[Nipplemancer]

You're telling me, I have OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) and it sucks. I don't have one of those nifty CPAPs because they're expensive and my insurance won't cover it because it's not 'medical necessity.' I don't get the extreme fatigue of some sufferers, but I need to sleep anywhere from 12-14 hours to get away from the fatigue. Unfortunately outside of college, there aren't many jobs that allow you to sleep that much and get away with it.

[Jaysun]

You're telling me, I have OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) and it sucks. I don't have one of those nifty CPAPs because they're expensive and my insurance won't cover it because it's not 'medical necessity.' I don't get the extreme fatigue of some sufferers, but I need to sleep anywhere from 12-14 hours to get away from the fatigue. Unfortunately outside of college, there aren't many jobs that allow you to sleep that much and get away with it.

Do you sleep on your back? If not, try that for starters.

[caveat emptor]

I don't have one of those nifty CPAPs because they're expensive and my insurance won't cover it ...

Save your pennies and shop around. There's all sorts of bells and whistles which can be nice... heated, moistened air- computerized changes of pressure to adjust to your needs on the fly, etc, but something simple should help. You should have a sleep study done, as a CPAP might not help.

You can do it yourself. Rent a take home monitor which measures and records oxygen saturation and pulse rate - they call them pusle oximeters - and you should be able to rent a CPAP for a few days. You can usually get the POs for 2 nights. Do a study w/o CPAP and one with. Maybe change insurers if you can. SA certainly can be life threatening, just not as quick as a bullet to the head. I'm not an MD but have been dealing with this stuff for almost 25 years. My first CPAP was a small vacuum cleaner.

...but I need to sleep anywhere from 12-14 hours to get away from the fatigue.

Hmmm. Maybe something else is causing you to need so much sleep.

[AlaskaErik]

Unfortunately outside of college, there aren't many jobs that allow you to sleep that much and get away with it.

Work for the State of California. When they try to fire you (assuming they even try) sue under ADA.

[dgallo51]

Have you had a referral to a specialist? A one night test might get your insurance company to reconsider the medical necessity…it's very hard to argue against data, and if a CPAP is medically necessary, the specialist will prescibe one, that, along with test data is your best hope to educate your insurer…you'd think they'd know this. Just don't take their first no for their final answer…get them to kick it up for 'further review'.

[SoCalPol]

My Ins. covered my CPAP. That is a med necessity
and you need to push the issue.
My pulmonary doc is the chief of sleep disorder of a
major hospital here.
Your doc needs to document this with your ins.

[Caipirabob]

I don't have one of those nifty CPAPs because they're expensive and my insurance won't cover it ...

Hey there, fellow sufferer. Can you try to rent one? That's what my insurance does. It's better to rent it because they are sensitive devices and renting is like having a permanent warranty. Check it out and Freepmail me.

The problem is that you have to get it preset by your doctor. Following that I can recommend a unit and mask.

It will change your life.

these units are only $800-1200. It's definitely worth pursuing. I'll help with research. Let me know.

[allen08gop]

Hi Nipplemancer,

How do you know you have OSA? Did you go to a sleep lab?

There is more than one kind of SA though the current treatments are about the same.

[GOPJ]

I don't have one of those nifty CPAPs because they're expensive and my insurance won't cover it because it's not 'medical necessity.'

If you live in a large city, start calling folks who are having "estate sales". My guess is you could pick up one cheap and have it renovated and cleaned. It's an outrage that a $19 machine would be sold for thousands of dollars. People understand unions ruined industry, but few understand how the AMA (the world strongest Union) ruined medical care. It's an outrage.

[FNU LNU]

You'll need a perscription, and perhaps a sleep test before that, but buy your machine online and save about 80%. After 6 years, I just replaced my first machine. I shopped medical outlets here in Amarillo, saw my same machine for $1400, found the exact same machine online for $360.

The name of the outfit was CPCP Plus Direct, with which I have no affiliation.

They didn't get all the crooks during Watergate, you know...