How badly did my DME lie to me?

justtrish · Post by **justtrish** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:07 am

WillSucceed wrote: Get the machine that gives you the best treatment with as many options as possible, including access to the data that is collected during the night and, the ability to run as an APAP collecting data AND/OR a CPAP collecting data.

I think part of the question here is not just whether she should get the machine, but whether the insurance company should pay for it after only 6 mos on her current machine based on the criteria she used which is:

"I want a machine that I can interpret data from so I can see whats going on while I sleep. I am single, so nobody is around to tell me if i'm snoring, not breathing, or my mask is leaking bigtime, etc.."

Again, we live in a free country and with a valid script, we can all buy whatever it is we feel we want or need. I just have a problem with tricking the insurance company into buying another machine just because one "WANTS" this that or the other and not because one is having any problem.

That's where I'm coming from.

My two cents.

Trish

dataq1 · Post by **dataq1** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:51 am

Hi Lyza;

Lots of side issues being "vented" here!

If you want more detailed information on your breathing during the night, ask your Dr for an Rx for a machine that records the events you want to track.

If you believe that variable pressure (corelated to breathing "events") is appropriate, ask your Dr for an Rx for a auto-titrating machine.

If you need more humid air, a different mask, ask your Dr for an Rx.

If your DME can't supply what the Dr orders get a new DME.

If your Insurance company will not pay for something that is prescribed, you may have to wait or purchase it yourself.

If your DME tells you that your insurance company will not pay for something, call the insurance company yourself to verify.

Good luck and good breathing.

GoofyUT · Post by **GoofyUT** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:27 pm

justtrish wrote:
GoofyUT wrote:Trish, HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE ME OF SUGGESTING DECEPTION??? SHAME ON YOU and don't EVER suggest that I propose dishonesty in any form if you have no evidence to confirm that.
Ok, so what did you mean by saying: "HERE IS THE TRICK"? Your words, not mine. It's clear that the way you were using it was to mean "a crafty or underhanded device, maneuver, stratagem, or the like, intended to deceive or cheat; artifice; ruse; wile."

Give me a break!

Trish

Since you asked, here's what I meant about "the trick". "The trick" TO GETTING ONE'S DME TO DISPENSE THE KIND OF EQUIPMENT THAT A PATIENT BELIEVES THAT S/HE OUGHT TO HAVE IS TO GET THE PHYSICIAN TO WRITE A PRESCRIPTION SPECIFYING THAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT.

Idiot.

justtrish · Post by **justtrish** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:38 pm

GoofyUT wrote: Since you asked, here's what I meant about "the trick". "The trick" TO GETTING ONE'S DME TO DISPENSE THE KIND OF EQUIPMENT THAT A PATIENT BELIEVES THAT S/HE OUGHT TO HAVE IS TO GET THE PHYSICIAN TO WRITE A PRESCRIPTION SPECIFYING THAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT.

Idiot.

Is this the most coherent answer you can come up with?

I guess you see physicians as trained monkeys to do your bidding...

Lyza · Post by **Lyza** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:44 pm

WOW.. go to bed and wake up and BOOM!

Initially after being diagnosed, I was one of those who was like, just put the damn thing on, hit the button and go to sleep...

Fortunately, AND unfortunately I found this forum.. Where I've seen the stories of people not being titrated properly. I DO work at a Hospital, so I'm fully aware mistakes happen all the time.

I think I was titrated properly, as during my study I slept solidly for 3hr on cpap, but then again, I had no clue I had sleep apnea to begin with, I was only sent because I had recently gain alot of weight and my dr. was tired of me complaining of me being tired all the time. Again, I'm single and nobody is around to tell me of snoring, or 'Hey you stopped breathing for a bit last night'.

I just know I'm 100% compliant, and don't really feel any better, and have since been put on Provigil to help fight the daytime sleepies at work, so is the therapy working?? Havent a clue, was i Titrated right?? ?

Maybe I'll just ask for some sort of loaner for a week...

All I really want is too see some sort of visual confirmation that YES its doing its job and instead of 40apneas per hour its down to 2 or whatever..

I have no beef with my DME really... I do like him and I seriously doubt my insurance would cover anyone else as it is my own hospital's HMO insurance. Also I don't even think my DME carries or pushes Repronics, cuz All I ever see in the trash bin is ResMed boxes....

mattman · Post by **mattman** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:47 pm

Hiya Lyza!

