[CPAP] Beyond ASV with Overlap Syndrome!

[SarcasticDave94]

No supplemental oxygen was even discussed seriously until last month's appointment with that new doctor. Nurses, PA-C's, and RT's have hinted at it in the past, but they couldn't prescribe.

[Llort]

Whoa. This thread is a real education. Depressing, but informative. It's hard for me to understand being a professional at something and not having enough curiosity to even figure out how the different machines work. Yikes.

And the whole "it's all obstructive apnea" thing. OMG, furious.

So in the past year, did you end up purchasing an ST out of pocket? Were you ever able to get your CAs down? Have you managed to get any good sleep?

[Morgannon]

Whoa.  This thread is a real education.  Depressing, but informative.  It's hard for me to understand being a professional at something and not having enough curiosity to even figure out how the different machines work.  Yikes.  

And the whole "it's all obstructive apnea" thing.  OMG, furious.  

So in the past year, did you end up purchasing an ST out of pocket?  Were you ever able to get your CAs down?  Have you managed to get any good sleep?

I second and third this.  As a patient with undetermined COPD/asthma/neuromuscular stuff I too want to see what the doctors found with Dave's breathing.

[OpalRose]

Dave hasn't logged in here for almost a year, although it would be nice to see an update from him.

[SarcasticDave94]

Saw my thread had some new posts. Not been around much for a while, so sorry for delay.

Well, unfortunately not a lot to add of recent. I have a pulmonary visit and a separate sleep medicine visit on schedule at Johns Hopkins in the Baltimore area. They've been pushed to next year due to scheduling. One difference from the past is these are separate teams versus same team for COPD and sleep medicine.

I have had a chest CT scan which solidified COPD as emphysema based. I did have a PFT however it had little obstruction indicated, so no ammo on any type of machine. I'm still on inhalers of Trelegy and DuoNeb nebulizer, and an allergy pill. No Apnea treatment, just blowing around in the breeze until that visit.

I'm considering getting a loan to buy my own machine. The ResMed AirCurve 10 ST-A, Stellar 150, and Astral 150 would all fit my needs. Big issue is if I get that loan, it will hinder getting a replacement vehicle which is needed soon too. So it is when living only on SSDI (Disability).

[Jay51]

Thank you for the update Dave.  Glad you are back.  If I ever see an ST (A), Steller, or Astral at a great price, I will remember this post.

[SarcasticDave94]

Thanks Jay. I had the opportunity a year ago to buy an ST-A I was trialing. And I passed on it, because at that time I didn't have a means to get a loan.

To me the ASV and ST-A feel similar, except the ST-A is single EPAP but with the manual time controls the ASV skips. Yes they have different algorithms that target different parameters as well.

Funny, silly insurance, the bills for PSG tests I've had at $32K would have paid for the Astral 150 with several complete circuits and the external humidifier, with some left over. When things cost lots more, for reasons...

[Llort]

Thanks for the update, Dave!  Sorry it's still a struggle.  The amount of money insurance wastes in this area is shocking.

[SarcasticDave94]

You're welcome. I'm glad I'm surviving this mess, but an improved quality of life would be very nice.

[SarcasticDave94]

Well, almost 4 years later, a pitstop at bad pulmonary UPMC ish place that's supposed to be part of Penn State Hershey Medical. Sleep study and Titration only to convince them to help with the script. CPAP should be great for you. No thanks. I'll do without. Wasn't worth the effort at all.

So now I've got sleep medicine and pulmonary as separate offices and staff in Johns Hopkins. New study info attached, probably several postings.

Take a look if you want.

Still using Lincare DME. My local office contacted me, there's a pending ResMed AirCurve bilevel ordered with supplies processing. It sounds like VAuto. And they should have Fisher and Paykel masks like Evora Full. So thankful this is a very fast process, sarcasm fully intentional.

BTW friendly reminder, when board members suggest getting and keeping your sleep study, take it seriously. I did, but lost my hard copy when I moved. Don't make the same mistake.