Diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. Kaiser taking up to 3 weeks to m

[danielfobs]

I was just diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. I did 2 sleep tests and Kaiser says I need a CPAP. I WANT IT.... they said it could take up to a month to get it! WHY? Anyone know how I can expidite this through Kaiser? I cant sleep and feel heavy chested. Frankly I am afraid to fall asleep and die cause I am not breathing.

[Pugsy]

You can try sleeping on your side or in a recliner to lessen the events or their severity. It sometimes helps.
You can try pushing for quicker service by bugging whoever you need to bug.
Do you know anyone with OSA and an extra machine your could borrow short term?

My doctor's nurse told me that while she understood my impatience, that since OSA hadn't killed me yet, it likely would not do so in the next couple of weeks waiting. That is how they look at it.

If money permits you could always do what I did.. purchase a machine off craigslist and be prepared to treat yourself. I saved 10 days doing this and more importantly got the machine I wanted. With my limited DME choices around here I already had found out it would be a struggle to get what I wanted. I was able to find a DME that will supply my mask needs and doesn't cast any stones about my using a machine I bought myself.

Good luck and while I know 3 to 4 weeks to get a machine seems like forever, it is not uncommon (unfortunately).
Make sure whatever you get, that it is fully data capable and will allow you to have more information than just compliance hours of use. So spend this time educating yourself on which machines do what..

[Slinky]

Good advice from Pugsy.

Now "I" have a question - about Kaiser. Is this Kaiser insurance, HMO, PPO, whatever you want to call it, related to the Kaiser health foundation the government has been listening to and holding up as an example of efficient and cost-containing health care as they formulate the new health care in this country they are trying to legislate??

I was thrilled when I saw the government consulting w/Mayo about health care efficiency and cost containment - I actually thought that there MIGHT be hope - but when I see them consulting w/any organization w/the name Kaiser it scares the h*ll out of me given all I've read repeatedly in the various health forums, not just apnea support forums!!!!

[jules]

I think any of the "biggies" in the health industry need to be steered clear of. I haven't followed what Obama is going to do, but I sure know I want any big new plan to stay clear of outfits like Magellan Behavioral Health, Medco, Caremark, Lincare, Apria as providers of service. The ones I mention I have dealing with except for Apria and they like to screw people over and are extremely incompetent at best. My latest horror story is Medco and that "outer limits" episode isn't quite over yet but close I hope.

But back to the OP ------- it takes time ------ 3 weeks isn't great but we have read stories of longer times than that. Also, make sure you get Rested Gal's list of data capable machines and get one of those. Kaiser might want to push off something lesser.

[Slinky]

Arghhhh! I just read of it again!!!! Kaiser Family Foundation!!! Is it related to Kaiser Permanente and those other Kaiser health insurers/providers??? Gawd help us if so and the government lends any credence to their suggestions to contain costs!!!!

My family and I have had experience w/Mayo Clinic health care efficiency, quality and cost for some 50 years and if the governement listens to THEM and adopts many of their suggestions there may well be hope! At least as much hope as one can dredge up when a bunch of politicians are involved. It seems every time government does me a "favor" I get the short end of the stick. Altho the politicians always come out of it in good shape. They don't seem to enact anything that doesn't benefit THEMSELVES.

[Wulfman]

Arghhhh! I just read of it again!!!! Kaiser Family Foundation!!! Is it related to Kaiser Permanente and those other Kaiser health insurers/providers??? Gawd help us if so and the government lends any credence to their suggestions to contain costs!!!!

My family and I have had experience w/Mayo Clinic health care efficiency, quality and cost for some 50 years and if the governement listens to THEM and adopts many of their suggestions there may well be hope! At least as much hope as one can dredge up when a bunch of politicians are involved. It seems every time government does me a "favor" I get the short end of the stick. Altho the politicians always come out of it in good shape. They don't seem to enact anything that doesn't benefit THEMSELVES.

Google, my dear.......Google.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiser_Permanente

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_J._Kaiser

http://www.kff.org/

Yep.....they is!!!


