Back from sleep study etc

Catnapper wrote:... When I was a newbie, my doc ordered an APAP because he said the sleep study was like a snapshot and only showed what happened that one night. He wanted to have me collect a month or 6 weeks of data to see how I did over time at home in my own comfortable bed, etc. He definitely looked at the data to see where the pressure stayed and did the most good. ...

Good sleep doctor. He's a keeper.

Catnapper wrote:... I may be asking for trouble here, but I prefer the way the Respironics software displays the data. ...

I love my ResMed unit, but I definitely agree with you about the data and display of it in the Respironics Encore software.

Good post, by the way. It's helpful to hear from others how they progress over time. Thanks for putting the effort into it!

I've been looking at the data on my M series for the last three years. I'm used to looking at data everyday. The more I learn about this machine the madder I get. We are doing the same old compliance only crap here. I feel like I just backed up three years in my treatment, but have a bunch of bills to go along with it.

I have a call in to the Doctor's PA. I think she is the only one that gets it. I could be wrong.


JeffH

Hasn't anybody here yet caught the fact that the Escape II isn't even an APAP, let alone a fully data capable machine? Your DME should be excoriated for blatantly disregarding your doctor's wishes!

timbalionguy wrote:..the Escape II isn't even an APAP...

Au contraire! ResMed now has 2 versions of the Escape series II: one's the old one we all know about while the other is a data-less APAP! ResMed gets the winning gold start for confusing everyone.

Jeff, If I remember correctly from your OP, you're planning to make pressure adjustments yourself, so in that case you really need to see the data. I've settled my husband's pressure on straight cpap at 12cms, but occasionally I switch to an auto range for awhile to make sure nothing's changed. I read somewhere that we have to stop thinking of ourselves as "patients" and start thinking like "medical consumers". I believe the payment code is the same for either machine as far as insurance is concerned and that's what the DME should be getting.. Keep up the good fight!

DoriC wrote:Jeff, If I remember correctly from your OP, you're planning to make pressure adjustments yourself, so in that case you really need to see the data. I've settled my husband's pressure on straight cpap at 12cms, but occasionally I switch to an auto range for awhile to make sure nothing's changed. I read somewhere that we have to stop thinking of ourselves as "patients" and start thinking like "medical consumers". I believe the payment code is the same for either machine as far as insurance is concerned and that's what the DME should be getting.. Keep up the good fight!

Thanks, I will.

Never heard from the PA this afternoon. We are about to be hit by a damned ice storm, so nothings going to happen for the rest of this week. Thanks everyone for your support on this.

Even though the Sleep Doc told me he wasn't in the business of selling equipment, I can tell that he is in tight with this DME so something is going on. I bet the Sleep Doc won't right a 'script for the machine I want. Bet my GP would, though.

Also have another avenue to check out so this isn't over yet.

JeffH

http://www.resmed.com/us/products/s8_es ... c=patients

probably called something else in the rest of the world but in the US ---

Jeff - get on them or call it failure early long before your appt - actually it is about failure right now if they don't get back to you soon

was this DME local for you or local for the doc as I recall the doc wasn't exactly in your back yard?

carbonman wrote:

elg5cats wrote: The cystoscopy.........a numbing gel is injected (no needle) into the urethra prior to inserting the scope.......description may be more frightening than procedure!!!! elg5cats

Description does not even come close to the real procedure.
I had NO anesthetic.....and the procedure won't seem so bad.....after you experience
the next couple of "voids" after the procedure.Prepare to have your pain threshold adjusted.

Carbonman,
Numbing gel is used, maybe from your post, not in all facilities.............I suggest demanding the numbing gel..........will make a difference....also might ask for a dose of antibotic to take before the procedure to reduce the risk of procedure induced UTI....this procedure does not have to be torture!!!!!

elg5cats

ozij wrote:When I underwent a cystoscopy last March and asked the urologist about anesthesia (was thinking of the cpap) he said it was not necessary for females, but its different for males - males, he said, do need an anesthetic.
O.

A urethra is a urethra, difference between male and female anatomy is distrance traveled......some doc's do the cystoscopy under sedation for both genders.....Personally, I think it is equally cruel to expect a female to "tolerate" a cystoscopy w/o the numbing gel. I would NOT appreciate this procedure without the gel!!!!

elg5cats

I spent about 30 minutes on the phone with the head of the DME I went to yesterday. He offered to get me the data machine but I would have to pay the difference. JeffH

Opps!!!! Flashbacks, Flashbacks, Flashbacks

This sounds like one of the crooked DME's I interviewed while preparing for my APAP purchase...........I was told I'd have to pay a $200 fee in addition to my insurance required out of pocket. When the thief realized I had a little knowledge of the stunt he was trying to pull, He ordered me to "go buy it on line." Once again, it's unfortunate your zest for treatment is hitting such obstacles!!!! You deserve the best treatment possible at the legitimate cost of care.........hang in there and fight the fight!!!!!! You are your only advocate for care you have!!!!

elg5cats

jules wrote:http://www.resmed.com/us/products/s8_es ... c=patients

probably called something else in the rest of the world but in the US ---

Jeff - get on them or call it failure early long before your appt - actually it is about failure right now if they don't get back to you soon

was this DME local for you or local for the doc as I recall the doc wasn't exactly in your back yard?

Local to the Doc. It's 70 miles from my house and I protested a little....they got me when I was really sleep deprived. I only slept 4.2 hours in my sleep study.

Last paragraph of this article:

http://err.ersjournals.com/cgi/content/full/16/106/125

"Physicians who prescribe auto-adjustable continuous positive airway pressure must know when, why and how pressure is being adapted in individual obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome patients. This information should be logged in the electronic memory of the devices, and be available for download and subsequent review by the healthcare provider."

elg5cats wrote:

ozij wrote:When I underwent a cystoscopy last March and asked the urologist about anesthesia (was thinking of the cpap) he said it was not necessary for females, but its different for males - males, he said, do need an anesthetic.
O.

A urethra is a urethra, difference between male and female anatomy is distrance traveled......some doc's do the cystoscopy under sedation for both genders.....Personally, I think it is equally cruel to expect a female to "tolerate" a cystoscopy w/o the numbing gel. I would NOT appreciate this procedure without the gel!!!!

elg5cats

I was not referring to a procedure without numbing gel. I was referring to anesthesia.

I've heard of many docs not wanting the patient to take a proactive approach in their treatment. They want the patient to be solely dependent on them. They expect them to follow their advice to letter. This ensures the patient will never leave them. Some physicians believe that "knowledge is power" too. There are also some sleep docs who don't believe in the data that xPAP machines provide.

For people in Jeff's situation, I would return that xPAP and find another DME. I am sure the nice folks on CPAPdotcom can help you out too.

Dusty Bond wrote:I've heard of many docs not wanting the patient to take a proactive approach in their treatment. They want the patient to be solely dependent on them. They expect them to follow their advice to letter. This ensures the patient will never leave them. Some physicians believe that "knowledge is power" too. There are also some sleep docs who don't believe in the data that xPAP machines provide.

For people in Jeff's situation, I would return that xPAP and find another DME. I am sure the nice folks on CPAPdotcom can help you out too.

My last three machines (my GF is a hosehead too) came from cpap.com, but they don't take medicare.