my DME is harrassing me !

[qmx]

I wonder if you're getting too much heat with the heated tube etc. --- hence, dry, sore throat. The heat might be overwhelming the humidification. It's understood with the full face mask that you'll be taking a lot of air in through your mouth. I keep mine on light (#1) humidification. All the best to you. Stick with it because the benefits are enormous!! DEAN

[Summer Rain]

Thank you for the encouragement, Dean..... (and others!) I am trying to experiment with the heat and humidification...as the "dry throat" is just tooo much to handle! It actually wakes me up because of the severity...and I can't even swallow for several minutes? I called my Ins. today and the gal that I talked to was "appalled" by how I was treated ! She is going to be looking into the matter. She says I still have some time for "adjusting", left. I still haven't seen my Doctor since the sleep test. I guess it is a good thing it all happened, in a way, because no one had ever told me that I had some "compliance standards" to meet.... OR ELSE!!!! I had no idea? I am not answering any calls from the DME people, though, because that was just a "TOUCH MUCH" for RUDE BEHAVIOR?! I would rather they would just take the time to explain things? MERCY!!!

[StuUnderPressure]

I am on my 3rd machine in 14 years.

All were bought by BC/BS PPO outright (no lease) & they never required any compliance.

But, my Sleep Doctor (same for all 3) routinely writes as part of the CPAP / APAP prescription that they want X information at the end of Y (usually 4 weeks).

I will usually provide that initial info to the DME who in turn gives it to the Sleep Doctor.
But, I do not provide any additional info after that initial one.
I usually also cancel any follow-up appointments that the Sleep Doctor made - because I really feel they serve no real purpose.

My feeling is that the Sleep Doctor is only there to write prescriptions for me when I need them.

[Summer Rain]

I will see my doctor, day after tomorrow....I was wondering how long we have to "adjust"....before the 4 hrs. per day (minimum usuage) kicks in? Our problem is that we bought our equiptment up front....to get it "on the tab" before our deductible ran out for last year.... as I think they usually rent them out for a trial period.....but we didn't go that route....as we have a very high deductible to pay....so needed to try to be "thrifty" ? I hope that my doctor will be able to help.....but I gave a "full confession" over the phone......as I didn't think I had a choice? I feel like I am dealing with the Mafia ! Mercy! I am just soooo exhausted from this whole ORDEAL !!

[Hose_Head]

As for your DME calling you, just get call display and don't answer if you don't recognize the caller. It also makes me wonder what their calling machine would have done, for example, had you not been at home when it called and someone else had answered the phone.

And if they ever ask you why you won't respond to their machine caller, just tell them that they need to give you the HOME number of their office manager so that you can call him/her on a Sunday night to advise him/her of your therapy.

[Summer Rain]

I think I will add you as a friend, Hose Head? You were just what I needed tonight! ( i.e. a good laugh! ) My little cup of "sake" was also helpful ! So if anyone needs some advice, tonight,....just "belly up to the bar" !

[DavidCarolina]

cpap is as much an art as a science. There is experimentation involved and we learn by trial and error. The main thing is to keep
using it. Youre not seeking perfection, youre seeking freedom from stopping breathing.

I think you have a healthy approach as long as you dont rationalize that you just cant get used to it.

When you think about it, no extra stress in life comes along at the right time. Its always murphys law, seems like a little more than
we can handle. But after a few days or weeks, its all good again.

The real payoff is when you start awakening refreshed and not agitated and you realize you slept straight through the night for seven hours
and your data shows your apneatic triggers and events were diminished. By then you'll look on the cpap mask as your best friend. Ive been
on it 2.5 years and can tell you its as easy as putting on a pair of socks now.

As you know now, nobody takes to it like a duck to water. It takes 10 or 20 adjustments in the learning curve to see what works.

[Summer Rain]

Tonight, all I really needed was some encouragement, so I appreciate it very much! The Cpap isn't he only thing on my plate that seems very overwhelming right now....it just ended up being right in the middle of a few other things....not to mention Christmas was going on when I started Cpap.....so I have just had to kinda go easy on myself...as I really had all I could deal with already! I do hear you, there is never a good time for stress...and "this too, shall pass...." ! I know that is all very true! I am sure there are some who have heard enough of my "whining".....just wait til they tell me I "flunked my compliance" and have to find a way to pay for this machine.....?
I've been thinking of getting a real good "Cpapper" to "suck some air" for me....I could pay them by the hour and still save $$$... probly?

[kaiasgram]

Tonight, all I really needed was some encouragement, so I appreciate it very much! The Cpap isn't he only thing on my plate that seems very overwhelming right now....it just ended up being right in the middle of a few other things....not to mention Christmas was going on when I started Cpap.....so I have just had to kinda go easy on myself...as I really had all I could deal with already! I do hear you, there is never a good time for stress...and "this too, shall pass...." ! I know that is all very true! I am sure there are some who have heard enough of my "whining".....just wait til they tell me I "flunked my compliance" and have to find a way to pay for this machine.....?
I've been thinking of getting a real good "Cpapper" to "suck some air" for me....I could pay them by the hour and still save $$$... probly?

