A great place to start Disorder information source Rated and Reviewed Sleep Links Entrance to all monitored Sleep Forums Search all of Sleepnet.com


Apnea Forum
Posting


Archived Apnea Forum24 viewing only. To post a new topic go to the Apnea Forum Homepage.

And a couple of comments


Posted by Mile High AirMan on February02, 2000 at 13:26:51:

In Reply to: Newbie here, with several questions! posted by Amy in TN on February02, 2000 at 11:47:09:

1. Does it pay to shop around for a CPAP machine? An e-friend said they're $1400 in her area.

If insurance pays for it, your options may be limited. They force you to buy certain machines or pay only 80% if you shop for your own. If you're happy with the offered choices, then you won't have to shop around.


3. How many follow-up sleep studies should we expect? He has a 2nd one schedule for 2/17, to adjust how many liters for
the CPAP and get measured for the mask.

After the titration study (the second one), there seems to be a major variability as to whether a followup is done after CPAP and/or surgery are undertaken.

4. What about outpatient surgery? Apparently, they're going ahead with the sleep study results and giving him the CPAP, but
he hasn't been seen by a doctor (except his gp who referred him to the sleep center). Is it possible he doesn't have to deal with
the CPAP at all, and can have surgery instead?

Be EXTREMLY cautious about surgery. Success rates are poor. Search on these forums with "surgery", educate yourself, and then seek at least one opinion from a sleep doctor who isn't a cutter.

5. Rent or purchase a CPAP? Someone had said insurance will pay for all of renting one, but only 80% if we buy it. Sounds
like renting is the best option, but that could be why health care costs are so high.

Renting is an awful deal for everyone involved except for the company doing the renting,and they make a fortune. Oftentimes, the insurance company requires renting for at least a month before a purchase can be made. In such a case, the first month's rent is often applied to the purchase price if you buy a machine from the company you rented from. Usually, you to do not have to purchase the machine you rented, but can choose a different one if you don't like the one you rented.

6. Any problems using the mask with a beard? I read a few postings here by some bearded fellows, and it appears that it's not
so hard.

This depends on the type of beard and the type of mask. Your best bet is to search on "beard" in these forums. There's been lots of excellent discussion on this matter. I will say that I was willing to sacrifice some of my beard if necessary to avoid the misery of OSA. As it turns out, trimming just an extra bit was all that was necessary for me.

Follow Ups:


Archived Apnea Forum24 viewing only. To post a new topic go to the Apnea Forum Homepage

  • IMPORTANT : Information not intended as medical advice. If you suspect that you have a sleep disorder you should seek care from a qualified professional. Read Terms of Use.
  • The Sleep Forums are not to be used for commercial purposes.
  • Commercial products and services are not endorsed by Sleepnet.com.
  • Sleep Deprivation due to Sleep Apnea and insufficient sleep are common and can present as insomnia, narcolepsy, or idiopathic hypersomnia. In infants and children sleep problems commonly present themselves as ADD or ADHD.


Copyright ©1995-2005 Sleepnet.com., All rights reserved