You Don't Have To Be An Engineer!

[lewsterr]

I went to my sleep doctor's office this past Monday to pick up a copy of my prescription. My DME has been non-responsive lately to requests from me and my doctor, so I decided to keep one on-hand for when I order supplies on the internet (I have a high insurance deductible this year, and it would certainly save me money). I met with the nurse/doctor's assistant and explained to her that I wanted a copy of my prescription for my xPAP and supplies, since the DME has not been responsive. There was a look of surprise on her face as if this is the first time she ever heard of such a thing. I proceeded to explain to her that I wasn't dependent on the DME, since I have Encore Pro and have been adjusting the machine based on the data being generated. Immediately, a look of shock came over her face, and she asked me if I was an engineer. I wanted to say that it doesn't take an engineer to figure this out, but I didn't want to insult her intelligence (or lack of). Do these "medical professionals" actually think that the 'average' person can't figure these things out?

[BlackSpinner]

I went to my sleep doctor's office this past Monday to pick up a copy of my prescription. My DME has been non-responsive lately to requests from me and my doctor, so I decided to keep one on-hand for when I order supplies on the internet (I have a high insurance deductible this year, and it would certainly save me money). I met with the nurse/doctor's assistant and explained to her that I wanted a copy of my prescription for my xPAP and supplies, since the DME has not been responsive. There was a look of surprise on her face as if this is the first time she ever heard of such a thing. I proceeded to explain to her that I wasn't dependent on the DME, since I have Encore Pro and have been adjusting the machine based on the data being generated. Immediately, a look of shock came over her face, and she asked me if I was an engineer. I wanted to say that it doesn't take an engineer to figure this out, but I didn't want to insult her intelligence (or lack of). Do these "medical professionals" actually think that the 'average' person can't figure these things out?

She probably hasn't figured out how to use her VCR to record things yet. (I know, who uses a VCR anymore, right?)

[Stormynights]

What do you have to be to work for a DME?

[ChrisD]

In her world it's always 12:00

[avi123]

IMO, you talked too much about things that you did not need to mention. Just ask for a copy of your Rx. As a matter of fact your Doc is the one to provide it to you.

[NotLazyJustTired]

My sleep doc's assistant actually told me that All CPAPs have "Auto mode".

[lewsterr]

IMO, you talked too much about things that you did not need to mention. Just ask for a copy of your Rx. As a matter of fact your Doc is the one to provide it to you.

The nurse had no problem giving me the prescription. She was very helpful and pleasant. As for the sleep doctor, I mentioned to him last year that I was taking control of my treatment. He was excited to hear that I had the tools and knowledge to do this, and he told me to call him if I needed any guidance. They are a great group, and I feel that I can discuss anything with them. If I felt that I needed to be careful what I said, I wouldn't be using that practice.

[quietmorning]

I don't know. . . I told my DME this past week that this stuff is NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.

She smiled and said, 'I know.'

[MaxDarkside]

She probably hasn't figured out how to use her VCR to record things yet. (I know, who uses a VCR anymore, right?)

Or how to rewind her DVDs...

[Pugsy]

I don't know. . . I told my DME this past week that this stuff is NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.

She smiled and said, 'I know.'

That's pretty much what my DME said a long time when I told him it wasn't rocket science...he also just smiled and said "I know"
My doctor's PA (who is really the only person I ever saw) knows that I have the software and knows what I do and is cool with it. Just warned me not to spend hours obsessing over "numbers"..
This was during my first follow up visit and when I showed her that the prescribed pressure wasn't doing the trick during REM stage sleep...she totally agreed and that's when she gave the "blessing" for me to use APAP mode with max wide open because I had proof that it was needed.

[chunkyfrog]

Sometimes it's wisest to share "too much" information with the doctor.
It's like sharing the your cpap use with a prospective lover.
No sense sharing an exam table or a bed with someone who just doesn't "get it".

[johnthomasmacdonald]

The two sleep doctors i went to both seemed to view patients changing anything about their cpap machines akin to asking for kiddie porn.

[Papit]

Sometimes it's wisest to share "too much" information with the doctor.
It's like sharing the your cpap use with a prospective lover.
No sense sharing an exam table or a bed with someone who just doesn't "get it".

Did you mean to say, not to share too much . . . ?

[Papit]

She probably hasn't figured out how to use her VCR to record things yet. (I know, who uses a VCR anymore, right?)

Or how to rewind her DVDs...

I can picture her trying to rewind her DVDs. ...........

[lewsterr]

The two sleep doctors i went to both seemed to view patients changing anything about their cpap machines akin to asking for kiddie porn.

It has to be an ego thing. After all, they went to medical school to learn how to do all this, and now you have learned on your own what it has taken them eight years and hundreds of thousands of dollars to learn. OUCH! You hurt their ego.