Seeing Dr Tomorrow--Cpap Auto Questions ?

I am seeing my Dr. tomorrow ( not sleep Dr ). I am thinking of seeing if he will write me a script for a Cpap Auto machine. My question is --will the cpap auto machine detect the correct preesure nightly that you need to recieve proper therapy ? My current pressure setting is at 13 and some nights I think after three yrs of therapy that the setting of 13 is over kill. but on the other hand some nights I think that the setting of 13 is not enough Hence my thoughts of trying to get an auto cpap. Any information will be appreciated . Thank you

The beauty of an autopap over straight CPAP is that with an auto you can still run it in CPAP mode if you want, but if you want to address varying pressure needs like you are describing, you can set a range.

First, it will allow you to see what's happening on those nights you perceive that you need more pressure and it will help you determine how much more pressure you may need. Then you can set the range so that it's where you are most comfortable most of the time with the ability to increase to where you need it when you need it.

However, you may run into an issue with your insurance company paying for a new machine at this point becuase CPAPs and APAPs are both under the E0601 HCPC's code, and as far as your insurance company knows, it already paid for a machine for you under that code. To them the APAP is not an upgrade, and they probably won't pay for a new machine under that code until it's been 4 or 5 years or more.

Call your insurance company and ask how they might handle this, BEFORE you go to a DME. If the insurance isn't going to pay, you're better off buying whatever you want from an online supplier, and then you can use your existing prescription for APAP--you don't really need your doctor's permission though it's always good to work with your doctor on this.

When my doc wrote a new script for an auto, Apria just traded out my plus for a used auto. But it took a new script. They have some kind of agreement with the Insurance carriers when there is a script change.

Good Luck

DannyPh wrote:I am seeing my Dr. tomorrow ( not sleep Dr ). I am thinking of seeing if he will write me a script for a Cpap Auto machine. My question is --will the cpap auto machine detect the correct preesure nightly that you need to recieve proper therapy ? My current pressure setting is at 13 and some nights I think after three yrs of therapy that the setting of 13 is over kill. but on the other hand some nights I think that the setting of 13 is not enough Hence my thoughts of trying to get an auto cpap. Any information will be appreciated . Thank you

No.


Den

Wulfman wrote:

DannyPh wrote:I am seeing my Dr. tomorrow ( not sleep Dr ). I am thinking of seeing if he will write me a script for a Cpap Auto machine. My question is --will the cpap auto machine detect the correct preesure nightly that you need to recieve proper therapy ? My current pressure setting is at 13 and some nights I think after three yrs of therapy that the setting of 13 is over kill. but on the other hand some nights I think that the setting of 13 is not enough Hence my thoughts of trying to get an auto cpap. Any information will be appreciated . Thank you

No.


Den

Hi Den, Hope you won't mind another in depth overview of cpap vs auto? Or direct us to one of your links on the subject. I'm always ready for a review. Thanks.

DoriC wrote:

Wulfman wrote:

DannyPh wrote:I am seeing my Dr. tomorrow ( not sleep Dr ). I am thinking of seeing if he will write me a script for a Cpap Auto machine. My question is --will the cpap auto machine detect the correct preesure nightly that you need to recieve proper therapy ? My current pressure setting is at 13 and some nights I think after three yrs of therapy that the setting of 13 is over kill. but on the other hand some nights I think that the setting of 13 is not enough Hence my thoughts of trying to get an auto cpap. Any information will be appreciated . Thank you

No.


Den

Hi Den, Hope you won't mind another in depth overview of cpap vs auto? Or direct us to one of your links on the subject. I'm always ready for a review. Thanks.

Here you go. From the diligent work of our archivist/librarian, "rested gal".

viewtopic/t55691/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44 ... os#p393325

The "incorrect" part of the poster's question is "will the cpap auto machine detect the correct preesure?" .
Autos don't detect the "correct" pressures.......they detect and (may or may not) respond to events (snores, flow limitations, hypopneas, apneas, etc.) with their algorithmic programming. Sometimes they're raising pressures and sometimes they're lowering pressures. If the pressure is sitting at 8 cm. (for example), and the user has one or more apnea events that's going to need a pressure of 12 of 15 cm. to clear, those events are going to occur before the machine can respond (assuming there are enough detectable leading events, because an auto will not respond to a "frank" apnea in process) with enough pressure increases to get them stopped. They don't KNOW how much pressure is needed until it gradually raises the pressure and tests to see if the events are still occurring before it decides when or if it has reached an adequate pressure. If a machine had the capability to go from 8 cm. to 15 cm. in one immediate pressure change, it would definitely wake up the user.......and probably blow their mask off in the process.


Den

LOL!! I forgot I ever wrote that post or assembled those links.

But then I forget a lot'a stuff.

Guess I need to add that to my millions of notepad files. I'll name that one "DenCPAP.txt"

Hope I can remember what I called it.

rested gal wrote:LOL!! I forgot I ever wrote that post or assembled those links.

But then I forget a lot'a stuff.

Guess I need to add that to my millions of notepad files. I'll name that one "DenCPAP.txt"

Hope I can remember what I called it.

To tell you the truth, I don't remember seeing that post before. I was actually looking for another one of your posts with a list of links when I was searching and stumbled across that one.
This is the one I was actually looking for.

viewtopic/t55691/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=55 ... 93#p518393


Den