WOW! Finally got my machine!

[123.Shawn T.W.]

It has been a long stuggle, but finely today it paid off, and the Ins paid out, and DME got me what I wanted! Even though I had to fire my first DME!

So far I can recomend Advantage Medical & Oxygen in Sierra Vista, AZ They were helpful and understanding to my needs, and actually ordered and recieved my Respironics System One Series 60 Auto with A-Flex, with heated Humidifier and intergrated hose, before getting the authorization from BCBS for an outright purchase!

I went over today, and tried a couple of masks ... I thought I wanted the SleepWeaver Elan, (not the Elan) but they only had the regular model ... I could not get it to stop leaking air into my eyes!

My wonderfull wife had singled out the new Respironics TrueBlue nasal mask, which I tried next, and liked it so much, I said this will do, if it will be like this all night! Tonight I'll give it the real test!

For those curious of the price, here is what MY BCBS plan paid!


The "Misc" is a 12v dc power supply.

The filters seem REALLY High priced to me!

Overall, I'm happy with how Advantage treated me, and would use them again if needed, but probably can do better on filters elsewhere, although the mask cusions seem really cheap for six, but now looking at it, I think they are $41.27 each and the "qty ordered" only list one, but "qty shipped" says "6", but the bill totals up $2,163.73 which only seems to include the one cushion ...

[JohnO]

My wonderfull wife had singled out the new Respironics TrueBlue nasal mask, which I tried next, and liked it so much, I said this will do, if it will be like this all night! Tonight I'll give it the real test!

I'm on night 29 with my Auto-CPAP (same as your new machine). My pressure is set at 9.5-15 cmH2O. I used the TrueBlue during my sleep study. My tech said it was the new favorite of hers. I also selected The TrueBlue (size small) as my starter mask. So far, I've been very satisfied with it, although I intend to try nasal pillows at some point. This is one of the masks that benefits from being pretty loose, especially on the top straps. Early on, some days when I flipped from side to side, I would get small leaks into my eyes. Now for the past two weeks, I have not had very many leaks at all. Those that I -have- had, I was able to quickly fix by pulling the mask away from my nose and gently reseating it. I have a goatee, and find it works best if I keep it trimmed short (especially on my upper lip).

Glad you were finally able to prevail and get the right machine!

John

[123.Shawn T.W.]

Yeah, It's been over two months (I bought a slightly used one off Craig's List) I have used a few different nasal pillows, and a ffm ... I used the older model of the TrueBlue on my titration study ...

I'm not sure if I'm gonna try out my Series 60 tonight ... They have it set starting at 4! I'll probably just use the nask at my other setting of 7.5-9 .. which has been working ... only want to changeone thing at a time ...

I was surprised that she told me that they recomend replacing the mask cushions every two weeks ... I should (hope) to get two months!

[brucifer]

Congrats Shawn!. You and Cindi should have a party this weekend to celebrate getting through your long ordeal.

As for the high price of the cushions and filters, and as for the quantity supplied, my DME supplier did the same thing. I didn't complain since my rep was so agreeable. I figured he deserved to make a little extra money off the deal.

[Ronnyuk]

I have exactly the same setup except no humidifier, I am still getting used to using it at night and so far in the last 9 nights I have managed an av of 3.4hrs per night.

The Blue Gel is ok actually, it fits very well but can be a bit obtrusive if you sleep on your side

Good luck with it all.

Oh and WOW the prices you guys pay in America compared to here, that same machine in England is $700 and the humidifier is $210, I thought everything was cheap in America

[123.Shawn T.W.]

Ronny,

Those prices are what the DME's get away with charging the Ins Co's!

Cpap.com has much more reasonable prices, but I only had $10 left towards my yearly deductable, so I got the whole kit & kaboodle for les than $300 (besides my weekly ins premium that I pay anyways!)

I'm up now, could'nt sleep anymore, woke up with the little web on the bottom of my nose hurting, and my ears hurting from my PapCap velcro . . . I need to remove the velcro on the cap, part, and re-postition it up higher, as it irritates my ears.

I found that the way we adj the mask at the DME's was too high, once I put on my PapCap, but failed to realize that until I woke up hurting ... I then got up and went in front of the mirror, and readjusted everything so the headgear was level, and that seemed to releave the preasure on the bottom of my nose, just laid there for 30 minutes, and decided to get up and let Cyndi sleep! BTW she is trying out our new Pilairo tonight, so far it seems to be working ... she just said it was a bit different than the Swift FX she has been using the last month.

it is 01:26 here now ...

[RogerSC]

Yes, the DME that I was referred to had a really aggressive replacement schedule as well, and the prices for each item were sky high. However, when I looked at the prices that my insurance company paid, they were a lot lower, so I felt a little better with that *smile*. I want everyone to make a profit, but a *fair* profit would be nice, and would help keep insurance rates a little lower (maybe). They were going to send me replacement parts at a rapid rate, the catch is that I need to request them (like a vampire can't come into your house unless you invite them in *smile*). So I just request them as I need them, and really haven't needed much yet. Still on my first filter, I check it fairly often though. I'd be on my second nasal pillow thingie, except one set vanished into thin air after washing...never found that one after a lot of searching. Original tubing. The only odd thing that I've done is to replace the original water tank with one that I can take apart to clean that's a little more sturdy, and that was on my dime.

I'm really glad that the insurance company is buying this stuff, as an individual I'd be paying through the nose (as it were *smile*) unless I was getting things online, where they are less expensive. Like at CPAP.com...it does help to hold your online orders until you reach the level of free shipping if you can, the $7 shipping charges can really mount up quickly.

[123.Shawn T.W.]

I'm listed as "will call" so they won't just "send me stuff"!

I liked the TrueBlue once I got it adjusted right, went back to bed and slept like a log for 2.5 hrs!

Over all AHI was below 5, so a pretty good night for me ... hopefully tonight with it adjusted right, and taking my normal sleeping aid (I forgot and left them out in my truck, and once I was ready for bed ... I did not feel like going out to get them!)

Not sure if I'm gonna start using the series 60 now ..., may save it till the weather turns cooler, and the heated hose can be used ... as it basically is the same as my 550 Auto w/A-flex (if you don't use the heated hose) I still plan on bringing it with me in the semi-truck incase I have a problem with my old 550.

[lazer]

Congratulations Shawn! The breakdown for your co-pay vs.s what you are getting for your money seems very reasonable. +1 to BCBS and the DME

[123.Shawn T.W.]

Congratulations Shawn! The breakdown for your co-pay vs.s what you are getting for your money seems very reasonable. +1 to BCBS and the DME

I just got this "Explanation of benefits from BCBS, which is the REAL COST nobody could tell me in advance!



Overall for the year I have paid $900.55 for my medical insurance (includes dental) This bill alone BCBS paid $1265.05, plus my other visits and lab work done earlier this year ... this does not count me MAX'ing out my dental benefits of $1500.00, I got my moneys worth out of the ins this year (I just left that job, and the ins two weeks ago)