Post
by MarylandCPAPer » Fri Jul 03, 2015 11:04 pm
It's good to have a copy of the sleep study and CPAP prescription, as you may need it if you ever have to switch DMEs. After 5 years, I was surprised they wanted the original sleep study, not the more recent sleep study, but that is what was needed to meet Medicare (USA) requirements. Also, the first 90 days of compliance data from when I first got the machine. My original DME had it all on file (sleep study, compliance data, etc.) and emailed it to me so I could supply it to the second DME.
People here like data, graphs, etc. when you are having questions and problems, and some may be included in your sleep study. There are lots of reasons to get and keep a copy.
i keep forgetting you are in Canada and things work differently there. July 15 is just 11 days away, but it seems like forever when you're motivated to get started on treatment. Your primary care dr. may understand sleep study results or may only read you the summary. Mine didn't understand the detailed graphs, and she uses CPAP. In any case, you may want or need to refer back to the sleep study years later. If you travel, you should pack the CPAP prescription with your CPAP equipment, to prove it is medical equipment, and also in case you have to get CPAP supplies on the fly when away from home in an emergency.
It would be helpful to be using an Autoset machine, ideally the same one you would be buying, for your one month trial. You might try calling your DME before your dr. visit and asking what kind of machine you would be using during your one-month trial, then posting here to find out what people think. It's a simple question. You may need to talk to a respiratory therapist at the DME to get an answer, not just the person who handles insurance, but they know what they're going to try to get you to use.
if the machine the DME wants to try out on you is not what would be appropriate long-term, it would be good to know before you go to the dr., so you can get the dr. to write a prescription for a different machine if necessary.
Remember, you are the consumer and the one who will be using the equipment for many years to come (and only can get a new machine through insurance every 5 or so years, most likely). You may shock them by being so knowledgeable as a newbie, but if you have to, just tell them you have friends on CPAP / APAP treatment who they are helping you out. The DME may not like it, but that is the truth, isn't it?
Started CPAP 12/18/09 Pressure 13. Changed to APAP 1/18/10, Pressure 10-16. 4/2014:Switched to AirFit P10 mask. PR System One REMstar Auto Series 550 with A-Flex for 5.5 years. 7/2015 to present: AirSense 10 AutoSet FOR HER. Range: 10-20