My sleep doc and my DME

[bobkat13]

I've heard a lot of horror stories on here about sleep docs and DME's. It makes me sad to know that so many have been so shortchanged!! And I hope this doesn't sound like bragging......that's not my intent at all. I just want to share a GOOD story about them.

My DME has taken a lot of time with me. She never seems rushed. She has a place for you to lie down on a exam table with a pillow to test your mask fit on both of your sides and on your back, while hooked up to a machine at your pressure. I've gone back to see her twice since the original "dispensing of the CPAP machine and mask". First time, I wanted a FFM because I tend to have sinus infections and allergy problems and I wanted to have the situation covered before it happened. I took home a Fisher/Playkel (sp?) Flexifit 432. It didn't work out too well, although it seemed to fit OK while I was there. When I took it back, I left with a ResMed Ultra Mirage FFM and since I'd gone back within a week or two the Ultra Mirage was the one she counted as my second mask. My insurance allows me to have four per year. She also sent home the Fisher/Playkel one in the back as a freebie!!

I just saw my sleep doc today. He spent almost an hour with me, going over my data and answering my questions. I don't know if this is his standard policy, but he also sent me home with two more masks to "try". When I asked how long I could try them out before he needed them back, he said "They're yours"!! Total value of those two new masks on our sponsor
is $310!!!

He also threw in a 10 foot length CPAP hose. I don't know if he was just happy that I was so interested in getting my therapy right, or if it was a prize for being one of the more compliant and determined to succeed patients (35 out of 35 nights of usage and 326 hours of usage). It might just be that he likes my oh so generous insurance company?

[BleepingBeauty]

I've heard a lot of horror stories on here about sleep docs and DME's. It makes me sad to know that so many have been so shortchanged!! And I hope this doesn't sound like bragging......that's not my intent at all. I just want to share a GOOD story about them.

My DME has taken a lot of time with me. She never seems rushed. She has a place for you to lie down on a exam table with a pillow to test your mask fit on both of your sides and on your back, while hooked up to a machine at your pressure. I've gone back to see her twice since the original "dispensing of the CPAP machine and mask". First time, I wanted a FFM because I tend to have sinus infections and allergy problems and I wanted to have the situation covered before it happened. I took home a Fisher/Playkel (sp?) Flexifit 432. It didn't work out too well, although it seemed to fit OK while I was there. When I took it back, I left with a ResMed Ultra Mirage FFM and since I'd gone back within a week or two the Ultra Mirage was the one she counted as my second mask. My insurance allows me to have four per year. She also sent home the Fisher/Playkel one in the back as a freebie!!

I just saw my sleep doc today. He spent almost an hour with me, going over my data and answering my questions. I don't know if this is his standard policy, but he also sent me home with two more masks to "try". When I asked how long I could try them out before he needed them back, he said "They're yours"!! Total value of those two new masks on our sponsor
is $310!!!

He also threw in a 10 foot length CPAP hose. I don't know if he was just happy that I was so interested in getting my therapy right, or if it was a prize for being one of the more compliant and determined to succeed patients (35 out of 35 nights of usage and 326 hours of usage). It might just be that he likes my oh so generous insurance company?

Wow. Sounds like you've got very competent people to work with on this journey. You're enjoying a really great relationship with both your DME and your sleep doctor. I'm jealous! But it is nice to know that it can happen that way. Kudos!

[Kiralynx]

Sounds like you have a great team! Now, if we could just reform all the rest!

[rested gal]

That's great to hear, bobkat! There really are good sleep doctors and good DME employees out there. It's always encouraging to hear about a good experience with both.

I don't know if he was just happy that I was so interested in getting my therapy right, or if it was a prize for being one of the more compliant and determined to succeed patients (35 out of 35 nights of usage and 326 hours of usage).

I'll bet both of them, the doctor and the DME, are very pleased that you're a success story. Not only that, it's probably a pleasure to them to see someone for a change who is interested enough in his therapy to be as proactive and informed as you are.

Good job all the way around -- by the doctor, the DME, and especially by you, 'cause you're the one really doin' it!

[fuzzy96]

i'm green with envy

lucky you. let us know which of the masks you like and which you don't

[DoriC]

I've heard a lot of horror stories on here about sleep docs and DME's. It makes me sad to know that so many have been so shortchanged!! And I hope this doesn't sound like bragging......that's not my intent at all. I just want to share a GOOD story about them.

My DME has taken a lot of time with me. She never seems rushed. She has a place for you to lie down on a exam table with a pillow to test your mask fit on both of your sides and on your back, while hooked up to a machine at your pressure.

So glad you've had a good experience. My husband was offered the concrete floor to lie down on. He used his jacket for a pillow.

[sleepyprm]

That is wonderful! I must have an awful lot to learn. I never got to test any machine. They handed it to me and sent me home. I sat up in the respiratory care office and tried on a mask for a few seconds. My sleep doc never discussed any details with me, and I have an appointment soon where I will insist on a written report, why the settings I have were chosen, mask issues, and several other questions that I didn't even know to ask. This forum is great and there is so much information I don't know where to start. How does a person choose their machine? I didn't get a choice, but you can be sure I am going to check on that, too. My thanks to you all, I hope this site never goes away.

[elader]

Northern Virginia by chance? I would be willing to drive to get a good DME and Doc.

[bobkat13]

Elader, I'm near Richmond - pm me for more info - from southern MD it's a pleasant drive down 301

[JimW203]

i'm green with envy

lucky you. let us know which of the masks you like and which you don't

Adding to that comment: consider donating the ones that don't work for you to a trial rotation. Not every mask is a loser - or winner - for everyone.

JimW203

[bobkat13]

JimW, do you mean among forum members here? I would be quite willing to do so, but my husband is going in for his own sleep lab study next Monday night May 4th and I'm hoarding extra masks right now for him to try in case we're the same size.....

He's only going to be in the USA for 29 days so the sleep doc has him on the fast track to diagnosis, treatment and masks. Every little bit that I can do to help him with this adjustment period, I'm going to do! That's assuming he has apnea (I think he does, personally).

[JimW203]

JimW, do you mean among forum members here? I would be quite willing to do so, but my husband is going in for his own sleep lab study next Monday night May 4th and I'm hoarding extra masks right now for him to try in case we're the same size.....

He's only going to be in the USA for 29 days so the sleep doc has him on the fast track to diagnosis, treatment and masks. Every little bit that I can do to help him with this adjustment period, I'm going to do! That's assuming he has apnea (I think he does, personally).

Obviously, your husband should be first up in any trial rotation/test drive. After that, there are many here with far more experience than I in how test drives work best; I am certain you can get lots of input and requests. You also have a unique opportunity to not only assist your husband with his transition - if needed - but to observe closely the process of mask tweeking in another. Plus, he will be bringing new eyes and a new perspective to your shared situations; you both may find greater understanding in this.

JimW203