Brick machine, no health insurance - what else can I DO?

[Black Shampoo]

I'm unemployed with no health insurance (had an amazing six-figure white collar job, but that's how it works in good ol' America when it comes to health care!), and I have a piece-of-shit brick of a machine that I can't get any data out of. I'm tired all of the time even though I use it all night every night and have cut out most of my leaks.

What else can I buy right now to monitor my treatment until I get health insurance again and can start seeing my Dr. again?

I figured I could buy my own oximeter and see if it records weird stuff overnight. What else can I do? Any iOS apps? Videotape myself sleeping? What helpful things can I do to monitor what's going on?

[Kate M]

I replied to your other thread about the pulse-ox but realized that for not a whole lot more than you'd spend for a pulse ox and other goodies, you could buy a gently used data capable machine from http://secondwindcpap.com

[avi123]

How did you get the Brick Machine without insurance?
BTW, I have started with an Escape machine like yours and only after 3 months the DME agreed to swap it with an S9 Elite, which has data output. I am on Medicare. So I am asking if your provider could do the same.

When I look at Kate's link, I see that you could sell there the S9 Escape and buy an S9 Elite for an addition of $40:


http://secondwindcpap.com/

Gently Used ResMed S9 Escape and Accessories $329
Gently Used ResMed S9 Elite and Accessories $369

[Kate M]

BS,

Did you contact your DME company as several folks recommended last week? What did they say? Maybe they'd be willing to swap you a used data capable machine for the one you have like avi suggested? I just remembered we had that thread last week... What's the progress you've made so far?

[Black Shampoo]

How did you get the Brick Machine without insurance?
BTW, I have started with an Escape machine like yours and only after 3 months the DME agreed to swap it with an S9 Elite, which has data output. I am on Medicare. So I am asking if your provider could do the same. I think that S9 Escape II has data output.

I was a nonprofit executive with a six-figure job and the best health insurance in America. Then we lost a huge chunk of our federal funding thanks to disgusting politicians, the organization went into a panic, and about half of the company lost their jobs, including me. It's a typical recession story. This all just happened a few months ago, and now my insurance has run out, I'm not experiencing any noticeable improvement from the therapy even though I'm 100% compliant, and having joined this forum, I've learned that I have a "brick" which means I can't even advocate for myself or monitor my own data until I find a new job/insurance again.

[Eddie Fasolino]

I haven't quite figured out what, but there is something screwy about your story. Are you being 100% honest on the forum?

[avi123]

I can't even advocate for myself or monitor my own data until I find a new job/insurance again.

IMO, you don't need to monitor your treatment until you find a job, assuming that you're following the sleep study prescription. This forum is full of hype for monitoring a CPAP data.

[Black Shampoo]

I haven't quite figured out what, but there is something screwy about your story. Are you being 100% honest on the forum?

Haha, what? Are you serious?

[Black Shampoo]

I can't even advocate for myself or monitor my own data until I find a new job/insurance again.

IMO, you don't need to monitor your treatment until you find a job, assuming that you're following the sleep study prescription. This forum is full of hype for monitoring a CPAP data.

Interesting perspective, and the first I've heard on here. I'm definitely following everything, just frustrated that I don't feel any - ANY - improvement at all. I guess I keep hoping that being able to see my data will, if nothing else, validate my experience - "OH, I'm having a lot of leaks at night that I'm not realizing," or "OH WOW, look at all those AHI's, something's up" or something like that. It's a desire for SOME control here.

[Kate M]

. This all just happened a few months ago, and now my insurance has run out, I'm not experiencing any noticeable improvement from the therapy even though I'm 100% compliant, and having joined this forum, I've learned that I have a "brick" which means I can't even advocate for myself or monitor my own data until I find a new job/insurance again.

Unless your former employer is a religious organization, they are required to offer you insurance continuation through COBRA for 18 months after you stop working there. Even many religious organizations offer insurance continuation benefits, they are just not required to through COBRA. It IS a shame you didn't come find this place when you first got your CPAP and learn about what to ask for. I think the answer to your problems is secondwind -- a trade would cost you hardly anything at all there if your DME won't do it.

[Black Shampoo]

Cobra was upwards of $900 a month if I wanted to keep the coverage; I just plain couldn't afford that; it's equal to what I pay in rent, for example. I don't know how it works in other states, but IL's unemployment insurance pays out a comically low amount.

[BlackSpinner]

I can't even advocate for myself or monitor my own data until I find a new job/insurance again.

IMO, you don't need to monitor your treatment until you find a job, assuming that you're following the sleep study prescription. This forum is full of hype for monitoring a CPAP data.

You, sir are an idiot.

He is not getting benefit from his cpap , how in hell do you expect hm to find another job while he feels like crap. Go and crawl back under your rock.

[BlackSpinner]

I haven't quite figured out what, but there is something screwy about your story. Are you being 100% honest on the forum?

Who cares? Go and crawl back under your rock too.

[Black Shampoo]

Guys, did I wander into the middle of some sort of board dispute or something? What the fuck?

[BlackSpinner]

Avi is an asshole who we all try to ignore.
Who this new troll is I don't know but neither of them should be treating someone new like this.
I would have used the delete button on the asshole who questioned your honesty if I had seen it first.