Den

[Slinky]

Yer right, of course, Den. Thank you. I should have gotten off my lazy duff and goodled it myself. Color me red-faced and lazy.

[Slinky]

The first link you gave, Den, was the best.

Ugh! The second link has this to say - if you wanna swallow it after reading the first link:

... In 1948, Kaiser established the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, (also known as Kaiser Family Foundation), a U.S.-based, non-profit, private operating foundation focusing on the major health care issues facing the nation. The Foundation, not associated with Kaiser Permanente or Kaiser Industries, is an independent voice and source of facts and analysis for policymakers, the media, the health care community, and the general public. ...

Pardon my skepticism!!!

[drj130]

Yer right, of course, Den. Thank you. I should have gotten off my lazy duff and goodled it myself. Color me red-faced and lazy.

For a minute, I thought that you said

Color me red-faced and lacy.

I think that I'm just plain tired from all the driving I did today.

[Wulfman]

The first link you gave, Den, was the best.

Ugh! The second link has this to say - if you wanna swallow it after reading the first link:

... In 1948, Kaiser established the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, (also known as Kaiser Family Foundation), a U.S.-based, non-profit, private operating foundation focusing on the major health care issues facing the nation. The Foundation, not associated with Kaiser Permanente or Kaiser Industries, is an independent voice and source of facts and analysis for policymakers, the media, the health care community, and the general public. ...

Pardon my skepticism!!!

".....not associated with......" doesn't mean all that much. They all had their roots from Henry J's money.

I didn't realize how many industries he had his fingers in back then. WOW!


Den

[Slinky]

Nah, yer jist a typical man, drj. Your minds are geared that way from conception!! Its in the male chromosone.

[drj130]

Nah, yer jist a typical man, drj. Your minds are geared that way from conception!! Its in the male chromosone.

Nah, I'm not that typical. At least, I don't think so.

[Kiralynx]

I was just diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. I did 2 sleep tests and Kaiser says I need a CPAP. I WANT IT.... they said it could take up to a month to get it! WHY? Anyone know how I can expidite this through Kaiser? I cant sleep and feel heavy chested. Frankly I am afraid to fall asleep and die cause I am not breathing.

I understand the problem! Before you knew you had a problem, it wasn't an issue. But I remember looking at my husband and saying, "I don't want to sleep with that stupid mask, but I'm afraid not to, 'cause now I know something is wrong!"

I had my titration on 1 October, and got my machine on 28 October. Of course, there was a ten day wait while the pulmonologist got around to reading the titration study, but who's counting?

Start reading "Our Wisdom," and be prepared to take charge and make sure you get a data- capable machine.

[soverytired2]

Hi Danielfobs,

I have Kaiser insurance and was told it would be about a month to get my machine after I was titrated but it actually only took 5 days. Kindof depends on how fast your doc puts in the script to the DME (mine was Apria) I think. I agree about making sure the machine they give you is data capable. I was pretty uneducated (had spent just a few minutes on the forum) and let them give me a non-data capable M series plus which is the only machine our local kaiser starts with. Ended up going back a few weeks later and getting the apap due to unsuccessful therapy and despite searching for the mask of my dreams, the change in machines has made all the difference for me. Taking charge of and understanding your own therapy is an awesome thing.

I can't remember who asked if Kaiser insurance was the same kaiser that's been talking with the government on healthcare (sorry I forgot your name!)....it is the same. I work very close to the corporate offices of Kaiser Permanente and its been big news for us how often the big guy has met with the president and congress.

Be sure to try on the mask at the DME when you go pick up your machine, either laying down or with your head laying back. My insurance only paid for one mask exchange, and I had to get the doctor to call in an order of 'mask of patients choice' before they would exchange it that one time.

Wishing you all success with your cpap journey,
Paula

[Lila919]

I have "good" insurance, and it still took 3.5 weeks to get the machine. It was about that long between the request for the sleep study and actually having the sleep study, too. I don't know what the delays were - I just kept calling.