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I was using a CPAP machine that I couldn't see the data nor extract it to use with SleppyHead. It was awful because the appointments with the doctor were 6 mont
by goshx 8y ago
I was using a CPAP machine that I couldn't see the data nor extract it to use with SleppyHead. It was awful because the appointments with the doctor were 6 months apart and they were basically about a lot of leak detected by the machine and let's try to adjust it and see in 6 months if it was fixed.
Awful.
Almost 3 years later I requested another sleep study because I was done with no progress. The study found out that what I really needed was a BiPAP machine and a MUCH higher pressure.
Now the insurance replaced my old machine by a Philips-Respironics DreamStation Auto BiPAP, which comes with an app (DreamMapper) that you can sync every morning using bluetooth and it shows the usage time, % of mask leak detected, and detailed AHI information like: Total clear airway apneas, total obstructive apneas and total hypopneas.
This is really all I needed to monitor it myself and adjust whatever I need without having to wait 6 freaking months.
I have a friend that didn't want to go through the study and ended up ordering the same machine as I have. He's been adjusting his settings based on the app. He's very happy with the results and probably would have similar results if he had done the sleep study.
- bhc 8y agoHow do people obtain regulated medical devices like CPAP without a prescription? I assume a sleep study is required to get a prescription from a doctor.
- jchw 8y agoI think there's a loophole in that you can buy CPAP machines without a prescription from second-hand sellers. Last I checked it looked pretty inexpensive, too. So, really, you don't need a prescription to try one if you really wanted to. There's probably some safety concerns, but I've become cynical about a lot of it. Doctors of course want everyone to go to the doctor first, but is it really that dangerous to use a CPAP machine if you didn't need one?
- Chris_Chambers 8y agoReally? I couldn’t even buy the mask or tube online without a prescription.
- carlmr 8y ago>There's probably some safety concerns Apparently dry nose and skin irritation. I wouldn't worry too much about it. But if you can get a doctor's appointment you might get an insurance to pay for your experiment. https://shop.edensleep.co.nz/how-does-cpap-work/# https://shop.edensleep.co.nz/how-does-cpap-work/#
- goshx 8y agoMy friend bought his on Amazon. Edit: removed link.
- BurningFrog 8y agoYou can buy used ones from someone who has bought it with a prescription. It can be preferable to going through the "proper channels", since it can take many months to get the machine through the US medical system, and you need to get some goddamn SLEEP.
- paulie_a 8y agoYou literally can buy them on eBay.
- patja 8y agoHave you tried? I had a tough time buying a used CPAP on eBay. I had a saved search on file for over a year before I was successful. Every listing that came up, eBay would quash because of the prescription requirement. I finally got one that was a buy-it-now where the seller and I managed to consummate the deal within a few minutes of the listing going online, before the eBay secret police could remove it.
- caycep 8y agoyeah, I was wondering whether this article applied to only the older manual adjusted CPAP machines vs. AutoPAP machines.