not happy about this

[Wulfman...]

Hmmm, a box shows up on my front porch that I ain't authorized or asked for or paid for?? Maybe time for a call to Homeland Security!!

Just a thought! Sheesh, and how much do you pay for this insurance?

Kajun

OH that would be sweet........yes officer I started to open the box and saw
wires, and HOSES, and CABLES, no sir I have idea ( the truth) what is in
that box.....but you should investigate thourghly

And then they'll take it out and blow it up, just to be sure.

Den

[NeedinZs]

Den,

You all crack me up!!

[rested gal]

I think I'd call back the person who didn't know what is in the box and ask them to transfer me to the person who does know, right up to the top. It is insane that they expect you to believe you were assigned equipment and nobody knows what. Somebody knows.

My guess is that readers on this forum are an exception, and in times past, rarely has equipment ever been questioned, so having a ready answer has not been necessary. But that's not to say there is no answer.

Good luck at sorting this all out.

Kathy

You're so right, Kathy. The vast majority of people prescribed "cpap" probably never question anything about what they're given. They use it, or try to, and that's it.

Most didn't really want to use a machine and mask anyway, so as soon as they have trouble exhaling against pressure or the mask wears a hole in the bridge of the nose and leaves marks on the face, they quit. They never know it could have been a LOT more comfortable...doable.

The high dropout rate for this kind of lifesaving treatment could be made soooo much better with just a little education and real support. Not just a followup phone call or two of "How's it going?" (Fill in your own answer.) Then, "Oh, well...you need to keep trying. It takes time to get used to." If there's any phone call at all.

There are so many newly diagnosed people coming through the doors of the DME stores, it doesn't matter if half of them drop out after receiving whatever the DME wants to give 'em.

[geoDoug]

I have to echo what others have said here. If that package requires a signature DO NOT SIGN FOR IT. As soon as it gets there, call them immediately.

Anyone want to take a bet on what hachine he will get. 100 to 1 odds.Jerry

My money's on the Remstar Plus. I'd be floored if it was anything else. In case hell freezes over and it's actually something better...Do you take online payments?

Doug.

[Kharris]

I have to echo what others have said here. If that package requires a signature DO NOT SIGN FOR IT. As soon as it gets there, call them immediately.

Anyone want to take a bet on what hachine he will get. 100 to 1 odds.Jerry

My money's on the Remstar Plus. I'd be floored if it was anything else. In case hell freezes over and it's actually something better...Do you take online payments?

Doug.

DING,DING, DING

WE HAVE A WINNER. ARE YOU PHYSIC? AND THE DEVIL WON'T BE ICE SKATING TODAY.
I called back and kept asking to be bumped to supervisors, the last lady
actually was helpful. I am to be the proud(?) owner of the Remstar plus
with heated humidifier and the Respironics comfort select full face mask
the mask is actually the one I liked best.
Kinda reminds me of car dealers, let me show you this little creampuff.
this is good enough for " most " people, don't make trouble, you don't
need all that fancy stuff............shut up and like it

[Wulfman...]

And, if you accept it, you'll be the proud owner of a "Yugo" PAP machine. (basic-breathing CPAP)

Den

[geoDoug]

And, if you accept it, you'll be the proud owner of a "Yugo" PAP machine.

That's a good one. I prefer to think of the Remstar Plus as a "glorified leaf-blower" or a "leaf blower with an over-developed ego."

Doug.

[mel334]

Well I have to say reading all these posts that you guys have created a monster! When I go for my sleep syudy tomorrow night I am going to be trouble! 5 years ago they gave me a resmed S7 Cpap and a mask. I still don't sleep well so after reading all these posts I am going to tell them what I want and think I should have. MUHHAHAHHA. Seriously, Until I found you a couple of weeks ago I didn't know there was anything else out there for machines that was really different. Have SwiftII but think I need a FF mask. Definitely want exhale relief. I want to sleep all night instead of waking up ev 2 hours.

[sleepycarol]

And, if you accept it, you'll be the proud owner of a "Yugo" PAP machine. (basic-breathing CPAP)

See you guys have spoiled me .

I am the proud owner of a Yugo that I drove while in college to save on gas. The college was 30 miles west and we had 5 kids still living at home so I needed a good cheap car that got great gas mileage (just don't ask how it did on the hills around here ). Graduated in 1996 and kept the car as I liked it so well.

Of course, I am NOT depending on my Yugo to keep me breathing at night and after finding this forum learned that I needed the machine prescribed for me and you supported my fight in getting it!! Yippeee!!

[Slinky]

The Plus is a good BASIC CPAP and better than none at all. It can deliver good therapy IF you were lucky and they got your titration right. None of us like it 'cause it can't tell us or our doctor ANYTHING worthwhile if our therapy isn't working. So its not like you are being given a shoddy piece of unreliable junk.

[BarbarainCT]

In my experience,

1. Apria only carries the Remstar Plus

2. Apria does not require a signature on the equipment they send out

3. Apria does not send a RT to teach you how to use the machine, you must go to one of their offices where you are given a 15 minute slot. They do not fit masks. I was shown how to turn the machine on and that I needed to keep my mouth shut while it was on. Any third-grader could have told me that.

4. CIGNA has a contract with Apria and is so difficult to deal with that other providers in my area refuse to deal with CIGNA.

It took a conversation with Maureen Bryant (1-317-865-4238) to even get them to supply their basic machine.

I seem to be doing okay with the basic machine and the Swift Nasal Pillows.

Barbara

[sleepycarol]

I was prescribed an apap with a setting of 8 to 12 with a c-flex setting of 3.

When I went to get the machine I didn't know any difference and was set up with a M series Plus machine!! The first couple of nights were good but I didn't feel that it was doing what it should and by then I had found this board and discovered that there was a difference in machines and my prescription was not for the M series Plus (set at 10) -- but for an APAP.

I can definitely tell a difference in the machine and most nights it does reach the 12 mark. I got what I needed due to this forum's encouragement -- but I also have decent insurance and one that was supportive in getting what I needed!!

If I had to have PAID up front for my machine I would have probably purchased the Plus machine due to the cost difference and finances being really tight right now for me.

Hopefully you can get the machine you need and want.

[le_wif]

In our area at least, Apria does carry other types of machines, so maybe it's a regional thing. My husband received a F&P SleepStyle 200. Sure, it's a basic CPAP with a heated humidifier, but my husband had very little trouble getting used to it. His pressure is 10. As long as he's happy and feeling better, we don't have a problem with the basic CPAP. The RT at Apria spent quite a bit of time with him, and he tried on every mask that looked good to him, including the then 'new' hybrid. (this was more than a year ago) The masks were tried on with "his" machine at their office. He came home with the one he liked the best, and it has worked well for him. We might simply be lucky, but we've had very good service from the Apria here, at least so far. So there IS hope, at least in some areas.

le_wif