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There's always a chance that you could end up in an emergency situation in which having the diagnosis on the dreaded e-records could be very helpful. A car accident requiring surgery or heart attack/stroke with no family member to report the sleep apnea could prevent you from receiving optimal care with anesthesia situation or something.

jmdearras wrote:I fully intend to continue treatment that's not the question. as to getting the equipment, it's not hard to get good quality machines, even new. The grey market s 9 I bought was brand new, and new masks are available without prescription from some websites. I am currently using the AutoSet ResMed s9. I have monitoring software and can tell how I'm doing. Neither of my sons, who went through DMEs, get any sort of feedback at all.

the question is, are there disadvantages and advantages 2 a medical diagnosis of sleep apnea, assuming I am going to continue self treatment.

The only advantage I can think of is if you were official and have insurance they would pay. Depending on your insurance they might not pay it all and just might make it harder to do what you want. They also may increase your premiums to cover what they do pay.

It sounds to me like you are on track and doing fine. It it ain't broke don't f* with it.

fdw wrote:

jmdearras wrote:
I wake up better, more alert, no snoring, and have had beneficial side effects, like no acid reflux at night, and vastly reduced PVCs.

Jim

How do you know there PVC's, do you have verification by EKG?

We need to talk.

talk? I've have PVCs for several decades, and had extensive cardiac tests last year and 20 years ago. My heart is fine. But I can feel the PVCs at night, sometimes, and now they are gone.

A disadvantage to having sleep apnea on your record might be purchasing life insurance.
That's about the only disadvantage I can think of.
It most likely would cause rate adjustment upwards.

Pugsy wrote:A disadvantage to having sleep apnea on your record might be purchasing life insurance.
That's about the only disadvantage I can think of.
It most likely would cause rate adjustment upwards.

Excellent point.

Bons wrote:There's always a chance that you could end up in an emergency situation in which having the diagnosis on the dreaded e-records could be very helpful. A car accident requiring surgery or heart attack/stroke with no family member to report the sleep apnea could prevent you from receiving optimal care with anesthesia situation or something.

Or you could just put a note in your wallet that includes CPAP info/ titration rate, along with any meds you are taking. If you are in an accident/ emergency situation by yourself, paramedics/ ER personnel are trained to look for this kind of info in personal belongings.

SleepyEyes21 wrote:

Bons wrote:There's always a chance that you could end up in an emergency situation in which having the diagnosis on the dreaded e-records could be very helpful. A car accident requiring surgery or heart attack/stroke with no family member to report the sleep apnea could prevent you from receiving optimal care with anesthesia situation or something.

Or you could just put a note in your wallet that includes CPAP info/ titration rate, along with any meds you are taking. If you are in an accident/ emergency situation by yourself, paramedics/ ER personnel are trained to look for this kind of info in personal belongings.

this sounds like a much better idea, rather than hoping that someone might possibly match up your medical records and chance to get you and not someone with a similar name and birthday... and etc.

SleepyEyes21 wrote:

Bons wrote:There's always a chance that you could end up in an emergency situation in which having the diagnosis on the dreaded e-records could be very helpful. A car accident requiring surgery or heart attack/stroke with no family member to report the sleep apnea could prevent you from receiving optimal care with anesthesia situation or something.

Or you could just put a note in your wallet that includes CPAP info/ titration rate, along with any meds you are taking. If you are in an accident/ emergency situation by yourself, paramedics/ ER personnel are trained to look for this kind of info in personal belongings.

I also have an app on my ipod touch that has my medical info. And I have my parents and sister listed on my phone as ICE (In Case of Emergency). They know to mention the sleep apnea and that my settings are on the ipod. I am the backup info for my mom. Thankfully, though, it seems pretty standard to check oxygen levels, so any problems would be noticed quickly. The last time that my mom went to the ER, I could see her oxygen level on the monitor. It went down anytime she was reclined. Partially sitting up, she was 94%, but she went into the 80s when they had her lie down.

jmdearras wrote:

fdw wrote:

jmdearras wrote:
I wake up better, more alert, no snoring, and have had beneficial side effects, like no acid reflux at night, and vastly reduced PVCs.

Jim

How do you know there PVC's, do you have verification by EKG?

We need to talk.

talk? I've have PVCs for several decades, and had extensive cardiac tests last year and 20 years ago. My heart is fine. But I can feel the PVCs at night, sometimes, and now they are gone.

Thant's Great!

I wore a heart monitor for 3 weeks 24/7 and my heart Doc seen all the PVC's (premature ventricular contractions) and several VT's (ventricular tachycardia), and AF (arterial fibrillation). I've had palpitations for about 26 years, and diagnosed with AF about 20 years ago. Im 56 years old and fairly fit.

My extensive cardiac test over the years are:
EKG every time I see my Doc
Echocardiogram every 2 years past 20 years
Stress Test W/Echo every 5 years past 20 years
Cardio Catheterization only once, no blockage
Heart CT Scan only once
Heart halter monitor 3 weeks 24/7 only once
AF Ablation (heart surgery to fix AF) only once 2 months ago.

All my heart problems most likely caused by Sleep Apnea, all of my doctors will not confirm but say is a major contributor. I've never been overweight, have always considered myself as an athlete. I've always been very active in sports and exercise, never used drugs or abused alcohol, I WAS a tobacco user (smoke and smokeless).

