What has been your experience with the VA sleep clinic?

[mikewithe]

After reading the horror stories of so many people here in dealing with their Docs and insurance companies, I feel truly lucky to have the VA (Veterans Administration) as my provider. They even have a support number I can call to speak with a tech for quick questions and a walk-in clinic that is open M-F where I can go to address any issues, on the spot, with a tech.

Here's how it has worked out for me so far:

On May 20 I went in for my sleep study and the tech was friendly, knowledgeable, and patient with me throughout the night as I tried different masks, chinstraps, etc. trying to find just the right fit and comfort balance. The next morning he described the results to me and let me take as much time as I needed to ask questions and he answered them clearly. He showed me how to operate the machine and make adjustments (humidity, c-flex, ramp, etc.) and I left the clinic with machine and every mask I had used during the night (Mirage Quattro full face, respironics chin strap, and respironics comfortgel blue) in hand.

Over the course of the next 9 nights my full face and comfortgel masks proceeded to give me a pretty gnarly pressure sore/blister on the bridge of my nose that was getting worse every day no matter how many videos I watched on proper fit etc. So yesterday, May 29, I packed up my machine and went to the walk-in clinic to ask for help. As soon as I got to the counter the tech said, "Ouch! I bet you're here to see if we can do something about that blister on your nose." He took me to a room, and came back a few seconds later with a Swift FX Nasal Pillow mask. he recommended that I stick with the pillows at least until my nose heals at which point they had some other things they could do/try (one thing he mentioned was a gecko pad?) to make other types of masks work, if I wanted. He took a minute or two to assemble it and fit it to my head and then hooked it up to my machine and had me try it out for a few minutes. After giving him the thumbs up that I liked it he disconnected everything and took my card and said since I was there he might as well go ahead and do a data download. Then he gave me a printout and started to explain the numbers. Then I started telling him about my nightly AHI etc. and he wanted to know how I knew all of that information and I told him about sleepyhead. He was intrigued and downloaded the software on his workstation computer so he could use it himself!

While I was there I saw three other Vets come up to the counter and ask for a new mask. The tech at the counter just said, "what kind would you like?" And then she handed it over.

To make a long story short, my experience with the VA sleep clinic has been 100% positive. But then again, I'm not really surprised. I have never received anything but the best possible care from the VA and it doesn't cost me a penny.

[Sleep2Die4]

I am glad to hear you had such a good experience. Our vets are critical to our personal freedom, our safety and to a great expent our quality of life. Many of them paid great sacrifices for our country. I like to hear that they are treated well.

I have never received anything but the best possible care from the VA and it doesn't cost me a penny.

Do you not pay federal income tax? If you do you are helping pay more than pennies for your care.

[archangle]

They wanted to do CPAP surgery (UPPP?) on my 80+ year old dad. (-4)

Luckily, he talked to a civilian doctor as well, and Dr. Civvy nixed that idea.

They gave him a REMstar Auto machine. (+1)
They had him mail in the card, read the data, and adjusted the machine regularly. (+3)
They gave it to him without a humidifier. (-2)
They helped him by letting him try several masks. (+1)
They gave him an oral mask and didn't give him a humidifier, even though the mask instructions say you MUST use a humidifier. (-1)
I went in with him on one of his visits and politely told them about the humidifier requirement and showed them the paperwork. I think the lady didn't really think it was right, but she ordered a humidifier. Probably just to shut me up. (+1)
Dad was pretty happy with the service. (+2)
Long wait for appointments. (-2)

One trick with the VA. He dealt with several people, doctors, respiratory therapists, DME types, etc. Sometimes not the same person even in the same job. Sometimes if you didn't like the answer one person gave, you could ask someone else and get a better answer.

[child]

Welcome to the forum
i am a newer here

[Sleep2Die4]

To make a long story short, my experience with the VA sleep clinic has been 100% positive.

If my math is correct, archangle has you at -1.

[Bobby269]

My experience with the VA here in San Antonio has been excellent.