02-23-2022, 06:45 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-23-2022, 06:46 PM by mfco7.)
Newly diagnosed and don't want to wait.
I had a home sleep study last and received a diagnosis of mild sleep apnea (he mentioned the number 10, I'm assuming that was AHI). I'm 29 and have had sleep issues my entire life and suspected sleep apnea since my teens but haven't been able to get a sleep study until now, so now that I know, I'm a little impatient. Despite the mild diagnosis the lack of sleep has really been taking a toll me on me the last couple years and despite really working on sleep hygiene and cutting out caffeine completely my sleep just seems to get worse.
The doctor said he planned to prescribe a CPAP but is setting me up to get an in lab study for titration I believe and then seeing me again in over 6 weeks. And I Imagine even after that appointment there will still be more of a wait until I get a machine. Reading around online it seems like some people get prescribed a machine soon after a home study and then adjustments are made. His office is also impossible to get a hold of and the appointments are expensive and literally 30 seconds long over zoom, just not a great experience.
My main question is whether it's a bad idea to find a used autoset machine and figure out how to use it myself in the meantime? I would still go through the the titration (insurance willing) and getting a machine from the doctor, and then use this machine as a back up.
Thanks
RE: Newly diagnosed and don't want to wait.
Welcome to the board. If you have the money then no problem. We sure can help with settings.
Don’t buy a Phillips dreamstation- they have been recalled for possible foam that could give you cancer.
Buy a ResMed 10 or 11 but the key word is autoset.
RE: Newly diagnosed and don't want to wait.
(02-23-2022, 06:55 PM)staceyburke Wrote: Welcome to the board. If you have the money then no problem. We sure can help with settings.
Don’t buy a Phillips dreamstation- they have been recalled for possible foam that could give you cancer.
Buy a ResMed 10 or 11 but the key word is autoset.
Thanks!
In your opinion is an S9 autoset is too old at this point? It's listed on the wiki for choosing machines and I have found a couple online, one very low hours, one seemingly unused.
RE: Newly diagnosed and don't want to wait.
The only reason I can think of to wait is if the titration study indicates you need a different machine. If its only 10 AHI and all obstructive apnea then I don't see why he wouldn't start you on PAP first then do the titration study. If you have central apnea then I could see waiting if he is a good doctor and considering ASV right off the bat.
All theoretical since we don't know details of your results.
In short using a machine isn't likely to hurt and will give you an idea about treatment prior to titration. It would make more sense to me to push for a prescription rather than buy used though.
RE: Newly diagnosed and don't want to wait.
The ResMed 9 would be fine autoset
RE: Newly diagnosed and don't want to wait.
(02-23-2022, 07:03 PM)Geer1 Wrote: The only reason I can think of to wait is if the titration study indicates you need a different machine. If its only 10 AHI and all obstructive apnea then I don't see why he wouldn't start you on PAP first then do the titration study. If you have central apnea then I could see waiting if he is a good doctor and considering ASV right off the bat.
All theoretical since we don't know details of your results.
In short using a machine isn't likely to hurt and will give you an idea about treatment prior to titration. It would make more sense to me to push for a prescription rather than buy used though.
Would the home sleep study have shown whether it was obstructive or central? I've asked for a copy of my study results. He mentioned CPAP straight away at the follow up when he gave me the diagnosis and said what I had was easily treatable, but as I mentioned the appointments have been extremely brief and over zoom. Supposedly a respected doctor in the area but not a great patient experience. Front office is not easy to deal with either and why I was thinking about buying used rather than trying to push for a prescription sooner.
02-23-2022, 08:21 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-23-2022, 08:21 PM by Geer1.)
RE: Newly diagnosed and don't want to wait.
Yes sleep study should differentiate.
The more I think about this the more I am wondering if he plans on going cheap and using a fixed pressure machine which would be a potential reason to wait for a titration.
I personally would just push for a Resmed autoset prescription. If this was a specialist your GP should have got a copy of report and should be able to give you the prescription, just say you don't feel the extra titration study and wait time is necessary.
Otherwise sure just buy used if you want to.