When I get good CPAP theory my PVC's are also reduced as well.....thats why I say we need to talk!

BlackSpinner wrote:

jmdearras wrote: I am overweight, over 60, snore, etc. my wife egged me into trying the APAP. Bottom line it, it really helped. I wake up better, more alert, no snoring, and have had beneficial side effects, like no acid reflux at night, and vastly reduced PVCs.

It is helpful to go ahead and get diagnosed, or am I better off just staying "off-grid" with this?

Thanks
Jim

The official diagnosis is helpful if you end up needing surgery or in the hospital for any other reason. It can make a difference for the anaesthesia and to be allowed a cpap in your room.

Julie,
I was just about to write something along a similar line. I know from experience that if you just tell the anaesthiologist you have sleep apnea the chances they actually do something is not too good. Once you have it medically diagnosed you are taken seriously.

So my advise would be diagnosed.

Julie? Uhhh... who exactly were you agreeing with? My note's on pg 1 and had no relation to the quotes you linked to... but then we're all half asleep here, so I'll forgive you this time.

But, if you were agreeing with my note, great!

Julie wrote:Julie? Uhhh... who exactly were you agreeing with? My note's on pg 1 and had no relation to the quotes you linked to... but then we're all half asleep here, so I'll forgive you this time.

But, if you were agreeing with my note, great!

Oops, chalk that up to fingers gone wild!!

fdw wrote:

jmdearras wrote:

fdw wrote:

jmdearras wrote:
I wake up better, more alert, no snoring, and have had beneficial side effects, like no acid reflux at night, and vastly reduced PVCs.

Jim

How do you know there PVC's, do you have verification by EKG?

We need to talk.

talk? I've have PVCs for several decades, and had extensive cardiac tests last year and 20 years ago. My heart is fine. But I can feel the PVCs at night, sometimes, and now they are gone.

Thant's Great!

I wore a heart monitor for 3 weeks 24/7 and my heart Doc seen all the PVC's (premature ventricular contractions) and several VT's (ventricular tachycardia), and AF (arterial fibrillation). I've had palpitations for about 26 years, and diagnosed with AF about 20 years ago. Im 56 years old and fairly fit.

My extensive cardiac test over the years are:
EKG every time I see my Doc
Echocardiogram every 2 years past 20 years
Stress Test W/Echo every 5 years past 20 years
Cardio Catheterization only once, no blockage
Heart CT Scan only once
Heart halter monitor 3 weeks 24/7 only once
AF Ablation (heart surgery to fix AF) only once 2 months ago.

All my heart problems most likely caused by Sleep Apnea, all of my doctors will not confirm but say is a major contributor. I've never been overweight, have always considered myself as an athlete. I've always been very active in sports and exercise, never used drugs or abused alcohol, I WAS a tobacco user (smoke and smokeless).

When I get good CPAP theory my PVC's are also reduced as well.....thats why I say we need to talk!

I've had a number of stress tests, and always pass, no damage. PVCs seem to run in my family, thought I'm starting to wonder if sleep apnea does too. Sometimes at night, the PVCs would occur ever third, or every other beat, and felt annoying. After a few weeks on apap, it occurred to me I had not had any noticeable PVCs in quite a while.

I've had a number of stress tests, and always pass, no damage. PVCs seem to run in my family, thought I'm starting to wonder if sleep apnea does too. Sometimes at night, the PVCs would occur ever third, or every other beat, and felt annoying. After a few weeks on apap, it occurred to me I had not had any noticeable PVCs in quite a while.

Wearing a heart monitor over a period of time is the only way to (I believe) study the heart's electrical function......IMO you really need to get diagnosed, remember my medical degree is from a Fruit Loop cereal box.

When you have SA, and don't get adequate treatment your blood oxygen levels drop during the night effecting your organs functions, never mind how you feel! Don't let something so treatable effect your short/long term health. As a do it yourself'er you can get a blood O2 monitor on Amazon fairly cheap to check your levels, keep in mind you'd wear on your finger all night, then you need software to read the results, and the ability to interpret the results.

God Bless.....I hope you get the answers your searching for.

fdw wrote:

I've had a number of stress tests, and always pass, no damage. PVCs seem to run in my family, thought I'm starting to wonder if sleep apnea does too. Sometimes at night, the PVCs would occur ever third, or every other beat, and felt annoying. After a few weeks on apap, it occurred to me I had not had any noticeable PVCs in quite a while.

Wearing a heart monitor over a period of time is the only way to (I believe) study the heart's electrical function......IMO you really need to get diagnosed, remember my medical degree is from a Fruit Loop cereal box.

When you have SA, and don't get adequate treatment your blood oxygen levels drop during the night effecting your organs functions, never mind how you feel! Don't let something so treatable effect your short/long term health. As a do it yourself'er you can get a blood O2 monitor on Amazon fairly cheap to check your levels, keep in mind you'd wear on your finger all night, then you need software to read the results, and the ability to interpret the results.

God Bless.....I hope you get the answers your searching for.

The cardiac specialists have told me the PVCs are benign, after considerable testing. They could be treated by some laser probe to zap an electrical center in my heart. but the odds of then needing a pacemaker are very high. I believe that counts as diagnosis! I do have a spO2 meter, too. I think I have it all under control, thanks!