old cpap from DME?

Harmony · Post by **Harmony** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 4:20 pm

I am wondering if my DME gave me a moldy oldy machine from the closet because I have medicaid insurance and they only offer limited choices.I was given a GoodKnight 418 G, a comfort select nasal mask size S and a cool humid. I have not seen this machine anywhere for information on it. It is set at 8 and seems to be doing OK for me. I have not yet used the humid because where I live the humid has been high at 80 - 100 %. The only problem is the bridge of my nose getting sore from the mask. I have read the posts about moleskin and other helpful ideas that I will try. I will likely be losing my insurance soon and will be on my own so I am researching my options when I will need to purchase equipment myself. I am also concerned with the cpap that I have I do not have any readout info (other than usage). It is hard for me to understand how anyone will know whether everything is working the way I need it to. When I asked the person that done the cpap study the response was - we go by if you feel better. I don't want to just feel better, I want to know that I am getting the maximum benefit from my new sleep buddy. Any advice is appreciated.

Harmony

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 5:12 pm

Id say the answer is MOLDY OLDY. Look here...

http://www.mallinckrodt.com/news/news_r ... night.html

Chris

CandyADiva · Post by **CandyADiva** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 6:46 pm

Hi I have medicaid also and the DME i use was wonderful they gave me a brand new remstar plus C-flex with hum....................... every was new the hose filter the carry bag. Tell me why you will be losing your insurance. So far medicaid have paid for everything I needed. What DME did you use. the one I use Ihad to meet the Respiratory Therpiest and she had everything brand new waiting om me. So it depends on where you go.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 6:54 pm

Older model cpap doesn't mean that machine isn't perfectly capable of giving a person good treatment. Sounds like you're getting good treatment, Harmony, since you say it seems to be doing ok. Cpap is cpap. A single straight pressure is ...a single straight pressure.

Some really ancient machines are pretty noisy compared to modern ones. But then there are noisy modern ones too, if you get an unlucky draw off the assembly line. While the 418G isn't the newest in the PB line, it's not an antique by any means.

That said, yeah, it does sound like the DME tried to get by as cheaply as they could with you. What that Respironics "Comfort Select" mask is doing to the bridge of your nose is reported by soooo many people on the message boards who are given a cheap, basic Respironics mask by their DME's.

You're not the only one that happens to. It's not just because of Medicare coverage. Happens to ones with expensive private insurance too. Sad, since a comfortable mask can be the deciding factor right from the beginning in whether people can stick with this kind of treatment or not.

The DME was giving you as little as they could get by with, that's for sure.

How you feel, is a pretty good indication to go by that it's working well for you if you're feeling better. But I agree wholeheartedly - I want to not only feel better, I want to also see my own overnight data. I'm just nosy that way when it's about me

If I never looked at one minute of data from now on, I'd continue to do fine, using "how I feel" as a barometer. Some sleep deprived people, however, might not be good judges of "how they feel". A person could be so used to years of feeling lousy that the least bit of improvement seems "good" -- even if the treatment is still not doing what it really could or should.

I want to see overnight data, because it's about a treatment I'm using.. Some people need to feel more in control of what's going on in their own treatment and actually see data results. I'm one of them. Sounds like you are, too, Harmony.

Severeena · Post by **Severeena** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 7:29 pm

I have Medicare and they are renting a brand new machine for me, plus every three months a new mask, 6 months new headgear and not sure about the tubing.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 1:35 am

Both Respironics and Puritan Bennett carry self reporting machines that are not automatic, but do report all the data autos report, with the help of software.
It's the Respironics Remstar Pro 2 (and not the one without a 2) and the Puritan Bennett 420s.

If you can't afford an auto, these two will give you the necessary info to follow your therapy, and not be as expensive.

O.

Harmony · Post by **Harmony** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 9:55 am

Thanks for the info. from all of you. I have been away for a couple days and just got to read the replys.

CandyADiva - I only had medicaid for a short while because my husband had emergency surgery in Jan. 05 for a perferated bowel. We both own our own business and do not have any insurance otherwise. He has gone back to work so we will eventually lose it. I will be calling to talk to the insurance because the DME said that what he gave me was all that was allowed. My Doc orderd a remstar plus w/cflex and heated humid. It was crossed out but i could read it. I just have to take a day at a time and deal with it the best we can. Hopefully when I purchase one I will choose the right one.

ozij - I will look into these. Thanks

RG - Your posts are always so helpful and encouraging.

Harmony

CandyADiva · Post by **CandyADiva** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 12:13 pm

Ok Harmony I understand. My doctor didn't even write what cpap he wanted me to have but the DME I use gave me the Remstar Plus C-Flex with a Heated Humifier with the madk and all the supllies and it works very well for me. So I hope you get the cpap machine you need. take care..... Harmony

Mask

old cpap from DME?

old cpap from DME?

old cpap from dme