Did I luck out with a good DME?

[Catlizg]

I started my CPAP journey with the Respironics 460 Pro CPAP machine with regular humidifier. With a straight pressure of 6 and nasal pillows, I was happy with machine as it easily controlled my apnea from 35+ down to AHI of 0.5 to 1, and brought my O2 level from 78 to 97. Since my apnea is pretty straight forward and I could check my data with programs found here, I was ok with machine.

Within a month my humidifier stopped working. At a setting of 5, all of a sudden tank was always full and I'd wake up from with sore throats and stuffy nose. Called DME and since they're only 3 miles away, brought my machine in. They traded it out for a loaner, sent my machine to Respironics, and I walked out a happy camper.

A month later with the loaner working perfectly, I received a call that my machine was back. Respironics replaced the humidifier since mine was not repairable. Switched machines again and came home. By this time, I found out on this website that there were some problems with the regular Respironics humidifiers. Incidentally, also discovered my doc is putting ALL single pressure patients on an APAP, not CPAP, so machines have greater capabilities should a patient need it.

Two weeks later, with rainout every single night to the point the barrel was filled with water and actually rattled, I called DME again. I used the exact same hose setup, machine lower than bed, room temperature the same, hose cozy the same, and actually lowered humidifier to 1 with tank emptied every morning and a face full if distilled water.

Called DME again and shared my frustration. Didn't yell or anything. Just let them know I seemed to be getting a lemon in the humidifier. They are upgrading me to the 560 APAP with heated humidifier tubing, no additional charge to me and will deliver it. After reading the horrors others go through with their DME, I consider myself very lucky. Now my question is what to do with the snazzy, leopard print, hose cozy I no longer need?

[Nick Danger]

Get a pet snake and let it wear it?

[Catlizg]

Get a pet snake and let it wear it?

Excellent idea: a snake turtleneck. I thought about a baby giraffe - it could be camouflage protection, or an anteater's nose warmer. But, snake turtleneck is the absolute best.

[Pugsy]

I had a couple of hose cozies from my pre heated hose days. Ended up giving one away but kept the other one...have no idea why except "just in case" I won't ever use it as it adds weight to my hose which pulls on my mask which is slightly annoying to me and now that I am heated hose spoiled I wouldn't want to use a regular hose especially in the winter.

Your hose cozy sounds much cooler looking than my plain blue one.
I think some people don't like the "feel" of the plastic hose so some still use a lightweight hose cozy even on a heated hose for this reason. My hose cozy isn't a light weight thin cozy though..it's a heavy sucker.

Sounds like you did luck out with getting a DME that is decent. There are good ones out there...we just don't hear about them as often because happy people don't post nearly as often as unhappy people do.

[Catlizg]

Sounds like you did luck out with getting a DME that is decent. There are good ones out there...we just don't hear about them as often because happy people don't post nearly as often as unhappy people do.

Pugsy, do we have a list anywhere noting the DMEs with which we've had good success? I know I called one DME locally who was on my BC/BS Medicare and was told they only carried a limited supply of masks and hadn't even heard of the Swift a Bella. When I next called the DME I'm using, they not only had a large display selection, they were willing to get me any mask I wanted. I let my doc know about my experience with DME #1 and they were very interested in patient experience.

[Pugsy]

No, I don't have any sort of "good or bad" DME list. Some DMEs are part of a national chain and others are more local and some are mom and pop shops. While we might think mom and pop shops might be more accommodating they actually might not have the resources (money and employees) to keep on top of things and some are unfortunately simply going to go the cheapest way possible so they can make the most profit especially if they don't have a lot of volume. So I would sort of expect their inventory on hand to be smaller but they can always order something...if they will just do it. Some don't want to order something special though.

The first DME I fired was a Lincare local office. They made zero effort to keep me as a customer.
The DME that I use for masks (I bought my machine(s) all privately) is part of a large regional hospital but is a small satellite store about 45 miles away from the big hospital. The only mask I have been unable to get them to get for me was the Tap Pap. I would have needed to sweet talk the buyer in the large hospital...the manager of the local store I use doesn't have any buying power. I decided it wasn't worth the hassle since I just get a mask from them once every 6 months anyway. Maybe some nasal pillow replacements every now and then but they last me forever so I don't really need more than I get every 6 months anyway. Used my most recent "allowance" to get a spare Resmed AirFit P10. I like it about as well as I like the Tap Pap anyway.