Yeah, I was thinking about making a little post about 'Boy I sure do hope she likes to read a lot!" I know there are a ton of posts.

If you take nothing away from all this though, I hope you do remember that there ARE Regular CPAPs that do monitor and record data as well!

Those are usually pretty easy to get a loaner of.

mattman

GoofyUT · Post by **GoofyUT** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 1:11 pm

justtrish wrote:
GoofyUT wrote: Since you asked, here's what I meant about "the trick". "The trick" TO GETTING ONE'S DME TO DISPENSE THE KIND OF EQUIPMENT THAT A PATIENT BELIEVES THAT S/HE OUGHT TO HAVE IS TO GET THE PHYSICIAN TO WRITE A PRESCRIPTION SPECIFYING THAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT.

Idiot.

Is this the most coherent answer you can come up with?

I guess you see physicians as trained monkeys to do your bidding...

justtrish · Post by **justtrish** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 1:22 pm

GoofyUT wrote: Last I heard toots, our physicians work for us.

Amazing how people without any medical training whatsoever can presume to know as much - or more - as those who not only have sufficient brains to get into medical school, but to graduate from it and form successful practices.

Why do you even bother going to the doctor if you're so smart?

Wow! And one would think that Archie Bunker types died with the 60s..

Seems they're alive and well and still among us...

What will you call me next? Meathead???

GoofyUT · Post by **GoofyUT** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 1:42 pm

K. MEATHEAD!!!!

mattman · Post by **mattman** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 2:03 pm

I'd like to politely request that you please take it to private messages instead of derailing this poor individuals thread any further since you are just arguing with each other.

Thank you.

mattman

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 2:21 pm

Amen! And while I have your attention, MattMan, I just wanna say thanks for giving as a DME's perspective on things as well!

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 2:31 pm

NO. We have not had a good catfight in a long time.

Sometimes I scratch my head with some of the goofy answers by goofyut, but this time he is the rational one.

looks like some is picking a fight to moi.

Look on the bright side. Saddam will be with his first of his 72 virgins very soon.

Lyza · Post by **Lyza** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 2:34 pm

Sidenote.. I'm not having any trouble with aerophagia?.. what is that air in stomach??

I'm not having any trouble with mouth leaks (i don't think)

I'm pretty certain I have minimal mask leaks =major ones seem to wake me

the mask stays on the entire night...

Have no idea if i'm snoring, although i do wake up with the cat staring at me funny sometimes...

bottom line... I'm not feeling more rested, more energy, yes I know it can very well take longer than six months to recover. I just would like to occasionally see a machine spit out a result from a night saying you had x amount of apneas.

apap, cpap, kissmypapass... whatever.. LMAO.. Don't necessarily need no fancy smancy graphy charty printouts... couple numbers somewhere is all i need...

When i go see the DME Wed, I'll talk with him.. He's a cool dude, a smart ass, but so am I so we get along great.. See what we can compromise on, what we can think of.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 2:49 pm

As far as I am concerned the proof is ALWAYS in the pudding. If I'm not feeling some improvement that I can detect w/in a week then something "ain't" working right in my opinion. I'm not saying I expect to feel 100% overnight or even in a week, BUT I dibblety-darn well better see, or feel if you prefer, some detectable improvement. "I" know better than "any" doctor how I am feeling. So I figure I'm the best judge of whether any treatment is working or not. You're on the right track, Lyza.

WifeIsHappyNow · Post by **WifeIsHappyNow** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 3:54 pm

Lyza,

Have you mentioned to your doctor that you haven't noticed any difference with CPAP and you are not sure if it is working? Perhaps that would be enough to get a new prescription...or perhaps he can make sure there isn't something else going on...

tomjax wrote:NO. We have not had a good catfight in a long time.

I'm with tomjax...this "discussion" is rather amusing...but perhaps it could be taken to a different topic so those who are really looking for answers don't have to sort through all this other stuff...but at the same time, those of us who want to can still follow the side topic!

How badly did my DME lie to me?

Re: Wow!!

Re: Wow!!

Re: Wow!!

Re: Wow!!

U bet!

catfight

Re: catfight