Thanks to all that have helpe me from a CPAP & no sl

Wanted to thank all on the forum for the information that has help me to go from a CPAP and no sleep to a remstar auto and a good night sleep.
This all began when the doctor said I needed a CPAP and sent me down the hall to the DME of his. They set me up with a CPAP. Also they gave me a Breeze nasal mask. After waking up 27 time in the night to adjust the thing not to mention the sore bloody nose I fought then for another mask The gave me a FP405. Which seems like a good mask except for the fact I could not Breath with it on. But I found that I kept calling back and saying I CAN NOT BREATH. There responds was always YOU WILL GET USED TO IT. Finally my wife suggested Breath Right nose strips. With NO HELP from the DME My wife solve the problem.
But still this was only one of the many problems I faced. The 405 did not really do very good for me but I did not know what was out there. So after much research I then ordered a Mirage Swift Nasal Pillows System from Cpa.com and it was so much better. Still have not conquered the exhaust air problem but that’s a minor problem at this point.
I would have not believe the battles I have had with the DME. I asked for a chin strap and they said they were out of stock so after 3 weeks they finally got one in. I picked it up and after one night I could see how stupid it was. The man that made it never useed it to find that it could not and would not every work on some ones head. The DME said come in and we will give you another one. I went in and it was the same as the first one. It was like working in a third world country. They had never heard of the MANY chin strap on the market.
So far all I have received from the DME is lies and the round around. Its like playing the old shell game first they tell you this and tomorrow they tell you the apposite. I felt for my health sake I had to get as far from the DME people as possible.
So I searched the Net and found so much information that I now feel I am much better qualified to make choices they the people that are at the DME. Medicare said I could change to a different DME but The was a fantasy. In reality I found I was stuck because I had already dealt with them. Once they sent bills in to Medicare I was stuck. But thanks to the good people at Cpap.com I got some good advice so I Fought with the DME till I received a Remstar Auto with c-flex.
I have only used the Auto for two night and so far its like going from a mule and a cart to a sports car. The fight I had with the DME to get it was a big of battle as the sleep apnea. I had to pay an extra $340.00 to DME plus 200.00 for cared reader.. So I saved about$500.00 in money but cost me $500.00 in STRESS fighting DME.
The DME set the C-Flex to 3 and I have not tried it on any other setting because so far it like not knowing you are on a machine. Its really hard to believe how nice it is. I had a CPAP for 3 months have not sleep more then 5 hours at a time. So far on the Auto I have sleep
7 ½ hours per night straight through.
I also fought for the Remstar auto with c-flex after reading the forum. So I have many thanks to you and other who have shared so much on the forum.

I hope this information will also help who find there self in the strange world of the DME.

Thanks Again
Gil

Congrats on your victory and your good night sleep Gil!

Once your DME bills medicare, you do have to continue with them for the machine for quite a while. However, Medicare will cover your supplies and you can choose another provider to work with for those supplies.

You should check out http://www.cpapforseniors.com. You can get a new mask every three months - so if you ask for a new one each time, you can find one that'll work.

Congratulations, Gil, on finally getting something that helps. I know it was a fight - most of us here have been through it. But now you know that there are other options out there.
Debbie

That's brilliant Gil, you deserve the success for your perseverence, and thanks so much for taking the trouble to share your story so that others might learn from it.