Newbie looking for some suggestions

First, let me say that I've been using a CPAP for about 2 years, but I'm new to this forum. I'm simply amazed by the amount of quality information here. I've been reading for hours.

My situation is as follows:
After being constantly tired, I was given a sleep study at the Cleveland Clinic and found to have OSA. I was hooked up to an autopap for several weeks at home. The machine was then taken and a doctor analyzed the results. I was then given a mask and cpap from a home health care provider that apparently worked with either the Cleveland Clinic or my insurance company (not sure which). I was basically handed the mask and machine (DevilBiss 9100d) with absolutely no options on either. There is no humidifier with the machine and the mask is the triangular type the fits over the entire nose. The hose is on a pivot from the mask and I'm constantly struggling to wedge the hose between my pillow and my headboard so it is at the correct angle for me to sleep without air hitting me or making noise. Even after two years, I find the mask to be very uncomfortable (but still worth wearing to be rested).

After reading these forums, I find myself wanting to upgrade my machine and mask. I have a couple issues, though. First of all, I never received a copy of my sleep study nor did a get a prescription for the CPAP. Apparently, the doctor gave this directly to the home health supplier that brought me the mask and machine. I never actually met the doctor, so I don't even know his name. Should I see if I can get my prescription from the home health supplier? Apparently, I need this to buy a machine?

Does anyone know if my machine collects data? I'm thinking the CPAP setting of 9 is not high enough. I remember seeing the number on the autopap often at 16 for the short time I had it.

Thankfully, my insurance covered the cost of the machine and mask. When he delivered it, the guy from the home health supplier said my insurance would cover the cost of a new mask and hose each year. Can I get CPAP.com to bill my insurance company if I order a new mask? (I'm thinking of getting a Comfortlite2 Nasal Interface based on the comments posted here) Anyone had any experience with getting insurance to pay for a new/better machine?

Guess I'm not real sure how to proceed from here. I don't have the prescription or sleep study and I feel like a got stuck with a sub-par machine and mask.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, hose, cpap.com, CPAP, Prescription

Welcom, Steve.

You can buy a stand alone humidfier to connect to your present machine, should you want to go on using it.

You need you prersrcription to buy a new machine.

cpap.com (hosts of this site) also run "billmyinsurance" which will help you find out how your insurance works with this online shop.

Try hanging the hose on a scrunchy from your bedboard, so that it comes to you from above - it seems to help many many people.
Good luck!

O.

Hi, just in case you don't have a young daughter - a scrunchie is an elasticized, cloth covered (and scrunched up looking) circular ponytail holder available in drugstores where hair products (not boxes of dye) are sold hanging up. Looks like a circular deflated sausage casing and if hung on the wall, can hold the hose through it.

Steve-o,

Ask your DME (the home health care store that gave you the machine and mask) for a copy of your prescription. If they balk at doing that, ask them for the name of the doctor that wrote the Rx. Surely they will (at least, "should") tell you the doctor's name so you can get in touch with his office to ask for a copy of the Rx.

If you decide to buy a heated humidifier, I'd suggest you buy the Fisher & Paykel HC 150 humidifier. It's a separate humidifier, so you can use it with any machine. If, in the future, you switch brands of cpap machines, you wouldn't have to spend extra bucks getting a new humidifier the way you'd have to if you bought a specific "integrated" humidifier for a specific machine.

Selena, that was a great description of what a scrunchy is and where to find them. They are as utilitarian and attractive as cpap hose accessories as they are as hair accessories!

I would also suggest talking to your primary doctor, if there was any kind of referral to the sleep clinic in the first place, they may have a record of that transaction and can use that to confirm your diagnosis (DX). If they were the referring doctor, they may even have a copy of your original study/results.

Your primary doctor can use that information to write you a new script for a new machine. I like working with my Primary doctor over the specialist anyway, much easier to get the things done and need with less hassle.