Sleep apnea

Discussion in 'Driver Health' started by rumbarrel, Feb 18, 2008.

  1. jlkklj777

    jlkklj777 20 Year Truckload Veteran

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    Sure it is a medical condition but remember doctors "practice" medicine. They have a trial and error procedure on medicines as well as sleep apnea. The difference is doctors bury their mistakes.

    As for me adjusting MY machine I do not have to wait for an appointment to go see a neurologist (sleep doctor) to have them tell me; "well if you are not sleeping as well as you used to lets try to up the pressure setting on your cpap machine and see if that works. I will see you back in a month and you can tell me if that worked."

    BULL ####ZEL. I will adjust the pressure and if it works great. If it doesn't then I will back it down. See the difference?

    My way; Immediate results and no out lay of cash. Your way; pay your money and "try, try, try again."

    We are not talking about increasing medicinal dosages here. There is a BIG difference.
     
    orion3814 and DedHedEd Thank this.
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  3. orion3814

    orion3814 Medium Load Member

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    i need to up my scrip for oxycotton


    well i left with my machine on 7.. very very low.. i dream better with it on a 9 mmm huhhhhh
     
  4. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    I'm like you Matt. Six months now and I can't get use to it. I forked about $1000 out of pocket and the RT could care less if I'm compliant. Now I'm home disqualified from driving from sleep apnea and diabetes. Now, I have to figure out with no insurance how to get compliant. They want me to fork out another $2000 for a new sleep study. Everyone thinks you need a new mask or adjustments will fix it. Some people just can't wear the thing. I'm finding more and more people like that. Now I wish I kept quiet.

    I've talked to people that had the rotor rooter surgery and they have nothing but good things to say. I just have to figure a way to get it.
     
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  5. azdiamon

    azdiamon Bobtail Member

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    How is CPAP compliance enforced? I have problems ripping mine off in the middle of the night
     
  6. jlkklj777

    jlkklj777 20 Year Truckload Veteran

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    The machines have different sensors built into it. I know they register blower hours, how long the machine was used, pressure setting, and resistance. I believe the resistance monitor can detect when the machine is on but the mask is off.

    Some cpap machines have a downloadable memory card now a days. I have an older one that does not have wireless capability or a removable memory card.
     
  7. 112racing

    112racing Road Train Member

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    you are supposed to have a machine with a card reader.....most of the newer cpaps do ....that is the only way they can be sure you are in compliance
     
  8. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    I think the insurance companies are behind the card readers to make sure you are compliant. Then you are forced to rent-to-own the CPAP for 13 months. Why 13 months? Then they are guaranteed to get you for a deductible. Get it in January and they get you for two deductibles. Non-compliant and then they stop paying.

    Insurance companies are using all kinds of tricks nowadays to stay profitable.
     
  9. truckerdad57

    truckerdad57 Light Load Member

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    PLEASE!!!!! DO NOT adjust your own CPAP pressure or suggest to others to adjust their own pressure.

    If you want more on the reasons why go to the American Sleep Apnea Association message boards and get educated.

    There are a host of problems the biggest being causing Central Apneas from upsetting the balance of CO2 in your blood stream from too high a pressure to allowing apneas to occur even when using a CPAP from too low a pressure.

    There are auto-titrating CPAP ( AKA an APAP ) that sense and adjust the pressure as needed. But even an APAP will have a range of pressures set by the sleep doctor by prescription.

    Sure anyone with a little knowledge can find out how to access the clinical menus and adjust a CPAP or APAP. But... anyone could cut a pill in half or take twice as much as the doctor prescribed. Neither is a smart idea.

    On compliance information... Medicare and Medicaid require submitting compliance data for the DME (durable medical equipment) company that provides the CPAP to get reimbursed. So.... most CPAP have compliance data capabilities now.

    There are a host of ways to transmit data ranging from proprietart cards that only the medical folks can accesss.. to USB port cards... SD cards and one brand Devilbiss uses an alpha-numeric code you enter into a secure web site... it gives you all the same compliance data as a the doc gets without even seeing a doc.....

    If you REALLY want straight information check out...

    awake.truckersforacause.com....

    It's a support groups for truckers with sleep apnea run by truckers.
     
    mattbnr Thanks this.
  10. mattbnr

    mattbnr Road Train Member

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    actually you are talking about medical dosage. the air flow into your lungs is a medical prescription. you have to have a prescription from a doctor to get a cpap machine setup CORRECTLY. if you walked into a DME and said i want that cpap machine right there he'd ask for your prescription from your doctor. no prescription no machine. see the relation?

    man some people just dont get it.
     
  11. jlkklj777

    jlkklj777 20 Year Truckload Veteran

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    Feel free to educate us all with the specific law(s) that prohibits an owner/user of a cpap machine to adjust the settings.

    Funny thing; I was unable to find any "law" prohibiting a cpap machine user from altering their own settings. As for "buying" a cpap machine once again you are mistaken. You can buy them online without an rx or, if you don't mind a used one, check out ebay and Craigslist.

    No need to spend 2 grand for a machine when you can get the same identical thing at less than half the price.
     
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