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Please help
#1
Please help
Hello I am new to this site and looking for some help for my sleep apnea problem.
I recently completed a sleep study to see if I have sleep apnea and my results came back as severe obstructive sleep apnea with an average of 32 apneas per hour. The clinic then suggested I return for a follow up appointment to get me set up on a CPAP machine for treatment. The problem though was my insurance does not cover the machine or the appointments with the sleep clinic and the clinic said the machine would cost me between $2000-$2400 and the appointment itself was $200. I do not have a lot of money to spare so I began to look else where for a solution. Luckily enough for me my grandpa has had sleep apnea for years and sent me a CPAP machine he lightly used 2 years ago (Resmed S7 Lightweight with humidifier). He had received a new one so no longer needed it and sent it my way. It also came with 2 nasal Resmed masks with the forehead supports (not sure the model names). I would like to set this all up myself to start treatment, but am not sure what pressure I should start off at. I realize a lot of readers may suggest I consult a sleep clinic to find out but as previously stated I am not covered by insurance and don't want to have to pay the high medical fees as I do not have much money and was hoping I could set it up safely on my own, thank you for hearing me out
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#2
RE: Please help
There is no way, other than a blind guess, to determine the pressure. There are auto-adjusting machines that can be set to a range of pressures and the machine can then find the right pressure on it's own, more or less.

A ResMed S7 is a pretty old machine. I suggest you try to find something newer, such as a S9 Autoset. Keep in mind that there can be complications, so what you're trying to do may not work.
Sleepster

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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#3
RE: Please help
You can pick up a late model auto machine for WAY less than that. Under 400 on the net. Your nurse prac, dentist or plain ole doc xan write the prescription.
Since you know you have obstructive get a data capable auto machine used load sleepyhead and titrate yourself.
Lot of help to be had here
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#4
RE: Please help
G'day GRyda, welcome to Apnea Board. As mentioned above, the S7 is a pretty old machine and doesn't have the data capabilities you need for self titration. To do this properly, you need an autosetting machne and a copy of SleepyHead software. See here for some advice on good and not-so-good machine choices: http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...ne_Choices

See here to download a copy of SleepyHead: http://www.sleepfiles.com/SH2/
and here for a tutorial (which is a little bit out of date, but essentially still correct): http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...SleepyHead

If you're in the US you will need a prescription to obtain a new machine, which any doctor can provide (doesn't have to be a sleep specialist). The rules vary in other countries - no prescription is needed here in Oz. See our suppliers list http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...plier-List for a range of dealers in the US and elsewhere who may be able to help. Supplier No 2 offers "gently used" and refurbished machines at good prices. You could try Craig's List or Gumtree, but I'd be reluctant to advise that route as a newby. You might get a bargain or you might get stuck with something you can't use. And of course you need a prescription in the US.

I suggest you read up the links above and if you see a machine you think might serve your needs, come back here and ask before you commit.

Best of luck!

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#5
RE: Please help
Welcome to the forum GRyda!

Just to add to DeepBreathing's helpful comments, Supplier #2 also sells brand new 'open box' machines pretty cheap.
APNEABOARD - A great place to be if you're a hosehead!!  Rolleyes  

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#6
RE: Please help
GRyda,
Welcome to the forum.
As suggested in above posts, you will need to purchase a newer machine. Preferably a Data Capable Auto Cpap. Once you have the proper machine, we can help you find the correct settings.

Please look over the link given above for machine choices. You need to be informed.
For a sleep clinic to charge you 2400.00 is robbery. You may have to put out between 200 and 400.00 to get a data capable APAP, check out Supplier #2, link at top of page. They have a good reputation and have gently used or even new open box machines.

Just my 2cents... If your grandpa no longer wants to use an old S7 machine, why would you???

There is no shortcut here, you have severe obstructive sleep apnea and needs to be treated properly.
OpalRose
Apnea Board Administrator
www.apneaboard.com

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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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#7
RE: Please help
Gryda, some of the online vendors will submit your sleep study result to a physician and obtain your prescription for your. Supplier 30 in the list at the top of the page does this service, and there may be others. Alternatively, any physician can write a prescription for you using your diagnosis (sleep study), including the sleep doctor that made the recommendation for a titration study, or your regular primary care doctor. You have a diagnosis, that's enough to move forward. I never had a clinical titration, nor have hundreds of other people. We self-titrated using an auto machine. You can too. Ask the sleep doctor who reviewed your study to write a prescription for APAP and supplies. I'm sure if you explain your situation they will do this.

While it would be nice to get a clinically determined pressure, it is not necessary with today's auto-titrating CPAPs. I recommend that you shop online for the Philips Respironics System One RemStar Auto. Since the DreamStation has just been released, this full-data auto CPAP is available for as low as $400 online...just search. I just saw some for $370 to $386 on Amazon (please read precautions on alternative suppliers on the supplier list). You will probably need a prescription but it's possible you won't. Once you have the machine, this forum can help you to set it up and optimize treatment, and answer any questions. Don't let money stand in the way of you getting the treatment you need to protect your health.
Sleeprider
Apnea Board Moderator
www.ApneaBoard.com

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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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#8
RE: Please help
Hi GRyda,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
I wish you much success on getting a data-capable machine so you can start treating your sleep apnea.
Hang in there for more responses to your post.
trish6hundred
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#9
RE: Please help
I was on the same boat a month ago. Talk to the doctor that ordered your sleep study, tell him you want a copy of the sleep study results. On mine, it has a suggested CPAP pressure, which can give you an indication where to start. He can also write a Prescription for a machine with those settings which is all you need to purchase a newer, data capable auto machine for around $500 that will guide your therapy and allow you to generate reports to show your doctor on how you've been doing.
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#10
RE: Please help
Thank you for all the help everyone Smile I think I will shop around a bit for a newer cheaper machine and talk to my GP about it as well for a prescription. I really do think that the sleep clinic I went to is trying to charge me way too much. Thanks again for all the helpful advice everyone, much appreciated Smile
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