Many patients do not care nor want to be bothered with tracking their therapy. There are those, myself, included that does want to know such things such as AHI, snores, flow limitations, etc. The software allows us to check our data and find areas that could be improved on.
Not all cpaps are data capable and depending upon the make and model you have. The lower end cpaps only record compliance data while the upper end cpaps usually do record useful data.
I have never seen a sleep doctor, nor was it ever suggested that I make an appointment with the sleep doctor. I asked my primary care doctor about a sleep study in 2007 and she wrote the orders for one at the local hospital. A sleep doctor did interpret my data and wrote a script for a "smart cpap with a pressure range of 8 to 12 -- heated humidifier -- and a Fisher and Paykel 431 full face mask".
Our local mom and pop DME gave me an M series Plus machine set at a pressure of 10. By reading on the forums I found that I was not given the right machine and was able to switch DME's with my doctor's help.
I have the software and download my reports to give to her (my primary care physician) and she freely admits I know more about sleep apnea and equipment options than she does.
I do not set up appointments to discuss my sleep apnea with her -- I don't see a need. I do have other chronic health problems that keeps me seeing her regularly and that is when I give her my reports.
If you feel your treatment is effective and you are well rested -- you aren't missing anything by not downloading the report and seeing a sleep doctor.
sleepycarol
Hope you find it informative.
Feb 23, 2009
sleepycarol
Not all cpaps are data capable and depending upon the make and model you have. The lower end cpaps only record compliance data while the upper end cpaps usually do record useful data.
I have never seen a sleep doctor, nor was it ever suggested that I make an appointment with the sleep doctor. I asked my primary care doctor about a sleep study in 2007 and she wrote the orders for one at the local hospital. A sleep doctor did interpret my data and wrote a script for a "smart cpap with a pressure range of 8 to 12 -- heated humidifier -- and a Fisher and Paykel 431 full face mask".
Our local mom and pop DME gave me an M series Plus machine set at a pressure of 10. By reading on the forums I found that I was not given the right machine and was able to switch DME's with my doctor's help.
I have the software and download my reports to give to her (my primary care physician) and she freely admits I know more about sleep apnea and equipment options than she does.
I do not set up appointments to discuss my sleep apnea with her -- I don't see a need. I do have other chronic health problems that keeps me seeing her regularly and that is when I give her my reports.
If you feel your treatment is effective and you are well rested -- you aren't missing anything by not downloading the report and seeing a sleep doctor.
Feb 25, 2009