Dilemma over progress...or lack thereof

[OpalRose]

cate1898,
Agree with you that everyone should be given an APAP. Even here in the US, people are given "bricks" by DME's. But at least you can advocate for yourself or get a doctor to agree to an APAP.

At least untill you can get this all worked out, try to get your pressure raised a bit. A competent doctor or DME should realize that a higher pressure is needed if you are experiencing headaches.
Good luck!

[cate1898]

Thanks OpalRose. After about 2 years of these rotten morning headaches I am sooooo anxious to be rid of them!

I will try to contact the DME tomorrow a.m. after my doctors appointment. BTW only about 3% of sleep apnea patients in Ontario actually qualify for an Auto CPAP machine, and sadly I am not one of them.

[kaiasgram]

In a perfect world, everyone would get an APAP machine as a loaner even if not medically necessary and if I understand it right, after using it for a period of 3-4 weeks or so? the machine would give data and a better idea of where a patient's pressure should be titrated to. Just my non-medical newbie opinion.

Agree. And it doesn't even need to be in a perfect world scenario. The technology is already developed and available for all machines to have treatment data. And it's always medically necessary to have a means of assessing the effectiveness of a treatment. You wouldn't give a patient thyroid medication and then never check the TSH to make sure it's the right dose for the patient...

[cate1898]

OK so today I had an appt with my family doctor. While there I discussed the CPAP situation telling him of my symptoms still ongoing and he agree with me that I am not titrated high enough at pressure 6. He thought at least 7 or 8 might be better but he has no authority to change the settings. He said it had to be the sleep doc.

So I called the sleep doc's office back and had a nice chat with his friendly secretary who after hearing what I had to say fit me in to see him next week as it is the only week I am here before I head south.