Sleep Doc Wants Me to Bring Machine? *UPDATE*

[The Latinist]

Just got a confirmation call for my 1-month (more like 6-weeks) follow-up appointment. No clue why, but the secretary asked me to bring my entire machine, including power cord. I asked if I could just bring the SD card instead, but she said no. WTF?

[chunkyfrog]

Engrave your name on it (so they can't switch it on you--and don't let it out of your sight); and otherwise humor them.
They probably have no idea why they want it there, and will not know even when you're there.
Enjoy the circus.

[teachcsg]

Some doctors will download the data card and if they need to make any pressure changes will do so right there in their office instead of writing an order to the DME company etc.. Other times if the data is showing a large leak the doctor may ask you to put on the mask so he can see if its a good fit and maybe recommend another type etc.. Not too uncommon in my neck of the woods...

[Cowboy Casey]

They just told me the same thing, My best guess.... If the docter wants to change settings they can do it while your there... (we are not suppose to be able to do that) they think.....

[ems]

Some doctors will download the data card and if they need to make any pressure changes will do so right there in their office instead of writing an order to the DME company etc.. Other times if the data is showing a large leak the doctor may ask you to put on the mask so he can see if its a good fit and maybe recommend another type etc.. Not too uncommon in my neck of the woods...

Not uncommon in my neck of the woods either -- except she knows I play around with the settings -- and as long as the data looks good and I feel okay, it seems to be fine with her.

[library lady]

I had to do that too, no idea why they needed the whole thing. They gave it a paper luggage tag with my name on it before they took it away.. but I did get the same one back... I have a little "tattoo" on it so I know it's mine. You can use almost anything to mark it with... put it in an unobtrusive place... like the bottom where mine is, or you could even use your humidity knob to mark the setting you usually like it at.

[The Latinist]

I hadn't thought about the possibility that he might change the settings right there. That makes sense, and is what I'm going to assume the reasoning is. He'll know I've messed with the settings, since I reduced the EPR from 2 to 1; but the result was a significant decrease in average pressure, so I'm not worried about justifying it. And what's he going to do, take away my APAP?

Engrave your name on it (so they can't switch it on you--and don't let it out of your sight); and otherwise humor them.
They probably have no idea why they want it there, and will not know even when you're there. Enjoy the circus.

Unfortunately, I do not yet own my machine…insurance is still paying on it until February. I will mark it unobtrusively and won't let it out of my sight.

[Bons]

Perhaps they want to switch you to bipap?

Perhaps for some reason they want to have you use it in their presence? My DME person once wanted me to bring in my ASV to try out a new mask. I suggested we just use the new hose I was picking up and use one of their demo cpaps set to my higher pressures. He was concerned about sanitation and forgot that as long as I had my own hose the machine itself wasn't contaminated.

[The Latinist]

Perhaps they want to switch you to bipap?

If that's the case, though, the APAP would go back to my DME, not the doctor. In any case, I have a feeling I'm going to have to have my pressure increased past its current max of 14; hopefully that won't mean I need a biPAP -- I have a 50% copay on durable medical equipment!

[Sir NoddinOff]

My sleep doctor asked me to bring in my machine (which I own outright) for the follow-up after my last sleep test. I was suspicious and asked why that was necessary and my sleep doctor said he wanted to run a manometer test on it to ensure its accuracy. I never did take it in (I said I simply forgot, easy to do since the followup was weeks later!!!). Anyway he didn't make a big deal out of it since my machine was fairly new.

[The Latinist]

My sleep doctor asked me to bring in my machine (which I own outright) for the follow-up after my last sleep test. I was suspicious and asked why that was necessary and my sleep doctor said he wanted to run a manometer test on it to ensure it's accuracy. I never did take it in (I said I just forgot) and he didn't make a big deal out of it since my machine was fairly new.

That is also a reasonable explanation. If that's the case, I will ask to watch the procedure, which I would find fascinating.

I will be interested to see what my doctor actually wants my machine for. I'll let you know next Thursday!

[Jeannh]

I will be interested to see what my doctor actually wants my machine for.

mine asked for the whole machine, but really only looked at the mask.

[70sSanO]

I think there is a serial number on the machine.

Take a picture of it. It may also be listed on your order from the DME.

John

[palerider]

I think there is a serial number on the machine.

Take a picture of it. It may also be listed on your order from the DME.

John

yup, they all have serial numbers, on the back (resmed) or bottom (PR), can't speak to the location on others.

[jacobsbd]

They might just need to power it and see the data without connecting anything to the network

Couple of years ago I brought my machine in with me when changing medical offices. They were not allowed by their Computer support people to hook anything from the outside world to the computers in the office. ( so they said) Because my old machine was newer than anything they had in the office, I had to show them how to see the efficiency data on the screen. In my case after showing them the information, they ignored it and made me do a home sleep study with an older model of one of their machines they told me that they had not been allowed by the Compter people to install the software for this model of the machine on their computers. They showed me the SD card adapter while saying this LOL )