online. That type of transaction can be dicey on a few rare occasions, however just come here and ask questions as to what's desirable and priced right. BTW, a good test of a sleep doctor's interest in you is to take in Sleepyhead software and give him/her a run thru of your results.

[Janknitz]

Ask the doctor to specify make and model: "ResMed Airsense Auto" and whether you want a slimline (standard) or heated hose. Then he should write "Dispense as Written". It will forestall some arguments with the DME if your doctor writes a range of pressures in your prescription--say 11 to 15 cm H20. If he writes it for a fixed pressure they will give you guff about getting an auto. Once you receive the machine you can set it the way you want. Have your doctor write the prescription for "mask of patient's choice" so you can change your mind any time.

Next contact your insurance company and find out all the particulars--which DME's they will pay for, and whether it's a rent to own or outright purchase. It's better for you to know the facts before you walk into the DME's office, so they can't play stupid DME games with you. If your DME disputes information that you have, make them call the insurer with you right there on speaker and clear up any confusion.

[Gryphon]

Other then the AIRSense how many CPAP systems that are Auto offer cellular connectivity with the doctor's office?

[palerider]

Other then the AIRSense how many CPAP systems that are Auto offer cellular connectivity with the doctor's office?

all resmeds and respironics for the last six years or so.

[Gryphon]

I should have known that would be a silly question before I even asked it. I'll just wait and see what the DME comes back to me with and if it's some odd ball system I've never heard of before then I'll put the breaks on etc.

[SewTired]

You may instead want to get a Respironics auto if you have frequent power outs. Seems to me that the battery backup you have already would be easier to manage than finding an alternate for a Resmed product. I could be wrong, but judging from the info in the threads, the battery backup for the Resmed costs quite a bit more. Then you can ditch the much older machine that was giving you problems anyway.

[Sir NoddinOff]

Echoing what others have said here's a reasonably up-to-date database that tells one if a machine has data capability... yes, even some of the newest models are not data capable, sad to say:

https://sleep.tnet.com/cmd

Not the easiest database to work with but just be sure to get the machine name and model numbers right.

[palerider]

Echoing what others have said here's a reasonably up-to-date database that tells one if a machine has data capability... yes, even some of the newest models are not data capable, sad to say:

https://sleep.tnet.com/cmd

Not the easiest database to work with but just be sure to get the machine name and model numbers right.

I like this view of things: https://sleep.tnet.com/equipment/cpapmachines the cmd database is better for finding out stuff about specific machines, or groups.