useless doc syndrome and a rec for best machine &softwar

Hi All
I just went back to see the sleep doc after a few months with a basic cpap and heated hum. I told him that since i live alone i wanted more information about how i was doing through the night. He proudly stated that he knew next to nothing about the new machines (he left that to the resp. techs) and i should call the company and find out if i needed a new rx. I heard myself snoring and have some open mouth problems but I have no trouble with a pressure of 12 and don't even bother with ramp up. Anyone have a recc. on the machine and software that gives the best data?
Thanks
By the way, I checked with cpap.com and they were not too sure how I should proceed in terms of how do I go about getting my insur. co etc to get with the program.
Ken

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap.com, CPAP, Ramp

Most straight CPAPs don't have software that will do anything but keep compliance records. Tell us what brand of machine you are on and we can probably tell you if it is available or not. This is one of the drawbacks of a straight CPAP. All autopaps have software, well, the major brands anyway. And they can be used in CPAP mode if that is what you prefer. Software comes separately to be installed on your computer like a regular program and most also require a particular cable, card, cardreader which are also separately purchased. You'd probably have to have an Rx written by your doctor for the software and accesories for the insurance to cover the purchase, and I can almost bet you you're going to have to purchase it online. I doubt your DME would even have it in stock or order it. But they might.

Congrats Janelle-500 posts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been using the remstar auto with c-flex for 6 mos after using the straight cpap for a year. I love it. It has the software to download your nightly results. Insurance companies won t pay for it although its ez to get for $200.00. Don"t think you need a prescription. I bought my machine, mask and accessories online and then submitted forms and receipt for re-emburshment to BCBS. Just make sure you get a written pre-approval first in case they try to deny you. I didn't with blue cross after they approved over the phone. Had to appeal, which i won.(They keep phone records hehehe). I got a qoute from local Dme for mask and machine, then from online and compared my out of network deductables and online was cheaper. Only problem is it takes awhile for re-emburshment from insurance companies.So research prices and do the math.

i CAN'T TELL YOU IF MY B 420e WITH SILVERLINING SOFTWARE IS THE BEST, ALL I CAN SAY IS IT WORKS FOR ME. I DOWNLOAD IT EVERY DAY ALMOST AND CAN SEE EXACTLY HOW MANY POPS, AP'S , LEAKS, YOU NAME IT ON THERE. IT TAKES A LITTLE WORK, AS I HAVE TO PHYSICALLY REMOVE THE PB 420e AND WALTZ IT TO MY COMPUTER, BUT IT'S A QUICK LOOK AND YOU KNOW HOW YOU ARE DOING.

I FEEL THAT IF MY SLEEP DOC WASN'T EVEN SURE ABOUT THE SOFTWARE, WHAT HELP WAS HE GOING TO BE TO TELL ME HOW MY TREATMENT IS DOING?

CPAP.COM CAN WALK YOU THRU THE VARIOUS MACHINES AND THE SOFTWARE CAPABILITIES. I ONLY KNOW MINE AND IT'S WORKING FOR ME.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BEING MY OWN ADVOCATE AND KNOWING MY MACHINE IS, THE DME REP, OR RT, OR FORGET THE DOCTOR, WIL NOT KNOW WHAT I KNOW ABOUT MY NIGHT'S EPISODES, WHAT THE NUMBERS MAY MEAN, BUT IT IS A GOOD WAY TO SEE HOW YOU'RE HOPEFULLY PROGRESSING AND IF NOT, THEN WHY NOT. GET THE DOC INVOLVED THEN.

I LEARNED MORE FROM THIS BOARD THAN ANY DOC ON SLEEP APNEA'S.

I KNOW A FEW OF THE REGULARS ON HERE, CAN ALSO ANS. YOUR QUESTIONS ON THEIR FAVORITE MACHINES/MASKS, AND SPECIFIC SOFTWARE QUESTIONS.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OTHER MACHINE CAN RECORD 200 EPISODES LIKE MY PB OR IF ANY OTHER COMPANIES HAVE A COMPARABLE SOFTWARE PRODUCT.

GOOD LUCK[quote="kenrose"]Hi All
I just went back to see the sleep doc after a few months with a basic cpap and heated hum. I told him that since i live alone i wanted more information about how i was doing through the night. He proudly stated that he knew next to nothing about the new machines (he left that to the resp. techs) and i should call the company and find out if i needed a new rx. I heard myself snoring and have some open mouth problems but I have no trouble with a pressure of 12 and don't even bother with ramp up. Anyone have a recc. on the machine and software that gives the best data?
Thanks
By the way, I checked with cpap.com and they were not too sure how I should proceed in terms of how do I go about getting my insur. co etc to get with the program.
Ken

The Remstar also records apneas, hypopneas, snores, centrals, pressure etc hr by hr. Just about anything you need. The nice thing about it is that it has a card about the size of a credit card that slides into machine. You take the card out and insert it into card reader plugged into an USB port. Then u download and put back into machine. Very simple.The results are stored in your computer so that you can look back to whenever to compare.