Newbie patiently waiting for my machine

[lottaj]

I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea on 03/17/12 with IL medicaid as my insurance and have to wait 45 days for approval of my machine...Cannot wait to experience sleep. Anyone else wait that long?

[Elle]

I had my first appointment with the sleep clinic in March and got my equipment in August. My brother was told that the doctor was surprised he didn't have brain damage while looking at the results of his sleep study (mid Feb) and he is not going in for titration study until the end of this month. It seems kind of strange given that we are also told to not take a 20 minute nap without the machine.

I am sure there are many stories of quicker turnover times though. It would depend on population and number of clinics in your area I guess. I hope you get yours soon. Glad you found this forum. You will find it very helpful.

Welcome.

[RandyJ]

I thought that about 2 to 3 weeks between sleep study and receiving equipment was the norm.

[lottaj]

My sleep study was a split study then my doctor as out for 2 weeks now I am waiting on insurance.....Its tough waiting but I have no choice. Thanks for responding

[Grand-PAP]

Anyone else wait that long?

Hi lottaj,

Welcome to the forum.

That seems extremely unusual. I'm also on Medicare. In November I had my sleep study. It took two weeks to get the sleep study evaluated. But when the doc wrote the prescription, the next day I received the machine.

In February I had an ASV sleep study. Again, it took two weeks to get the prescription. Then, it took about a week or 10 days of red-tape to get Medicare approval. After approval, even with the DME having to transfer the more advanced machine to their local office, it only took three days.

lottaj, you should register with the forum. It wil make it easier for everyone to respond to your questions, because we would have the information regarding your xpap equipment. All you need to do is go to the upper right of the screen and click "Register Username". When you set up your profile and identify your equiptment, you should specify TEXT -- that will display the text of your equipment, instead of the photos.

Hope you receive your equipment soon and best of luck with your therapy.

[lottaj]

I am registered. I don't have my machine yet. I have Medicaid that is why I have to wait so long.

[Grand-PAP]

I am registered. I don't have my machine yet.

Hi,

Wow! Maybe I should check my stats from last night -- maybe I am a little foggy-headed! Sorry! Of course you are signed on -- I thought you were signed on as a guest. Plus, I thought you indicated you were on Medicare! Obviously I should read more carefully!

[LSAT]

Medicaid may take longer than Medicare. There are different requirements.

[lottaj]

Still waiting and it is driving me crazy...I cannot believe it is taking this long for real.......I am exhausted but cannot sleep! Why must IDPA hold my stuff hostage?????

[Pugsy]

I bet Medicaid has a gazillion reports that have to be tripled checked twice.

Any idea which machine it is going to be? Typically it is a bare bones machine.

[lottaj]

Not sure what type of machine but I can't wait until I get it. My body is starting to shut down. Migraine everyday, irritable, just not good

[Pugsy]

I feel for you. I know how frustrating this is. Medicaid (in any state) is notoriously slow and most often "cheap" and they will allow only for the dispensing of the most basic of machines. Certainly no full data machines. One person I heard from....could only get a replacement nasal pillow once every 6 months with her particular state's Medicaid plan (they vary by state).

[Reformation]

Well, I'm another newbie. Found the website while waiting for my machine and while considering what kind of oximeter to buy to keep track of how I do on it and also give my cardiologist reports. He is very conscientious. I've had sleep apnea for years, but only recently discovered it due to atrial fibrillation apparently caused by it due to oxygen deprivation moments of some 88 incidents an hour in first study. Been on 2 liters oxygen from concentrator at night (which has helped considerably, but not enough). Have gone through two months of two sleep studies after initial discovery of problem via my cardiologist. Now waiting for bi-pap machine with I'm not sure yet what kind of mask. The tech said I was being awakened by air coming out of my mouth (and I remember that), with two different masks. She suggested a full mask (nose and mouth) might be best. The pulmonologist suggested perhaps a strap under my mouth but I'm not sure that will keep my lips from opening. Anyhow, hope to have machine within the next week so I'm told. Am on Medicare, but don't know if that slows things down or what.

I'd be very interesting in knowing if anyone uses overnight sleep study oximeters. My cardiologist used a SPO Medical 7500 wrist pulse oximeter, but they are pretty pricy from what I have seen. I've seen others that seem to do a similar job called CMS 50F. They are about 30% of what the SPO 7500 models are. Does anyone have any experience. All I know from my experience is that during the last sleep study while on a bi-pap machine, I had some of the best sleep till I was awakened by the tech or the air escaping from my mouth. I'm looking forward to more of that. Did not even remember dreaming and actually felt pretty rested. A few whole nights of that and I hope I might begin to make some progress on other problems caused by this.