I've become my office's resident CPAP expert...LOL!!

BrensTiredMom · Post by **BrensTiredMom** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 4:32 am

I posted about my co-worker recently diagnosed with an AHI of 54. Undiagnosed for 7 years and feeling really miserable. Word got out that I had done alot of research on CPAP so someone told him to come talk to me and he did. And then he called his doc and told her what he wanted in a machine. (But I think he got it somewhat wrong.) Yesterday he came and told me they were delivering his machine at the office and he wanted me to be there to be sure he wasn't getting hosed. (Pardon the pun.) I was flattered that he had so much trust in my knowledge!

So the DME RT shows up with...a base model ResMed. Compliance data only, no exhalation relief. Let's just say that I was an excellent patient advocate for him...he was sitting there with a big grin on his face and the RT was just stunned when I got through. She tried ALOT of the DME BS that I've read nearly verbatim on here and I was able to refute each and every assertion as to why he couldn't get a better machine. And I swear she almost fell on the floor when she found out I had Encore Pro and was monitoring my own therapy! Then he asked about the mask...she said the Dr. ordered a FF UM which he used during the study. I told him not to worry, the manufacturer has a 30 day return policy and asked what the DMEs policy was...oh, NOW she tells him if it's not working for him after a week or two he can get a different one! (After trying to tell me that they're all the same and that no matter what mask he had he'd do fine!)

The end result...she was driving to the Dr ofc/sleep center after leaving us...getting her to amend the Rx...and bringing an appropriate machine back tomorrow! I don't think she'll be messing with him anymore...I think I scared her!! ROFL!

Knowledge truly is power!

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:32 am

WONDERFUL!!!! Be sure to be there when she comes back, just in case. How nice that you are able and willing to help. I know some people on xpap who don't want anyone to know they use it. I let everyone know, and I offer to help anyone who needs help. With you helping your co-worker has no choice but to be successful!

Brenda

darthlucy · Post by **darthlucy** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:10 am

Hmmm, possible opportunity here for a new profession? CPAP Consultant!

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:16 am

I was able to make a big difference for a guy at my previous office. He had a simple nasal mask and was miserable with leaks. When I found out he was on the hose I offered him the loan of a Swift. He liked it so much he bought it and is doing much better now.

TerryB

BrensTiredMom · Post by **BrensTiredMom** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:10 am

That's great Terry!

LOL darth...the RT yesterday made a comment about coming to work for them as I was so knowledgable...I told her that I'd be happy to but that they would NEVER deliver a compliance data only machine EVER if I did. I think she maybe changed her mind after that!

And thanks Brenda...it felt good to be able to help him! I WILL be in the office when she comes today...I'll keep you posted!

jabberwock · Post by **jabberwock** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:40 am

Good for you Brenstiredmom! Thanks to you, there is another hosehead out there who stands a good chance of becoming totally complaint with his therapy!

Bonnie

topher · Post by **topher** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:59 am

brenstiredmom, great job to bad you don't work in my office still have compliance only machine but now have more knowledge thanks to this forum, thanks all.

BrensTiredMom · Post by **BrensTiredMom** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:12 am

My coworker just came by to tell me that his sleep doc called him at home last night and she was angry with him. The nerve of her! A doctor is angry with a patient because he's learning about his illness? Because he wants to help himself get better in the best way possible??? I was very happy when he told me that HE is mad now that people are messing with him...he's better off getting mad at this point until he gets what he wants!

They ARE coming with the new machine tonight but unfortunately he had to change her to later in the day, after I leave work, because he has a meeting he can't change. The RT said she only had a Respironics fully data compliant machine with exhalation relief in stock...so I'm leaving him a paper with a list of each Respironics machine, and which are and aren't acceptable. Hopefully that will help!

dinkytink · Post by **dinkytink** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 11:50 am

YOU GO, GURLIE!!!

They don't say "knowledge is power" for nothing!!!

darthlucy · Post by **darthlucy** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 11:59 am

BrensTiredMom wrote:My coworker just came by to tell me that his sleep doc called him at home last night and she was angry with him. The nerve of her! A doctor is angry with a patient because he's learning about his illness? Because he wants to help himself get better in the best way possible???

Do you know where he had his study done? Sounds like how Yale treated me.

BrensTiredMom · Post by **BrensTiredMom** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 1:16 pm

He had his done at the new standalone sleep center in Fairfield. So far I'm not impressed with what I'm hearing about it!

I'm sorry that both you and he aren't having good experiences...it should NOT be this way!

Did your machine arrive yet????

Auricula · Post by **Auricula** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 5:36 pm

viewtopic/t21305/Bad-News.html

Have him tell the doc and RT about the young man just diagnosed with sleep apnea and sent home with no treatment who died in his bed. This was just posted today by ablong.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:11 pm

careful, being an advocate for OSA and advertising it could give your boss a reason to get rid if you....

No employer wants 10-15 employees all going in for PSG's, at 3k a pop it could impact productivity and even increase what they pay for insurance premiums, insurance doesn't like it because it cuts into their profits.

darthlucy · Post by **darthlucy** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:25 pm

BrensTiredMom wrote:Did your machine arrive yet????

Well, yes and no. Read "Three Cheers for Cpaptalk!"

DrowzyDave · Post by **DrowzyDave** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 7:20 am

BrensTiredMom wrote:My coworker just came by to tell me that his sleep doc called him at home last night and she was angry with him

Sounds like it's time to find a new sleep doc.

Dave

Mask

Mask

Mask

Mask

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I've become my office's resident CPAP expert...LOL!!

I've become my office's resident CPAP expert...LOL!!

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Don't let your friend become a statistic