Saw the sleep Dr. for the first time today...

BrensTiredMom · Post by **BrensTiredMom** » Tue May 29, 2007 7:25 pm

And I have to say it went pretty well. She was very nice and seemed happy to work with a patient who'd done her homework. She ordered a mask fitting session and was happy to write the Rx specifying a Respironics auto with c-flex. I called her office this morning to ask that copies of my reports be ready for me, and they were. My mind is still kind of jumbled with all of the info I got but I do know that I had 264 arousals during the first sleep study and only 16 during the titration study...even though I felt I had lots of mask issues and woke up fully at least 3 times. So it makes sense to me why I felt more energetic the morning after the 2nd study. She also diagnosed me with Periodic Leg Movement Disorder but wants to hold off on medication until we see how the APAP is working. I felt very positive when I left there.

The only thing I feel might be an issue is that the sleep center usually sends out the Rx to the homecare agency (their phrase) and I wonder if the APAP is going to be an issue. I told her if there are any issues with my insurance to please call me. So I'll just wait and see I guess. If they give me a hard time I'll go get the written Rx and do it myself. Hopefully I'll have it early next week. (She said a week to 10 days...that seems like a long time...is it??)

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Tue May 29, 2007 8:49 pm

Well, you are on your way now! A week to 10 days is a lot to the one waiting, but probably kinda average. Some report getting a machine as they leave the study, others have reported a month or two wait. Hope things fall into place for you with minimal hassle and you can begin to feel less tired.

It takes many some adjustment time before they noticed a marked difference. Everyone improves at a different pace. Keep in mind that if your limb movements cause arousals (check your study) you may think your cpap treatment is not working when the movements could be the culprit for lingering tiredness. When your doc gets ready to discuss treating them, search the forum under PLMD and familiarize yourself with the subject.

I have both OSA and PLMD, and getting the cpap treatment right has made a major difference in my life, even with the movements not yet mastered. Hope you see significant improvement also.

Kathy

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 30, 2007 12:33 am

You should be able to get your equipment the day that you get the prescription. If your particular machine (APAP) is not available, they should give you a loaner CPAP until new supplies arrive. A 10 day waiting period is ridiculous! There should be no wait, you should pick your own company. Otherwise your physician is right on the money based on what you've said.

In our area, if a DME doesn't what the patient and doc want and can't get it, we go to another company. Huge liability issue waiting for treatment.

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Wed May 30, 2007 5:36 am

Get the prescription in case you want to order a back up machine in the future or you need one for whatever reason.

BrensTiredMom · Post by **BrensTiredMom** » Wed May 30, 2007 6:06 am

Yeah, I thought I'd read that getting the Rx was a good idea but I was a little overwhelmed and didn't do it. I'm going to call around today to the nearby DMEs that are on my insurance's list...if they have my machine I'm then going to call the sleep lab and ask for the written Rx and tell them I'll get it myself. I'd really like to have the machine to play with over the weekend...learn how it works, etc. I won't have a mask until Tuesday, though, that was the soonest I could get a mask fitting session. I guess I could ask the sleep lab for a loaner.

tangents · Post by **tangents** » Wed May 30, 2007 7:05 am

Well, you are on your way now! A week to 10 days is a lot to the one waiting, but probably kinda average.

I think Kathy's right. It's not easy to wait, but use your time to look at mask choices and suggestions on this forum. Read as much as you can, and you'll begin your therapy way far ahead of most. It seems like you have a really great sleep doc, and that seems pretty rare.

I hope all goes well for you. Welcome to the forum!
Cathy

Joethespy · Post by **Joethespy** » Wed May 30, 2007 9:00 am

Some sleep labs arrange the DME setup but the first choice is always the patient's. No matter what preference the physician has the patient has the choice. Of course, sometimes this choice is dictated by the insurance company.

