New Member Intro

[Peter_C]

Welcome fellow hose-head. Lots of great info here.

[RockABye]

Thanks for the intro, Carleen, and welcome to the forum. I'm relatively new to the forum and CPAP myself (just had my titration study last night) but I can tell you that everyone here is very helpful and will answer questions to the best of their ability. I'm always surprised at the wealth of knowledge the members have! Sorry to hear about your health issues, but just knowing that you're not alone helps all of us deal with the various issues we face. Keep the positive attitude and never hesitate to ask a question. :grin:

[iamcarleen]

And wow, a drop to 57? I think you win an award for that one. Congrats?

So I guess that 57 is not so good?

Have you seen Archangle's machine choice page? With all of your other fun things going on health wise, you will definitely want a data capable machine.

I don't think I get to choose the type of machine that my insurance company will provide. From what I know about it, there will 2 parts that snap together with one being the cpap part and the other being a humidifier. I guess that this four day titration study will determine which machine they give me. Thankfully, I don't have to pay anything for the machine or the supplies, so I won't complain.

As for knowing about ACM, I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Hypermobility Type. Chiari is something a lot of us have.

I'm familiar with the connection between ACM and EDS and am eternally grateful that I have to deal with only one! I know two people who have both, and their misery makes me appreciate mine. I had decompression surgery in 2006 with a bovine pericardium patch used to lift the tonsils out of the spinal canal as much as possible (they were protruding 8mm down) and ended up with a nickle-sized hole at the base of the skull and C1, C2, and C3 being removed. If sleeping was a challenge before the surgery, it became nearly impossible after because getting and staying in a position that didn't lead to a killer headache or muscle tension is a challenge that I have yet to master, even after all these years.

[RockABye]

I don't think I get to choose the type of machine that my insurance company will provide. From what I know about it, there will 2 parts that snap together with one being the cpap part and the other being a humidifier. I guess that this four day titration study will determine which machine they give me. Thankfully, I don't have to pay anything for the machine or the supplies, so I won't complain.

Carleen, you DO have some say in what type of machine you get. Yes, your doctor will determine if you need a CPAP, Bi-Level, VPAP, etc, based on your titration study but you can ask for a specific brand and model from your DME. When I had my titration study last Friday night, I told the tech that I want a fully data capable Auto machine, so she noted on it my study. When the doctor reviews my results, he'll see my request and I believe he'll include that in my prescription, but if he doesn't, I plan to call him and get him to include it. I won't accept a compliance-only machine (which they refer to as a "brick").

Here's what you need to know: the DME bills the insurance company for a CPAP machine usually by a specific code. They know exactly how much the insurance company will pay for that billing code. So if they can give you a low-end machine, they generate a greater profit. Be insistent that they provide you with a fully data-capable machine and don't accept anything else. If they give you a hard time, tell them you'll go to another DME and then do it! Insurance may be paying for it, but who pays for the insurance? You do! (Well, we all do!) So make sure you are getting your money's worth. I think it's well worth your time to review Archangel's post and figure out which machine you want. I know exactly which make and model I want and I have already made sure that the DME that I'm going to use sells that brand and will get me the machine I want. And remember that you have a choice of DMEs too (unless you live somewhere where only one is within a reasonable commute). If the DME isn't cooperating, go somewhere else. They are a business like any other and they need to keep customer's happy to stay in business, so don't feel bad about voicing your wishes. Good luck!