trying not to give up

I have used CPAP some. However, I just can't seem to get comfortable with the idea of something on my face. Have tried the nasal pillows and like the mask better. Tried sleeping pills to help make me relax. Any suggestions I would appreciate them. My husband and I are sleeping in separate beds.

french fry lover wrote:I have used CPAP some. However, I just can't seem to get comfortable with the idea of something on my face. Have tried the nasal pillows and like the mask better. Tried sleeping pills to help make me relax. Any suggestions I would appreciate them. My husband and I are sleeping in separate beds.

Register and list the equipment you are using...no crystal balls here.

how do I register? will email the equipment information when I get home this afternoon.

When I heard the results of my sleep study, 4 years ago, it was scary. The thought of not using the equipment was not an option for me. I did not want to stop breathing. It was quite an adjustment having to wear stuff over my nose to breathe through, and another adjustment to keep my mouth closed. I used relaxation cds to take my mind off of the equipment. My DME was getting very disgusted with me as I was in her office multiple times a week, returning masks and trading for new ones. I finally tried the Sleepweaver Advanced, which is a cloth mask made out of parachute material. It's very lightweight. That was my mask of choice for a couple of years. Some people have issues with air leaks with it. But, if it's adjusted just right, it's pretty good. As new masks came out, I tried others, and still do. If I were to recommend one for newbies, it would be the Dream Wear. It just sits below your nose and you hardly know you have it on. Nothing poking in your nose, and the headgear is minimal. I do not mind having sleep apnea anymore. I am breathing heated, filtered air every night. And, before I got the machine, I was up every 2 hours at night. Now I get up once to use the bathroom. I drink a lot of water, even before bedtime. Bottom line: If you have sleep apnea, do not give up.

My DME was getting very disgusted with me as I was in her office multiple times a week, returning masks and trading for new ones. I finally tried the Sleepweaver Advanced, which is a cloth mask made out of parachute material. It's very lightweight. That was my mask of choice for a couple of years. Some people have issues with air leaks with it. But, if it's adjusted just right, it's pretty good. As new masks came out, I tried others, and still do.

My goodness. You must have the cadillac insurance plan. I was allowed 2 masks and the DME was stingy with the second one. Neither fit right because frankly I don't think their RT was qualified for his job as he pushed 2 masks on me that were too large. So I paid out of pocket for the one I have now which actually fits. I'll keep the Dream Wear mask in mind. I've seen both positive and negative comments on that mask.

Sylvia54 wrote:I was allowed 2 masks and the DME was stingy with the second one.

Has nothing to do with the insurance plan and everything to do with the DME being a lazy butthead.
Pretty much all insurance plans will only pay for one mask until the next allowance period but all the mask manufacturers will reimburse a DME for masks returned by patients within a 30 day time period. All they (DME) have to do is a little paperwork to get credit for the returned mask so they won't be supplying masks and not getting paid for it.
Unfortunately the DMEs tend to be lazy and not want to do the paperwork and instead they blame it on "your insurance only pays for one swap" which is simply not true. Insurance always only pay for one mask...it's the DME who makes their own in house rules about mask swapping (and yes, they can make their own rules) but they blame it on insurance instead of owning up to the fact that they are lazy buttheads.

Pugsy wrote:

Sylvia54 wrote:I was allowed 2 masks and the DME was stingy with the second one.

Has nothing to do with the insurance plan and everything to do with the DME being a lazy butthead.
Pretty much all insurance plans will only pay for one mask until the next allowance period but all the mask manufacturers will reimburse a DME for masks returned by patients within a 30 day time period. All they (DME) have to do is a little paperwork to get credit for the returned mask so they won't be supplying masks and not getting paid for it.
Unfortunately the DMEs tend to be lazy and not want to do the paperwork and instead they blame it on "your insurance only pays for one swap" which is simply not true. Insurance always only pay for one mask...it's the DME who makes their own in house rules about mask swapping (and yes, they can make their own rules) but they blame it on insurance instead of owning up to the fact that they are lazy buttheads.

