Compliance

[jollor]

It looks like I'm going to need a CPAP machine and I was wondering should I purchase locally or get one online? Also If I buy one out of pocket will I still have to worry about it phoning home to report compliance. I guess I'm just worried because using a CPAP during the sleep study for the first time wasn't fun at all.

[USMCVet]

I would ask how much total cost of ownership will be through insurance then compare to online to see what is best.

If you buy on your own it won't phone home so to speak.

It's very important to be compliant. It can literally save your life.

Last night was first night I fell asleep without mask but did have pulse oximeter on . Never again will I allow it to happen.

https://imgur.com/qBsAZMA

[Goofproof]

It looks like I'm going to need a CPAP machine and I was wondering should I purchase locally or get one online? Also If I buy one out of pocket will I still have to worry about it phoning home to report compliance. I guess I'm just worried because using a CPAP during the sleep study for the first time wasn't fun at all.

If you buy one new on your own with your own money, why and who would it report too. Be sure you get one that collects full data, APAP are best and can be run as CPAP too. Online is the best choice, cpap (dot)com are honest and price match, I bought one in 2007 from them as a spare. They host this site. Read up on masks, if you breath thru your mouth, it must be delt with, pressure must stay in your airway to hold it open. It may not be fun, but it's not the end of the world, make the treatment yours and all will be fine. Jim

[Goofproof]

As far as Compliance, it rated for INS companies 4 hours daily, it means nothing as far as your health. You must wear it anytime you might sleep. Compliance means poor health and sooner death, use it every time you sleep means better health and longer life. Jim

[Sheriff Buford]

My daughter appears to be in the same boat as you. The out of pocket costs with the insurance company was more than buying a machine outright, so she purchased a gently used Remed S9 for her from secondwind.com.

So she starts the journey. I am her to walk her thru it. It just occurred to me to get her to call and see what the insurance will pay for masks and supplies. With some insurance companies, I suspect folks get scared off with the outta pocket expenses of a machine and fail to see what part of the mask the insurance covers.... if any.

Sheriff

[Cardsfan]

Also, check on Amazon for masks- I just figured out - after 3 years of going through my insurance- that Amazon has some masks for around $50.

[jollor]

I guess my main concern was if I cant get used to it and end up not wearing it. When I had the sleep study they had the full face mask tightened down so much it was very uncomfortable and then I couldn't sleep for hours until they decided to switch it to BPAP. I liked the nasal mask the most but they wouldn't let me wear it because of the air leaks.

[Okie bipap]

If you do decide to purchase the machine on your own, check your local Craig's list. You can often find machines there at greatly reduced prices. Just be careful where you go to look at it. Some cities allow you to meet at the local police stations to conduct the transaction. Also check with greyghost4, a member of the forum. He usually has machines available at reasonable prices and is very trustworthy.

[Goofproof]

It's important to remember, XPAP works by using air pressure to hold your airway open when you sleep. In order for it to do that it forces air into your airway, if their is a way for the air to escape, (The Mouth) the pressure can escape, keeping your XPAP treatment from working...

Also you probably won't be aware of mouthbreathing as many times it only happens when you are sleeping and your body relaxes. That's probably why in you sleep study they switched to a Full Face mask. Many of us mouthbreath thru the day, it's not the best option, but our maker gave us a second chance to intake the air we need to live in case the main (Nose) is blocked!

The nose has a system to filter incoming air and moisturize it, the mouth however allows lots of things in that wouldn't be good for our lungs, and low moisture in the mouth permits poor dental health. Jim

[jollor]

I see my doctor today for the first time after my CPAP Titration study. Is there anything I should make sure to ask him?

[Julie]

Ask for an auto (vs plain cpap machine) and for one that collects data well (we can advise on that when you return to this thread), but as far as you're not liking to use Cpap, that's what this forum is about - helping people get fitted with the right equipment (the mask is most of the problem most of the time), the right machine in terms of data collection (for you/us to actually see what goes on overnight and if necessary tweak things like pressure settings) and being sure you get an auto vs plain cpap - autos have the option of using both, but plain cpaps don't and it matters. Hopefully your MD is smart enough to not argue that you shouldn't ever adjust your own treatment (as e.g. diabetic children are taught to do), but even if he/she isn't, we can help there as well. Please try not to have a negative attitude going in as it can make a lot of difference to how well you do too.

[jollor]

So I just need to ask the Dr to write a perscription for an APAP. I know the tech doing the study said that I wasn't sleeping on the CPAP until she turned it to BPAP. She said as soon as she switched it to BPAP I was asleep in five minutes according to her. I'm overweight so she said my pressure was high.

[Pugsy]

You want a BiPap machine...not apap machine...since that is what is specifically mentioned in the sleep study.

The 2 main players in the BiPap market ....BTW the correct term is bilevel because BiPap is really a Respironics marketing term for their bilevel machines...ResMed uses AirCurve as their marketing term for bilevel machines but BiPap has become sort of generic term)


Bilevel machines offer 2 distinct pressures one for inhale and one for exhale...apap machines are really single pressure machines that can sometimes offer 2 pressures if one adds in exhale relief but sometimes a person needs more difference between inhale and exhale than exhale relief will off so using a bilevel machine opens up many more choices.

There are many different types of bilevel machines and which type you might get is going to depend on what your diagnosis was.
Most likely if plain jane vanilla OSA without any complicating factors you would get a bilevel machine that is relatively simple in what it does but there are some that will actually breathe for you if you quit breathing.

So we don't know why they say that you did better on bilevel...but I imagine that information is some where in that report.

[jollor]

So do I have to buy the machine through the doctor's office or can I go to cpap.com to get it and if so who's who would be cheaper

[Okie bipap]

Normally, cpap.com will be cheaper than your doctor. If paying out of pocket, check other on line places including amazon.