unbelivable sleep doc visit

[Shutchis1951]

i had a doc appointment today and what a visit it was. I have to take my cpap to let them download the data off it. I waited and waited and still no machine. I was taken back to the room to wait for the doc to come in when the girl came in that had my cpap and she had my HH and asked the other girl in the room what to do with it she said it is the other part you use. Right there I looked at the girl and she said she is new only two days and I said that doesn't make me feel good. Then in a little while she brought my cpap back. The doc came in and we talked. then I was checked out. I asked where the complete sleep study from my latest sleep study was mind you I had called last week telling them I wanted and I had to ask 3 times today for it. I got the copy and in the mean time another lady got my machine to make a setting change but it was taking to long. She came out to me and started opening my case up and then told me the girl had fried my machine and they had given me a new one. I can't feel that they were not going to tell me about the switch. Get this she was trying to give me an escape II for my s8 elite and I said it wasn't the same it is the same she said I then said it was was not the same. We were in the waiting room when she was telling me this with 3 patients in there hearing. She left saying that she would get me a book since it was different. After a while she came out and took me in the back. they called resmed to find out if it was different than my elite sure enough I was right they then called resmed and my cpap goes back for repair or it will be replaced with the new s8 elite II. I then had then put it in writting of what was going to happen and the serrial # and sign it. It will be gone for 4 weeks but I have a loaner. It pays for everyone to no about the machines in what ever company you use or you could have happen what could have happened to me. This is also a lesson to me that I will download data on my card and they will not touch it again.

[deerslayer]

AIN'T NO ONE NO HOW GETTIN THEIR GRUBS ON MY MOCHINE ....lets see, what did my old bumper sticker say....cold dead hands

[Snoredog]

Perfect example of WHY you should NEVER take your machine into your doctor or DME, they have NO idea what they are doing!!

[Slinky]

Whew! Close call, Shutchis!!! Good thing you were on top of things! Yer right, I agree, never again would they put their hands on my machine!!! Nor even SEE it!

Good luck on getting the Resmed S8 II w/that new EasyBreathe technology! I hope they really do come thru w/it!

[Snoredog]

Whew! Close call, Shutchis!!! Good thing you were on top of things! Yer right, I agree, never again would they put their hands on my machine!!! Nor even SEE it!

Good luck on getting the Resmed S8 II w/that new EasyBreathe technology! I hope they really do come thru w/it!

....Psssst hey Slink, should we tell Shutchis those machines have a tendency to go up in flames on their own???

Now where is that cozy campfire toasting marsh mellows ??

[birdshell]

Hey, Snoredog, those machines were all recalled and scrapped. Here is a case of liability making it impossible for machines to be checked, reconditioned, and distributed to those in need.

Sharon, that unfortunately recalls the time I took my humidifier to my never-to-be-again-if-I-can-manage-it DME provider. (For those who have read this story before, feel free to skip down to the last full paragraph.)

They checked out my non-working humidifier, said it was fine (which it was SOME small part of the time), and without telling me, put my pressure back 4 points from my currently prescribed one. (I had to take the humidifier to them, according to my new, mostly by-mail DME provider.)

After that happened, my new, mostly by-mail DME provider had me bring in the humidifier to exchange. (Hence, the mostly-by-mail designation--they are 1.5 hours away.) In other words, they ended up doing the job of the other DME provider and rescued my treatment from an inadequate humidifier...which MAY have malfunctioned after almost 2.5 years of use with one of the recalled ResMeds.

Isn't it sad that we are being expected as a nation of patients to 'accept' sub-standard care from inexperienced and under-educated support staff? It once again highlights the need to advocate for oneself, as have so many of us due to the great advice and knowledge gained here, on this forum.

That said, Sharon--

You have done yourself (and the forum, by association) PROUD!

[Slinky]

... Psssst hey Slink, should we tell Shutchis those machines have a tendency to go up in flames on their own???

Now where is that cozy campfire toasting marsh mellows ??

Nah, SnoreDog, there was only the potential, none ever did, and they weren't the S8 IIs. That campfire you are waxing nostaligic about was dampened and put out by those M Series humidifiers, most of which did NOT get recalled, voluntarily or otherwise. Yer just jealous, 'cause that boring 420E hasn't provided you w/any excitement! Quit being so cheap! Get yourself a nice, new, Sandman Auto!

[Shutchis1951]

Shell, thanks for the encouragement I am so glad I found this forum and all the good info I have learned here as I could have been given the entry level resmed and wouldn't have been wiser. One of the people I was dealing with yesterday said most people wouldn't have noticed but I being educated here new they were trying to pull one on me. This is so sad that this profesion in most cases does this to the patients. Makes me want to learn all I can so this won't ever happen to me again.

Slinky I too hope I get the resmed s8 elite II. My machine is only 2 years old as of July 20th and still in warranty (2 years and 90 days) odd warranty.

