New here....just venting..

[SarahF]

Hi everyone!

First I must say this forum is great. After luking for a few days I gathered enough information to put my foot down with the DME. The following will be long but bear with me...it is my first post.

I have been on CPAP for 5 years, and like others never found a mask that was comfortable, so after a few years I became non compliant.

After having a cardiac cath two years ago I have been trying to get back to being compliant. The DME I got my last mask from did not file the claim to insurance until a year and a half after I received the mask. Insurance turned the claim down for time limit and DME billed me! I advised I would not pay as it was their responsibility to file claim. (I have worked in healthcare and insurance all of my adult life )

Well the DME has finally hired a new RT who has been very helpful. In Dec she requested an order from my PCP to send home a machine to re-titrate because she found out I had changed my settings.. Also at that time she got orders for a humidifier for my CPAP.

Long story short I am going from a setting of 5-7 to 10. I asked if I could get a new machine. She stated I could with an new order from my PCP. That is where the board comes in. I searched and took the advice and asked my PCP to request a REMstar Auto M Series with A-Flex and a F&P heated humidifier

When I called the DME to see if they had received the order, the secretary hummed and hawed around and said you may not be able to get a new machine and you can't get a new humidifier because you received one in Dec. I advised I had not used it as the RT had me using the titrate machine instead of my regular machine. You would have thought I asked HER to pay for my machine and humidifier!

I then left a message for the RT and let her know my PCP had sent the order but the secretary made me feel I was intruding and that if it was a problem for the DME I could call my insurance to see what other DME I could use. Needless to say the RT was not happy with the secretary, and I received a message yesterday that my REMstar Auto M Series with A-Flex will be in next week along with the humidifier as a trade for the humidifier I received in December.

Sure a pressure of 10 may not warrant this APAP, but I like many others have taken charge of my own health...(which I should have done in my younger years ) and this is one more way I can monitor what is happening.

Ok I will stop talking now...

The moral of the story...don't take what the DME says as gospel...YOU are in charge of your health!

Thanks for listening. now for a mask..................
Sarah

P.S
Once I get my machine etc will update my profile.

[jjposey]

Good for you, Sarah!
I wish I had been as educated and assertive as you when I started this journey!
joanna

[Joffive]

You go, girl...
It's never been easy for me to stand my ground on things when I am not armed with KNOWLEDGE. This is where this board comes in. I still have a lot to learn and it can be a little confusing for me sometimes (brain fog), but with a little help from the educated folks here, I think it's a whole lot easier!
Great post!

[RipVW]

Horray for you, Sarah! It's amazing what we can do when armed with knowledge about all this! Good luck finding the perfect mask--still looking myself, but getting closer I think.

"You are getting sleepy . . ."

[rested gal]

Excellent, Sarah!

Do keep us posted on how it goes. I like your spirit.

Please check your Private Messages -- button at upper right of this page.

[Slinky]

Welcome, Sarah! Great job and delighted you now have a good RT at this local DME's. Good luck finding "the" mask for you. Will be looking forward to more posts from you.

[Guest]

YEE HAW! Good work Sarah! So glad you've joined us! You're clearly going to be a great asset to this forum!

So, what mask(s) are you using?

Have you heard about the Nasal Aire II?

I know, it looks painful, but really, it's not.

Check out my tip sheet on it:
cpaptalk.com/viewtopic/t23207/Babettes-Nasal-Aire-II-Tip-Sheet.html?sid=59cf82bc07933911fe1cca0d3c3b76bc

Sorry, I can't resist pushing it on everyone I meet on the board. It's kind of like cpap-crack to me.

LOL,
Babette

[j.a.taylor]

Welcome Sarah!

Congrats on your handling of this situation. It sounds like you've got things started off on the right foot, and if you still find some difficulty with that particular secretary . . .

. . . well, let her know that you know where to insert that foot.

[SarahF]

Well.......Babette

That is one of the first masks I ever tried.....the tube kept popping out of the side and I gave up on it.

Right now I am still bouncing around masks. When I get my machine I may try the CL2 or the simplicity.

Lord knows whatever I get I need some cat repellent to rub on it...for some reason my cat loves to chew on the tubing. He has alread eaten the tubing off of my blood pressure monitor....nothing like rubber and fur balls.....

Sarah

[goose]

Right on Sarah!!!!!
Welcome aboard. If you haven't heard it already, click on the yellow lightbulb for "our collective knowledge" and the red question mark "CPAP FAQ"....You can search for anything apnea there and usually find a wealth of information -- and It sounds like you've already taken some of the info and taken your DME to task.....Good for you!!! You have a great attitude!!!!

That cat thing is totally weird to me -- others have said the same thing about their cats eating their hoses.....I have 3 cats that have shown absolutely zero interest in the hose -- even the one that sleeps on the pillow the hose lives under while in use.....

Good luck and make sure to keep us up on how you're doing!!!!

cheers
goose

[DreamDiver]

Welcome SarahF,

It sounds like you're in charge.
Fantastic!