went to sleep clinic today to give letter for equipment

[Junebug999]

I went to the doc's office with letter requesting autopap, but did not have to give the letter, because the staff said he had sent my rx that morning to the DME. I asked for a copy of the RX and wooooohoooo, the doc ordered a Intellipap auto with heated humidity and smartlink.

AND the staff told me they have a few DME's to refer to, but they were sending me to this one because this DME is VERY helpful and responsive -- that it is a R.T. who will be working with me. the staff say this DME teaches and works with the patient to help them be comfortable and successful.....bring on comfortable and successful, I'm ready. So, it should take maybe a day or two to get the insurance authorization and then the DME will be calling me to set me up.

So that is good news....my ability to trust is feeling encouraged with this. I wonder if sleep deprivation was contributing to my feeling distrustful of sleep doc and whole situation. Oh, the staff at the sleep clinic also said they are not used to someone like me who wants to be active and knowledgeable about threatment. She said they usually get the patient who just says, yeah, give me the machine...where is the on button, ok see you later type. She said they LIKE it that I'm involved in my treatment. She said I know more than their other patients...IMAGINE that...and I don't know ANYthing except for what I've read here on this forum....oh Lord, THANK you for cpaptalk.com.....Anyway, when I'm too afraid to go to bed because of the scary event the other night, I just read old threads...I'm up to page 13.....only about 900 something to go....heh heh.

So I'm using caffeine to stay alert enough in the day time not to walk into the walls (which gives one sort of a flat nose), and I am sitting up in the recliner to keep from having events.....

OHHHHH and I learned my AHI is 10.9 and the titration level put on my Rx is 8. So.....onward and forward! Now I'm sleepy, tired, AND hopeful.....I LIKE this hopeful feeling.

[Emilia]

Wonderful news!! Now, do the math on insurance co-pays vs. out of pocket purchase. Be sure the DME gives you an Intellipap Auto/humidifier with SMARTFLEX -- I would be very surprised if any DME will supply you with the Smartlink software, as it is usually only used by doctors and RT's, and I am sure your insurance won't cover it. However you can purchase the software from cpap.com.

You indicated that your Rx showed a pressure setting of 8 based on an AHI of 10.9. Is the doctor recommending you use your machine in cpap mode at a straight pressure of 8, or did he recommend auto mode with a pressure range? Your Rx should delineate this for the DME.

Best of luck! I hope you have your machine soon and can begin to sleep well!!

[Sillyme]

So happy that you had a good experience. But even if you hadn't, you would have been able to assert yourself. Once you sign papers and go home with equipment it can get very complicated to change. Like anything else, you hear most about the exceptions. Maybe most DME's are ok but the bad ones can cause a lot of problems.

[Junebug999]

yes, prescription has a rubber stamp on it that says "IntelliPAP Auto w/ heated humidity and SmartLink..." I am aware I may have to purchase the software myself. I'm not sure about the 8 set or a range set or not. I'm curious about that myself. From my conversation with staff it seemed like they give a LOT of leeway to this R.T. So....not sure what this means. I have appointment with sleep doc next week, so could ask him then i guess.

Also, will ask dme/R.T. about purchase versus lease to own etc. Also will call insurance company to verify the DME.

Thanks a bunch....I need a smilie that dances (except dancing is scarey for sleepy dizzy person ) : )

[Emilia]

Asking the DME about purchasing it on your own is not going to get you a straight answer. They want your business and they will, no doubt, try to 'sell' you on using their services even if it will cost you more money out of pocket for copays and deductible.

You quoted the Rx saying "IntelliPAP Auto w/ heated humidity and SmartLink..." Smartlink is the software. What you want is an IntelliPAP Auto w/heated humidifer and Smartflex.

[Janknitz]

Congrats! Sounds like you have a good doctor and a good DME.

Now, a question:

AND the staff told me they have a few DME's to refer to, but they were sending me to this one because this DME is VERY helpful and responsive -- that it is a R.T. who will be working with me. the staff say this DME teaches and works with the patient to help them be comfortable and successful.....bring on comfortable and successful,

WHY on earth would they refer patients to other DME's who are not helpful and responsive and who would not work with patients to help them become comfortable and successful?? OK, it's a rhetorical question for your doctor, since he/she DOES refer (at least some of the time) to a good DME, but why on earth don't all doctors do this? I think it reflects badly on the doctor when they are willing to steer patients to bad DME's either because they've been incentivized by the bad DME or they are too lazy (yes, I KNOW how busy doctors are!) to check it out themselves.

[Junebug999]

maybe i didn't state that very well...i had the impression while there ARE dme's they can refer to, that they refer now to this DME because they do such a good job.....that's what I thought, but I had asked about other DME's first of all. You know I'm sleep deprived enough it's really hard to figure out and remember everything said. I need to take someone with me when I go to pick up equipment. I'm going to find a friend to go....or maybe hub will go.....hmmmmmm. I do need to take someone with me to help me remember, figure out what is said. I can tell you I'm pretty dense these days.