Do I need a doctor to use a cpap

chunkyfrog wrote:I know of people who have used veterinary antibiotics on themselves

Surely not!!
Ummm, well, oh what the heck, yeah... add me to the list of the people you "know"... at least through this forum. heheh. Actually, what I've used are people antibiotics prescribed for a dog. No, I didn't steal the dog's meds. I asked the vet for the Rx.... "for a dog."

Kind of like how (years ago) I was going to ask the vet for a Rx for "cpap" -- for a dog -- if the good old family doc had balked at my request. Good old family doc came through though....no office visit, no charge, no sleep study. Just a nice Rx for "cpap."

I heard a rumor that one can buy antibiotics, like Amoxicillin for fish, which is the same drug as human version, from the internet. In theory those who are into survivalist stuff choose Amoxicillin because it is stable over the long term, and might be useful against Anthrax, altho maybe not as good as Cipro.

Use of Amoxicillin may lead to a greater potential of MRSA, or some other bacteria.

jtarpley wrote:Hello eveybody,

I am 34 years old and have lost my job due to economy so I have no insurance. I have gone back to school and this December will have my new degree so hopefully that will help me to gain employment. Anyway I do not have insurance, but got a cpap machine from a friend who's father past away. Anyway I need one I know I need one, but I do not know how to calibrate it. It is a Fisher & Paykel Sleep style 200. Can anyone help me with this? Thanks in advance for any help.

You don't give us enough information of yourself. I would not say an absolute no to use a cpap without medical supervision, but it is necessary to know how recommended it is for each case. For example, someone may use any other medication or whatever which inteferes in normal breathing, and taking care of this, cpap would not be necessary.

This thread certainly has aroused some opinions...

This description from a posting above is a description of an OSA sufferer:

"He snores like crazy, stops breathing frequently during the night and an overnight pulse ox test (with my recording monitor) showed oxygen levels into the mid to upper 80's."

I am reasonably certain that if manual Cpap machines set for 9cm or 10cm were handed out to everyone meeting the above description, along with a few sheets of simple instructions on how to install and adjust the machine and mask, and giving some common sense warnings, the heath of this group would increase dramatically.

Doctors have their uses, obviously, and it would be nice if everyone had access to a doctor for sleep apnea and every other health worry. But, if the existence of out-of-reach doctors is keeping people from obtaining Cpap therapy that they could otherwise obtain and administer for themselves, then, I have to say these people would be better off without the existence of doctors. It really isn't rocket science.

Moresleep, I agree with you and your example. Although you may think it is not a rocket science, it is a health issue, and therefore great risks and benefits that you can be aware of under medical supervision.

To my knowledge, the primary contraindication to cpap therapy is bullous lung disease. Advanced emphysema is one example. The high pressure can blow out a bullae and cause a lung collapse (pneumothorax).
J

Individual working with out a sleep study at a sleep clinic might miss restless leg syndrome, which might not describe OP, but would alter treatment. Getting the pressure too high and a having a central Apnea, as might happen if the high pressure kept an individual from exhaling, could be fatal. I think others would here say that one nearly always wakes up when feeling O2 deprived. But it is another reason to have a sleep study if at all possible.