08-17-2019, 01:23 PM
RE: Frustrated
Hello again everyone
I am still struggling with getting consistent quality sleep. If you recall my last posts back in March I had just received the ASV rental machine and started using it. I have Kaiser Medicare Advantage coverage and Kaiser uses Apria as a sole supplier of cpap equipment. I have been very unhappy with Apria and they will not sell the ASV machine but rent it for $90 per month. I used the machine for a little over a month and my apnea events virtually went to zero. When discussing my options with my doctor at Kaiser (keep renting the machine, buy a machine from a different supplier, or go back to the Vpap auto machine). My concern other then quality sleep was cost of the machine. My doctor saw the remarkable reduction in apnea events but asked "are you sleeping better? Do you feel any better?) I had to honestly say NO to both questions. My doctor recommended going back to the Vpap Auto machine stating the my apnea was mild. I have continually been confused with the various measurement systems. Most seem to lump all type of apnea events Obstructive, Clear Way, Unclassified, Hypopnea, etc as being equal. My doctor discounts the Clear Way apnea and says long term my Obstructive apnea is within acceptable levels. Some nights my apnea seems good other nights (like last night) poor. The strange thing is as bad as the chart looks for last night I feel like I slept better last night then on a average night. Also, i recently purchase a Thumb device which measures heart rate and oxygen level continuously while sleeping. The only time my blood oxygen level drops below 95 is when I do not have the mask on. I know you guys will need more detailed data, however, I am attaching a couple of screen shots here
I am still struggling with getting consistent quality sleep. If you recall my last posts back in March I had just received the ASV rental machine and started using it. I have Kaiser Medicare Advantage coverage and Kaiser uses Apria as a sole supplier of cpap equipment. I have been very unhappy with Apria and they will not sell the ASV machine but rent it for $90 per month. I used the machine for a little over a month and my apnea events virtually went to zero. When discussing my options with my doctor at Kaiser (keep renting the machine, buy a machine from a different supplier, or go back to the Vpap auto machine). My concern other then quality sleep was cost of the machine. My doctor saw the remarkable reduction in apnea events but asked "are you sleeping better? Do you feel any better?) I had to honestly say NO to both questions. My doctor recommended going back to the Vpap Auto machine stating the my apnea was mild. I have continually been confused with the various measurement systems. Most seem to lump all type of apnea events Obstructive, Clear Way, Unclassified, Hypopnea, etc as being equal. My doctor discounts the Clear Way apnea and says long term my Obstructive apnea is within acceptable levels. Some nights my apnea seems good other nights (like last night) poor. The strange thing is as bad as the chart looks for last night I feel like I slept better last night then on a average night. Also, i recently purchase a Thumb device which measures heart rate and oxygen level continuously while sleeping. The only time my blood oxygen level drops below 95 is when I do not have the mask on. I know you guys will need more detailed data, however, I am attaching a couple of screen shots here