Getting my own CPAP machine on prescription

[Icemaiden2uk]

Hi all
I am very new here and have collected my CPAP on line from my clinic today after a recent diagnosis of sleep apnoea.
My machine is set to 4 which I believe is standard setting for a first user.
My clinic have said my O2 level goes down to below 70% and I have an episode approximately 2-3 minutes (20 per hr)
My nurse has said I will get aprescription from my GP for my own CPAP machine. What I was wondering is about the cost of the prescription.
I get free prescriptions due to health conditions and wondered if this would affect this?

Do you get a choice or does the GP choose?

[James @ Intus]

Hi and welcome!

I'm a bit confused about what you are saying.

You got a CPAP from the clinic, can you not keep it? A setting of 4 is very low. Especially with the 70% comment, I do wonder how they arrived at that pressure. Four is in most machine the lowest possible pressure. Most people start off in the 8-12 range and have things tweaked form there. I've never heard of anyone starting at 4 unless that was based on a proper overnight titration.

The prescription doesn't cost a thing (just time). But I don't get why you need one if you already have bene issued a CPAP machine. If you want to buy your own machine then yes, that prescription will come in handy. If you don't get one free from the NHS, you can get a fixed pressure CPAP machine from about £250 or an Auto-CPAP from about £450.

If you get it form the NHS, there's no choice. Buy it yourself and you can pick what you like, only limited by a few parameters from the prescription. And normally the GP has nothing to do with it as they mostly don't know a thing about OSA. They just confirm your diagnosis in writing and that's it.

[GrumpyBiker]

My APAP came from the clinic with the range set wide-open - 4 to 20 - I wonder if that is what you have.

Andy

[Icemaiden2uk]

HI James
I am only telling you whatn I have been told
My clinic have loaned me a CPAP. The Nurse said when I am using it regularly that my GP would get me one on prescription. To be honest I don't think she could be bothered -she looked so tired herself (or hungover). The rest of the team I have met were much more informative. I
don't understand any of this CPAP stuff- even being a nurse for 20 yrs this is my first experience of anything like this.

I had to persuade her to let me take home a nasal mask and a full face mask which is agood job as the first time I tried the nasal I woke up in a blind panic when my mouth opened and the air was re-directed straight out of my mouth. I was reluctant to use my machine again but tried the next night and used the full face.
This is much better for me but I am very very dry and have a blocked nose now and it is leaving me feeling like I have a bad cold.
When I return to the clinic I will ask about a humidifier (if she is awake this time) as I feel this may help.
What is worrying me is the metallic taste I have in my mouth which is not going away.
Any help?

Sorryif I confused you but I was only repeating what I had been told. I don't know the procedure for getting a prescription for a CPAP.

[James @ Intus]

No worries, the stories differ per PCT so it's good to clear it up like this.

If you are bunged up all the time, a humidifier will help indeed. ALso see a thread on the forum here about the SinuPulse Elite.

The metallic taste sounds very much like a detox reaction. Perhaps your body has found the energy to start recovering from this that and the other. I'd be surpriseed if that sensation lasts very long.