CPAPtalk.com

sister wrote:Thanks Janknitz,
Actually, I have had my cpap since 2006. At that time medicare paid for it on a rental basis and my bcbs supplement picked up the rest.I didn't pay anything at all so I guess they would do the same again. At that time I was just given a machine,I had no idea even what a cpap was!
So realizing that medicare only allows for a new machine every 5 years I have tried really hard to use this one.
My dr. did not realize that cpap and autopap were under the same code for medicare. He is so sweet trying to help me in every way,he insisted on my doing a 30 day trial of autopap,I tried to tell him it would not be covered. Anyway, I did much better on the autopap but when the nurse checked with medicare she called and said I wasn't due a new machine,which I knew.
If I was able to get a bilevel autopap down the road,which one do you recommend?
I have read so many of your posts and I value your opinion.
I understand that the smart card comes with the respironics so that would be a plus,i think.
Thanks so much!!!

Please check your Pm's. I pm'd you.

Why have you tried really hard to use the machine you have. From the aerophagia? What other problems are you having?
Have you been trying really hard for 4 years?

Ms. L wrote:
Why have you tried really hard to use the machine you have. From the aerophagia? What other problems are you having?
Have you been trying really hard for 4 years?

Just search for her posts and you will have the answers. Why assume she is at fault?

Ok, here's the latest on the possibility of a new machine.Not right away it seems. My nurse called and says there is just no way that medicare will pay for a bilevel right now because I didn't fail the sleep study.
However,she has found a dme that is willing to loan me an autopap [ free of charge] to use until I can get a new one in November. I thought that was very nice of her to do that for me.
I'm supposed to meet with the dme tomorrow morning,[which by the way,is not my dme] to get the machine.
Thanks to all of you for your help and have a good night!

Wow, that is wonderful! I love to hear about people who are willing to go the extra mile to help. I am happy for you!

Thanks so much! When I went to pick up the machine he was so nice. He said,' no charge' that he just wanted to help me sleep better!
What could I say but THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS!!!
I am thinking about changing dme's. I mean,really, I have been with my dme since 2006 and the nurse asked them first about maybe they could let me use a machine until november.The answer was, we can rent you one!

What a nice, helpful DME that is, sister!

What pressure were you using with your CPAP before you got the autopap trial?

And, do you know what pressure range was set for the autopap during the trial?

And... do you know what range the loaner autopap you'll be getting will be set for?

Inquiring minds want to know... well, make that "nosy me" wants to know!

rested gal wrote:What a nice, helpful DME that is, sister!

What pressure were you using with your CPAP before you got the autopap trial?

And, do you know what pressure range was set for the autopap during the trial?

And... do you know what range the loaner autopap you'll be getting will be set for?

Inquiring minds want to know... well, make that "nosy me" wants to know!

Hi, thanks so much for caring!
Before the autopap trial I was on a pressure of 9 on the cpap.
On the autopap trial the pressure was set at 8-12.
I picked up the loaner autopap on Friday and the pressure is set the same 8-12.
The miracle is I have been sleeping 5-6 hours straight since I got the autopap loaner!!!!
I had to fight some to get people to listen but i'm so glad I did!
I have been trying to use a cpap this last time since 2009 and have really been through a lot.
I think an autopap is what i needed all the time,just took a long time to convince people of that fact.
I am going to pray hard and hope that this will be the answer for me at last.
I slept so good last night I'm not sure I didn't die.
Maybe I have finally found my answer.
Thanks so much for all your posts that have guided me along the way and helped me and to all the others out there that have done the same.
I have to find a way to thank the dme that loaned me this autopap.he is terrific!
The world looks entirely different when you sleep,that's for sure.
I'll didn't mean to steal this thread when I started,sorry, but it has been a tremendous help to me.
GOD BLESS YOU!!!

sister wrote: Before the autopap trial I was on a pressure of 9 on the cpap.
On the autopap trial the pressure was set at 8-12.
I picked up the loaner autopap on Friday and the pressure is set the same 8-12.

Good.

sister wrote: The miracle is I have been sleeping 5-6 hours straight since I got the autopap loaner!!!!

GREAT!

Hi, just wanted to update and let you all know that I slept 7-8 hours for the last 4 nights on the auto pap!!!
I am thrilled!! I still have too many leaks,trying something new all the time, but I am thrilled, it seems that I don't have as much aerophagia as I did on c-pap.
Thanks so much to all that helped!!

I am so glad you are sleeping more and feeling better! That's wonderful news!

Thanks so very much,I have been doing much better on the autopap than I did on the cpap.
I had a bad night last night but that's to be expected,had some personal worries.
I am so thankful for the sleep I have gotten for the last week.
GOD BLESS YOU!

Hey, I had an AHI last night of 2.1 !!!!!!!!!!!
I am so excited, this has never happened before!!!! they were all hi's. ai's were 0.0 !
Now, from the beginning leaks have been my problem,way too high, anywhere from 0.68L/S to 1.00L/S. last night I was able to get them down to 0.24L/S !
Baby Steps along the way!!!

sister wrote:Hey, I had an AHI last night of 2.1 !!!!!!!!!!!
I am so excited, this has never happened before!!!! they were all hi's. ai's were 0.0 !
Now, from the beginning leaks have been my problem,way too high, anywhere from 0.68L/S to 1.00L/S. last night I was able to get them down to 0.24L/S !
Baby Steps along the way!!!

Looks like those "baby steps" are turning into dance leaps.

Way to go, sister!

Thanks, but I know that I could never have gotten this far without the help of you guys here and I thank you so very much!!
I was drifting at sea until I found this forum this year and began to learn. You people are sooooooooooo right,we have to take control and help each other,the dme's and the dr's just don't really show an interest,and don't have the time.

I have gotten so many wonderful answers here,and only here.
Thank you,thank you,thank you!