new cpap user who needs lots of help
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secret agent girl
- Posts: 574
- Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:15 pm
Re: new cpap user who needs lots of help
Hi there -- You have my empathy, because I know firsthand that it is hard to get CPAP going right for you, and it is hard to be patient at the beginning. I'm still in the beginning, too, about two months of therapy under my belt. I feel I am sleeping better, but I also feel I could be sleeping much better and be more comfortable using it. So I'm still working on it. I hope my story will show you that you can get improvements if you are persistent.
My first battle was finding a mask that didn't leave a red mark across the bridge of my nose all day. Now, after the third mask exchange, I have one that's tolerable. But then my wife tells me she hears me snoring in it sometimes and thinks she hears me having an apnea or two. I tell my doc; he is concerned and wants to download the data on my machine to check, but sure enough, like you, I have the Escape II, which only records whether or not I use it. So the doc can't get any useful data from it.
First, I called my DME and asked for the Elite II. They were very resistant to this, first trying to tell me the Escape "was data capable" and that they gave me "a little card." I pointed out that the only data is compliance data, and I know I'm using it, so my doctor doesn't need to check up on me. I pointed out that my prescription allowed them to give me the Elite II machine which actually is data capable. Then they said they get no extra reimbursement from insurance for what is a more expensive machine. However, they said if my doctor specifically prescribed that machine, I could have it. Fifteen phone calls later, to get the doctor to send in the scrip and then to get them to order and deliver the machine, I just got the new model this morning. So maybe you can skip a step and ask your doctor to prescribe the Elite II and fax the scrip to your DME. Then follow up in a couple of days and ask when they are bringing the new machine your doctor ordered.
To reinforce what others said about the non-expertise of DME techs: I snooped around in the clinical menu of the new machine after the tech left, and this one is set at 9.4, where my other machine was set at 8. I now have a 16th call in to my doctor to see what pressure he really prescribed to make sure that's what I'm using.
Bottom line is that you should not assume settings will be correct or that DME has your best interest at heart. You must oversee your own therapy, but ultimately, everyone will do what your doctor says. The reason why is that your doctor refers dozens of patients to your particular DME, and the DME wants him/her to be happy so he/she will keep doing that. As a shy person, what I'd try to do is get your doctor's phone nurse and then your doctor on your side, and there's nothing you can't accomplish. The DME exists to carry out your doctor's orders.
Cheers.
Newsman
My first battle was finding a mask that didn't leave a red mark across the bridge of my nose all day. Now, after the third mask exchange, I have one that's tolerable. But then my wife tells me she hears me snoring in it sometimes and thinks she hears me having an apnea or two. I tell my doc; he is concerned and wants to download the data on my machine to check, but sure enough, like you, I have the Escape II, which only records whether or not I use it. So the doc can't get any useful data from it.
First, I called my DME and asked for the Elite II. They were very resistant to this, first trying to tell me the Escape "was data capable" and that they gave me "a little card." I pointed out that the only data is compliance data, and I know I'm using it, so my doctor doesn't need to check up on me. I pointed out that my prescription allowed them to give me the Elite II machine which actually is data capable. Then they said they get no extra reimbursement from insurance for what is a more expensive machine. However, they said if my doctor specifically prescribed that machine, I could have it. Fifteen phone calls later, to get the doctor to send in the scrip and then to get them to order and deliver the machine, I just got the new model this morning. So maybe you can skip a step and ask your doctor to prescribe the Elite II and fax the scrip to your DME. Then follow up in a couple of days and ask when they are bringing the new machine your doctor ordered.
To reinforce what others said about the non-expertise of DME techs: I snooped around in the clinical menu of the new machine after the tech left, and this one is set at 9.4, where my other machine was set at 8. I now have a 16th call in to my doctor to see what pressure he really prescribed to make sure that's what I'm using.
Bottom line is that you should not assume settings will be correct or that DME has your best interest at heart. You must oversee your own therapy, but ultimately, everyone will do what your doctor says. The reason why is that your doctor refers dozens of patients to your particular DME, and the DME wants him/her to be happy so he/she will keep doing that. As a shy person, what I'd try to do is get your doctor's phone nurse and then your doctor on your side, and there's nothing you can't accomplish. The DME exists to carry out your doctor's orders.
Cheers.
Newsman