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I have never seen a sleep doctor either. My internist sees me every 6 months to monitor bp, blood tests, etc.
He never asks me anything about my sleep apnea.
About once a year a respiratory therapist calls me to see if all is ok.
Thats it

Marie

My path was very different. I had a Gall Bladder out a year ago, and in my hospital stay, the doctors documented excessive snoring and OSA. (They had to give me a private room, since nobody in the hospital could stay in the same room with my gigantic snoring and gasping for air. A full year later, I did a bunch of research on this forum and other places, and went in to my Family Doctor and told him I needed a prescription for an Auto-Regulating CPAP machine to buy one online. He looked at my records from surgery, saw the notes recommending CPAP after I got out of the hospital, and simply wrote me a prescription that said "Auto-Regulating CPAP w/ Mask".

I did my own research, read a ton, bought what I thought I needed, and it arrived yesterday. Last night, I slept well for the first time in years with the stuff I bought.

If I can avoid it ... I'm "never" going to a doctor for this issue. From what I've seen and read, most of them only get in the way of good therapy, and personal research and data analysis, along with good peer advice seems more valuable than any doctor visit.

Looking forward to another good night's sleep.

I even decided to shave off my beard ... to see if I can lower my "Leak" number.

Now THAT is dedication.

Rusty

I visit my sleep doctor 5 to 10 times per week.

I see my pulmonologist annually. I don't really need to go that frequently (unless I need something, like an Rx for a cool new APAP), but I have to have my OSA therapy evaluated annually for other reasons.

I feel a tad guilty taking up office time with no issues at all (except for white coat syndrome) but I think he appreciates an occasional success story like mine.

Regards all - - Tom

"subject: How often are your doc visits?"

Never.

At the moment... every 3 months. Not sure if that'll change or not yet. Started with a new sleep doc awhile ago (over a year ago), got into the 3 month thing as he's got me on some meds. Don't usually see him, get along great with his PA so I see her (when I don't avoid the appointment completely).

For those of you who don't see anyone..........what would you do if you started having machine problems, or other sleep problems? Does your Internist know how to deal with settings, etc? Or do the ones of you who don't see a doc feel like you can totally handle your sleep problems/equipment yourself?
I suppose these days you can order all you need by yourself, without a prescription. Is that correct?

I have only seen a sleep doc once who determined I needed a sleep study. Then I got a phone call saying my insurance didn't cover this. So after a few more years of feeling like crap, I called him and begged for a prescription for an apap. He was nice enough to fax one to cpap.com. I have never had problems with my machine and any other questions that I have, I ask them on this forum. Without everyone here, I would have no idea where my settings should be. My machine was set 5-10 when I got it. After a couple months of use and lots of questions, it's now at 9-13.

Missy

I was loaned an APAP after my initial PSG couldn't determine a proper pressure. I had a followup after about 6 weeks on APAP, and they gave me an M-Series Plus set to 14. Had a followup for that after another 6-8 weeks, and after they took my card and read it, I asked, "so, how were my AHI's and leak rates etc.". That was my first really big awakening!

Subsequently, with the help and advice of many folks I've met here, I bought an APAP with Aflex from cpap.com (insurance covered), and I've not been back to the sleep center. Nor do I ever see a reason to do so again.

Thanks to RG, Wulfman, Snoredog and many others who have really opened my eyes.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap.com, Awakening, AHI, APAP

[quote="Country4ever"]For those of you who don't see anyone..........what would you do if you started having machine problems, or other sleep problems? Does your Internist know how to deal with settings, etc? Or do the ones of you who don't see a doc feel like you can totally handle your sleep problems/equipment yourself?
I suppose these days you can order all you need by yourself, without a prescription. Is that correct?

Country4ever wrote:For those of you who don't see anyone..........what would you do if you started having machine problems

I have more than one machine. I'd dust off a backup machine and use it.

There are 3 models of basic "cpap" machines at cpap.com priced between $219 and $260. Unless a person were absolutely destitute, a backup machine is not an expensive investment. There wouldn't even be a shipping cost since any order of at least $100 gets free shipping.

Or, I'd watch for an inexpensive used machine on cpapauction.com

Country4ever wrote:or other sleep problems?

I'd dig into the message board and the internet in general to work on that if other problems arose...but that's just me.

Country4ever wrote:Does your Internist know how to deal with settings, etc?

No.

Country4ever wrote:Or do the ones of you who don't see a doc feel like you can totally handle your sleep problems/equipment yourself?

I've been doing that for myself from the beginning, for the past four years. Successfully... due to info from the message board and help from people I've become acquainted with (through the message boards) whose advice I trust.

Also, other than mild OSA and mild PLMD, I have no other "sleep problems". And, am otherwise healthy. If I had serious heath or sleep problems I couldn't figure out how to handle myself, of course I'd consult a doctor.

Country4ever wrote:I suppose these days you can order all you need by yourself, without a prescription. Is that correct?

Well, yes and no. Technically it takes a prescription for "cpap" to purchase a cpap machine, even from an online store or through cpapauction.com. Nothing else (mask, humidifier, etc.) requires a prescription to buy online.

That said, there are always other sources where a person could buy a cpap machine without any prescription at all if they know where to look:

1. posts on message boards by people wanting to sell a machine

2. "Craig's" lists

3. Newspaper ads

4. ask people in your own town: "Do you know anyone who has a cpap machine they aren't using?" There are probably tons of perfectly good machines that will never be used, just sitting in closets all over the country. Ask, and you might receive. With no prescription. That's how I acquired my first machine.

Country4ever,

I have several machines, and if one of my machines develops a problem I will either take it back to the DME or send it back to cpap.com for repair. If it isn't under warranty I would probably buy a new one.

If I developed a medical problem that I couldn't deal with, I would see a doctor.

As far as I know, my GP knows nothing about CPAPs beyond a general overview.

I have a CPAP prescription.

I have a backup machine(and a backup mask, hose, asst parts) in case anything happens to my main machine. My MD knows very little about all of this. I learned it all here! I have the software and check my own numbers. I have learned to re-titrate if needed. If I run into a problem I know I can post here and someone will be by to help almost immediately! If I need equipment I use cpap.com(saves time, money, and the aggravation of dealing with Apria). I've been on my own with this for a year and a half, and I'm doing GREAT! I'm doing so well, in fact, that my MD(recently diagnosed with OSA) has asked me to help him get his treatment going!

Brenda

Saw my "sleep doctor" a total of 3 times......once before sleep study, once to write my prescription and the LAST one about a month later......(June 2005).
Got my prescription and that's what counted......got my equipment from CPAP.COM and haven't looked back.
Haven't seen my GP since October of 2005.....don't think much of him, either.

Den