C-pap question
Hi all - for those of you who have had surgery with Dr. Pupkova at Barix:
I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea and had to get a c-pap machine. I've only had the machine about a month and a half. I've really had trouble keeping the thing on at night and subsequently, I only have 134 hours on it. I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow for a week and I'm camping, so I won't be able to use it while I'm away.
My PAT's are on June 1. There is no way I'm going to get to 200 hours by PAT's. I will definitely be past the 200 hours by surgery day, which is June 23.
My question is, how pissed are they going to be at PAT's when they check my machine and it doesn't say 200 hours? Will they consider that I still have will have 3 whole weeks before surgery to get the hours in or will they be so drastic as to cancel my surgery??
Anyhow, I'm stressing over this and any input would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Lisa
I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea and had to get a c-pap machine. I've only had the machine about a month and a half. I've really had trouble keeping the thing on at night and subsequently, I only have 134 hours on it. I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow for a week and I'm camping, so I won't be able to use it while I'm away.
My PAT's are on June 1. There is no way I'm going to get to 200 hours by PAT's. I will definitely be past the 200 hours by surgery day, which is June 23.
My question is, how pissed are they going to be at PAT's when they check my machine and it doesn't say 200 hours? Will they consider that I still have will have 3 whole weeks before surgery to get the hours in or will they be so drastic as to cancel my surgery??
Anyhow, I'm stressing over this and any input would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Lisa
I know they are pretty strict about the 200 hours. You will still have five or six days when you come back from vacation to log some hours so try to get as many more hours as you can. You are only 66 hours away so it should be possible to get to the 200 before surgery. If they see you have been using it, and you explain that you were camping for the week with no electricity, I don't think they will cancel at PATs without the required 200. But if you show up for surgery and you are not at 200, there is a possibility they will cancel.
Using the c-pap is for your own well being. This surgery is major, and unrestricted air flow is important. You need to log on those hours for your own health and safety. So just do what you need to do to get those 200 hours.
Enjoy your vacation and good luck with your surgery.
Using the c-pap is for your own well being. This surgery is major, and unrestricted air flow is important. You need to log on those hours for your own health and safety. So just do what you need to do to get those 200 hours.
Enjoy your vacation and good luck with your surgery.
Eileen
Lisa,
When you get home, try to wear it as much as possible, even during waking hours. Get as close to the 200 as you can. Make sure they understand when you go to PATS that you're working on the problem and that you WILL have the 200 hours in by surgery and that you will be compliant after surgery. I've been told by reliable professionals that it can take up to 6 months for some folks to adapt to a CPAP.
BUT... call the med equip company before you leave and ask for a different type of mask, so it will be there waiting for you when you get home. You're going to be wearing it when you wake up from surgery and will need to wear it compliantly in the hospital and after you go home. That mask can literally save your life, so you need to make friends with it. There are different styles of masks, some of which are MUCH easier to wear than others. It's a matter of figuring out the type that you can live with.
Remember, your goal in this is to keep yourself ALIVE (yes, apnea can kill you) and healthy until you've lost enough weight that you don't need the CPAP any more! Keep that goal in mind and you will be able to do it.
Hang in there and enjoy your camping trip!
Karen
When you get home, try to wear it as much as possible, even during waking hours. Get as close to the 200 as you can. Make sure they understand when you go to PATS that you're working on the problem and that you WILL have the 200 hours in by surgery and that you will be compliant after surgery. I've been told by reliable professionals that it can take up to 6 months for some folks to adapt to a CPAP.
BUT... call the med equip company before you leave and ask for a different type of mask, so it will be there waiting for you when you get home. You're going to be wearing it when you wake up from surgery and will need to wear it compliantly in the hospital and after you go home. That mask can literally save your life, so you need to make friends with it. There are different styles of masks, some of which are MUCH easier to wear than others. It's a matter of figuring out the type that you can live with.
Remember, your goal in this is to keep yourself ALIVE (yes, apnea can kill you) and healthy until you've lost enough weight that you don't need the CPAP any more! Keep that goal in mind and you will be able to do it.
Hang in there and enjoy your camping trip!
Karen
Another option is to run it while you're camping - I do. If you're not backpacking in, a deep cycle marine battery (get the largest you can reasonably carry) and an inverter will run a c-pap for almost a week. probably not so long with a heated humidifier, but I doubt you'd need the extra humidity this time of year anyway.
I've been using my cpap for 5+ years now and I actually fall asleep better with it than without it. From what my doctor has said, I'm one of the lucky ones in that regard.
Eric
I've been using my cpap for 5+ years now and I actually fall asleep better with it than without it. From what my doctor has said, I'm one of the lucky ones in that regard.
Eric
I just know that I am gonna get booed for this one but how "rough" are you going to be "camping like no water and electricity or tv or phone? OMG not in my lifetime ! Anyhow if its not rough and has electricity take the machine with you if not I know for a fact I had to have 200 logged hours or else no surgery and they are very strict on that. It is for our own safety so I don't blame them. I would just call her office and ask them what they think but I know she told me 200 hours no if ands or buts. Just call and ask it can't hurt. I know it took me a bit to get used to the c-pap but after awhile I was okay with it. I was so glad to return it when it served its purpose I can tell you that much. Good luck with your upcoming surgery and welcome to the loser's bench.
I was way shy at my PATs too and the respirtoy manager (Eileen I think her name was) made me call her weekly to give her my hours leading up to surgery. They WILL cancel your surgery if you dont have 200 hours so get on it.
The only good news was that the last time I wore the damn thing was in recovery and I've never worn it since. I also do not believe I have Apnea anymore.
The only good news was that the last time I wore the damn thing was in recovery and I've never worn it since. I also do not believe I have Apnea anymore.
My machine needs to have "X" amount of hours on it for the insurance company to pay for it.
Although I am not sure I need it, I am still using it, but not all the time. My mouth is so dry, it wakes me up. It is a horrible feeling. I do use the humidfier. My husband also has one, he told me to just turn it on, even if I don't use it. Will that work?
Joanne
Although I am not sure I need it, I am still using it, but not all the time. My mouth is so dry, it wakes me up. It is a horrible feeling. I do use the humidfier. My husband also has one, he told me to just turn it on, even if I don't use it. Will that work?
Joanne
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