New And over the moon happy waiting for my CPAP

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 10, 2019 5:41 pm

In Missouri when someone has Medicare and Medicaid....Medicare pays first (the usual 80% of allowed amount) and then Medicaid picks up what Medicare didn't pay so that remaining 20% of the allowed amount.
Medicare's replacement schedule will be used for future purchases if someone wants to use Medicare/Medicaid.
When you are able to use your Medicare you won't have any out of pocket expenses but you will be limited to their replacement schedule.

Which sleep institute did you use? One associated with one of the hospitals or something else?

I went to Dr. Munshi, Branson pulmonology and sleep medicine. I don't think they are associated with the hospitals. this is the first time I've sought help for any thing sleep related so I don't know alot about how it's supposed to work at sleep studies, but the technicians there are amazing. I tend to get over anxious but they really made me feel comfortable and relaxed and gave me tons of great info. They really seen to love getting people help and watching them progress.

I'm really hoping that's the case, that Medicare/Medicaid will take care of the entire expense at least until I can find a better job. I just moved from California so I'm unfamiliar with how it works, but very excited and relieved that the cost may be taken care of completely

Janknitz wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 10, 2019 7:54 pm

It's amazing you have managed to lose 25 lbs with such severe sleep apnea!

When you have apnea, your body tries to jump start your breathing by secreting stress hormones like cortisol. What else does cortisol do? Among other things it increases hunger and causes weight gain. Impaired sleep messes with your insulin levels (insulin is the fat storage hormone) and ghrelin (hormone that controls appetite) and other things.

Consequently, treating sleep apnea absolutely will help with weight loss. I lost 75 lbs on CPAP (after an initial weight GAIN because it helped my GERD and at first I ate MORE for a while).

No matter how hard it is to get used to, you are going to be rewarded by feeling SO much better and seeing vast health improvements. Hang in there, and come here for help if you are struggling.

It has not been easy, let me tell you the first 2 months I ate under 1200 calories a day. No sugar, I went crazy for a while and all my carbs came from veggies. I only lost like 10 lbs the first two months. I started trying to exercise but I was really exhausted plus I fractured my spine last year which made it even harder. Finally I just stop stressing about it and stopped counting calories and allowing myself fruits like bananas. I was ,(am) still sleeping, or trying to sleep as much as possible and extremely irritable and foggy. The last year I've been feeling like im getting stupid as I age, being unable to focus and think clearly. I'm just so looking forward to feeling like myself, and being able to think and be happy and function. Im actually relieved to have this as some validation, if that makes any sense.

Congratulations on losing 75 lbs! And thank you for the information.

Pugsy is correct. Since you are on medicare/medicaid, Medicaid should pick up the 20%. You may have restrictions on WHERE & HOW you order your CPAP supplies, but that's okay as long as the cost is covered. Relax and get healthy. You are on your way on a journey that will improve your health & life.

I hadn't heard of your sleep doctor but that doesn't been much. I am a couple of hours away from Branson and don't get down that way very often. It does sound like he has a caring staff and that is a huge advantage. Finding the right mask is usually the hardest part to this therapy and hopefully they can steer you in the right direction in that regard...main thing they need to do is listen to the patient and not get tunnel vision about masks in general.

Mask preferences are highly individualized....one person's treasure is another person's trash and you have to sort that aspect out yourself.

Awakeanddreaming wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 10, 2019 11:10 pm

My son and I moved to Branson in January from California ( Kern county) it's been a huge and welcomed change. It's so beautiful out here compared to the streets of Bakersfield. I feel so lucky to be able to just walk out side and see something beautiful, instead of being afraid to go outside.

I understand about California. We lived in Victorville for 8 years. By the time we moved from there, the gangs had started moving into the area. We enjoyed some of the things in California such as the beaches and mountains. We were happy to move away from the gang problems. After California, we lived in central Missouri for a few years before moving here to Oklahoma.

good god man. 125 per hour, I can related to waking up feeling like a train has hit you, but that most be on another level all together. I'm 100% certain that getting in shape will be easier once you have more energy during the day. I was also relieved to get my diagnosis, its confirmation that there is a legitimate reason you feel crappy.

It seems that those with the most severe Sleep Apnea adjust the best! The earliest CPAP patients had to deal with masks that were extremely uncomfortable (the masks available now are much more comfortable). However, according to someone who worked with those patients, they were so exhausted that nothing would keep them awake!

miner49er wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 12, 2019 10:27 am

good god man. 125 per hour, I can related to waking up feeling like a train has hit you, but that most be on another level all together. I'm 100% certain that getting in shape will be easier once you have more energy during the day. I was also relieved to get my diagnosis, its confirmation that there is a legitimate reason you feel crappy.

