I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 6 mos. ago and have been using a CPAP machine since Sept. 05. At first, I seemed to feel better some days, and that is still the case, but most days I still feel just like I did when I wasn't using the CPAP.

My primary Dr. said maybe I have other sleep issues and she told me to go back to my sleep Dr.

The problem here is that my former insurance is refusing to pay the cost of my sleep studies and sleep dr. appointments because they claim my sleep apnea may have been pre-exsisting and so I doubt my new insurance will pay for a check-up with my sleep dr.

Has another else had the problem of the machine not helping the overall apnea? My machine is set at 10 and I wonder if having it upped would be the answer. Anyone else try this? The sleep Dr. might be willing to adjust the pressure without actually seeing me.

Does anyone take any sort of meds that make their sleep apnea better? The sleep dr. thought I might have RLS as well. What does the meds for this disorder do?

Thanks for all responses.

I would think the insurance company would have to prove that you received treatment for this condition prior. Also most insurance companys will wave prior conditions when you start a new job. Also if you have not received treatment for the condition for over a years time it will be waved. You need to look into your policy.
I do not get any real benefit from CPAP either. The only time I see any real benefit is when the apnea gets real bad during the night. I find CPAP for me only helps with confustion thats when my ox level gets to low.
I have severe RLS and take requip for treatment. The side effects of the RLS seem to over ride the the symtoms of my apnea. Some of my side effects are I sleep in binges. stiffness or tightness of the legs and arms, I wake up alot during the night. When the RLS gets real bad it is like I have ADD.
For treatment for RLS I take iron pills and requip. Watch the amount of iron you take it will plug you up. Also if you start taking iron have your blood level checked. To much iron is not good.
I found that if I take mellatoin at night I sleep better. It seems that when I took mellitonin my apnea events went from 84 or 77 per hour to 34 or 44 events per hour. I have had 5 sleep studies done so far.
As far as pressure I am at level 10 now. I ahve been prescibed levels 5 to 15 at 5 I found myself over powering the CPAP. and gassping for air. At 15 I felt like I was getting inflated and it was like I was holding my breath, so I would rip off the mask gassping.
I have been fighting with my CPAP for 1 and 1/2 years now. The longest time I have worn the CPAP is about five hours strait sleeping. I just quit fighting with it and do what I can.
I hope this helps
mike

I forgot to tell you that my RLS at first was so bad without treatment the CPAP was a wast of time. It was not untill I treated the rls was I even able to keep the CPAP on at night.
mike