DO DMEs PUSH FULL FACE MASKS?

[DarrylM]

In my case the DME said on our first meeting--"With your pressures, you can use any of the three types of mask" and then proceeded to offer me a choice between two types of FF mask. I experienced four nights of hell and in the meantime discovered this website and a couple others, insisted that I be allowed to try the nasal pillows, fell in love with them and have settled into what I think is a healthy and sustainable relationship with my CPAP therapy. When I asked for the pillows, the DME exclaimed "Of course! That is our most popular!" So why did he not start me there?

I seem to read of many cases in which FX Swift or other nasal pillow types of mask have to by "found" or "discovered" by patients struggling with FF. Why might this be so? Is there some financial benefit to the DME to starting a patient with FF?

[NightSky]

Mine didn't, they offered me pillows or nasal mask to look at first. But FF is best for some people. Maybe your guy was just an airhead.

[chunkyfrog]

Maybe the profit is better?

[caffeinatedcfo]

Mine offered all three types.

[Stormynights]

During my sleep study They had me try the nasal prong, a nasal, and a FF. The nasal prong made my nose burn. The hard nasal one I couldn't stand and still can't breathe with anything pressing on the sides of my nose. I thought I would be stuck with a FF mask but now I can use the pillows. I keep a FF in case I get a cold. I like the Elan the Tap Pap and the Swift Fx. For me these are all good but nothing is really perfect.

[2 B Sleeping Soundly]

Mine offered all three types.

I was offered all three types as well by Kaiser who is my DME and also my insurance provider. I was lucky in that the first one I ever tried was a nasal mask and I have never needed to try anything else... still works great!!

[archangle]

If you try a nasal mask, and have mouth leaks, then you have to mess with chin straps or switch to a FFM. If you can't breathe well enough through your nose, you need an FFM. Some DMEs decide to simply start everyone with a FFM. Some may consider it to be wisdom, but I think they mostly just don't want to go through the extra effort and cost to find the right mask.

I consider FFMs to be inferior to nasal masks for several reasons. FFMs have to fit your face over a larger area, and are harder to fix leaks on. The headgear has to apply more force because of the larger area of air pressure. You can't talk, take a pill, sip water, or eat with a FFM. Coughing is more of a problem. A FFM may push back on your jaw and make apnea worse, sort of like a reverse oral appliance.

However, if you can't make a nasal mask work, or if a FFM just works better for you, use one.

[Denial Dave]

My sleep doc directed me to FFM because I am a mouth breather and have a slightly deviated septum.

I'd be gasping for air if I tried to breathe through my nose for more than 5 minutes.

FFM's are a wonderful thing for me...

[Sheriff Buford]

Welcome to the "World of the DME"! Be on guard...!!

Sheriff

[Thewino]

My DME only offered Full Face Masks. Like someone earlier replied, there is probably a higher profit margin with these. I get the feeling that DME's (at least mine) don't really care about us as people. They simply want to make a quick buck with as little effort as possible.

The customer-focused skills at my DME's office, American HomePatient, are severely lacking. I've already written the home office in another state about their absolutely terrible service.

TheWino

[Denial Dave]

DME's probably push the manufacturer of mask that makes them the most profit... Resmed vs Respironics...

But your doctor is the one that specified the mask type on your prescription... and it should be the same type of mask that you wore during the sleep study.

I know it happens, but I have a hard time understanding how people get issued masks and machines prior to getting a home or clinic sleep strudy done.

[SleepWellCPAP]

Hello DarrylM,

There is definitely more money on full face masks however, "pushing" a certainly type of mask is not something I have ever done. I think such a practise would be counterproductive and ultimately less profitable than trying to find the right mask in the first place. Course I'm just one voice in the thousands of DME providers, but that's my take on the matter. If the mask you "pushed" doesn't work you're either going to have to swap it or lose the patient, so why do that?

Thewino makes a statement that I think is particularly troubling about DME's, "..don't really care about us as people." I'm amazed that any company can stay in the pressure therapy business and not have a genuine concern for people. Payrolls have to be met of course, but seeing people benefit from a good night's rest is truly rewarding in itself. It's too bad altruism doesn't show up more often.

Jim

[49er]

Hello DarrylM,

There is definitely more money on full face masks however, "pushing" a certainly type of mask is not something I have ever done. I think such a practise would be counterproductive and ultimately less profitable than trying to find the right mask in the first place. Course I'm just one voice in the thousands of DME providers, but that's my take on the matter. If the mask you "pushed" doesn't work you're either going to have to swap it or lose the patient, so why do that?

Thewino makes a statement that I think is particularly troubling about DME's, "..don't really care about us as people." I'm amazed that any company can stay in the pressure therapy business and not have a genuine concern for people. Payrolls have to be met of course, but seeing people benefit from a good night's rest is truly rewarding in itself. It's too bad altruism doesn't show up more often.

Jim

In my opinion, DMEs have no incentive to provide good customer service. As soon as they lose customers, there will be plenty to replace them since more and more people are getting diagnosed with apnea.

Just my opinion.

49er

[Stormynights]

I have been trying since April to get a new mask. I got the paperwork done and the person handling my case was transferred to another department. My case got dropped. I had to start all over with the paperwork. They called and said I could have a mask but no headgear because my prescription was written mask of choice but there was no mention of headgear. I ordered my own mask from cpap.com. I see no reason to think they care about my business.

[KenH]

Mine showed me a wall of 20 or so mask and said "lets try them all and see what you like." When I had it down to a couple of mask she said I could take on try it a couple of nights and then try the other one.
Same thing when the Wisp and another new mask came out.