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Does Your Sleep Doc Approve of Us?
#11
RE: Does Your Sleep Doc Approve of Us?
(05-16-2013, 06:34 PM)big_dave Wrote: I didn't mention Apnea Board by name, but I told my doctor that I bought my machine on Craigslist and then searched the internet for the instructions so I could do my own setup. My doctor didn't say anything but he didn't seem too happy about it.

I saw a new Doc today and he blew a fuse after i told him that i just bought a Resmed s9 auto from CL and know how to set it He then told me i cant use it id have to get one thru insurance and pay 600 up front for a sleep study

Sad to say after 7 years and 3 Surgerys im done with "sleep Docs" im gonna try a few masks and use sleepy head and the resmed software to try to get me ranges right

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#12
RE: Does Your Sleep Doc Approve of Us?
(07-12-2013, 10:37 PM)motoapco Wrote:
(05-16-2013, 06:34 PM)big_dave Wrote: I didn't mention Apnea Board by name, but I told my doctor that I bought my machine on Craigslist and then searched the internet for the instructions so I could do my own setup. My doctor didn't say anything but he didn't seem too happy about it.

I saw a new Doc today and he blew a fuse after i told him that i just bought a Resmed s9 auto from CL and know how to set it He then told me i cant use it id have to get one thru insurance and pay 600 up front for a sleep study

Sad to say after 7 years and 3 Surgerys im done with "sleep Docs" im gonna try a few masks and use sleepy head and the resmed software to try to get me ranges right

Hang in there. The data didn't make any sense when I started downloading it, but after downloading it every morning for about a month I gradually learned how to interpret the data. It also helps to keep a sleep log while you're learning.

I had only a diagnostic sleep study and I titrated my own pressure using what I learned on the board. Maybe it would have been better if I had a doctor's assistance for this, but I have been uninsured since May 2012. I did what I had to, or else I could not have received treatment. Insurance paid for my sleep study but I lost it before I was able to get a machine.

It took about a year to adjust my CPAP therapy so it really works well with an AHI of about 2. You'll want to make any changes gradually. When I was using a range of 11-16, I was getting an AHI of about 3.5. Then about 6 months ago I upped it to 12-16. I didn't see any change in my AHI for about a week, but it gradually dropped to about 2.0 the second week.

You will need a prescription so you can get replacement masks, but you can get one from your PCP or even your dentist. You will need to learn (from the board) what to put on the prescription since they might be unfamiliar with CPAP prescriptions.
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#13
RE: Does Your Sleep Doc Approve of Us?
When I asked my sleep doctor if he minded if I used the same ResScan software he used, he replied quite smugly "Oh, sure, go ahead but I don't know where you'll find it." Ah HA .... I found it right here on Apnea Board! So, I guess he "approves" (not). Next time I see him I'll just plop some of my data on his desk and see what he says. Then I'll let you know the answer to the second part of the question.

And if he asks where I found the software, I'll just smile and say.... Mr. Sandman brought it to me.
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#14
RE: Does Your Sleep Doc Approve of Us?
(07-12-2013, 11:10 PM)MAPnea Wrote: When I asked my sleep doctor if he minded if I used the same ResScan software he used, he replied quite smugly "Oh, sure, go ahead but I don't know where you'll find it." Ah HA .... I found it right here on Apnea Board! So, I guess he "approves" (not). Next time I see him I'll just plop some of my data on his desk and see what he says. Then I'll let you know the answer to the second part of the question.

And if he asks where I found the software, I'll just smile and say.... Mr. Sandman brought it to me.

You will want to be diplomatic about this. If you have the luxury of a doctor's assistance, and he's one of the good ones who listens to you, give him a chance to do his job. The last thing you want to do is have him label you as a difficult patient, if you're able to benefit from his expertise.
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#15
RE: Does Your Sleep Doc Approve of Us?
The RN in my sleep docs office warned me that if he finds I have changed any of my setting he won't see me any more. Not sure that's anything to worry about as his RN does most of the work anyhow.
"Sometimes the magic works . . . and sometimes it doesn't" -- Chief Dan George in the movie Little Big Man
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#16
RE: Does Your Sleep Doc Approve of Us?
Seems like a legal issue. If I were a doctor and I prescribed CPAP at certain settings, I would be nervous about my patient changing those settings.
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#17
RE: Does Your Sleep Doc Approve of Us?
I think I've been dropped by my sleep doctor. My last follow-up was early August last year, but his office hasn't contacted me to schedule my annual appointment.
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#18
RE: Does Your Sleep Doc Approve of Us?
My what?

Seriously though... I had Kaiser at the time. I realized I had sleep apnea, and when I finally gave up hoping that it would go away, I went in. They loaned me a machine that measured how red my blood was during the night. They looked at the results and said, Yeah, you've got it bad. Here's your prescription, now get out.

I no longer have Kaiser, and I certainly don't have a sleep specialist doctor. It's my understanding that 1, even if you find one, it takes three months to get an appointment, and 2, they're very expensive. And for what? I already know my problem and how to fix it.

That's OK though. All I want is a decent machine and the ability to adjust the pressure. I've had one for several years now and it's been working out well enough. About time for a replacement though.
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#19
RE: Does Your Sleep Doc Approve of Us?
(07-13-2013, 01:22 PM)big_dave Wrote: I think I've been dropped by my sleep doctor. My last follow-up was early August last year, but his office hasn't contacted me to schedule my annual appointment.

Standard procedure for those in the "medical mafia". Unless they think they can shake more money from your wallet or from the insurance company, they will leave you alone. Seriously.


motoapco Wrote:I saw a new Doc today and he blew a fuse after i told him that i just bought a Resmed s9 auto from CL and know how to set it He then told me i cant use it id have to get one thru insurance and pay 600 up front for a sleep study

Another member of the "medical mafia". It's all about the cash. Seriously.

Oh-jeez

See "Is there a Medical Mafia?", here:

http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...ical-Mafia

Coffee

SuperSleeper
Apnea Board Administrator
www.ApneaBoard.com


INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.


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#20
RE: Does Your Sleep Doc Approve of Us?
My DR just rubber stamped whatever the sleep study titration said...the sleep study was obviously flawed..I didnt even think I fell asleep once..they told me I had and I could go home if I wanted to..found out years later I was alseep (just barely enough to even register as sleep) for a total of just 2 hours the entire study.

My Dr changed my bpm setting from 12 to 16..made my AHI skyrocket to over 50 and then looked me in the eyes and said my data looked good and I was doing great a year later...umm no...I raised cain..told him I needed and Autosv from my research..he no you dont..you need a trilogy...(a 15,000 dollar ventilator for people with respiratory diseases???)
.I demanded he help me...instead, he handed me off to the nurse practitioner in his office who was as worthless as he was.

Long story short...I stopped all communication with them....bought myself an asv online..set the pressure myself and now my AHI is sub 2.0

They dont want you to know you can help yourself and bypass them completely...
I don't believe anything I hear and only half of what I see
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