Yep, every morning I wake up and my body is screaming for more sleep. Before I quit smoking it was unbearable. That's what led to my initial attempt at weight loss and quitting smoking. I knew it couldn't be normal to sleep as much as I was and still feel horrible. It is better since I quit smoking and lost the 25 lbs.

D.H. wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 12, 2019 11:45 am

It seems that those with the most severe Sleep Apnea adjust the best! The earliest CPAP patients had to deal with masks that were extremely uncomfortable (the masks available now are much more comfortable). However, according to someone who worked with those patients, they were so exhausted that nothing would keep them awake!

Im expecting to do fine. My dad had a CPAP back around 1998. He had a huge mask, and it was really loud. but I remember him from day one sleeping soundly with it and how much he needed it. Before he got it He'd walk around like a zombie, yelling about not being able to get any sleep. I remember how relieved he was too be able to actually feel like he slept

Wow, I kinda got excited for you just from reading your opening post! Since 2017 which is when I began therapy I have lost roughly 55 lbs. I think you're going to do great things, as someone mentioned above, it's crazy you were able to lose any weight at all with severe apnea, so..just know your results should really start to ramp up during the next 6 months.

It's freezing here in Houston this morning,(duh, I guess everyone is haha) and when I woke up, I just layed there in bed all warm and cozy and really just, like..serene, rolled over and slept in a bit, all while wearing my full face mask...totally relaxed. It wasn't always that way for me, my first two weeks of therapy were pretty rough. I remember waking up and I'd ripped the thing off my head during the night, or disassembled it and it was just in pieces in my hands. The 2nd thing I remember is realizing how terrible my bed was because I'd wake up with such a sore back because of not tossing and turning all night from events waking me. Sleeping soundly for 6 or 7 hours, your body is motionless and on a bad bed, that translates to being pretty sore in the morning. So I'm not lying when I tell you being on therapy has cost me about 4 grand (we bought a really awesome bed!) and gone through atleast 3 or 4 beds trying to find the right one.

Since being on therapy my bp has dropped, risk of auto accident has dropped (I am an equipment delivery driver to construction job sites in Houston, and used to doze off at the wheel constantly) and memory and mental aquity has gone way up. It's amazing all the things that good sleep can fix.

I'm happy for you and know that with your attitude you will be successful!

gv280z wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 13, 2019 8:33 am

Wow, I kinda got excited for you just from reading your opening post! Since 2017 which is when I began therapy I have lost roughly 55 lbs. I think you're going to do great things, as someone mentioned above, it's crazy you were able to lose any weight at all with severe apnea, so..just know your results should really start to ramp up during the next 6 months.

Hi! Yes, I'm just so excited to get healthy. I'm at a point where I'm just sick of feeling this way and I know there has to be a solution and damnit I'm gonna find it! LOL.

Im really excited about exercising and dieting AND feeling like a normal person.

Its been freezing cold here in Missouri, compared to California. It even snowed here already!

I'm glad you were able to find a solution, my bed isn't that great, but it's not the worst I've ever owned. Hopefully at some point I can afford a new one.

Thanks for the feedback!!

So I got my machine today!!

My doctor prescribed a bipap dream station. It has a ramp setting which I very happy about. It's set pretty high. I think she said 60?

I was about to pick out a mask and I went with a resmed airfit n30i nasal mask...I am so excited about how comfortable it is...I also got a chin strap just in case it's needed.

Oh i got a heated hose! They said if I don't like it I can change it out. I also have the option to change masks every 30 days.

Everything was covered 100%!! Soo grateful for that!

So that's my update. I'm excited to go to sleep tonight. Decided to try it without over the counter sleep aids first.

Well happy dreaming!

Can't be set at 60 anything....the machine won't go that high.

Go here and request the provider/clinical manual via email for your new machine so you can read all about it.
There's a lot more information in this manual than your user manual.

https://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap- ... tup-manual

Maybe 60 minute ramp?
Sounds horrifying! Dial it down to 10 or 15 minutes.
I have mine at zero--all that nice air, rushing in right away!
Love it!

Yes I was wrong, i just hooked it up and it's set to 16, 12 on exhale. It's set to 10 for the ramp.

I have it on now and I'm wishing that I had tried it longer without the ramp because it seems there's going to be some leakage issues. Not too bad though.

Ramp is set for 30 minutes. Hopefully i will be sound asleep when ramp goes off.

I will definitely check out that link!

Thanks!!