I want my machine!! And it's on its way!

teknomom · Post by **teknomom** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 4:47 pm

I just need to blow off a little steam here. Last Thursday I saw my sleep NP for the results of my titration study. (I was on Cpap for about 30 min before being switched to an ASV because of numerous central apneas and hypopneas. No question that I need the ASV, I guess.) Anyway I spent last week "interviewing" DMEs so that I had my choice ready when I got my prescription. The NP said that he would fax the Rx to my choice and I was told to call his office if I didn't hear back by Monday. So I called them today after hearing nothing on Friday or Monday.... only to be told that he forgot to send the fax last week! It was sent today - 5 days later! Now Thanksgiving will halt business for another 4-5 days and I'll be lucky to get my machine by early to mid December. It's been over 3 months since I started this process and I was very resistant until my titration study when I finally realized that I actually kind of liked being on it! Now I'm really, really ready to get started and I get this glitch. I'm so frustrated with having to do other people's jobs for them. This happens too often in many aspects of business, civic and private life. I know, I know.... some people wait longer, have worse problems and don't complain. Sorry, I'll calm down as soon as I hit the "submit" button.
PS: One DME said "We never see people here until they come to get fitted and pick up their machine. It's good that you're so proactive." For that and other reasons, I chose them as my DME. At least they know I'm not passive!

LSAT · Post by **LSAT** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 5:18 pm

Once the DME has your prescription you should be able to walk in to their office and walk out with the machine and mask. Why do you think you will need to wait so long?

Lizistired · Post by **Lizistired** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 5:30 pm

".... I was very resistant until my titration study when I finally realized that I actually kind of liked being on it! Now I'm really, really ready to get started ...."

I love that part. That's how I was. I told my DME I had an air compressor downstairs and was going to drag the hose upstairs if I didn't get a machine. I can make a mask.
I think I gave them my paperwork on Tue or Wed and picked up my machine on Friday.
Have you talked to them about the machine you want? If you have that out of the way I don't see why you wouldn't have a machine by Monday or Tuesday.
But you got to vent.
Now call back and request copies of your sleep reports and condensed graphs, AND a copy of your script, in case the DME ticks you off.

teknomom · Post by **teknomom** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 5:37 pm

LSAT, They told me that my type of machine was back-ordered. They do not carry them in stock. Then I need good weather to drive down the mountain (where they are located) on a day when I am free to go. I'm also hoping that my insurance will agree to pay for an ASV based on my titration study. I was told they would call today, but no response yet. Where I live, nothing is as easy as just "walk in a pick it up". My DME is in a town 45 min. to an hour away depending on weather and traffic in a narrow mountain canyon. I'll hope for the best, but it's not like living in a city.

Lizistired, I have all my reports, etc. I only have one choice of ASV machine in the Respironics line, so that's not an issue.

Randyp1234 · Post by **Randyp1234** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 6:12 pm

teknomom wrote:LSAT, They told me that my type of machine was back-ordered. They do not carry them in stock. Then I need good weather to drive down the mountain (where they are located) on a day when I am free to go. I'm also hoping that my insurance will agree to pay for an ASV based on my titration study. I was told they would call today, but no response yet. Where I live, nothing is as easy as just "walk in a pick it up". My DME is in a town 45 min. to an hour away depending on weather and traffic in a narrow mountain canyon. I'll hope for the best, but it's not like living in a city.

Lizistired, I have all my reports, etc. I only have one choice of ASV machine in the Respironics line, so that's not an issue.

Man!! I am so on board with your feelings. The same thing is happening to me. Scrip went to DME very late in the day on the 11th (Friday). I told them what machine I wanted first thing Monday AM and they said they'd order it that day. On Wed they told me all was good with the insurance coverage. Yesterday they call - still no machine - and also told me that the insurance company is balking. Today the insurance claim rep said she couldn't approve coverage and had sent it for a physician review saying it'd be another 3-5 days. I'm assuming these would be business days which totals out to about a week and a half or so. By the way - still no machine as far as I know. Like you, if it wasn't for how much better I felt after the titration test I wouldn't be as anxious to get rolling on this. Good thing I'm off work this week so I can ride heard on them!! Unfortunately, I was hoping I'd be spendingthe week getting used to my machine.

