OR, he will be so impressed at seeing in action one of the rare patients willing to do research to get what is needed, that he will never again try to control you. Your efforts will prove to him how important it is to you that you have the equipment you can use to be compliant with the therapy he prescribed.fortomorrow wrote:. . . I have a very bad feeling that my doctor (who is a control freak) wrote a specific machine and mask on my Rx, in which case I am going to have to fight with him.
And then I'll probably have to get a new doctor. . . .
I think sometimes sleep doctors write specific machines and specific masks down in an attempt to keep you from getting ripped off by the DME, because of things the doctors have seen. Or the doc may have heard his patients say they do well with certain masks or machines. Or the sleep techs the doc works with may have mentioned certain machines and masks. So even if the doc wrote specifics, it may be out of an attempt, however misguided, to be helpful. I truly doubt the sleep doc wants to submarine your efforts, even if he is one of those control freaks we all run into. He has nothing to gain if you get a crappy machine. That's between you and your insurance and the DME.
My doctor wrote a spefic machine and a list of masks on my perscription. But when I left a message about the DME, he called me and offered to write whatever I asked him to as instructions to the DME. (Have I said recently how much I admire that man?)
DME's are scared to deviate from what a doctor writes. And rightly so. Doctors don't play. And neither do insurance companies. But if you can find a way to get what you need, you win. So let them see you want to go about it in a way that leaves all their butts covered, and they all may very well try to work with you, not against you.
After all, hey, you're on a roll--you already found a helpful and kind person at a DME! That's more than I've ever accomplished!
And to restress what is being said by the experienced ones here: It is much more important to get a machine that gives you data than it is to get an auto. (Though autos have their place) True data-capable (not just compliance!)That is one battle you can't lose. Follow the suggestions from this forum to be sure you get the right machine. Don't sign for the machine until you know you can get the data you need.
jeff
