I've been recently diagnosed with mild sleep apnea.  My diagnosing doctor at Kaiser is very nice.  The rest of the bureucracy at Kaiser, however, is VERY slow in providing a CPAP machine.  

Part of me wonders whether I could just get a used CPAP machine myself, purchase and try various face masks to see if I can improve my sleeping while I wait for the slow Kaiser process to develop.  It appears I can get used CPAP machines for a couple hundred, which is tolerable.  I have a basic recommendation (full mask, because I breathe through my mouth; start at 4 cm; use a humidifer and check out automatic and fixed pressure modes, move between the pressures and see what works.)  

Could I go ahead and buy a used CPAP machine and try to learn on my own how to use and calibrate it, or would members of this forum not recommend that?  I just want to get this process started, and not wait for many months more.  Thank you for your thoughts!

In a word..........NO...............

I understand your desire to get help.  We ALL do.  It can be frustrating but self treating is asking for problems.  You should not even be able to purchase a unit as they are a prescription only product.  I am sure that with the aid of the internet you could possibly get one but how would you know where to set it.  It isn't like you can pick a number.

Some people have SEVERE apnea and low numbers others have mild apnea and high numbers.  There is NO rhyme or reason here, you need a titration to see where to go from here.  I guess the best way to get the ball rolling a bit quicker is to be a sqeeky wheel.  Perhaps if you call often you can get things moving along.  BUT do not under any circumstances attempt to take care of this yourself.  

Please keep us posted on your journey.  You will find a very caring group here that can answer pretty much anything you want to know.


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~ElleMarie~ One day at a time, ARE YOU KIDDING ME! Sometimes it's just a minute at a time.



AHI 100 -Diagnosis June 2007-

You've had a sleep evaluation, it has been determined that you do have sleep apnea. Do you know if you have any other concurrent sleep disorders?

I would start by requesting IN WRITING a copy of the full scored data summary report w/condensed graphs (5+ pages) AND the doctor's dictated results from your sleep evaluation. They are a part of your medical records and as such you have a LEGAL RIGHT to those copies under HIPAA.

Next I would call and ASK WHEN are you going to be scheduled for your titration study. IF you aren't given a definite date and time OR if that date and time is too far into the future, ask that you be put on the cancellation list. And then don't be bashful, call often to ask if there have been any cancellations and can you be scheduled more quickly.

IF you can get thru to your Dx'ing doctor ask him if he will script a loaner autoPAP, humidifier and mask for you to use whilst you wait to be scheduled for and are able to have your titration study.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, even w/Kaiser. Push, push, push. Diplomatically, but firmly, push.

And, yes, whilst not ideal, your wondering is certainly doable by an innovative and determined patient. But few people can breathe comfortably for any length of time at 4 cms w/a mask and CPAP. 6 cms would be a more logical starting pressure on an auto PAP. And rather than a wide open upper pressure setting you might consider a limit of say 15 cms.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

CrohnieToo wrote:

You've had a sleep evaluation.

The OP didn't actually say that, just that there was a diagnosis, which isn't necessarily the same thing!

Cheers,

Bill

Thanks, BillBolton, I stand corrected!


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.