First night of CPAP

[vaneramos]

Last night was the second sleep study. They fitted me with a CPAP and tested air pressure while I slept. It was mildly uncomfortable, but I didn't have any trouble getting to sleep. I scarcely remember waking up and the night whizzed by. It felt like a good rest. Back home after breakfast, intense drowsiness came over me. I went back to bed at 8:00 and slept another 90 minutes. What does this mean? Usually once I wake up in the morning, that's it; I cannot sleep during the day unless I'm sick. Maybe my brain missed being oxygen-deprived. I still have to wait another month to find out the test results and go shopping for a machine.

Comments

[teddyb.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on getting the sleep studies done! You sound like you are well on the way to much better sleep. I think there are a number of places in Guelph and the KW area that offer specialized assistance with selecting CPAP machines, but if you don't like what you see or feel you are not getting the help you need, I can highly recommend ProResp.

I think they may have a location in Guelph. I dealt with the unit at Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga because my sleep doctor is the head of cardiology and runs the sleep center there. They were very helpful and knowledgeable, and unlike some other CPAP suppliers, they were not at all pushy and they offered reasonable prices even though the Ontario Assistive Devices Program was covering most of the cost.

I hope your sleep study results are helpful and lead you to much better sleep, Van!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

That is all very helpful, Bob. Thank you. I hadn't heard about the Ontario Assistive Devices Program. Somebody else who uses CPAP told me it was partly covered by OHIP. Did you arrange funding when you purchased the equipment, or do I need to look into that beforehand?

[teddyb.livejournal.com]

Most vendors of CPAP machines are very familiar with the assistive devices program, since almost every sale in Ontario relies on the funding from that program. Provided that the device has been prescribed by a doctor, who will provide you with a copy of the special form required by OHIP, the province pays 75% of the cost of the device. Which is a good thing, since there is relatively little discounting done here, unlike in the US. A basic CPAP machine can easily cost $1,000 to $1,500, so having OHIP pay 75% is a very good thing.

You might want to have a chat with a consultant at ProResp or one of the other CPAP suppliers in advance of getting your results, just so you'll know exactly what you need from your doctor.

I'm assuming that you are seeing a sleep specialist, since you have been prescribed two sleep studies. I would imagine that the doctor who is evaluating your sleep studies and counseling you with regard to sleep disorders will probably be very familiar with what documentation is required for payment under the Assistive Devices Program. Vendors usually handle the details of billing OHIP for the 75% portion covered by the province, so you only have to be concerned with paying the balance. You don't have to front the full cost and then wait for reimbursement.

I hope that helps. Let me know if you have any questions. I'll be glad to share what I've learned through my experience with acquiring and using a CPAP machine.

Here's a link to an OHIP page with some basic info on the program as it applies to CPAP devices.

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/adp/cpap.html

[osodecanela.livejournal.com]

On Cpap here in the US and I bought mine through cpap.com. The whole set up for mine including the humidifier was under $500. If you do have to pay for yours out of pocket, you might check to see if they can ship to Canada from Texas.

[teddyb.livejournal.com]

Mail order CPA suppliers in the US are generally much, much cheaper than in Canada, though the OHIP subsidy makes getting higher priced machines in Ontario actually less expensive than buying discounted CPAP machines from US vendors. Many vendors in the US also require a doctor's prescription in order to sell a machine. There could also be issues with warranty coverage if a CPAP machine is purchased outside Canada but needs service here.

However, I get almost all of my replacement CPAP supplies (air hoses, masks, etc.) from US suppliers because they offer a much wider range of products and much lower prices than any Canadian supplier I've been able to find. I've had very good service from cpap.com and also from CPAP PLUS, whose site can be found at the link below.

http://www.cpapplus.com/

[teddyb.livejournal.com]

There is a cap on what OHIP will pay for the 75% portion of a CPAP purchase, and the last time I checked, it was $780, which means that you can buy a machine priced up to $1040 and your share will be $260. You should be able to get a good quality machine with a built-in humidifier for $1040 or less. Some vendors will try to upsell you to additional things that OHIP won't cover, like extended warranties or annual service and adjustment packages, none of which I have found are useful or necessary.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Okay, $780 lines up with what another Toronto friend told me about the cost. Good to know. Thanks for the link for replacement supplies. That will be useful, I'm sure.

When I tried out the CPAP, the nurse gave me several options for a mask: one which covered the entire nose and mouth, one that covered just the nose, and one with two buds that just fit in the nostrils. She said the first one would not seal very well over my beard, that the second one might be okay, but the nostril buds would probably work the best. She also mentioned some people find that one too uncomfortable. She suggested I try the nostril buds and call her to replace it if I found it uncomfortable. I did feel some discomfort. However, I fell asleep easily and slept through the night, so I didn't have a chance to try the other types.

What has been your experience with masks?

[(Anonymous)]

I've always used the type that fits over the nose, and I've had no problems with it. The nose bud and "nasal pillow" designs don't work at all for me.

I've never tried to use a full face mask, but I've thought of getting one for times when I have a cold or other sinus issue that makes it impossible to get air through my nasal passages, which renders nasal CPAP masks useless.

One thing I liked about dealing with ProResp when I bought my CPAP is that they were willing to let me try different mask styles, though it turned out that the first type I tried worked very well for me, and subsequent experimentation with other types proved that my first choice was still the best for me.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

It looks like they are more expensive here but most of the cost is covered by the provincial healthcare program. What is your experience with masks? I had several types to choose from but the nurse said the ones fitting over the whole mouth and nose tend to leak with a beard. I ended up using one with two buds that inserted in the nostrils. It was a little uncomfortable. What works for you?

[osodecanela.livejournal.com]

I have heard that a full face mask is difficult wih anything more than a goatee. The nasal pillows did not work for me. I awoke the next morning feeling like porky the pig.

I use a nasal mask which works for me if I also use a chinstrap. Otherwise I tend to breathe through my mouth. I use a silicone cushioned mask that rests against my upper lip, covers only my nose, & has a rest on my forehead.

[teddyb.livejournal.com]

The anonymous comment is from me. I forgot I was not logged in when I wrote it. I've always used a mask that covers my nose, and it works well for me. I'm partial to the Respironics line now made by Phillips, which also makes the CPAP machine I use. To save money when I bought a replacement mask here in Canada and was quoted ridiculous list prices, I once used a mask made by Fisher and Paykel. By comparison to the Respirironics masks I have used, it was flimsy and didn't last long. The nasal pillow and nasal bud designs don't work for me at all.

[inishglora.livejournal.com]

Likewise for me, the nasal pillows just chapped my nostrils. One discovery: I could not seem to keep the damn mask on all night when I had distilled water in the humidifier potion of my machine. One night I was all out of water but determined to try to keep the mask on. Worked like a charm. I still occasionally wake up without the mask on, having torn it off while sleepwalking, but not nearly so much.

[inishglora.livejournal.com]

potion = portion. lol

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Sleepwalking fascinates me, probably because I only ever did it once that I am aware of. I was about 11 and it happened after an extremely busy day when I had been demonstrating something during the art fair at school. In the middle of the night I went downstairs and went outside. Mom heard me go out. I started to wake up when I was walking down the road. The moon was so bright and beautiful, I think it caught my attention. Mom was calling from the open door. I remembered what I had been dreaming and where I was going. It was eerie.