Welcome to the forum Karen!!

How come you are not treating your sleep apnea?

I am going to suggest a few things to start off and may add others as I think of them.

Check with your insurance company about which DMEs are preferred providers. Hopefully you will have a choice of more than one. Why is this important -- in some situations it can be a bargaining tool. My first thought is call the insurance company and inquire. Your doctor may want to fax your script to the DME. Tell him no thanks you want the script in hand and will deliver it yourself. The reason is that you are in charge here and not at the mercy of the doctor or the DME. Make sure you keep the original script and that the DME makes a copy for their records. Your script can be handy in case you need to switch DMEs, for travel purposes if flying, and you can order supplies at a reduced cost on line if necessary. Ask the doctor for the full scored report and not just the summary report. You may not understand it all -- but it is good to have in case you have questions you can post that information here and we can help you. You want the charts and graphs as well.

Tell the doctor that you want a fully data capable machine. If you can by all means get an apap. If you have an apap you can make adjustments to your therapy easier and cheaper since the doctor can help you self-titrate at home. An apap uses a range of pressures. You can start at a lower pressure and the machine will increase the pressure (up to the prescribed setting) in response to apneas. My pressure usually stays around 9 or 10 but has went up to as high as 15.

You will want a humidifier. Make sure it is heated. Many people actually prefer what is known as the Fischer and Paykel HC 150 stand alone humdifier. I have one (as well as the interegrated one with the machine). The 150 holds more water than the interegrated humidifiers and are easier to fill and clean. This is a matter of your personal choice.

Have the doctor specify on your script that a mask of YOUR choice. This will allow you to try various masks. Ask the DME about their return policy if you are unable to make one mask or the other to work.

Good luck.

Hi Karen and welcome,

You just took the second best step in the right direction by signing on to these forum sites. The help you will get here you will get no where else. So just read and follow the direction you will receive fro these good people who have gone thru this before. There experience is priceless.
Good luck with your journey toward a restfull nights sleep.

Jerry