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How do things work in the UK?
In the U.S. The majority of people have a diagnostic(Dx) evaluation followed by a titration study. Afterwhich that person should have a doctors consult(perfect world) followed by a meeting with a Durable Medical Equipment provider(DME). The DME provides the PAP and mask.
This process sounds easier then it ever is. There seem to be some really bad labs and eqipment providers out there. Just wondering how things work across the pond.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on
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Here in the UK we first visit our GP, and if we're lucky he or she will be up on sleep apnoea symptoms and will refer us (if we're not he or she willl refuse). We normally get referred to an ENT surgeon or a Chest one. We fill in the Epworth Scale and if he/she suspects sleep apnoea we'll then be referred to the Sleep Dept of the hospital or a Sleep Clnic for a test. Most people here get home tests to take home with them for a night, but some areas do have the facilities to have the study take place in the hospital/centre. Once a positive diagnosis is made, we then get our CPAP and mask from the hospital which diagnosed us, and we don't have to pay for them, as it's covered under the National Health Service - all workers here pay a small stamp towards this. Having said this, we don't usually get a choice of which machine we get, and normally it's a CPAP not an APAP. Most of us get one mask per year (anymore have to be bought, but we don't need a prescription for them - only the machine. The hospitals are normally very good though if there's a problem with a mask, and will give us another if necessary.
If people choose to, or if they have an unco-operative GP, they can go direct to Respironics etc. for a private test and buy their own equipment. Several other companies have set up over here (not always reputable ones unfortunately) and hire out the sleep tests, get the results checked wherever, and then sell the machines and masks to the sufferers.
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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Thanks Kath.
How are your optimum pressures figured without a titration or Auto-PAP? Are you allowed to change your own pressures? In the U.S. self-titration is looked down upon by the powers that be. You know the PAP police.
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Sorry, I should have said that when we're first diagnosed we're sent home with an Auto PAP to find the correct pressure, although I did hear this week of a hospital that just puts everyone on a pressure of 10! It's certainly not encouraged generally for patients to alter their own pressures, and most wouldn't know how to anyway. Neither is it encouraged to check their own readings (but it's also not often the hospitals do either). Having said this, in my city we have a great team of sleep techs and I am hearing more of some other hospitals/clinics who are getting more proactive in working with their patients.
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