Good Luck...Joe

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 30, 2007 10:57 am

Of course if the insurance doesn't buy you much, the choice is totally the patient's -- CASH online

BrensTiredMom · Post by **BrensTiredMom** » Wed May 30, 2007 1:13 pm

I called the DME that is right near my home (and also the local hospital where the sleep lab is). I have done business with them before and they're a really great local company. They were extremely helpful...said she'd get whatever machine I wanted overnight and she'd get the resp tech out to me as soon as the machine came in. So I e-mailed the sleep lab, told her that I wanted her to fax my info to this DME ASAP and to call me if there were any problems. I also specified in writing all of the things that needed to be on the Rx. The specific APAP machine and the 'range', HH, all necessary supplies and the software. I also requested they write the mask Rx and include 'entire kit' on it. The resp tech at the DME said to order whichever one I felt I'd be comfortable with and that she'd take it back if I found a better one at Tuesday's mask fitting. She encouraged me NOT to wait to start treatment until then which was nice. I heard from the sleep lab early this afternoon and they were just waiting for the Dr. signature for the Rx and said she'd get the info and Rxs right over to the DME I'd chosen. So...so far so good! Still don't know whether ins will balk at the software but the DME is going to try...they said that they were happy to order it for me to self pay if ins declined but I wanted it anyway. I'm happy with the results of my persistence today... <3 days to treatment is better than the original 7-10 I was originally told!

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Wed May 30, 2007 4:31 pm

WOW! Good work!

Brenda

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Wed May 30, 2007 7:09 pm

Get the prescription in your hand and file it for future use, no matter how good you think the DME is.

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Thu May 31, 2007 5:42 am

BrensTiredMom wrote:And I have to say it went pretty well. She was very nice and seemed happy to work with a patient who'd done her homework. She ordered a mask fitting session and was happy to write the Rx specifying a Respironics auto with c-flex. I called her office this morning to ask that copies of my reports be ready for me, and they were. My mind is still kind of jumbled with all of the info I got but I do know that I had 264 arousals during the first sleep study and only 16 during the titration study...even though I felt I had lots of mask issues and woke up fully at least 3 times. So it makes sense to me why I felt more energetic the morning after the 2nd study. She also diagnosed me with Periodic Leg Movement Disorder but wants to hold off on medication until we see how the APAP is working. I felt very positive when I left there.

_________________

It sounds like you are having good luck with the doctor and DME. Would you mind telling us where you live?

BrensTiredMom · Post by **BrensTiredMom** » Thu May 31, 2007 6:54 am

Thanks Brenda!

Snoregirl...I will get the Rx as soon as I get around to going to pick it up. I can see now how valuable it can be!!

Rosemary, I don't mind. I live in CT. The hospital/sleep lab/sleep Dr. is at Griffin Hospital in Derby, CT. The DME is Valley Medical Supply.

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Thu May 31, 2007 12:40 pm

BrensTiredMom wrote:Thanks Brenda!

Snoregirl...I will get the Rx as soon as I get around to going to pick it up. I can see now how valuable it can be!!

Rosemary, I don't mind. I live in CT. The hospital/sleep lab/sleep Dr. is at Griffin Hospital in Derby, CT. The DME is Valley Medical Supply.

Thank you. It's always good to hear of a good one.

BrensTiredMom · Post by **BrensTiredMom** » Thu May 31, 2007 6:21 pm

Welllll...maybe I spoke too soon! The DME did get the Rx yesterday afternoon with all the specific info on it that I'd asked the Dr. to write. So far so good. Early this afternoon I called and they said the 'CPAP person' was 'working with the insurance company' to get it approved. She said that Auto CPAPs are 'rare' and that 'most insurances won't pay for them but they're working hard to get it appoved'. Hmmmm...didn't I read here that there is only ONE code for ALL CPAPs? Or did I get that wrong? So then at 6p tonight while we were out the DME called, different person, and said that there was a problem and to please call them. They were closed when I got home. I think the wonderful, helpful person I first spoke to didn't know anything about CPAP v APAP and the profit margin or lack thereof and now they're changing their tune.

So I need some advice from the insurance gurus...I was thinking I need to ask them what code they're using to get approved. And then I need to call my insurance co myself. I suspect that they didn't call them at all to be honest. Help!! I need this machine, I'm dying here. Could only work a half day today I was so exhausted.

Saw the sleep Dr. for the first time today...

Saw the sleep Dr. for the first time today...

Sleep doc visit

Re: Saw the sleep Dr. for the first time today...

Mask

Mask

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