C.P.A.P. machine

[Yoga Face]

Anybody try the at home tests.... http://m.us.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324715704578480883962087110?mobile=y


How much is the actual lab test? Is it all covered under OHIP?

Phone clinic and ask

u need referral from MD to go to a clinic (I think)

All paid for by OHIP

and the CPAC machine is partially paid for

The CPAC salesmen have an office inside the clinic I went to. I wonder what the kickback was to the clinic. Free trips to Disneyland, Vegas and the Islands perhaps

 

[blackrock13]

Phone clinic and ask

u need referral from MD to go to a clinic (I think)

All paid for by OHIP

and the CPAC machine is partially paid for

The CPAC salesmen have an office inside the clinic I went to. I wonder what the kickback was to the clinic. Free trips to Disneyland, Vegas and the Islands perhaps

If you have your worries about kickbacks, silly as it is, buy the CPAP machine from whomever. you'll find the prices in Ontario are basically the same to start in most places.

 

[fuji]

If you have your worries about kickbacks, silly as it is, buy the CPAP machine from whomever. you'll find the prices in Ontario are basically the same to start in most places.

The worry about kickbacks is that the MD has a financial incentive to tell you that you need a machine, when a lifestyle change may fix the problem.

The same concern exists with some pricey drugs. They may be prescribed to people who don't really need them, because the MD has become more of a drug salesman than a doctor.

This is a pervasive issue in modern medicine. There are various controls in place that are supposed to prevent this sort of thing. Nevertheless, there are still concerns that it happens.

At the end of the day the MD has skills, knowledge, and experience that you need. But, for chronic or expensive situations it behooves you to learn from your MD and augment that with your own research. Find out what the alternatives are and ask about them.

In the case of my father in law, he bought the damned machine, then learned that his problem could be resolved through some lifestyle changes, a prolonged effort to change his sleeping position resolved it (turns out to be harder than you might think to change your sleeping position).

 

[sleazure]

You get your GP to refer you to a sleep specialist. They do a sleep study, paid by OHIP, and prescribe CPAP. The dealer lends you a machine and mask, calibrated to the prescribed pressure. You return to the clinic with your mask, using their machine for a second study, also paid by OHIP, and they calibrate your pressure. The second study should demonstrate whether CPAP will work for you. Now you purchase a machine. The province subsidizes the first $750 of the price. I was chatting with a dealer, he says that Resmed machines have the nicest features, but cost about $2K. You can choose a full facemask (nose and mouth), a nasal mask, or a nasal pillow. Pillows are too painful for me. I have a nasal mask. I had to shave my moustache because it didn't work very well with facial hair (YMMV), maybe I should have taken the full mask. Once you are set up, I believe OHIP will pay for one sleep study per year.
I used Toronto Sleep Institute, they seem like a nice outfit.

 

[jckyoung]

I just did a retest after 4 years as my weight dropped so they wanted to check my rx.

Now if it is your first time visit to see if you have it they will test you and send results to your doctor. If you have it doctor usually points you in the rightirection where they will loan you a machine. A few weeks later you will go in for a retest to find proper pressure.
As of last month Ohio will only pay for a restudy ever 2 years.

Now some one asked about drivers licience and sleep apnea. If you are a commercial driver they must inform the MOT the resmed actually records your usage. The driver must use it every night for a minimum of 4hours the day before he drives.

 

[Hank Reardon]

I have one, and swear by it. I use the "pillows" rather than the mask as I am a nose breather. It makes a world of difference. The place where I got it, sells "scents" that help mask the new plastic smell. After a while, I got to the point that I look forward to using the scents to help drift off. I know that there are people that don't use the machines, but trust me, tough it out until you are acclimatized to it and it will have a very positive effect on your life.

Sorry , what do you mean the pillows rather than mask please ?

 

[frankcastle]

you can buy them on kijiji

I couldn't get used to it

if you do buy one either learn or get a pro to help you fine tune the settings for you.

I lost weight and the doc said I had a mild case and that a body pillow to prevent me from sleeping flat on my back was useful since I pnly stopped breathing when flat on back

turned out to be cheaper and better fix than the machine which did nothing for me

cpap is just putting off weight loss that most of us could benefit from in terms of heart healthlist
see a specialist and get a sleep test done

 

[Hank Reardon]

thx so much

 

[blackrock13]

Don't buy your primary machine, that you will use daily, on Kijiji. You have no idea what kind of care was done on it or how careful or hygienic the previous patient was. They need constant cleaning. If you want to have a back up incase of failure, fair enough. The ones on Kijiji are older models, so are not the quietest or most efficient and the masks are a very personal fit as everyones face is different and there will be some that fit better than others.

 

[TheBuyer]

TB, I employ you to please please reconsider using your CPAP nightly. Like you, I found it an annoyance and would stop using it after the first 2 weeks. Eventually the nightly stop breathing caused me to have a mild heart attack. It turns out that the stop breathing deprive your body of oxygen and that in turn puts a huge strain on the heart. Somehow this important fact was not in the CPAP documents. Now I try using my CPAP each night but occationally the TV is watching me throughout the night.

Whoa!
Scary...
Certainly hope u are better. Thanks for the warning. Guess i will be dusting that think off...
Thanks again. Funny how all the info isn't provided by the docs and specialists.

 

[blackrock13]

Whoa!
Scary...
Certainly hope u are better. Thanks for the warning. Guess i will be dusting that think off...
Thanks again. Funny how all the info isn't provided by the docs and specialists.

Everything he said is discussed by any MD worth his white coat and stethoscope. Hypertension, possible stroke or heart attack is only a partial list. If you find it initially ineffective then get the pressure setting adjusted up or down a bit. It can make a difference.