Revisiting machine and settings after a long time

Hello all.

I've been using my M-Series BiPAP Auto for the past 13 years. At some point early on I grew tired of spending money on needless visits for card reading and overpriced supplies. I stopped the visits, except a study 9 years ago that didn't change much.

I have my original lab results but am missing the prescription. I understand that this will prevent me from buying a machine without another study, which I have no desire for. I recently sent my lab results to my current primary care physician, who added them to my file and said nothing.

While CPAP has improved my life, it wasn't as dramatical as I hoped. I've been on my own for very long. Is that normal, do I need to do something, a new machine?

Can you not ask your GP for a new script, seeing as he now has your results?

tolak wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 09, 2020 1:35 am

Hello all.

I've been using my M-Series BiPAP Auto for the past 13 years.

welcome to the zoo! as we don't know what your settings are, we can't give any advice that might improve things. (i say WE, but *I* am no expert!) and your machine, i take it, is incapable of gathering any data.

it may well be time for a new one. that would give you access to something that you could use to improve your health.

as julie indicates, any doctor can write a scrip. see if your gp will.

and of course, i take it you don't use the machine you've selected in your profile?

good luck!

If you are buying the machine out of pocket, see this post:
viewtopic/t178701/2Low-Hour-Airsense-10 ... -SALE.html

I have a Respironics PR System One Auto BiPap model 760 (heated hose and all that already) that needs to go to a good home.
If interested send me a private message and I will give you the particulars.

Roughly 1,600 hours of use....machine blower and humidifier, travel case, heated hose, etc...all included. $250 which includes shipping anywhere in the USA.

I haven't been able to get a new prescription. The clinic gave me the runaround and said I'd need a new sleep study. As I understand, under HIPPA I'm entitled to a prescription, but the provider is only obligated to keep records for 7 years. It's not clear what can be done with the original provider.

I have a different HMO insurance currently, so not sure what to ask for. I can't be without a prescription indefinitely, and don't want to get stuck forced to undergo a study just to get a replacement machine if my current one breaks down.

For now, I purchased the card reader and extracted data with EncoreBasic just to see if there is anything obvious to do and if the machine is working. I have limited understanding, but I see that my AHI is 1.9 and I don't see obvious issues. I would say that my sleep in general has never been great, and I usually wake up at night and don't feel rested on most days. But it's a different world from before being diagnosed.

I'm posting summary graphs and tables. I'm not asking for a full interpretation but pointers for me to study some measurements of interest will be highly appreciated. By my calculation, my machine probably has close to 38,000 hours.

As you thought....your data points to quite acceptable therapy. Nothing there that is anywhere near alarming or needing worked on.

As for the prescription for a new machine. It doesn't have to be a sleep doctor who writes the RX. It can be anyone who can legally write a prescription....GP, family doctor, NP, PA, dentist...even a Veterinarian.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 12, 2020 2:15 pm

As you thought....your data points to quite acceptable therapy. Nothing there that is anywhere near alarming or needing worked on.

As for the prescription for a new machine. It doesn't have to be a sleep doctor who writes the RX. It can be anyone who can legally write a prescription....GP, family doctor, NP, PA, dentist...even a Veterinarian.

Thank you. Although it's acceptable, is there room for improvement, do I have scope for doing it myself with this machine?

When I looked into ordering a travel machine from CPAP.com they wanted a prescription with machine type and settings. I originally thought of ordering the ResMed AirMini but then it occurred to me that it's APAP, and I've been using BiPAP Auto, so likely need a sleep specialist to prescribe it.

Without seeing a bunch of daily detailed reports it's hard to say if you really need to be doing much tweaking with the settings.
When I was using the M series machine I was always quite happy to see the AHI less than 3.0 myself.

What are your settings? What is the minimum EPAP and maximum IPAP and the PS?
While you are using a bilevel machine it doesn't seem to be that you are needing very much in the higher pressures.
Your average EPAP is just 4 cm and that's the lowest it can go.

It is possible that a regular apap machine could work out just fine for you.

As far as a different machine and no RX....you might call up secondwindcpap.com and explain the situation to them.
Sometimes they let the RX requirement slide when someone has been on xpap for a long time and can't get a RX.