Why people get frustrated with dr and dme

Am I being impatient or not. At the beginning of September I started having back and rib pain issues that kept me from sleeping on my side. Since then I have noticed symptoms of sleep apnea coming back.10 weeks ago i went to see the dr and scheduled another titration. 6 weeks ago finally went for the test. After waking in the morning I was told my pressure was to low at 13 cpap and I needed bi level set at 19 14. Finally had the follow up visit last Monday. They went over the info and said they would get the info to the dme right away. Called dme last Thursday and nothing called the dr they said there working on it. Called dme today they still said they didn't have all the info they needed. Called dr they said they'll get the rest of the info over to dme. Dme said it might take two weeks to get the new machine after they get all the info. Since I went to dr 10 weeks ago my symptoms have gotten worse. I'm exhausted to the extreme. I hate the thought of lying down to sleep. I've been getting the startling wake ups a lot the last week. I'm having trouble thinking and my legs are starting to hurt again. I'm starting to not be able remember things I was told 2 minutes before

Am I being impatient or is the dr and dme really dithering around that much

My experience is that unless you are willing to know your stuff going in, and also willing to make yourself a major PITA for whoever is dragging this out, they will continually shuffle you to the bottom of their pile. My doctor took 5 weeks from the time my study was done to tell me that I was having 100+ events per hour and needed CPAP. I didn't know anything at that point and was shocked to hear I was that bad and had been left waiting that long for a followup and prescription. It took another 1.5 weeks for the DME they referred me to to get me a machine. Only after I let that DME know at week one that I would be going elsewhere did they snap to it and have it done in 48 hours.

If you have any leeway at all in shopping around, use it. You don't have to go elsewhere, just make sure they know you will go elsewhere if they can't get their act together. And call frequently. Sometimes they'll get it done just so you stop calling. Sad but true.

Greg, if you're having back 'issues' and your legs are hurting, you must see a doctor because you could have coincidentally new back problems unrelated to Cpap. Cpap can only solve so much, but a bad back and/or bed need to be addressed on their own.

You might ask them if they have a loaner used machine they can set up for you until your new machine arrives.

Fixed the need last week. My back and back issue may be dislocated rib or two but I'll get slapped for discussing that one lol. I've been to dr and been saying chiropractor. The pain is improving greatly but still hurts one of my ribs when I lay on my side. I figure off I can sleep on my back for a while it will get better. But I can't sleep on my back without the apnea getting worse. I figure out would have taken longer to notice the worse apnea of I hasn't Benn forced to sleep on my back for a while.
The leg pain is the same calf pain a felt before I started cpap. After about a month on cpap with some success it stopped for about a year

kteague wrote:You might ask them if they have a loaner used machine they can set up for you until your new machine arrives.

I asked they said it was to expensive for then to have loner xpap machines

I'm going to sleep in the recliner tonight to see off I can get some good sleep

Greg Riddle wrote:I'm going to sleep in the recliner tonight to see off I can get some good sleep

My question is why aren't you using your current machine?

I am but I can't turn the pressure up high enough to sleep on my back without having central problems and bad areophagia. I have it set at 15.5, higher than the rx of 13 but not enough. I've tried several times to get it higher but wale up several times a night with bad stomach cramps and needing to relieve a seriously bloated stomach. I'm going to try sleeping in chair with the cpap set at 15.5 see how I feel tomorrow

What model new machine are you getting? Do you know what machines are fully data capable?

Check with your insurance to see if there are other in-network DME's in your area. If so, call the alternatives and ask if they can get you a machine right away.

The machine should be a resmed s9 vpap auto.

Greg Riddle wrote:Am I being impatient or not. At the beginning of September I started having back and rib pain issues that kept me from sleeping on my side. Since then I have noticed symptoms of sleep apnea coming back.10 weeks ago i went to see the dr and scheduled another titration. 6 weeks ago finally went for the test. After waking in the morning I was told my pressure was to low at 13 cpap and I needed bi level set at 19 14. Finally had the follow up visit last Monday. They went over the info and said they would get the info to the dme right away. Called dme last Thursday and nothing called the dr they said there working on it. Called dme today they still said they didn't have all the info they needed. Called dr they said they'll get the rest of the info over to dme. Dme said it might take two weeks to get the new machine after they get all the info. Since I went to dr 10 weeks ago my symptoms have gotten worse. I'm exhausted to the extreme. I hate the thought of lying down to sleep. I've been getting the startling wake ups a lot the last week. I'm having trouble thinking and my legs are starting to hurt again. I'm starting to not be able remember things I was told 2 minutes before

Am I being impatient or is the dr and dme really dithering around that much

I've never understood why doctors and DMEs insist on communicating directly. Doctor's don't do this with your pharmacist!

It's far better when you see your sleep doctor and he/she provides a new prescription, to get a written copy of the new script before you leave the doctor's office. DO NOT WAIT for it to be sent over to the DME. With the script in hand, you can go directly to the DME of your choice to have it filled. Also make a copy of it so that you have it on hand - needed later to buy supplies such as a new mask, etc.

As a previous poster suggested, forewarned is forearmed. Know the equipment that you want and ensure that the doctor provides the necessary details on the script. What information was the DME waiting for, anyway?

They needed information that would prove to the insurance co that I needed a bilevel machine

Greg Riddle wrote:They needed information that would prove to the insurance co that I needed a bilevel machine

weird, I would think 19/14 means just that.

That's what I thought but idk. I think there trying to not by another machine since mine is just a little over a year old