Need help with CPAP for camper

ktmrfs wrote:
I guess I ended up with some reasonbly professional folks the two times I went in for sleep tests and machines. This last on I got recently, they went over the machines and which one they and the dr. had decided on would be best for me and why. Then I spent over 1 hour in the office going through mask options, trying several, picking what we thought would work best, getting fitted, doing a mask adjustment, mask leak test, trying several masks. Before we even started talking masks they wanted to know how I slept (back, side, stomach etc) and another 20 minutes going over all the features of the machine, what I was able to adjust or change, what the effects would be etc.

End result. first night everything was "easy peasy" and worked great. No fuss, no muss, minimal adjusting.

This is how the process should work. I'm glad you got up and running so well right out of the gate. I have known several folks who have experienced similar results.

Unfortunately, what Mexicowanderer and Empty Nest describe is still all too prevalent in the industry based both on my research (including in-depth discussions with my sleep doctor) and my own actual experience over the last 4 months getting a new machine issued and running.

There is a lot of good information in this thread.

In my case I've been on bipap since 1988 and have had the same great sleep doctor since then as well. My first sleep study was in the hospital, second one in a clinic, and the third one never happened because my doctor prefers to do the 'sleep study' in-home and with one of the newer data gathering machines. He has said that if not forced to do an 'offical' sleep study (some insurances) then he would never do an old-school sleep study again.

I've had two bipaps since 88, both happened to be respironic machines and they both worked really well. And of course neither of these old machines were data gathering machines. My doctor jokingly calls the newer data gathering units 'Big Brother' machines.

Earlier this year I decided it was time for a new machine (well beyond the 7 years or whatever it was that the insurance company requires). Visited my doctor and learned that the process had changed substantially since I last went through it years ago.

Back in the day the doctors office was responsible for not only the diagnoses, the testing, and issuing the prescription, but also specifying the required equipment, fitting the equipment, and selling the equipment. And then of course all the follow-up visits for machine and mask adjustments and such.

I didn't realize it at the time, but that vertically integrated method worked really well because the doctor was intimately familiar with all phases of the process. He had direct communications with the manufacturer's and provided them real-time feedback on the good, the bad, and the ugly on the quality of the various machines. All of the sleep techs worked directly for the doctor and all were in the same office. The various machines and related equipment were in stock in that office as well.

This benefited the patient as the doctor knew exactly what was going on each step of the way and could ensure that the patient would end up with the correct diagnoses, the correct prescription, the best machine and related equipment for the patient, have it set-up properly, and provide robust after-care to get the patient on the road to successful cpap therapy.