[library lady]

Sounds like you did luck out with getting a DME that is decent. There are good ones out there...we just don't hear about them as often because happy people don't post nearly as often as unhappy people do.

I am one of those happy people... I was unhappy in the beginning when I couldn't adjust, and the mask was driving me crazy. My wonderful DME is affiliated with the Mayo Clinic, separate but under their umbrella. I keep coming back in an effort to learn as I have always been proactive.

[ups4]

Is there some rule here that prohibits the mentioning of one's DME? Unless I missed it, you seem to be dancing all around the actual name.

I sure would be interested in looking into another DME option, especially one that comes as highly recommended as the OP's.
Apria is not what I would call patient friendly, as I'm sure many here would agree.

Do tell, who IS this splendid DME that you speak of?

Thanks,
Paul

[Pugsy]

Is there some rule here that prohibits the mentioning of one's DME? Unless I missed it, you seem to be dancing all around the actual name.

No such rule but DMEs are often regional and who might be super great for me would be useless for you unless you lived in my area.

The common national chains we mention all the time....Crapria and Lin(I Don't)Care.
Also it depends on the local office even with the national chains. It's the people inside and not the name of the chain or office that makes for a good DME.

[sc0ttt]

DME love:
My DME is a one-location provider - also sell a lot of oxygen equipment.

They have good connections with all the big insurance companies including mine.
They have good connections with all the local sleep doctors, including mine (pulmonologist at a respiratory practice).
They provide the prescription form to my sleep doctor, and it has a check list of possible machines - none of which are bricks.
They have mfr reps come in to do the fittings.
They have all the filters and accessories available that you might need to buy on short notice.
They have a nice waiting room with cold water.
Whole facility is clean and all the people are friendly.

[HealthyandHopeful]

Personally, I am glad some names have been mentioned here. I would probably be trying to work with Apria right now if not for the warnings here. I haven't mentioned the names of the ones I've tried to work with but I think they are local. I'm on my next one and am hopeful they will work with me! Yes, what a blessing to have found a good one right away! Perhaps third time will be a charm for me!

(I have wondered the same thing, if it was against the rules to mention names, so I haven't).

[bwexler]

My Apria experience has been improving.
Just got my current order of supplies. It only required 1 visit to will call and five deliveries to get the five items I needed.
Filters ( foam and white), mask, heated hose, water chamber, chin strap. And everything now is as requested.

I actually talked to several very pleasant individuals, and a couple knowledgeable.

[tuzacat]

My local Apria office is for the most part very user friendly. They have gone out of their way for me several times...contacting a company sales person to get me a nasal mask part for free when my insurance wouldn't cover it for 6 months. Where I have had issues is the billing department kept trying to bill me the wrong copay. Took months to get it straightened out.

[HealthyandHopeful]

That's great to hear! I think those are the first positive things I have read about Apria. (Of course, I haven't read everything!!) I went round and round just trying to talk to someone. There is no way to make an appointment with them here and if I call the local number, it goes to someone in Tennessee. It seems my only option is to fax my prescription to them and see what happens when they contact me back. I'm waiting on a call from a different local DME now. Hoping this will be the one! Also waiting for insurance to call me about a problem with the second company I tried using. I don't know if that may be resolved or not and that I can use them without paying their upgrade fee. Anyway, for now, just waiting.

[tortoisegirl]

So glad you are getting a free upgrade! I hope it works well for you.

I actually use a hose cozy on my heated hose, and have from the beginning. I didn't want the plastic to bang against the wood frame of the bed, and the fleece is just nicer to look at and such. I agree it makes it heavy though. I've been routing it over my head so it hasn't been an issue.

I feel my DME is pretty average. I'm still a newbie so I've only had a few interactions with them though. My main issue was just a plain lack of information before I got my setup...no one could tell me why it was taking two weeks to work with my doctor & insurance, what I was getting, how much it would cost, etc. I still haven't got a single bill from them actually, even though I've got the EOB for my initial setup and a 3 month supply of mask cushions (which actually arrived within 3 days). I quickly learned to deal with their main office as the satellite office I went to was under staffed, under informed, and under stocked.

Also learned what number to call to get someone to answer the phone, vs. being on hold for 10 minutes. I got a great setup, no complaints there. However I think their mask swap policy is dumb. If insurance will pay for another mask, they will bill them...so I will end up paying my copay for a mask I used one night, plus the one I went with. Good thing I didn't need to go through a bunch of masks, although eventually I imagine insurance would deny it. Otherwise it would have been free. Best wishes.