I am a Respiratory Therapist and have been providing treatment for sleep apnea since the mid/late1980's when the diagnosis of sleep apnea was in its infancy. My organization opened a 4 bed sleep lab in 2008. Much has happened in the past 30 yrs in the ability to recognize and diagnose sleep apnea. Initially it was all about Obstructive Sleep Apnea, but then with improved treatment, it became apparent there were other forms of sleep apnea such as Centrals and Mixed. The area of sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment is still evolving. Needless to say there have been huge advancements in technology both in the way the machines sense apneas and respond as well as the trending capabilities and the data that can be retrieved by physicians and your equipment provider. That is not to say that the older machines are no longer effective, because they are, and I still see many older machines and the folks using them are very satisfied and doing well. It is so important to follow up with your sleep physician and your equipment provider so that issues can be addressed early. It is so easy now with the technology to allow one to transmit the data in a variety of ways including Bluetooth or download a memory card to a program via your computer or smart phone. You are able to view how well you are doing as well as transmitting the data to your provider. These sites also have helpful tips and tutorials to assist in fitting your mask or pillows interface, troubleshooting issues you may be experiencing etc. With the changes in health care today, some insurance companies are requiring data to "prove" that the individual continues to use and benefit from their Pap therapy before they will pay for new supplies or a replacement device.
