sleep study attached, looking for advice

[jgrizz80]

In our Pittsburgh Craigslist there is a distributor that sells the Airsense 10 Autoset for $495.  As far as I know it's a legitimate deal, and they transact using Paypal for your protection.  You have to call them to order, but it's a very good deal on a new machine with warranty.  (888) 965-7655.

Just out of curiosity (and so I can avoid them), which DME dispensed the brick?  Also, let me know if you ever want to meet at Rivertowne.

Yeah, i've seen that deal, as well as 2 used autosets for sale right now on craigslist, although i am nervous about buying a used machine off of a private individual.  The new deal for $495 just seems fishy.  Has anyone ever actually purchased one through them?

The DME was Mon Valley Medical Supply.  I get that they are trying to maximize profit, but come on, at least an Elite version would offer data over the brick and they would still make money.  hell for what they whack insurance, they are making money.

Ahi last night was 7.3 also and i probably woke up 3 times... I just really want to know more info on the types and lengths of these events i'm having so i can work better on fixing this.

[Sleeprider]

As far as the new machine goes, you can call them and learn more. Their ads have been around a long time, and if it were ripping people off you'd probably see their ads get reported and pulled. There are a couple distributors (not retailers) that do this, and it is a good deal to buy out of the back door, so to speak. It's a good business for them and since they don't provide any services beyond the sale it increases the bottom line. I can't guarantee the deal, but it is one I would probably use if I was out of pocket. The use of Paypal does give you some assurance of receiving product. Let's face it, this is not their first rodeo and they are not out of business.

The used machines on the South Side look like Autosets and the one in West Mifflin with 6K hours is priced okay at $125, but I would haggle and be absolutely positively certain it has never been around cigarette smoke. I have purchased off private sellers on CL and it works out okay. You usually get a pretty good sense of who you're dealing with from talking on the phone, and you can always meet for an exchange in a public place like McDonalds or Starbucks.

[dmeRT]

if the dr. wants to just increase your set pressure, mention the titration study that already determined that doesn't work for you with the central's coming into play. Ask how he will be able to check how an increase in the set pressure would be affecting you? i.e. central vs. obstructive vs. hypopnea episodes since you were given a "brick." Ask if a bipap titration would be beneficial...it's obvious the 9 cmH2O cpap is not working for you. Also mention you still feel tired.

[jgrizz80]

if the dr. wants to just increase your set pressure, mention the titration study that already determined that doesn't work for you with the central's coming into play.  Ask how he will be able to check how an increase in the set pressure would be affecting you?  i.e. central vs. obstructive vs. hypopnea episodes since you were given a "brick."        Ask if a bipap titration would be beneficial...it's obvious the 9 cmH2O cpap is not working for you.  Also mention you still feel tired.

Thats pretty much the route i planned on going.   If he suggests a bipap titration, i'll do it, but it's not something i'm looking forward to, or waiting for.  We'll see what he has to say tomorrow.

[jgrizz80]

Well, i had my appointment this morning. My doctor is wanting me to do another cpap/vpap study this time which is scheduled for may 21 and then a daytime sleepiness test on the following day which just sounds miserable. He did say he doesn't want to just make a pressure change because he has no idea if it will be effective or not because of the central events i had during the initial titration and doesn't know whether or not they are still lingering so i'm assuming he thinks there is the possibility i have complex apnea. He said it's about a $5000 machine, so that leads me to believe that he's talking about an ASV machine and not just a bipap machine? I've seen the older s9 resmed bipap machines were all called vpap, so i'm a little unsure though which mode exactly will be used for the study. I tried my best to get him to prescribe an autoset machine, but he just seemed to want no part of it. At least he is willing to keep pursuing another avenue to help get me sleeping better.

[mesenteria]

Yes, he means an ASV, but even in them skimpy Canuck dollars you can get one for $4K.  I know, I looked....just cuz.  I am quite certain you could pick a new one up for +/- USD$3K, and maybe a lot cheaper.  But yes, he means an ASV, and they're almost twice what a ResMed AS10 Elite is, a straight CPAP with data.

[Sleeprider]

Jgrizz80, Supplier #2 will do a brand new Aircurve 10 ASV for $2150, so that is the real uninsured cost. They also offer "lightly used" ASV at about half that price. If you don't have good insurance coverage, that is the way to go. The big question is, how is your insurance coverage. The bilevel/ASV study is worth while, as is a screening echocariogram to determine heart health, but a daytime sleepyness test is really a waste. We know you're not treated properly. What's the point?

[jgrizz80]

Jgrizz80, Supplier #2 will do a brand new Aircurve 10 ASV for $2150, so that is the real uninsured cost.  They also offer "lightly used" ASV at about half that price.  If you don't have good insurance coverage, that is the way to go.  The big question is, how is your insurance coverage.  The bilevel/ASV study is worth while, as is a screening echocariogram to determine heart health, but a daytime sleepyness test is really a waste. We know you're not treated properly. What's the point?

I actually have pretty damn good insurance, so thats not an issue at least for now, but who knows how it will be if the ASV machine is needed.  The doctor this morning didn't mention anything about an echo screening for heart health, but I had an echo and a heart stress test done last september when i was having heart palpitations (which is what lead to this whole sleep apnea diagnosis anyway) and everything checked out 100%.  I'm pretty sure that they were caused by stress and anxiety.  I agree about the daytime test, but whatever, if thats what he wants me to do, I'll suck it up and deal with it.

[jgrizz80]

Well, I had my follow up cpap/vpap titration study last thursday, as well as the MSLT test the following day. Apparently i had only 1 central the entire night, so there was no need to switch me to the ASV therapy. They did take the pressure up to 15 during the titration, and determined that was my new best setting, and the DME raised the pressure on the machine yesterday to that. Last night was the first night on it, which was fine, but still woke up to an AHI of 4.9. Still, unfortunately with the brick that i have, i have no idea what type, what time, how long, or how clustered together the events were. I'm obviously going to give it way more time, but i think i am going to end up purchasing my own machine so i can see what is going on. Would the aircurve Vauto give the most flexibility as far as machines go for different types of therapy?

[JesseLee]

The Vauto can be configured in anyway an auto CPAP can be and fixed CPAP. It is an auto bilevel CPAP machine and is also fully data reporting. Great machine.