Apnea, no insurance, need advice

I got all my equipment for Cpap Auction saved a ton of money I had a $4000 deductible got it all for about $450

M.D.Hosehead wrote:

I wonder what would happen if a person with no license of any kind simply wrote him/herself a prescription and used it to purchase xpap online for his/her own use.
I'm not suggesting anything, just curious.

You could easily use a personal computer to mock up a doctor's prescription pad and write out a prescription in your name.

If I were a judge (and I may run for a judgeship in 2012) and a prosecutor brought a defendant into my courtroom charged with forging a prescription for his own CPAP, I would hold the prosecutor in contempt of court for frivolous prosecution and throw him in the local jail for 24 hours.

I would commend the defendant for taking care of his health and send him on his merry way.

This is damn ridiculous that a prescription is needed for a CPAP machine.

I have new affection for you, So Well.
Several of the judges around here drink in chambers--I've served on a jury when the judge was--hmm, a bit impaired?

SleepingUgly wrote:

M.D.Hosehead wrote:I wonder what would happen if a person with no license of any kind simply wrote him/herself a prescription and used it to purchase xpap online for his/her own use. I'm not suggesting anything, just curious.

Usually a prescription would be written on a prescription pad/paper, and it requires a doctor's signature. So what you're asking is "I wonder what would happen if a person with no license of any kind simply FORGED him/herself a prescription..." I assume there is the possibility of being caught and charged. It would be pretty tough to make the case for an insanity defense on a crime like that, wouldn't you say? (e.g., "I was suffering from CPAP withdrawal and believed that I was signing a Mother's Day card to my dead mother. I thought the 'M.D.' stood for Mother's Day...")

I figured that euphemism wouldn't escape your BS detector, SU. My compliments on your plea; it's more creative than most.

If I were a judge (and I may run for a judgeship in 2012) and a prosecutor brought a defendant into my courtroom charged with forging a prescription for his own CPAP, I would hold the prosecutor in contempt of court for frivolous prosecution and throw him in the local jail for 24 hours.

I'll vote for you, So Well. Oh, wait, that would be forgery.

M.D.Hosehead wrote:

SleepingUgly wrote:Usually a prescription would be written on a prescription pad/paper, and it requires a doctor's signature. So what you're asking is "I wonder what would happen if a person with no license of any kind simply FORGED him/herself a prescription..." I assume there is the possibility of being caught and charged. It would be pretty tough to make the case for an insanity defense on a crime like that, wouldn't you say? (e.g., "I was suffering from CPAP withdrawal and believed that I was signing a Mother's Day card to my dead mother. I thought the 'M.D.' stood for Mother's Day...")

I figured that euphemism wouldn't escape your BS detector, SU. My compliments on your plea; it's more creative than most.

Thank you, M.D. May I count on you to testify that I have a requisite mental disorder? I'm sure there's evidence of that somewhere among my thousands of posts...

Having designated -SWS to write my eulogy, and M.D. Hosehead to craft my insanity defense, I think I'm in good shape. Oh wait, in case my secret "admirer" should meet with an untimely demise, when it's restored, who would like to be in charge of deleting my first post in my "Can I have my own thread?" thread?

SleepingUgly wrote:

M.D.Hosehead wrote:I wonder what would happen if a person with no license of any kind simply wrote him/herself a prescription and used it to purchase xpap online for his/her own use. I'm not suggesting anything, just curious.

Usually a prescription would be written on a prescription pad/paper, and it requires a doctor's signature. So what you're asking is "I wonder what would happen if a person with no license of any kind simply FORGED him/herself a prescription..." I assume there is the possibility of being caught and charged. It would be pretty tough to make the case for an insanity defense on a crime like that, wouldn't you say? (e.g., "I was suffering from CPAP withdrawal and believed that I was signing a Mother's Day card to my dead mother. I thought the 'M.D.' stood for Mother's Day...")