Oh okay. So 2kittymom was just lucky enough to pick the DME that gets irritated but is not at all lazy. Sure would be nice for all newbies to have the same opportunity, try out several masks at no charge. Maybe less people would quit for good after struggling with the wrong mask(s) and think nothing works. DMEs are penny pinching contractors. But they might change their ways if mask manufacturers started paying them incentive for extra time and effort doing paper work and fitting people.

french fry lover wrote:how do I register? will email the equipment information when I get home this afternoon.

Click on the "New Users" icon at the top of the screen. Read the instructions, follow it through and you should be able to locate the
small form to select which equipment you are using.

Sylvia54 wrote:DMEs are penny pinching contractors. But they might change their ways if mask manufacturers started paying them incentive for extra time and effort doing paper work and fitting people.

Ah...but they are already getting paid extra. That's how come masks and equipment from a brick and mortar DME store costs a lot more (even after the reduction to allowed amount) is more than what a person can buy from an online source.
My DME gets around $180 for a mask...that's with the reduction to the "allowed amount" plus my co pay. I can buy the same mask any day of the week for around $100 online. So they bill out $280...and end up getting $180...so they already get $80 more than what I could buy it for online...and the online sellers are making money at the $100.

I don't have any sympathy at all for a lazy DME.

My own DME has their own "in house" policy but it is a rather good policy. I get a mask and I have 60 days to swap it out and I can swap it out as many times as I need to in order to find one that suits me. And this isn't just for those people new to cpap therapy. It's for people like me who have been on cpap for years. If I want to try something new...I can try it and if it doesn't work out I can try something else.
My DME guy told me...try every one we have if you need to (and they keep a large inventory)...he told me all they have to do is fill out a little form to get credit. Used to be they had to physically return the unwanted mask but they don't have to do that anymore. I can see what a PITA it would be to physically return a mask...but now all that is needed is a little form filled out....no excuse for poor service if all it takes is 30 seconds to fill out a form.

Actually, my DME has a fairly large showroom. And, they have a large stash of "used" masks. They use the used ones to try on customers so they can see if they fit well and they like them. After a few swaps, she just gave me a bunch to try out for a weekend, and then make my choice and bring back the rest. She did it because she was so frustrated with me coming in every couple of days. Some of the masks I tried made sore spots on my nose, or they leaked badly, etc. I think she didn't like me at first, but after 4 years, we get along great. Last year my DME didn't get the contract for Medicare and I was supposed to get my supplies from a small place out of town. That wasn't working well for me, and I found out that I could go to the former showroom and get the supplies, and then they billed through the new company. Now, the showroom got the contract back and it's back to the way it was before.

Talking about trying out masks the problem that I have with a CPAP Supplier on the internet is that I could get a mask for a trial {Resmed Liberty} if I pay for the trial (insurance) and in the case that I don't like it I should send the unit back within 30 days and pay the UPS mail of about $12. And then they will credit my account. But what annoys me is that they don't agree to send me also an empty box with their address label on it to help me return the mask. The box that they send the mask in to my address has UPS markings on it. So I need to go and buy a new brown box for the mask to return to them. The following is what they wrote to me about it:

In accordance with your previous request, we can arrange shipment of your order in a brown packaging box, but please be advised we do NOT include return labels in the case you seek to return this item. It is an expectation that the customer assume all shipping and handling costs for an item's transit back to our store.

Who knows if CPAP.COM also has this policy?

avi123 wrote: Who knows if CPAP.COM also has this policy

Cpap.com return insurance policy....does include an email with a prepaid return label that you can print off and attach to the box.
I would just use the box that it was originally shipped in...just peel off the old labels.

Some masks have "free return insurance" available and some masks have a fee (that varies between masks) for the return insurance.
Either way cpap.com will provide a prepaid shipping label via email for you to print off.
Only potential problem would be if you don't have a working printer or access to one.

I never had a mask choice when I got my CPAP. I have been using the Resmed Mirage FX as its the only mask I ever had.