[Wulfman]

i had a doc appointment today and what a visit it was. I have to take my cpap to let them download the data off it. I waited and waited and still no machine. I was taken back to the room to wait for the doc to come in when the girl came in that had my cpap and she had my HH and asked the other girl in the room what to do with it she said it is the other part you use. Right there I looked at the girl and she said she is new only two days and I said that doesn't make me feel good. Then in a little while she brought my cpap back. The doc came in and we talked. then I was checked out. I asked where the complete sleep study from my latest sleep study was mind you I had called last week telling them I wanted and I had to ask 3 times today for it. I got the copy and in the mean time another lady got my machine to make a setting change but it was taking to long. She came out to me and started opening my case up and then told me the girl had fried my machine and they had given me a new one. I can't feel that they were not going to tell me about the switch. Get this she was trying to give me an escape II for my s8 elite and I said it wasn't the same it is the same she said I then said it was was not the same. We were in the waiting room when she was telling me this with 3 patients in there hearing. She left saying that she would get me a book since it was different. After a while she came out and took me in the back. they called resmed to find out if it was different than my elite sure enough I was right they then called resmed and my cpap goes back for repair or it will be replaced with the new s8 elite II. I then had then put it in writting of what was going to happen and the serrial # and sign it. It will be gone for 4 weeks but I have a loaner. It pays for everyone to no about the machines in what ever company you use or you could have happen what could have happened to me. This is also a lesson to me that I will download data on my card and they will not touch it again.

This is the part that jumps out at me. HOW did they manage to do THAT??? Or, was this just another lie?

Den

[birdshell]

Yes, Den, I would like to know that too...but why would they offer a new machine for any other reason? Yet, how could she "fry" it trying to reclaim data?

Ah, well, it is all to the good if Sharon gets her new, improved S8 Elite II.

What would you bet that if she gets it, ResMed's warantee will pay for the thing, regardless of fault?

Karen

[Babette]

My thought - she didn't know how to get the data off it and has to send it to Resmed to do that, and doesn't want to admit it.

Why is that DME staff are not LICENSED by any authority? Why is it that they don't have to PROVE THEIR KNOWELDGE before being allowed to be a DME? Why is that?

I'm sorry to build another bureaucracy, but WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE ALLOWED TO MESS WITH OUR HEALTH CARE WITHOUT A LICENSE?????

F*ck them all. Except cpap.com.
Babs

[Goofproof]

i had a doc appointment today and what a visit it was. I have to take my cpap to let them download the data off it. I waited and waited and still no machine. I was taken back to the room to wait for the doc to come in when the girl came in that had my cpap and she had my HH and asked the other girl in the room what to do with it she said it is the other part you use. Right there I looked at the girl and she said she is new only two days and I said that doesn't make me feel good. Then in a little while she brought my cpap back. The doc came in and we talked. then I was checked out. I asked where the complete sleep study from my latest sleep study was mind you I had called last week telling them I wanted and I had to ask 3 times today for it. I got the copy and in the mean time another lady got my machine to make a setting change but it was taking to long. She came out to me and started opening my case up and then told me the girl had fried my machine and they had given me a new one. I can't feel that they were not going to tell me about the switch. Get this she was trying to give me an escape II for my s8 elite and I said it wasn't the same it is the same she said I then said it was was not the same. We were in the waiting room when she was telling me this with 3 patients in there hearing. She left saying that she would get me a book since it was different. After a while she came out and took me in the back. they called resmed to find out if it was different than my elite sure enough I was right they then called resmed and my cpap goes back for repair or it will be replaced with the new s8 elite II. I then had then put it in writting of what was going to happen and the serrial # and sign it. It will be gone for 4 weeks but I have a loaner. It pays for everyone to no about the machines in what ever company you use or you could have happen what could have happened to me. This is also a lesson to me that I will download data on my card and they will not touch it again.

This is the part that jumps out at me. HOW did they manage to do THAT??? Or, was this just another lie?

Den

You brought up what I thought. The only way to "Fry" the machine would be hook it up to a higher voltage than it could handle. We all know Resmed is power unfriendly, but I believe the plan all along is to bait and switch machines. I would have demanded they bring out the machine I brought and prove to me it was "Burn't Up". It probable still purrs like a kitten. and will be used as a bait and switch machine again.

Meanwhile they have the patient waiting for what was paid for and jumping through hoops, it's time to call the INS company. Having a lawyer on retainer too would be handy. This sounds like standard DME business practice to me. Jim

[Slinky]

Come on now, Babette. Who's smarter? That DME gal that "fried" the Elite? Or us, dumb, uneducated patients, who have educated OURSELVES and LEARNED how to access our data, and even, GASP!, change our therapy settings W/O "frying" our xPAPs? And "they" SUPPOSEDLY have even more EDUCATED people to LEARN from the "we" do, and are SUPPOSEDLY working under the SUPERVISION of a licensed and ACCREDITED Respiratory Therapist QUALIFIED to dispense and set up xPAPs upon ORDERS of a DOCTOR!! Sheesh!

[Babette]

I think GoofProof hit the nail on the head.

Sharon, I'd call my insurance and ask for their fraud department, and talk to them about how to lodge a complaint of suspected behavior by your DME.

I had to do that with my insurance, and it resulted in me getting a refund from the DME for MOST of the amount they'd charged for a so-called "rented" machine (which they'd billed as a sale at an EXHORBITANT COST), and the insurance provider allowed me to buy the machine I wanted from cpap.com and reimbursed me for it.

What killed me was that after charging them with fraud, same DME then put me on their call list to remind me to buy more supplies from them. I told them I'd fired their *sses a year ago and to remove me from their list and then hung up.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Babs

[birdshell]

Hah! Slinky, the RT is the one who messed up everything at my hopefully-never-to-be-consulted DME provider's brick and mortar location.

Let us not forget all of the good ones out there! They do exist and do suffer from the errors of the incompetents and untrained.

Karen,
Who occasionally orders from cpap.com for a reason!