Insurance Compliance and Changing My Own Pressure

[Brennie]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here, I hope you can help me with some answers.

After the sleep studies, I was told I had mild OSA and given the machine. No one went over my data with me. I waited with eager expectancy for the followup following the 30 days. The machine is helping me sleep better through the night, but I am still very tired in the day. There was no going over data, just that my AHI is good. (baby stuff). My questions were shut down and I left, very very disappointed. The provider did say she would change pressure to APAP, 5-9. But that has not happened. (appointment was 25 days ago). I wanted to ask her about the flow limitations, but she didn't seem happy that I had been looking at data. Next appointment: 6 months.

I have read a lot about UARS, and seem to fit the profile of someone with it. Slim, previous orthodontia, etc, etc.

The night before Thanksgiving, I so wanted to have a good day that I turned up my pressure from prescribed 7 to 8. I awoke rested the next day. Was tired by early evening, but had a really good day. Maybe pressure of 9 would be even better. ( I turned the pressure back to 7 in the morning.)

My overall health is very good. This sleepiness really affects quality of life, as I am sure you know.

But I can't afford to lose my compliance and do not know where to turn. Should I find a different doctor? I just don't know what to do.

Thanks for listening.

[Crimson Nape]

Hi Brennie!  -  
Compliance is only looking at the hours used, a minimum of 4 hours per night, 21 nights per month.  Don't worry about adjusting your therapy.

- Red

[Brennie]

That's really good news! When the provided said she would change the pressure to 5-9, I asked if I could go ahead and do that, and she sternly said, "You are not supposed to do that!"

So, thanks for the info.

[SarcasticDave94]

When I had the ASV, I had to consult with pulmonary doc about said ASV machine not playing well with my unique breathing pattern from COPD, he wrote a new script to edit pressure settings. I took a physical copy to provide the DME a copy and then I did the edit. I received a call from the tech from a DME regional office that wanted to schedule a time for the edits to take place (next day). I told her I've already done it, tech: ok thanks I'll check it off. And I made mention of my edits to my health insurance at that time, and they didn't care at long as machine was used.

Every edit to that ASV was done by myself. DME RT was clueless, so I wasn't trusting her with much.

The only reason that doc was consulted at all was to get a different level machine, more appropriate for COPD.