sleep apnea

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Originally Posted by bowj

I woke up 60x per hour in my test. there is a good chance I have never slept more than a minute straight before my CPAP, or atleast since it had been affecting me.

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I forget how many times I woke up my ahi was 43% now I'm at 11cm full face at 1.8%ahi

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Had a family member require one, he lost some weight and got himself into better shape and never needed the thing again.

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Originally Posted by B Wilson

The start to end process will frustrate you.
step 1 go to family doctor and get a referal to a sleep clinic
step 2 wait for the sleep clinic to call you with an appointment date in the next 6 months
step 3 go for your sleep over
step 4 wait for your appointment with the sleep doctor to review your results / consultation . If the doctor finds you will benefit from using a CPAP machine, they will contact the sleep clinic to set up another over night sleep with a machine and provide you with a p.
step 5 go for a sleep over and will find out what pressure the machine needs to be set at
step 6 go back to the sleep clinic to pick up your doctors prescription for a machine and prescribed pressure setting.
step 7 if you have medical insurance benefits, send in the prescription to find out if they will cover the cost or how much of it will be covered. (the first $650 will be covered by the Ontario Assisted Devices Program)
step 8 once you have heard back from the insurance company, call the sleep clinc to book an appointment for the mask fitting and machine. CPAP machines / mask packages retail from $1200 to $2200 dependent on built in humidifiers , heated or non heated hoses etc.
step 9 go home with your machine and train yourself to sleep with something stuck to your face, after a few days, like others have said, you won't want to sleep without it.
step 10 go back to the sleep clinic with the machine or SD card so that they can review and share results with you of how well the machine is working for you.

It can be a long process, but well worth it. It took me 4 months start to finish, and that was only because of my flexibility to be on their last minute cancellation list, I would get a phone call at 3 pm and asked if I could be at the hospital for the sleep over at 8 pm that night.

Just thought I would mention this, as it's not a quick and easy process like I thought it was going to be.

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Mine was alot quicker... I had my sleep er 2 weeks after I saw my doctor... three months later I saw the sleep doctor.. was given an Apap from the clinic for a week... pressure was found.. and than purchased my machine.. all in all cost me $50 after Ohip and my drug plan...
I actually like the sleepovers... it's like a hotel minus room service... and all the wires connected to you... and cameras watching you sleep.....

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Originally Posted by Bandwagon

Had a family member require one, he lost some weight and got himself into better shape and never needed the thing again.

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I have a feeling this might be my case. My blood pressure is high as well so it's good to hear what Topher mentioned about that. I never snored in my 20's and 30's but have since gained some weight, aged, and apparently I shake the house, from what I've been told. One guy in the group I've fished with for years never snores so we've always shared a room (because I didn't snore either) when renting cottages but the last few years I'd wake up and he'd be on the couch in main living area of the cottage because he couldn't stand my snoring.

I already had a doctors appointment setup because of the blood pressure but I will be getting him to set me up with some sleep study as well.

Another interesting fact. Schneider Transport has a huge program for their drivers ( I think it might even be mandatory to get hired on with them) All drivers have access to a sleep study and if a driver needs a CPAP, Schneider's pays 100% of the costs. Their at fault accident rates dropped significantly after they started the program.

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Originally Posted by B Wilson

Another interesting fact. Schneider Transport has a huge program for their drivers ( I think it might even be mandatory to get hired on with them) All drivers have access to a sleep study and if a driver needs a CPAP, Schneider's pays 100% of the costs. Their at fault accident rates dropped significantly after they started the program.

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That's a very good/responsible safety plan, especially for a long haul company as large as Schneider is.

Yes I have to agree I started the process in June and am not finished yet. Got my loaner today for a 1 month trial ,then do the sleep over again. Then will have to purchase a unit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by B Wilson

The start to end process will frustrate you.
step 1 go to family doctor and get a referal to a sleep clinic
step 2 wait for the sleep clinic to call you with an appointment date in the next 6 months
step 3 go for your sleep over
step 4 wait for your appointment with the sleep doctor to review your results / consultation . If the doctor finds you will benefit from using a CPAP machine, they will contact the sleep clinic to set up another over night sleep with a machine and provide you with a p.
step 5 go for a sleep over and will find out what pressure the machine needs to be set at
step 6 go back to the sleep clinic to pick up your doctors prescription for a machine and prescribed pressure setting.
step 7 if you have medical insurance benefits, send in the prescription to find out if they will cover the cost or how much of it will be covered. (the first $650 will be covered by the Ontario Assisted Devices Program)
step 8 once you have heard back from the insurance company, call the sleep clinc to book an appointment for the mask fitting and machine. CPAP machines / mask packages retail from $1200 to $2200 dependent on built in humidifiers , heated or non heated hoses etc.
step 9 go home with your machine and train yourself to sleep with something stuck to your face, after a few days, like others have said, you won't want to sleep without it.
step 10 go back to the sleep clinic with the machine or SD card so that they can review and share results with you of how well the machine is working for you.

It can be a long process, but well worth it. It took me 4 months start to finish, and that was only because of my flexibility to be on their last minute cancellation list, I would get a phone call at 3 pm and asked if I could be at the hospital for the sleep over at 8 pm that night.

Just thought I would mention this, as it's not a quick and easy process like I thought it was going to be.

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I started the CPAP route about 8 years ago with a clinic in Belleville who sent me to an outlet in Belleville who sold me a unit under the OHIP plan and sent me home. Took about a month.
By the end of the next month I still could not wear the unit for more than an hour. The outfit that sold it to me would only sell me another mask for list price.
Got on the Internet and found that my CPAP was an obsolete model number. The same unit (different number) was available in New York State and the list price down there was the same amount as our portion AFTER the OHIP subsidy. This seemed to apply to every unit I checked. Canadians could buy and import them with NO DUTY or tax but the suppliers here just raised the price by the amount that OHIP paid....
Since then I have found that there are places in Canada that sell masks and other parts for a fraction (25%) of the list price at the clinics. Many people with health plans just let the insurance pay but if you have to pay your own way then check the Internet to save hundreds of dollars. You can also find masks on Kijiji, in fact you can find the whole unit there.
Since these need a prescription to purchase from a clinic anyone selling a used one can theoretically be charged the same as someone selling prescription drugs but full setup instructions can be found on the web anyway.....

Oh, I have just stated to make another attempt to make it thru the night wearing my unit...after another sleep test. Wearing my wife's FITBIT showed me that I do need a CPAP....

sleep apena is considered a disability? then if you have one have you been filing out T2201 (Disability Tax Credit)

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Originally Posted by bowj

got a letter in the mail one day saying I had to have a doctors note by a certain date or risk losing my license. went to the doctor who had been treating me, he asked a few questions and I was on my way with a note to get my license renewed.
if I had been in the middle of the time when I was not using the CPAP, I would have had to lie to him and tell him I was using it, and he would have any number of ways to test this and prove me a liar. so if you are advised by a doctor that you have sleep apnea, get some sort of treatment or else they could take away your license tomorrow.

another thing to consider is life insurance eligibility. I am of the belief that regardless of what it is you should be completely honest with your insurance provider. if you have a claim you don't want them to come back and deny it based on a question answered incorrectly in the past.
so I told them I wasn't treating my sleep apnea years ago. three different companies all denied me, and didn't have any options for me due to this. now that I have a kid I will be getting quotes soon for life insurance at which time I hope they approve me now that I am actively treating sleep apnea.

it has a wide range of affects on your life and not all in the bedroom.

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Who sent the letter and how did they know about your sleep apnea?