C-Pap machine. to use or not to use

TeePee

TeePee

Member
Location
Kentucky
Who has been diagnosed with sleep apnea but doesn't use the c-pap machine? My husband had sleep apnea but didn't like the machine, so the doctor gave him an order for 02 at night.

I had a cat scan that showed slightly enlarged pulmonary artery. I had a pulmonary consult, and the doctor ordered a sleep study. I asked the technician if I did the study and needed a machine that if I didn't want the machine if insurance would pay for the study. She said probably not so I cancelled the study. The doctor ordered it because he said people who wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom usually it's because they have sleep apnea. I said it's probably because I'm on a water pill, but he disagreed. I guess we can agree to disagree.
 

TeePee said:
The doctor ordered it because he said people who wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom usually it's because they have sleep apnea.
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I'm not qualified to say whether or not a person should use a cpap machine. But I will comment on the above part of your post. I have gotten up in the middle of the night to "go to the bathroom" for 40 years and never used a cpap machine, nor do I need one. I get up because I need to go!
 
TeePee said:
Who has been diagnosed with sleep apnea but doesn't use the c-pap machine? My husband had sleep apnea but didn't like the machine, so the doctor gave him an order for 02 at night.

I had a cat scan that showed slightly enlarged pulmonary artery. I had a pulmonary consult, and the doctor ordered a sleep study. I asked the technician if I did the study and needed a machine that if I didn't want the machine if insurance would pay for the study. She said probably not so I cancelled the study. The doctor ordered it because he said people who wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom usually it's because they have sleep apnea. I said it's probably because I'm on a water pill, but he disagreed. I guess we can agree to disagree.
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How would a tech know anything about your insurance and what they would and would not pay for?

What if a sleep study was done it was found you didn't have sleep apnea? Would insurance pay for the study?
 
I have a cpap machine and I use it. I don't like it but, I like the idea of having a heart attack even less. Back when I had pneumonia and spent 8 months on oxygen it cost me over $200 a month with my insurance.

I bought my cpap machine and about every 6 months or whenever I run out of something or if something leaks, I buy new parts. It's cheaper for me to have the cpap and around here we don't get the option for oxygen therapy because they don't want us getting dependent on it.

You can call the insurance company and ask them if the test is covered whether you get the cpap or not.

**Just as a side note, I have COPD and both obstructive and central sleep apnea.
 
againstthegrain said:
How would a tech know anything about your insurance and what they would and would not pay for?

What if a sleep study was done it was found you didn't have sleep apnea? Would insurance pay for the study?
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I shouldn't have said tech. It was whoever was scheduling it. In retrospect, it was probably a nurse. What I was afraid of is if I did have apnea and declined the machine, would insurance deny paying for the study. You're right, if I wasn't apneic, would they pay for the study? I guess I won't know since I declined the study. They said that I had a year to change my mind about scheduling it, so if I have any breathing problems upon waking up, I might change my mind.
 
I have severe sleep apnea and have worn the cpap for years. I get much better sleep when I use it. Good sleep is important. Adults decide if they will follow doctor's advice or not. If you don't trust your doctor enough to listen to his professional advice, why go in the first place?

Untreated sleep apnea puts strain on your heart, brain, and metabolism. Without CPAP, risks include:

Cardiovascular risks:
High blood pressure (often quickly returns after stopping CPAP)
Heart attack risk increases
Stroke risk increases
Heart rhythm problems, especially atrial fibrillation

Metabolic & cognitive effects:
Worsening type 2 diabetes
Weight gain
Increased inflammation
Memory problems or cognitive decline over time.

"Maybe" it's not as risky if you have a mild case. 🤷‍♂️

BTW - I still get up to pee in the middle of the night.
 
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My original symptoms from many years ago, maybe year 2000, were tossing and turning and snoring all night long.

With the bipap at that time I had difficulty getting to sleep with it on unless I was exhausted.

I asked the sleep doctor why I didn't have a sleep apnea problem at 20 years old. He told me that when you get fat on the outside, you also get fat on the inside.

So if you have a more narrow breathing path to begin with, extra collapsible tissue brings on the problem. I lost about 30 lbs, slept on my side, and was off the machine for about 17 years.

I was later living with a woman who also happened to be a Nurse Practioner, and she told me I would stop breathing at night. Apnea snuck up on me, as I was lifting heavy weights and did not notice how much body fat I had also gained back.

Shortly afterwards, living alone again, work stress was making sleep difficult and the newer better machine became difficult to use.

So I got strict on the diet again and went off the machine.

I believe that if doctors would scare people into becoming health nuts and exercise nuts, many health issues would be less prominent in the USA.
 
My husband has had a CPAP for the last 10 years. It's made a difference in his health. He said he wouldn't think of not using it.

One of the first things he noticed in the morning at the sleep study center when he woke up was that his legs were no longer purple but was back to a normal color because his entire body was getting the oxygen it needed. He actually realized how much he wasn't sleeping until then because he felt good when he got up that morning. They managed to do the study along with figuring out what oxygen level he needed & which mask was the best.

After using it, he wasn't feeling tired all the time or falling asleep during the day like he had been. I was also getting a solid sleep because he was no longer snoring keeping me awake like before the CPAP. These machines do more for your health than what you realize.

I take a water pill for BP & the only time I'll wake up in the middle of the night is if I take it either late in the evening or right before bed. So I take it in the AM & have no problem at night.
 