My prescription was NOT written any special kind of paper; in fact it was all typed out with a line for the doctor to sign. It was on regular old computer paper too. This was accepted at CPAP.com, and at the local DME. I actually though seemed very easy for anyone to forge one of these prescriptions. Though I assume they randomly call some of the doctors and see if it is legit, not all of the doctors but a random few percent.

Gosh, Ultranewb
You sound like me a couple years ago.. I was waking up like that..

not breathing while you are asleep is quite a shock to your poor body..

I had no idea my problem was caused by sleeping on my back and my tongue fell into my tiny throat..

Have you experimented with different sleeping positions? This may not have a thing to do with what is causing
you problems, but it doesnt cost anything either to try sleeping in different positions..

I spent over eight thousand dollars on sleep studies, equipment and doctor visits to find out, if I just put a scrunchie
or hair clip in my hair, it keeps me off my back, and I no longer have apnea.. However, Im a weird case, I had
four permanent teeth pulled as a child, which caused cranial facial abnormalities, so I have a tiny mouth, large tongue,
tiny nostrils and ear canals.. I wish someone would have suggested to me to try sleeping on my stomach before
I spent all that money.. Im sorry about your insurance dilema, I understand how that is, we have an astronomical deductable
There is always a concern that you may have done some real damage to your heart, esp if you already have high
blood pressure.. so please be careful, and try to get to a cardiologist for a check up when you can afford to.
Till then, get yourself a quiet, data capable machine, it just might do the trick..

good luck! read read read, youll be the master of your mysteries in short time!

elena

I do hope that you have a license to write prescriptions.........and that your state board doesn't nick you for self-medicating...........even if it is a "glorified fan". I agree with you to a certain extent, but it's an issue not worth losing a license over or going to jail over.[/quote]


I wonder what would happen if a person with no license of any kind simply wrote him/herself a prescription and used it to purchase xpap online for his/her own use.
I'm not suggesting anything, just curious.[/quote]

The form used requires your license numbers, both your state license number as well as your NPI number. Unless you can obtain current numbers and a name and address that matches them, you probably won't get it filled. Again, just go see your dentist and tell them you're concerned about mouth breathing and its attendant dental consequences and want a nasal CPAP solution to prevent it. Know your mask size by printing out the sizing form from our host's site (make sure it's not enlarged or reduced to fit the printed page by your printer BTW!) to help them complete the Rx and know that the pressure setting of 8-14 cm covers about 80% of all Rx's written by RTs. Start there and then use your data package to fine tune it later. Hope this helps.

Occam's Razor, the Gordian Knot, even Dog Haiku. In all of those, the simplest approach is often best.

Talk to your dentist.

Try to keep the written record on the Q.T.
Apnea is still considered a pre-existing condition.
It could mess you up big time; but not being treated could KILL you.
Yeah, I know: rock vs. hard place.

Ultra, you can walk into almost any non-private hospital's emergency room and be diagnosed. You don't need money or even show papers. Most emergency rooms physicians are very familiar with sleep disorders.

If a person is quite convinced he/she probably has Obstructive Sleep Apnea, is in financial distress and has no medical insurance... I'd start asking EVERYONE I came across in town this question: "Do you know anyone who uses a CPAP (See-pap) machine for sleep apnea?" Ask people standing in line at grocery stores, quick-stop markets, people at church (if you attend), people at any social gatherings ...complete strangers, even.

Eventually you'll ask that question of someone who'll answer, "Oh, yeah...my brother-in-law...", etc.

With just a little bit of luck, you'll run across someone who has either stopped using CPAP himself/herself, or knows a relative who has a machine stuck away in a closet. Ask around enough and you might get an unused machine given to you, complete with hose and mask, and maybe even a humidifier. Even if it's a plain CPAP that records no useful info, it would be better than nothing. With nothing better to go by than just a guess, I'd set it at a pressure of 10 and see how it goes.

Look for people with strap marks on their faces (might have an old machine, or know someone who does)

chunkyfrog wrote:Look for people with strap marks on their faces (might have an old machine, or know someone who does)

Good idea, chunky!