They're coming to me!

[DottyG]

I'm getting even closer to getting treatment, y'all! I just talked to my doctor's nurse. She got the results from the study. And, she's getting the doctor to do all the stuff he needs to do on his end to get me fixed up.

But, she also checked with a company that will come to me to do the machine. They have fully data capable ones, she says. And, they'll come set me up personally. Not bad!

The doctor also wants me to have some more oxygen testing in about 2-4 weeks. This company can do that, too.

One of these days, I'm going to get a good, full night's sleep. I know it!

[KengEsq]

I'm getting even closer to getting treatment, y'all! I just talked to my doctor's nurse. She got the results from the study. And, she's getting the doctor to do all the stuff he needs to do on his end to get me fixed up.

But, she also checked with a company that will come to me to do the machine. They have fully data capable ones, she says. And, they'll come set me up personally. Not bad!

The doctor also wants me to have some more oxygen testing in about 2-4 weeks. This company can do that, too.

One of these days, I'm going to get a good, full night's sleep. I know it!

Most DMEs will come to you and all must set your machine and mask up for you and teach you how to use everything - those are their jobs. Once you start therapy, your job starts to be involved and compliant. If you do your job after your doctors and your DME does his/her job, you should be well on your way to a good, full night's sleep and, of course, feeling better and that is the real test. Welcome to the "hose head community."

[jules]

I would call the DME and ask what machine - get model name and model number, if there is one. What the DME might think is full data, may not be.

[DottyG]

I would call the DME and ask what machine - get model name and model number, if there is one. What the DME might think is full data, may not be.

I don't have a phone number or anything - the nurse is going to have them contact me.

Define what I'm looking for with "full data" - at the moment, that's not really registering, because I haven't had to access the data. When they call me, tell me the words I need to ask to make sure it really is what I want (if the DMEs think something is and it might not really be).

[jules]

you need to find out who is coming - call the nurse and ask for the name of the DME

then you need to get the exact machine you will be getting - check it against the list on this post by Rested Gal or post the information here -

viewtopic.php?p=307168#p307168

posting it here someone will get back to you on if that is a good machine or not

[letchworth]

I didn't know anything about fully data capable when I was where you are now--- however, naive as I was, I still tried to be proactive and visited a couple MDEs in the immediate area to ask about "features", DME resources, make sure my insurance worked with them, etc., etc.--- I found it was very helpful to be as informed as I was able to be.

You already know more than I did when I was where you are--- You could certainly ask even more informed questions.

My feeling is (& was) that they are always more interested in getting your business. I have been a bit frustrated at times with the way things have gone, but that has more to do with consolidating field offices than anything else. However, my suggestion, go visit, ask questions-- in the long-term you are paying for it, either out-of-pocket, or through insurance premiums (& the price ain't cheap).

Definitely find out what models they consider data capable and ask some of the more knowledgeable here-- these people can really help.

letchworth

[rested gal]

Define what I'm looking for with "full data" - at the moment, that's not really registering, because I haven't had to access the data. When they call me, tell me the words I need to ask to make sure it really is what I want (if the DMEs think something is and it might not really be).

Ask the DME, does the machine you're giving me record AHI (pronounce each letter separately ... A, H, I ) and Leak information? Or does it record only the number of hours I use it?

Or, go to the link Jules posted -- to my list of names of machines that record "full" data, and those that don't.

Read more about it in this topic --

viewtopic.php?p=344265#p344265

I wrote:

Welcome to the message board, bdivine!

will try for an APAP, but at least a CPAP fully data capable, and heated humidifier

You've definitely been doing your homework! Very good job, the way you've been getting yourself up to speed on equipment.

One thing you might want to think about.... if you end up being given a CPAP rather than an APAP, is how to make sure the DME understands what kind of CPAP you'll accept. "Fully data capable" is simply a phrase we often use here on the message board. I don't think that's a term used by the manufacturers in their descriptions of machine specs or features. Nor is it a phrase that would mean much to most DMEs. The DME might think any machine that can have data downloaded from it is "fully data capable" or records "full data."

We (on the message board) know that what we mean by "fully data capable" or "records full data" is that the machine can record AHI and leak data, among other things. But some (perhaps most?) DMEs are accustomed to thinking of data downloaded from the machines as being the hours-of-use compliance data some insurance companies require.

"Hours of use" is the only kind of information from a machine download that insurance or Medicare is interested in, so it's understandable that most DMEs would think of data (even "full data") from the machines as being just that -- "compliance" data showing hours of use/pattern of use -- using the machine at least 4 hours a night/five nights a week.

Many (perhaps most?) DMEs might assume that if a machine has a Smart Card stuck in it or can use a cable for a download, the machine can record "full data." Not so. For example, the M series "Plus" machine can have a Smart Card in it and is recording onto the Smart Card every time you use the machine, but all that the Plus model records is "hours of use"...not "full data" the way we use that phrase here on the message board.

To get an idea of the confusion (perhaps genuine, perhaps feigned) that a DME had, check out LinkC's post on page 2 of this thread:

viewtopic.php?p=342111#p342111

So, if you can't get the doctor to prescribe an Autopap (some doctors just won't), and if you want to be sure the DME understands what kind of data a CPAP machine must be "capable of", you might want the doctor to add these words to the Rx: "Machine must record AHI and Leak in addition to compliance data."

[DoriC]

With a data-capable machine and software that you will have to purchase, you can track your events, (AHI=apneas and hypopneas(shallow breaths). Most folks look for an AHI <5.0 but feel better when it's lower than that. You can also see if your mask is leaking too much and therefore losing adequate therapy pressure. You can then make adjustments accordingly. With the Respironics you don't want any model with a Plus in the name, with Resmeds I think it's the Escape you don't want(not sure about that). Hope I didn't confuse you.