Newbie with lots of questions

[Tallnap]

Ive only had my machine a week. Am already seeing a difference in my energy and wakefullnesss. Very excited about all this. Could someone answer a couple questions:
1. What's DME? 2. Do I need a "sleep doctor" or is my primary care doc (who ordered the sleep study in the first place) ok? 3. Are there insurance advocates or helpers cause I've never had to deal with medical equipment etc. and don't know how to begin finding out what's paid for or not etc. all of this is overwhelming to me. I'm determined to be compliant about using the machine, but all the other info and research is daunting to me right now. I've already learned from this forum but also gotten more confused.

[Sheriff Buford]

Ive only had my machine a week. Am already seeing a difference in my energy and wakefullnesss. Very excited about all this. Could someone answer a couple questions:
1. What's DME? 2. Do I need a "sleep doctor" or is my primary care doc (who ordered the sleep study in the first place) ok? 3. Are there insurance advocates or helpers cause I've never had to deal with medical equipment etc. and don't know how to begin finding out what's paid for or not etc. all of this is overwhelming to me. I'm determined to be compliant about using the machine, but all the other info and research is daunting to me right now. I've already learned from this forum but also gotten more confused.

- DME stands for Durable Medical Equipment. We use the term for the place that supplies you with you mask and other cpap supplies. They are suppose to be qualified, especially in the mask area, but most of the time, they are just salesmen.... and I am speaking kindly here.
- If you can get a good sleep doctor, you should use him/her. I asked this question a while back but it wasn't answered. I use my primary care doctor, but I educated myself here. My primary care doctor has my permission to give out my phone number to folks that are struggling with the practical (not medical) aspects of the cpap journey and I have help several people. Of course I have directed them to this forum. If you educate yourself here and work thru your issues, you'll do well. If you have a host of medical issues that may interfere with the therapy, you may need to see a sleep doctor. The trick is to find a good one.
- call your insurance company and ask them what they will pay for and at what intervals they will allow replacement masks, and supplies... and what supplies they will replace.

A few hints: make sure your DME will allow you to exchange your masks within 30 days. Going thru masks in order to find the "right one" is key to cpap success. I went thru about 6 masks before finding the right one. You need to find a comfortable one that doesn't leak. What I use may not work for you and vise versa. When you go mask shopping, take a pillow and allow the DME to help you adjust the mask. If it feels comfortable, ask them to hook you up to a display machine that is set at your pressure. Lie on the floor and roll around to see if the mask leaks or not. I went to our host (cpap.com) and did that. People gave me second looks as they walked by, but I was paying out of my own pocket and I wanted to see if the mask leaked or not while rolling around. Think about it... would you buy a bed without lying on it?

Work all your issues here. Best of luck... Sheriff

[Always tired]

Ive only had my machine a week. Am already seeing a difference in my energy and wakefullnesss. Very excited about all this. Could someone answer a couple questions:
1. What's DME? 2. Do I need a "sleep doctor" or is my primary care doc (who ordered the sleep study in the first place) ok? 3. Are there insurance advocates or helpers cause I've never had to deal with medical equipment etc. and don't know how to begin finding out what's paid for or not etc. all of this is overwhelming to me. I'm determined to be compliant about using the machine, but all the other info and research is daunting to me right now. I've already learned from this forum but also gotten more confused.

Good morning Tallnap,
1. DME Durable Medical Equipment, just do a google for a better explanation
2. Sleep doctor or not? Depends on the qualification of your primary care doctor, ask. Get a copy of your sleep test and ask more questions. If you have an option go with the sleep doc.
3. I don't know about your particular insurance situation, but you need to be your own best advocate. This forum has excellent members and almost any specific question can be answered. Understand your rights as a patient.

Right above the Posts on the Home page are 4 Announcements...I think one is called "Where a newbie should start" all are good and this would be a great place to start.
Under your profile list the type of machine you have and maybe the pressure you are using (you may not know this yet). Download Sleepyhead software onto your PC or Mac and start to understand what the numbers mean.

All of this may sound daunting, but the good thing is that you are feeling better and that's what counts.

[Tallnap]

Thanks so much to Sheriff and Always for your replies to my questions. I feel very well supported here.

[Tallnap]

Uh...also, what's an RT? There's great info re: DME in the CPAP definitions page, but then they use yet another abbreviation and don't define it... I have had almost NO medical issues in my life so this is a whole new language. I could guess: Registered Technician, but don't like to guess when it comes to my health.

[jweeks]

Uh...also, what's an RT? There's great info re: DME in the CPAP definitions page, but then they use yet another abbreviation and don't define it... I have had almost NO medical issues in my life so this is a whole new language. I could guess: Registered Technician, but don't like to guess when it comes to my health.

Hi,

RT stands for respiratory technician. You might run into them during your sleep study, at your DME, or at your sleep doctor's office.

-john-