Controlling our own treatment

[sleepyprm]

I was in Orlando recently and my CPAP machine was stolen from my rental car - obviously they didn't know what they were stealing, they just reached in an grabbed whatever they could get quickly - and that's not the point of my post.... I found a DME, Colonial Medical, in Orlando, and rented a machine for the week. I always carry my prescription with me. Even though the pressure was listed on the script, the rep asked me what pressure I use. I said, "The prescription is written for 6.0 but I moved it up to 6.5." He turned around and said, "You know how to set your own pressure?" I said yes. For a minute I thought he was going to make me get mean with him. But instead he said, "Everyone should know how to do that."

Just a nice thing in the midst of stress and chaos. I did have to spend a night without my CPAP, as the DME wasn't open when the machine was stolen. It was an awful night, but just dealing with a DME who realized that we are adults helped quell the stress of re-constructing my life that day (my laptop was also stolen, and all my prescription meds as well, while I was in a Walgreens for 10 minutes on the way from the airport to the hotel).

Just wanted to get a good comment out there, if you ever need a good DME in Orlando, I recomment Colonial Medical.

[rested gal]

Was sorry to hear your things were stolen, sleepyprm.
That part of the story sure wasn't fun for you.

This part sure was fun to read, though!

the rep asked me what pressure I use. I said, "The prescription is written for 6.0 but I moved it up to 6.5." He turned around and said, "You know how to set your own pressure?" I said yes. For a minute I thought he was going to make me get mean with him. But instead he said, "Everyone should know how to do that."

They deserve the plug you're giving them for helping you:

if you ever need a good DME in Orlando, I recomment Colonial Medical.

[BeachGirl]

[nanwilson]

I just want you all to know, that If you change the setting on your machine, and anything happens to you that could be related to sleep (stroke, heart attack...ect) and your machine settings show that your pressure is anything other than what was rx'd, they can (and get away with it) not cover anything related to it because you were not following the drs orders. 90% of machines on the market hold the data on them. even if youve altered the settings for a day or two, and then turned them back, the machine has this data stored in it. Not to mention, If you get the pressure to your cpap to high, easily put, your lungs can burst you and can suffocate. This can happen with a pressure change as low as .5 percent. If your doctor will not help you with a pressure change, find someone who can.

Beachgirl, you said "find someone who can".................................
You can ask any of us, most of us can change our settings, it's called taking control of your own treatment.
Cheers
N

[Emilia]

@Beachgirl..... you are obviously in the wrong place. The type of nonsense you are posting has no place on this forum. There is no way your lungs can 'burst' using cpap. As for anyone checking pressures on the machine's data.... that will be a cold day in h-e-double hockey sticks. The only thing insurance cares about is compliance data.

[Robespierre]

I just want you all to know, that If you change the setting on your machine, and anything happens to you that could be related to sleep (stroke, heart attack...ect) and your machine settings show that your pressure is anything other than what was rx'd, they can (and get away with it) not cover anything related to it because you were not following the drs orders. 90% of machines on the market hold the data on them. even if youve altered the settings for a day or two, and then turned them back, the machine has this data stored in it. Not to mention, If you get the pressure to your cpap to high, easily put, your lungs can burst you and can suffocate. This can happen with a pressure change as low as .5 percent. If your doctor will not help you with a pressure change, find someone who can.

Baloney

[BeachGirl]

[BeachGirl]

[Hawthorne]

BeachGirl - Who told you all this stuff!!! I think I can guess!

[BeachGirl]

[Hawthorne]

I asked first!

[BeachGirl]

[kempo]

who would that be?

Your DME!

Is there an article or link we can read where someone BURST THEIR LUNGS using a cpap machine?

[SleepyT]

Here we go!!!

[LinkC]

Beachgirl-- A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. You are correct that lungs can be overpressured. In divers, this is caused by holding the breath while ascending. I suppose IF one could hold his breath long enough in an unpressurized airplane cabin while climbing he MIGHT manage to harm himself.

But CPAP pressures are FAR too small for that. BiPAP patients routinely have inhale pressures above 20cmH2O. You've been misinformed...and I doubt your story of "personal experience" with Ins companies checking your machine's settings.

However, those who say this isn't the place for you...or imply you shouldn't post are just as wrong. It's possible you may learn something here, if you are open to it. And may even post something of value. Sadly, that hasn't happened yet.