Hi Greggcpaper wrote:I was surprised to find all you guys with the software and self administering your treatment. Here in the UK everything is done through the sleep clinics. It’s unheard of to monitor yourself! I’ve found it quite reassuring to hear from you guys!
Gregg
As a fellow Brit, I was intrigued by your comment. Bit of a long story, but the headline is I'm administering my own treatment because I couldn't endure the lengthy wait to get treated on the NHS and can't afford private treatment. If you want to read the full version, here it is:
After exploring several other avenues to explain my constant fatigue and ill health, I was referred by my GP for a sleep study on the NHS. I waited 3 months for my turn to borrow the equipment for one night at home, ie a box with all sorts of leads to attach to my chest, finger and nose. Upon returning it to the hospital the next morning, I asked when I would find out the results and was told I would have to wait for an appointment to see the specialist, for which there was a 3 month waiting list. Don't ask me why the appointment with the specialist isn't booked when the request for the sleep study is made, so that it follows shortly afterwards Further enquiry revealed that, if diagnosed with OSA, this doctor would then need to refer me to a clinic in London to get CPAP prescribed, for which, guess what, there was a further 3 to 6 month waiting list.
Strangely, however, I could see the same doctor privately within a week, and he could write me a prescription to buy my own equipment, or loan me a machine for a fee Sadly, I have no medical insurance, but had read enough about the condition to know that, if I had it, I wasn't prepared to wait a further 6 to 9 months before treatment began. I therefore coughed up the cash to see him privately and get the prescription.
I then purchased machine & mask from cpap.com at significantly lower cost than I could in the UK. I'm fortunate in that my brother lives in the US and was about to visit the UK, so I got it delivered to him and he brought it over, thus avoiding penal import duty. (I hope you, or anyone else reading this, doesn't work for Customs & Excise )
As I knew I wouldn't want to visit the specialist privately too often (unless I win the lottery ) I went for a Remstar auto with c-flex, so that I wasn't stuck with a single pressure setting. I've also now ordered the software so that I can keep an eye on things. Again, I've used cpap.com because the UK price is outrageous in comparison.
It was reading about the experiences of others in this forum that gave me the confidence to go this route, and I'm feeling significantly better after about 3 months on the hose
I wonder whether any others in the UK have similar experience?
