Pirate
Fall Branch, TN
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Sleep apnea is the new medicare scam. That's why I see it advertised on medical trucks driving around the area.
RVTEN - Don't give up. There are many options to improve comfort. I use only Optilife nasal pillows. Heat can be taken care of with passover humidifier which can be bought for 30 bucks on fleabay.
I saw no need for CPAP until my wife recommended sleep test. I was desatting down into the 70's (oxygen level). NO good. Later when I had a CT scan, there was an overread comment stating that one side of heart was enlarged, most commonly seen in apnea people.
I won't even take a nap now without my cpap.
It's your health.
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lanerd
Ridgecrest, CA
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rvten wrote:Yes the $6000.0 included the sleep testing also. Still a rip off on insurance/medicare.
Well machine is gone. Yes I had a full mask and did not use the humidifyer feature.
With the machine could not sleep through the night. Without I sleep very well. Unless Mother nature comes a calling.
Yeah, I agree with you. $6000 probably is a insurance/medicare rip off. However, whatever the costs are, your health should be more important. And even if you do sleep very well, does the person lying next to you sleep well also?
So, I gotta ask. Why was the cpap prescribed in the first place. Obviously, the doc had his/her reason. If the doc prescribed it, it will be in your best interest to try this again. However, it does sound like you have already decided that this is a waste of your time.
As I and others have mentioned, it is difficult to get use to. However, I now cannot sleep without it. If I happen to fall asleep in the lounge chair, I will wake myself up almost immediately either snoring or for lack of breath. For this reason, I got a "spare" unit just in case my regular one breaks down or something.
I also gather that snoring is probably the reason it was prescribed. If you are adamant about not using a cpap, there are surgical procedures that would help.
In any case...Good luck
Ron
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Big Shoe
Exit 1-NJ Turnpike, PENNSVILLE, NJ
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The CPAP is difficult to use at first, no one likes a mask on their face if they don't need it, but after a couple nights it shouldn't be a problem. I switched to a nasal mask a few years ago because the mask they gave me wasn't comfortable. I can't sleep without mine now.
My wife forced me to go for a sleep study because I would stop breathing during the night and during the day I was always tired.
Now I sleep quietly and soundly. In the morning I feel rested and during the day I am not tired.
Studies show sleep apnea is hard on the heart. I know of three young men, from my town, who have died in their sleep due to sleep apnea. Their deaths could have been prevented.
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Fishinghat
Western Washington, USA
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There is a surgical alternative your doctor should have discussed with you.
I've used my CPAP at 100% compliant since the first night about 5 years ago. My first night's sleep was so restful that I wasn't going to give that up for anything, no matter how uncomfortable the adjustment period was. I just got used to it as I knew I would.
I'm on my second machine, paid for by Medicare since the first one was paid for by private insurance, and I get a new mask every three months. I keep the old machine in our coach as a backup.
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w6pea
Lost in the Smog of Mexifornia
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rvten wrote:Yes the $6000.0 included the sleep testing also. Still a rip off on insurance/medicare.
Well machine is gone. Yes I had a full mask and did not use the humidifyer feature.
With the machine could not sleep through the night. Without I sleep very well. Unless Mother nature comes a calling. I have been using C-PAP since 06/21/2005 that's the day I was reborn. (Day before my Birthday,one of the best presents I have ever gotten) I am now using a Bi-PAP machine. I used to get up about 8 or 9 times a night to go to the bathroom. Now I sleep eight hours a night and never have to get up in the night time. The reason that you are getting up at night is when you stop breathing you wake up, it's natural to have to use the toilet when you wake up not breathing from an apnea episode. Your doctor had you start C-PAP to save your life....think about it!! I started with a plain C-PAP Machine set at 20cm. I know use a Bi-PAP Auto my high setting is 19cm and my low is 10cm I paid out of pocket for my Bi-PAP I am now on Medicare and can get a new machine paid for by medicare.
You also need to join this talk group.There are a lot of great people there and a lot of good information to be had.
* This post was
edited 10/14/09 11:57pm by w6pea *
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Lets see, he had a sleep study, that showed he had a breathing problem, tried one mask, full face, without humidifier 2 nights, didn't like it and quit.
concluded that CPAP is a medical ripoff. Good thinking.
bumpy
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rvten
Crossville,TN
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Bumpyroad wrote:Lets see, he had a sleep study, that showed he had a breathing problem, tried one mask, full face, without humidifier 2 nights, didn't like it and quit.
concluded that CPAP is a medical ripoff. Good thinking.
bumpy
No I tried the CPAP for several months before giving it up. With the CPAP I was not getting full nights sleep. I was waking up more with it. Sleeping on my back with the CPAP wasa not comfortable. Sleeping on my side. Made the mask leak. I kepted itching my face all night under the mask.
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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rvten wrote:Bumpyroad wrote:Lets see, he had a sleep study, that showed he had a breathing problem, tried one mask, full face, without humidifier 2 nights, didn't like it and quit.
concluded that CPAP is a medical ripoff. Good thinking.
bumpy
No I tried the CPAP for several months before giving it up. With the CPAP I was not getting full nights sleep. I was waking up more with it. Sleeping on my back with the CPAP wasa not comfortable. Sleeping on my side. Made the mask leak. I kepted itching my face all night under the mask.
OK, your original post was misleading. $6,000 for sleep study, not for CPAP machine. Did you discuss your problems with the group that fitted your mask/system to you? I "assume" you had some condition where you needed the full face mask, not just nasal pillows or smaller mask. Yes, I always slept on my stomach/side for about 100 years until I got mine. always dreaded needing a body scan where I was forced to lie on my back for any length of time. But after getting the CPAP do just fine on my back. the last two masks I got with nasal pillows work a lot better when I roll to my side.
Seems to me you should have worked a little more with your supplier, how many different masks did you try. my first was a gel type and was quite comfortable.
bumpy
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rvten
Crossville,TN
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I tried 3 mask on the second sleep test where I was fitted for the mask and machine settings.
Medicare payed for evereything.
First sleep test was to see if I had Sleep Apnea.
Second test for machine setting and mask fitting.
Each test was around $3000.0.
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jim & pat
avenel nj
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it sounds like the humidifer was turned up to high. shoud have tried using it with water only. most of the year i don't even use water. sleep apnea does kill. but if your willing to toss the dice every time you go to sleep. thats up to you.
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