Randy

LSAT · Post by **LSAT** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 9:24 pm

teknomom wrote:LSAT, They told me that my type of machine was back-ordered. They do not carry them in stock. Then I need good weather to drive down the mountain (where they are located) on a day when I am free to go. I'm also hoping that my insurance will agree to pay for an ASV based on my titration study. I was told they would call today, but no response yet. best, but it's not like living in a city.Where I live, nothing is as easy as just "walk in a pick it up". My DME is in a town 45 min. to an hour away depending on weather and traffic in a narrow mountain canyon. I'll hope for the

Sorry...when you said that you spent a week interviewing DMEs it didn't sound like you were that far away.

MidnightOwl · Post by **MidnightOwl** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 1:36 am

I sympathize. In my case it was the Christmas holidays I ran into after months of different delays. It's really frustrating after you've gotten yourself revved up to get thru the testing, approval etc to have to wait with the end in sight. However you'll have it soon now.

teknomom · Post by **teknomom** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 7:54 am

Randy, I hope we both get our machines soon!

MidnightOwl, I know it will be worth it once I get it.

LSAT, I interviewed the DMEs by phone and then visited the "finalists" on the day of my NP appointment. We do love living in a small mountain town but there are drawbacks. We have to plan ahead for trips to the "valley" and combine appointments and shopping when possible. I always keep a mental list of "when we go to the valley" items.

Happy Thanksgiving (US) to everyone!!

Moat · Post by **Moat** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 8:35 am

Once I knew I needed CPAP it was dreadfull waiting for the machine. I had huge anxiety problems trying to go to sleep. To help move things along I became a pain in the rear to my doc,DME,Sleep Lab, and Insurance company by calling them over and over until I got the responses I wanted. Overall it took 10 days from titration to walking out with my machine.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 9:04 am

TeknoMom, very few local DME providers would have an ASV PAP "on their shelves". They are uber expensive as compared to plain jane CPAPs and not in very common usage. Insurances don't like to pay for these uber expensive "non-assisted ventilators" w/o absolute proof of need. So cut this local DME provider some slack, the delay may well not be their fault at all. I'm sure they wanted pre-approval from your insurance company and to be sure that your sleep doctor dotted all the "i"s when writing your equipment order (script).

ameriken · Post by **ameriken** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 9:36 am

I think it took 2 to 3 weeks to get my ASV. I do understand the excitement. Once you get the titration done you know you're a 'breath away' (pun intended) from getting good sleep and you just can't wait. I was like a kid at Christmas waiting for the machine and when I finally got it, I didn't want to wait until night to use it so I took a nap with it as soon as the DME left the house.

teknomom · Post by **teknomom** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 10:43 am

I'm not upset with the DME. I knew an ASV had to be ordered. I just can't believe my NP FORGOT to send them the Rx! If I hadn't called, it would still not be at the DME's office. My insurance company has been a pain during this whole process, so I'm sure that will continue, too. It's already been three weeks since my titration study and over three months since I had my first pulse oximetry which showed how bad my O2 got at night. Right now I'm just trying to think about family coming for the holiday and good food to go along with the good company. With my PAP machine I hope to enjoy many more holidays with them! I really am grateful for getting this far. Yesterday was pure frustration with the system. I'm putting it behind me.

Randyp1234 · Post by **Randyp1234** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 4:20 pm

teknomom wrote:
Randy, I hope we both get our machines soon!

Heard from the DME today and the machine is here. just waiting on insurance now.

Randy

teknomom · Post by **teknomom** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 5:05 pm

Great news, Randy! I hope your insurance comes through for you.

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 5:20 pm

It is so hard to wait.
I hope you are both nodding off all hosed up, really soon.

I want my machine!! And it's on its way!

I want my machine!! And it's on its way!

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