11-26-2015, 10:32 PM
newbie
I am getting ready for my new titration sleep study. A little history. I was dx with OSA about 3 years ago. I had suspected it for a while but sort of fought getting tested. Dumb, I know but it was an ego thing. Unfortunately, I was not savvy. I know that I had a moderate score when side lying but more mod-high when supine and was given a res med elite 9 with a full face mask. I used it for about 3 mos and gave up. I did not feel more rested...it seemed to disturb my sleep more. At times, I just felt like it was forcing more air into me than I needed. I felt like I was choking on air. I had a heated humidifier but experienced rain out in the tubing (did not know about the heated tubing and the DME did not tell me) so I was always afraid water would flow into me at night. I also got a pressure ulcer on the bridge of my nose from the mask--just 1 night of use. I had previously had a tonsillectomy and I have chronic allergies. My left tonsil grew back so after the 3 mos, the insurance paid for a repeat tonsillectomy and uvelectomy. I tried cpap a few times after my surgery but my throat was so sore, I could not tolerate it. Since then I was also fitted for oral repositioning device by my orthodontist after referral from my surgeon. That seemed to help for a while but I am now having symptoms again. I had a home sleep study which showed fewer episodes (more mild to moderate at least on my side which I have trained myself to sleep) but more severe 02 desats...into the low 80s/upper 70s at least. I have not seen the full report but will request that tomorrow. I want to go in educated and armed and know what to ask for. I think I would do better with a machine that would auto titrate. My current machine was paid for outright by a different insurance company 3 years ago and I am not currently using it so I may be elgible for something new. I am not sure. What would be your advice on how to proceed? I was also born with some craniofacial abnormalities (so why OSA was not suspected when I snored loudlly as a child?!?) that make me have a small airway to begin with. To complicate things, I live in one state and my insurance is a carrier in another state and from my understanding the claims are processed by the state of residence BCBS providers.
