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DoriC wrote:

Wulfman wrote:[ .....subsequently found that the pressure changes disturbed my sleep......
Den

I don't think I ever asked this question before, I've just observed that Mike does better on straight cpap and is more restless on auto. Of course when I ask him about it, he just says "something's not right". So what are the disturbances you feel?

I don't know......I just found myself waking up more frequently......and then glancing over at the LCD to see different (higher) pressures displayed. In my reports, they showed that I would have singular/individual apneas (which is normal for me) that the machine couldn't respond to, fast enough to keep them from happening. If I have a 10 - 12 second apnea, the machine can't respond fast enough from a lower pressure to stop it......and I don't necessarily have preceding events (snores or flow limitations) to preemptively bump the pressure. I've always had higher AHI numbers when using a range of pressures. Typically, I've used ranges of 10 - 15 and 12 - 15.


Den

Update on my quest for an Auto pap:

My sleep doc would only give me a copy of my original script instead of writing me a non-brand specific script. After explaining to his office staff about the gastrointestinal pain and bloating I was having, they said they would notate it for the doctor and I could discuss it at my next appointment, which is one day before my 30 day return runs out on the current DME equipment. Of course, I tried to explain that to the office staff but got the "deer in headlights" look for my trouble. Good grief!

I have submitted my prescription to both cpapauction.com and cpap.com in hopes of getting approved and purchase what I want online.

This is a pretty small town and through a little investigation, I found out it is "probable" that my sleep doc's wife is a partner in the DME he sent me to....Weird the things people unwittingly tell their bankers

Most insurances will require you to "fail" cpap before they'll allow you to have an autoPAP, unless your dr has specifically written out the RX for an autoPAP. Fortunately the "failure' can be for about any reason under the sun that your dr. can note and deem as failure. Good luck at getting what you want.

karessamom wrote:Most insurances will require you to "fail" cpap before they'll allow you to have an autoPAP, unless your dr has specifically written out the RX for an autoPAP. Fortunately the "failure' can be for about any reason under the sun that your dr. can note and deem as failure. Good luck at getting what you want.

I may try to purchase just out of pocket and not go through my insurance. My doctor has a tendency to not get back to me for a week and I'm not that patient a person.

I bought an auto on my own after 5+ years on a straight cpap. My doctor was not willing to write a prescription for even a machine with exhalation relief!

I bought an M Series auto with A-Flex online with my 5+ year old cpap prescription almost 2 years ago, along with the software and card reader.

I paid for it myself but it was the best move for me! Having your prescription with cpap.com and cpapauciton.com means you can do that too, as far as I know.

One more thing to add to the cost discussion. You say that you are comparing costs "including mask". You may have already bought the mask (and the humidifier too for that matter) as they are usually a one time purchase and the machine is the rent to buy. Check just the machine cost to compare out of pocket no insurance to your machine cost at the DME.