CPAP and hospitals.....comment

[sleeplessinaz]

I took mine to the hospital when had my gallbladder out. They suggested I being it since it would be all set up for me. I put my name all over everything. When I woke up it was on my face and working fine. No problems. No extra charges or anything. I would be worried to have surgery in a hospital that charges 700.00 to inspect a machine! Lol!
Carrie

[merhaba12]

I just had knee replacement surgery 6 weeks ago. Everyone at the hospital said I CANNOT bring my own CPAP. I requested a consult with an RT the morning of my surgery. The RT said they would hook me up with one of their machines during recovery and they would bring several different masks. Well they set me up with a brick and the lowest of low quality of masks. After one night I had them switch out the machine, but the next one was just as bad. I had told them I needed a humidifier because my pressure was 14. Of course, I didn't get one! After struggling for 2 days, an RT came into my room and said, "Why didn't you bring your own?" Of course, I sent a friend to my house immediately! The problem was that she couldn't find my mask. Other people searched too! Well, I had forgotten that I had hidden it from my cats (and me too, I guess)! Luckily, when I came out of my fog, I remembered it was under the sheets! I was in heaven when I got my own equipment. I'd say the safest thing to do is bring it and leave it in your car. The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing! And this was a very reputable hospital!

Good luck with your surgery!

[rosacer]

Elle,

If it was in Montreal tell me which hospital it was,, I won't go there

Once I was went to emergency at the hospital, the Dr decided she wanted me to stay the night until a specialist come to see me in the morning for more tests. I told I would prefer to go home and return in the morning because I didn't have my CPAP with me. The nurse told ''no problem we will bring you one CPAP for you'' . She ruined my plan for escape

It was at Notre-Dame Hospital. I get what I think was a Fisher & Paykel series 200 CPAP (not bad at all) and a terrible nasal mask which I was not able to adjust with an arm with a needle plugged and the other arm with the instruments attached. Next time for an emergency I will bring at least my mask. For a surgery I don't know if I would feel confident to bring a so expensive machine remember here those toys are $1800. I think I will ask if I can have a CPAP from the hospital.

A curious note, in the morning somebody asked me if that was my CPAP or the hospital's she didn't check. I don't know if the hospital lost CPAPs each year.

[acdodd]

I work in a hospital and one of my jobs is to inspect electrical equipment.
The inspection is for electrical safety only.
The RT does the inspection for proper function.
Both inspections take less than 2 minutes.
I would dispute a $700 charge or any charge for that matter.

That said we have a new policy that CPAP machines are not routinely allowed.
They are allowed to bring their own masks however.
If the patient insists they just have to talk with their Dr. and then sign a waver.
I have never heard of someone not being allowed to supply their own CPAP.
Don't let the medical industry push you around.
There are always alternatives.

[nanwilson]

I just had knee replacement surgery 6 weeks ago. Everyone at the hospital said I CANNOT bring my own CPAP. I requested a consult with an RT the morning of my surgery. The RT said they would hook me up with one of their machines during recovery and they would bring several different masks. Well they set me up with a brick and the lowest of low quality of masks. After one night I had them switch out the machine, but the next one was just as bad. I had told them I needed a humidifier because my pressure was 14. Of course, I didn't get one! After struggling for 2 days, an RT came into my room and said, "Why didn't you bring your own?" Of course, I sent a friend to my house immediately! The problem was that she couldn't find my mask. Other people searched too! Well, I had forgotten that I had hidden it from my cats (and me too, I guess)! Luckily, when I came out of my fog, I remembered it was under the sheets! I was in heaven when I got my own equipment. I'd say the safest thing to do is bring it and leave it in your car. The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing! And this was a very reputable hospital!

Good luck with your surgery!

I keep my spare machine and a full face mask in a plastic tub on my other night stand next to the bed. The tub is CLEARLY marked in big bold letters IN CASE OF EMERGENCY TAKE THIS BOX - MEDICAL EQUIPMENT ENCLOSED. It also has a list of my meds and all of my families telephone numbers marked on the tub. I have been taken to hospital twice via ambulance and the tub is right there sitting beside me on the gurney . I also take that machine and tub when I travel by car and have to stay in a hotel...no one can miss it in case of an emergency. I plan to take it with me when I go in for surgery on the 30th...just in case

[merhaba12]

Thanks for the great idea! I'll have to get organized!

[karessamom]

I'm having a tonsillectomy on Monday (Aug. 20th) I just had my preop and they infact said NOT to bring it that i wouldn't need it etc. i'm going to take it anyway and put it in the car. It's only a outpatient procedure but if they don't want my o2 levels dipping down so low that they have to put me in hospital over night i think it's safer to have it just in case. hubby can go get it if needed.