Now you're thinking outside the box!

Hang in there Summer. I really think you will get this figured out. Getting harrassed and threatened by a robot on the telephone while struggling with a new cpap machine, definitely bangs the stress meter!

[archangle]

But, my Sleep Doctor (same for all 3) routinely writes as part of the CPAP / APAP prescription that they want X information at the end of Y (usually 4 weeks).

I will usually provide that initial info to the DME who in turn gives it to the Sleep Doctor.
But, I do not provide any additional info after that initial one.
I usually also cancel any follow-up appointments that the Sleep Doctor made - because I really feel they serve no real purpose.

My feeling is that the Sleep Doctor is only there to write prescriptions for me when I need them.

If the doctor really looks at the data, that's a good thing. That's what they should do. I think that a lot of the doctors are just ringing the cash register, and they could do better with a yearly phone call and reading the SD card.

Of course, a lot of doctors are too stupid to specify a good, data capable CPAP machine for all their patients.

[cosmo]

A few weeks ago you were cynical about cpap

If you are still wanting to take it slow to "adjust", might be better off giving them back their machine and buy your own. Your sanity is worth more than a few hundred dollars.

[Summer Rain]

A few weeks ago you were cynical about cpap

If you are still wanting to take it slow to "adjust", might be better off giving them back their machine and buy your own. Your sanity is worth more than a few hundred dollars.

They cost a few thousand not a few hundred....but I agree! One thing for sure, I will definetly have a different DME .....I just need some 'time' right now....when I go see my doctor, I hope she will understand? I am just so stressed that I didn't use the Cpap at all for the last two nights!!!!! I have had enough !!!!!

[Summer Rain]

Tonight, all I really needed was some encouragement, so I appreciate it very much! The Cpap isn't he only thing on my plate that seems very overwhelming right now....it just ended up being right in the middle of a few other things....not to mention Christmas was going on when I started Cpap.....so I have just had to kinda go easy on myself...as I really had all I could deal with already! I do hear you, there is never a good time for stress...and "this too, shall pass...." ! I know that is all very true! I am sure there are some who have heard enough of my "whining".....just wait til they tell me I "flunked my compliance" and have to find a way to pay for this machine.....?
I've been thinking of getting a real good "Cpapper" to "suck some air" for me....I could pay them by the hour and still save $$$... probly?

Now you're thinking outside the box!

Hang in there Summer. I really think you will get this figured out. Getting harrassed and threatened by a robot on the telephone while struggling with a new cpap machine, definitely bangs the stress meter!

I love you ! You always "say it right" to everyone, I noticed? There isn't anything that can be said right now, really? I have just sort of "bottomed out" and need to "regroup"! I also have other major issues to deal with right now....so it isn't all the Cpap.....I just DON'T NEED A LOT OF "PRESSURE" from the PAP right now! (no pun!)

[StuUnderPressure]

But, my Sleep Doctor (same for all 3) routinely writes as part of the CPAP / APAP prescription that they want X information at the end of Y (usually 4 weeks).

I will usually provide that initial info to the DME who in turn gives it to the Sleep Doctor.
But, I do not provide any additional info after that initial one.
I usually also cancel any follow-up appointments that the Sleep Doctor made - because I really feel they serve no real purpose.

My feeling is that the Sleep Doctor is only there to write prescriptions for me when I need them.

If the doctor really looks at the data, that's a good thing. That's what they should do. I think that a lot of the doctors are just ringing the cash register, and they could do better with a yearly phone call and reading the SD card.

Of course, a lot of doctors are too stupid to specify a good, data capable CPAP machine for all their patients.

I am SORRY, I should have been clearer!

My Sleep Doctor does NOT look at Data.
The information they request & look at is basically just "compliance" data - even though my insurance has never required any compliance.

For my current S9 AutoSet, I am told by the DME that the information they would have provided to the Sleep Doctor is basically the "Summary" report you can get in ResScan for the 4 weeks.

But, since I never brought in my SD card to anyone, they did NOT get any information this time. My DME did call me & ask how I was doing. So, that is all of the information anybody got.

My Sleep Doctor would really rather I have only a brick (a Respironics brick).

But, they are slowly beginning to realize that is NOT what patients want. So, I was able to get them to write me an APAP prescription & for a ResMed at that.

[cosmo]

You sure have an XL bag of excuses No one else wants to say but I will. You're only doing yourself a disservice by not maintaining your treatment. DMEs and doctors hear excuses all day long on par with teachers, cops and judges