12-03-2009, 02:51 AM
lazydays wrote:
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I have a question for GeneL and all of the rest of you CPAP users. Where you able to pick any machine you wanted and have the insurance pay a set amount of the bill or did you have to purchase one from their list? I am primarily concerned with noise level and having the humidification option. Did you rent first? What is that process like? Thanks again.
I am still amazed that each sleep study costed about 11k and the insurance paid 8k and I didn't even have to pay a co-pay. Also, I didn't have to pay anything for my CPAP machine. No, I didn't have a choice regarding the model. My doctor contacted a company and they showed up at my place with a CPAP machine which looks pretty fancy and also has a humidifier. The machine was like $450 and the humidifier 200 something and there were several other charges, I still have the contract and I can look it up. The insurance covers all of it (my employer offers 2 plans, a regular plan and a premium plan - I have the premium).
the noise level seems to be related to how well I fit the mask. when the mask is not put well and there are leaks, it make a small noise. When the mask is tight, the machine is whisper quiet.
I just got the machine about 2 weeks ago and I ams still getting used to it. Last night was the first night when I used it all night. Before I used to wake up and take the mask off between 3 AM and 5 AM.
I am also in a catch 22 situation. Wife has to get up to feed the baby several times a night and many times I hear the baby crying (the baby sleeps in our room for now). Or sometimes my 4 year old wakes up and yells "Daddy, come here" so I have to get up and go to his room and stay with him 1/2 hour or so and sometimes i fell asleep there.