I have sleep apnea and have to use a CPAP machine by wearing a mask that pressurizes the air that I breathe while I'm asleep. The pressure keeps my airways spli

I have sleep apnea and have to use a CPAP machine by wearing a mask that pressurizes the air that I breathe while I'm asleep. The pressure keeps my airways splinted open so that when my muscles relax during REM sleep, my airways don't collapse, causing me to stop breathing and choke in my sleep. Among many other health complications, these apneas destroy the quality of my sleep, and without my CPAP, I cannot physically or mentally function. It's amazing how many CPAP machines out there do not give the patient access to their efficacy data, and often, the data itself is hidden behind a secret clinicians'/provider-only menu. For a while (from 2006-2010), CPAP machines used proprietary smartcards and non-standard $100 readers manufactured in China to store the data. I had to purchase a data-capable machine out of pocket since my DME only gave me a "brick" -- a machine that does not record any efficacy data. Of course, my insurance did not cover the slightly more expensive data-capable machine. Patients with sleep apnea need efficacy data to track how their treatment is going (how many apneas they had per hour per night of sleep). Without this information, it's completely unclear whether the CPAP is set correctly to deliver therapeutic pressures, let alone actually help that patient's sleep. It is expected that the patient takes their CPAP machine every month or so to the doctor for the doctor to download and interpret the data for them, who may then adjust the titrated pressure settings on the machine based on the data. This, of course, is a trivial process that the patient can easily do on their own which can DRASTICALLY improve the patient's quality of life. There's a blog with a ridiculous table of devices and advice for fighting the DME provider/insurance company for data-capable machines with such gems as: "Ask for the System One Pro with C-flex Plus . . . (AVOID the System One CPAP Plus with C-flex -- not data capable). Note how confusing the names are as the Pro also has 'plus' in the name! To further confuse you, all the Philips Respironics machines are marked 'Remstar' but that name isn't really used anymore." Imagine navigating the maze of complexities and argumentative DMEs/insurance companies while thoroughly sleep-deprived because you stop breathing 30 times per hour while asleep. That was me 3 years ago... https://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/ https://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/