Question from Newbie

Hello Everyone
I recently had a sleep three night study done at home and got a phone call from Novasom telling me results were positive and they will now be sending me a machine that should arrive tomorrow . As far I understood this machine will be for testing not to be sold to me. Where do I go from here ? Any help will he appreciatted. Thanks !

Hi, welcome to the forum. I'm not sure what you mean by the machine being used for testing as I thought you'd already done that... plus you definitely need to know that you should choose your own machine and not let it 'happen' to you as there are big diffs between them, and the mask is very important (as in most of us go through various ones before finding what works, and when they don't, it's the major thing that keeps people from using Cpap consistently. I strongly suggest you read...

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/2011/0 ... h-a-brick/

before being sold or signed up for anything at any price for any length of time if your insurance co. gives you any choice at all (and don't just believe what the DME (dealer) tells you re that either as they're known too often to be either lazy, greedy or just plain ignorant. Sorry to sound so negative, you may not be unlucky, but just in case, better to be safe and all that!

Please get back with any questions you have and I'm sure someone will be able to help.

Perhaps the machine "for testing" is for evaluation. If that is the case, once you use it, it may be difficult/impossible to return. As Julie said, there isn't any reason for further testing; your three night study should have established your pressure requirements.

It might be worth your time to call Novasom and get clarification. Are they sending you your therapy machine, or another testing machine. Ask for the make and model of the machine they are sending you. If it ends up being a simple brick, you might want to return it unopened and ask them for an automatic machine with full data capability (Resmed S9 Autoset or the equivalent PR model), or have them simply send you a copy of your prescription and buy your own machine, which is what I did when my sleep doc's office failed to cooperate.

Thanks Julie ! I really do appreciate your reply.
I did not express myself well..... What Novason is now sending me are different types of masks so I can try them and decide which one I feel more confortable one.
I will definitely read the article you suggested and will pay double attention to the matter.
I shall be back with results and share with the forum and of course, ask for more help, info, etc. as needed. . I am just starting to walk on this path....
Again, thanks a lot !

Thank you Sir ! I just called Novasom and they confirmed they are not sending me any therapy machine. Actually they told me they do not sell machines... They will be sending me a couple (or maybe more ?) types of masks and some time of equipment related to the oxigeny flow so I can decide for the mask I feel more confortable with.
Thanks for your important input regarding the equipment.

Slartybartfast wrote:Perhaps the machine "for testing" is for evaluation. If that is the case, once you use it, it may be difficult/impossible to return. As Julie said, there isn't any reason for further testing; your three night study should have established your pressure requirements.

It might be worth your time to call Novasom and get clarification. Are they sending you your therapy machine, or another testing machine. Ask for the make and model of the machine they are sending you. If it ends up being a simple brick, you might want to return it unopened and ask them for an automatic machine with full data capability (Resmed S9 Autoset or the equivalent PR model), or have them simply send you a copy of your prescription and buy your own machine, which is what I did when my sleep doc's office failed to cooperate.

Slartybartfast wrote:Perhaps the machine "for testing" is for evaluation. If that is the case, once you use it, it may be difficult/impossible to return. .

In the UK at least they tend to give you an APAP for a week to get used to it, then that gets swapped out for a calibrated CPAP after that point.

Updatde: I Received yesterday a set of two different masks and an APAP machine to be used during 4 nights . This is for an additional test, APAP-Titration Study that my doctor asked for.
This was the "second" machine I mentioned previously.
Nose mask did not work. Full face mask did. First night I suppose not to be very funny since I understand I need to get used to the mask. However I do not feel that bad this morning.
Am I on the right track ??
Thanks for all your input and tips on this .

update :
Now I have in my hands the results of my Home Sleep Test Report provided by Novasom. Diagnosis : Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
Last week I did a Titration Study. I will only have results by Wednesday. I am starting to get educated on this subject. What is going to happen next ? I know that my doctor will tell me I will need a machine. Where do I go from there ? Will my insurance (Aetna) pay for the machine I would like to have (Latest model from Resmed)?

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/what-y ... me-part-i/

and about full data machines but has not been updated to include the latest ResMed AirSense machines that were just released this week.
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/

I suggest you check with your insurance. We assume that Aetna will pay but it all depends on which insurance plan you have and Aetna has too many plans to count.

Latest update:
My doctor wrote me a prescription for a machine. As I asked him, he wrote a prescription for a "Resmed AirSense 10 Autoset CPAP Machine with Humid
Air Heated Humidifier" . I understnad. I sent an email do my insurance (Aetna).
They replied with 05 In-network suppliers for CPAP supplies/Machines:
1. American Home Patient
2. Aprial Healthcare
3.Lincare
4.Rotech
5.US Medial Supply
I would like, if possible, to have comments (positive & negatives) from members of this forum about the companies above.
Based on replies , I will then pick one to work with.
I know I will have to pay part of the equipment since I haven't fullfilled my deductible yet.
Again, Thanks in advance for all comments. This is a great group.

If you read my "what you need to know before you meet your DME" in my blog below, you'll have a good idea of what you are up against. Some local DME's may be great, even when their national reputation sucks, so unless someone in Houston can tell you their experience with one of these DME's you're going to just have to see how it goes.

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Understand that with your specific prescription they cannot try to fob a different machine on you and the most likely cannot try to charge you more than the insurance contracted price. That doesn't mean they won't try. You have several DME's to choose from, which is a luxury. If DME # 1 treats you like an idiot, use your feet and walk out to DME #2.

Understand how to check to make sure they are really giving you the Autoset model (I'm not sure if there is an Escape in the S10's yet, but I would NOT take a DME's word for it). Since they are brand new, you are unlikely to have to worry about getting saddled with a used one (but you never know).

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

Thank you so much, Janknitz, from another newbie trying to figure out which end is which!

OK, Finally got my machine today ! First DME I contacted ended up telling me they did not have the machine I wanted....... BS ! They did not want to supply it and tried to push an older model....

Second DME I contacted was nice and fast and supplied me with the machine I asked for / wanted. Now let's start using it tonight .