@TeePee, why don't you call your insurance company & talk to them. I haven't heard of a company that declined pay for a test that was ordered because you didn't test "positive" for something. If you do have apnea, it's better to know about than let it go. Once you get the results, if you do have it, you can ask about other treatment options.

We actually had received a card in the mail that talked about sleep apnea & it had a check list of symptom. Hubby managed to check each box. He sent a message to the doc telling her what was going on & she said not a problem, I'll order the test for you.
 
Lilac said:
@TeePee, why don't you call your insurance company & talk to them. I haven't heard of a company that declined pay for a test that was ordered because you didn't test "positive" for something. If you do have apnea, it's better to know about than let it go. Once you get the results, if you do have it, you can ask about other treatment options.

We actually had received a card in the mail that talked about sleep apnea & it had a check list of symptom. Hubby managed to check each box. He sent a message to the doc telling her what was going on & she said not a problem, I'll order the test for you.
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When I talked to the scheduler, she said the prescription was good up to a year. I'll think about it, and maybe after the holidays have it done depending on what the insurance company says.
 
Lawrence00 said:
My original symptoms from many years ago, maybe year 2000, were tossing and turning and snoring all night long.

With the bipap at that time I had difficulty getting to sleep with it on unless I was exhausted.

I asked the sleep doctor why I didn't have a sleep apnea problem at 20 years old. He told me that when you get fat on the outside, you also get fat on the inside.

So if you have a more narrow breathing path to begin with, extra collapsible tissue brings on the problem. I lost about 30 lbs, slept on my side, and was off the machine for about 17 years.

I was later living with a woman who also happened to be a Nurse Practioner, and she told me I would stop breathing at night. Apnea snuck up on me, as I was lifting heavy weights and did not notice how much body fat I had also gained back.

Shortly afterwards, living alone again, work stress was making sleep difficult and the newer better machine became difficult to use.

So I got strict on the diet again and went off the machine.

I believe that if doctors would scare people into becoming health nuts and exercise nuts, many health issues would be less prominent in the USA.
Click to expand...
I agree. I think my weight does play a big part of it, that and I'm a shallow breather. I've recently started intermittent fasting and exercising more and so far so good. I haven't cheated yet (knock on wood), although I might make an exception Thanksgiving but just watch my portions.
 
TeePee said:
I agree. I think my weight does play a big part of it, that and I'm a shallow breather. I've recently started intermittent fasting and exercising more and so far so good. I haven't cheated yet (knock on wood), although I might make an exception Thanksgiving but just watch my portions.
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You've blocked your profile info for everyone @TeePee ..so I can't see for myself.. how old you are ....:unsure:
 
Gardenlover said:
I have severe sleep apnea and have worn the cpap for years. I get much better sleep when I use it. Good sleep is important. Adults decide if they will follow doctor's advice or not. If you don't trust your doctor enough to listen to his professional advice, why go in the first place?

Untreated sleep apnea puts strain on your heart, brain, and metabolism. Without CPAP, risks include:

Cardiovascular risks:
High blood pressure (often quickly returns after stopping CPAP)
Heart attack risk increases
Stroke risk increases
Heart rhythm problems, especially atrial fibrillation

Metabolic & cognitive effects:
Worsening type 2 diabetes
Weight gain
Increased inflammation
Memory problems or cognitive decline over time.

"Maybe" it's not as risky if you have a mild case. 🤷‍♂️

BTW - I still get up to pee in the middle of the night.
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I get up several times in the night for that.
 
TeePee said:
I shouldn't have said tech. It was whoever was scheduling it. In retrospect, it was probably a nurse. What I was afraid of is if I did have apnea and declined the machine, would insurance deny paying for the study. You're right, if I wasn't apneic, would they pay for the study? I guess I won't know since I declined the study. They said that I had a year to change my mind about scheduling it, so if I have any breathing problems upon waking up, I might change my mind.
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Well that's the point if you have sleep apnea some morning you might not wake up. It's nothing to gloss over, I'd at least look at the symptoms at see if any fit.
 
TeePee said:
I agree. I think my weight does play a big part of it, that and I'm a shallow breather. I've recently started intermittent fasting and exercising more and so far so good. I haven't cheated yet (knock on wood), although I might make an exception Thanksgiving but just watch my portions.
Click to expand...
In January of this year I was up to over 190 lbs at 5'7". I did not have any apnea problems, but had a colon bleed, that put me in the hospital.

The hospital put me on blood pressure medicine as a caution and my primary care doctor tried to put me on cholesterol medicine.

After that I decided to create a permanent fix.

I am down to 152 lbs and will actually make it to the 140s. I started baking my own meal cakes and worked a few jobs that kept me on my feet most of the day. These protein cakes are the biggest part of the solution of a very healthy daily diet.

Today my blood pressure and cholesterol is absolutely perfect.
 
hollydolly said:
You've blocked your profile info for everyone @TeePee ..so I can't see for myself.. how old you are ....:unsure:
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Lawrence00 said:
In January of this year I was up to over 190 lbs at 5'7". I did not have any apnea problems, but had a colon bleed, that put me in the hospital.

The hospital put me on blood pressure medicine as a caution and my primary care doctor tried to put me on cholesterol medicine.

After that I decided to create a permanent fix.

I am down to 152 lbs and will actually make it to the 140s. I started baking my own meal cakes and worked a few jobs that kept me on my feet most of the day. These protein cakes are the biggest part of the solution of a very healthy daily diet.

Today my blood pressure and cholesterol is absolutely perfect.
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That's wonderful!
 
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