+- Apnea Board Forum - CPAP | Sleep Apnea (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums)
+-- Forum: Public Area (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Public-Area)
+--- Forum: Main Apnea Board Forum (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Main-Apnea-Board-Forum)
+--- Thread: New member, test results today, anything I need beware? (/Thread-New-member-test-results-today-anything-I-need-beware)
Pages:
1
2
New member, test results today, anything I need beware? - awoodby - 03-08-2016
I'm um, fast tracking my testing to try to get on some sort of treatment, when I decided to try my Pulse Oximeter because I kept waking up, and saw lots below 80, and my sleep steadily going from 5 hours of nonproductive to worse, well, fast tracking it.
So I've gotten in to a sleep doc and in-home testing (just the pulse ox and something up the nose, the...resmed plus unit I think it was). I had a good night (for me, I'm sure they still got sub 80's, but I wasn't awake 5/8 hours).
Anything in particular I need be concerned about/you wish you'd known at this stage? Or do things progress at an ok pace?
I want to be sure to end up with something expandable enough for when I have weeks like week before last, that's for sure.
Thanks! And, well, all things considered, glad to be here! Hope to contribute as well as take eventually
--Alex
----------More background stuff below for any who want it-------------
44 yr old male, pushing the top of my ideal BMI but generally healthy and, well, traditionally active. Always insomniac, lately progressively worse. Added almost daily migraines or headaches to the mix.
Since this is my year of doing all of the doctors I usually put off I saw psychiatrist and neurologist, got a few meds for insomnia and migraines and an MRI, nothing amiss, meds not helping with migraines/headaches.
Noticed my heavy breathing when I awake after an hour or 2, thought, hmm, if I'm out of breath, lets use that pulse ox from the closet and see, and sure enough, I'm out of breath.
RE: New member, test results today, anything I need beware? - OpalRose - 03-08-2016
Welcome to Apnea Board awoodby,
It's good you've had an in home study done, now a lot depends on what insurance coverage you have.
Contact your insurance and make sure you understand what is covered and what you many be responsible for. Then keep bugging your doctor for results of the test.
You may be required to have a second study done (called a titration), this will tell the doctor what pressure is needed to control your apnea. From there, you will get a script to purchase a Cpap machine. This is where you will need to educated yourself on the machines available, so that a DME doesn't try to give you what we call a "brick", a machine that gives no useful data.
Of course, depending what your testing shows, you would want no less than a fully data capable Auto Cpap machine, with heated humidifier and hose.
Here is a link that will help you in choice of machines and what to avoid:
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php?title=Archangle:Machine_Choices
Always ask for a copy of your sleep study and perscription for your records.
If you do not have insurance coverage, or have a high deductible, it may be better to purchase out of pocket.
Here is a link to a supplier list to help you check things out. Supplier #2 sells good used cpaps and also new open box units at a lower cost.
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-CPAP-Supplier-List
Don't want to throw anymore at you, but you did ask.
Good luck, and let us know of your results.
RE: New member, test results today, anything I need beware? - awoodby - 03-08-2016
Oh by all means, throw more at me if you wish, I'm a fast reader
I'm looking at all of this with optimism, and hope that in a month or so, I'll be better than I've been in who knows how long.
Well, except for every 4 or 5 days when the exhaustion just brings all that emotion up for a few, but then back to optimism
Good to have something to look into, something to possibly fix rather than just progressive deterioration!
RE: New member, test results today, anything I need beware? - OpalRose - 03-08-2016
(03-08-2016, 12:14 PM)awoodby Wrote: Oh by all means, throw more at me if you wish, I'm a fast reader
I'm looking at all of this with optimism, and hope that in a month or so, I'll be better than I've been in who knows how long.
Well, except for every 4 or 5 days when the exhaustion just brings all that emotion up for a few, but then back to optimism
Good to have something to look into, something to possibly fix rather than just progressive deterioration!
It's good to have the attitude you seem to possess, this take a lot of adjusting to, and the right attitude helps.
One more thing, finding a mask that works for you is the hardest part, so when you
get to that point, ask your supplier/DME for a 30 day trial, so you can return and try something else.
RE: New member, test results today, anything I need beware? - awoodby - 03-08-2016
Read through that, I was aiming for the Resmed 10 Auto. The Phillips PRS1 Auto's half the price and bluetooth? Hrm. But I can't see skimping a few hundred at the risk of one iota of better sleep right now.
I have very good insurance too, that should help even more.
Thanks very much for the info/letting me know where to look in such short time. I'm sure within a week or 2 I'll be caught up on most of the rest, these will help greatly going in to today though, and I thank you much!
--Alex
RE: New member, test results today, anything I need beware? - awoodby - 03-08-2016
I will definitely try to use a supplier that allows returns/30 day trials, that's a great idea, I was wondering how I was going to manage the masks, thanks for that tip too!
Well, off to my results appointment, I'm so ready!
RE: New member, test results today, anything I need beware? - trish6hundred - 03-08-2016
Hi awoodby,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Good luck to you at your appointment.
Hang in there and much success to you.
RE: New member, test results today, anything I need beware? - awoodby - 03-09-2016
Well, the Dr.'s appt was a bit of a let down. I knew I'd had a few good days when I did the in-home testing, well, lowest I'd gone was 82, and I'd stopped breathing 16 times, apparently that wasn't enough to warrant any rush or something, he wanted me to come back in like 3 weeks for an overnight test, IF my insurance allowed, and MAYBE get me on a cpap.
Way too much ifs.
One advantage to being way overexhausted, when, my voice cracking, I told them that wouldn't work, I'm not functioning, etc, they did manage to get me in next week, and from there they will get me on a machine.
SO, NEXT week to start on some help I guess. Oh, and I suspect, to start the fight for the machine I want. So, planning for that now!
As you can probably tell, my exhaustion is overcoming my optimism, I apologize if I'm being whiny, it's just the sleepy talking, it will pass.
Thanks @trish4hundred!
RE: New member, test results today, anything I need beware? - DariaVader - 03-09-2016
glad you found us before heading in to DME
If you have great insurance, you will probably be getting your supplies via DME. Look at your policy for Durable Medical Equipment, if you have premium plan (as I do) all of this may be covered at 100%. a DME will generally let you try on several masks in their office and choose and give you 1 free exchange in the first 30 days. This worked out fine for me. One tip is to try laying your head on something while trying the mask --- can be difficult in the dme's office.
RE: New member, test results today, anything I need beware? - awoodby - 03-09-2016
@DariaVader The sleep clinic will be sending me home with some kind of unit after my overnight next tuesday, then 2 months later I come in for an appointment with the Dr.
Where will the DME fit into that?
I do have a premium PPO plan (because I know I'd mess anything else up), it's covered anything else I've thrown at it.
Will the one they send me home with be something to test out what I really need, measure and the like? Then the decision/fight comes when I meet with the Dr. at the end of the 2 months? Or will my insurance make me go to some DME shop at that point with the Dr's script?
Just trying to figure out what to get, a specific script or DME or what, to get an autoset as I KNOW my sleep varies greatly, I don't want to be stuck to one pressure when my needs vary so greatly.
Thanks for the input!!
--Alex