Tired with feeling tired

[Tino2You]

Hi All,

As the subject implies I am new to all this but in my case I know that the machine will help me to sleep better and wake up more rested. My problem you ask?

5 weeks ago, I was at the ENT did an Endoscopy and set up a sleep study. 2 more weeks to have a sleep study (failed horribly and had to have a mask put on a 2:30 am). Almost 2 weeks to have study read/analyzed. A couple more days to get the prescription to the Care Centrix who will notify a DME that I am to get a CPAP, Mask et al.

5 weeks that I have know I have apnea (actually, I've known for far, far longer, let's just say denial is not just a river in Africa). How much longer (usually) does this process take? The person at Care Centrix sounded like I was going to get a call from the DME the following day. It is now three days later. Will the machine have to be ordered from Kalamazoo?

Sorry for the rant. As I said, I am tired

Thanks all...cheers.

[ameriken]

No worries, its difficult because once you know you have the problem and what the solution will be, you still have to wait for the fix because it's not like a doctor giving you a written script or samples of a med that you can take home that day.

On the upside, from my perspective 5 weeks is pretty fast. From the time we first started the process (initial discussion about sleep apnea) to the time I actually got the machine was about 7 months...and it was only 7 months because I was calling the VA and bothering them to call me the moment they had a cancellation. I had to do that for both sleep studies, otherwise it may have taken 9 or 10 months. I know there are others have waited even longer from start to finish.

Nevertheless, waiting still stinks be it weeks or months. The moral of the story is to keep bothering someone until you know for sure what is going on. You might want to call Centrix and find out who the DME is and then start bothering the DME to make it happen. Make sure they actually do have the script, have actually ordered the machine, and what day you can expect it to be delivered to your house. If they tell you that 'tomorrow such and such will happen', then call them tomorrow to make sure that such and such actually did happen.

Most DME's suck at customer service and don't give a crap about you, so don't feel bad about calling them every day if you have to.

This is your health, not theirs, and you deserve to know what, when, where, and how. You're paying them, take charge and make sure everyone there is earning their keep on your behalf. Good luck!

[DavidCarolina]

I may get in trouble for saying this but you have to be extremely aggressive in demanding what you need. Remember, non 02 deprived people
have no clue what you feel.

You can also......ahem.......go on craigslist like i did and buy an 02 machine concentrator, or a cpap machine. You can adjust your own pressures.

Im not advocation going vigilante, but i wouldnt waste time. Get a machine, set your pressure, and start using it. Get really pissed if someones
dragging feet. This is your health.

If you go the the ER complaining of shortness of breath, which i have, they dont screw around. Immediate EKG, meds, 02, etc. 02 deprivation
in sleep apnea should be treated the same.

[jen4700]

I felt exactly the same way! It took 2 months from diagnosis to getting my machine. I spent the time reading on this forum and reading some of the forum members blogs. There is a TON of good info here.

When you learn patience - can you please let me know??? lol

[Tino2You]

Thanks all for your kind words of wisdom. I will call Centrix tomorrow and let them know I am still alive and waiting. The DME is Apria maybe they too will get a jingle.

[Suzjohnson]

My journey from discovery to machine took two months. I was a basket case as well as being down to the bone tired. Used the time to study everything I could find on OSA and the equipment. By the first time I was strapping on the mask, I already felt like a veteran. Maybe that's why my adjustment has come so easily. I hope it will be the same for you!

Suz

[chunkyfrog]

Tino.
As long as you have this time, use it well.
Do your research and make sure you don't get stuck with a brick.
Full data is so very worth the extra trouble.

[bbbmmmlll]

I started down the same road. I pushed hard until I ran into my DME. I was annoyed that my doctor referred me the to same company that did my sleep studies as I thought it was a conflict of interest and they only had old equipment for the sleep study - not to say they couldn't order me the equipment I wanted, but I took it as a bad sign. Then when I called the DME, they didn't appear to be in much of a hurry. I got the feeling that everything was going to be on their terms. I looked online and found that once I had my doctor fax my prescription in, I could get my equipment in a couple days so I went that route. I also had copies of my sleep studies sent to me. Two weeks after my equipment arrived my DME finally called to setup an appointment for my CPAP.

I also found a Resperonics EverFlo oxygen machine with 800 hours for sale about half a mile from my home for $150. I had to order the CPAP adapter, new tubing and a new filter online.

[Tino2You]

Hi Everyone,

I was on the phone today with Care Centrix. Bottom line, they were waiting for additional information. Seem the sleep study which was sent with the prescription for the CPAP, Mask, et al was not in my jacket. Not sure how waiting for the coming epoch would help get it there. I called my ENT who FAXed it in WHILE I WAITED...nice!

I waited a couple of hours and called Care Centrix back. The "agent" told me everything was now in order. My reply was friendly and direct. "When can I expect a call from Apria?" 24 to 48 hours to which I said, "I will set my reminder to call back on Wednesday at noon. Thank you".

My next hurdle is the DME. I wonder what fences I will have to jump then!

On the bright side, thank to all your words and shared experience, I know I want either the ResMed s9 Auto or the Respironics PR S1 auto. I am going to try a pillow mask (aloha nasal pillow or a Mirage Activa LT Nasal pillow. I will see what the DMA has in stock. I have a FFM from my sleep study which for the 3 hours I wore it was ok (I slept, I woke, I wasn't sore, bruised or battered). It is a plan. We will see where it leads.

Thanks again to everyone,