Good equipment or just plain treatment?

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 9:44 am

wading thru the muck! wrote:dsm,

<snip>

In my experience, this is completely counter to what have worked for me and what my perception of what has occured for many on this forum. I have read endless stories of people receiving inadequate equipment at the recomendation of their Doc/RT/DME and then struggle to get any kind of quality therapy.

<snip>

I think you have made your own point quite well here

- I do think some of us can go overboard on the equipment but speaking for myself, thank god I have the opportunity to do so

- I rate xPAP support as having been the most important

- but for me being who & what I am - I rate getting access to 'the best' gear to try to be equally as important.

I guess I am put $10 on an each way bet

Cheers

DSM

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 11:23 am

Wader,

Please don't take this the wrong way, but......why don't you just quit posting on that other forum? It's obviously frustrating you and (in my opinion) you're postings and opinions are much more appreciated on THIS site.

AND, IMO, this is a much better forum anyway!!!

With regard to your first question:
The fact of the matter is that most of us are getting "hosed" by either our doctors, local DME's or the insurance companies (or all of them). So, that's why these forums are SOOOO important.....to share our experiences and information. I still think it's a combination of "ingredients" that make this therapy work....not ONE in particular. We're not going to change the doctors, DME's or insurance companies anytime in the near future, but we CAN help each other.....with our attitudes, our experiences with the therapy, and (help with the) selection of the proper equipment. It's too hard to single out ONE thing.

Best wishes,

Den

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 12:02 pm

Den,

Thanks for the good advice... but it's not in my nature to give up that easily.

My guess is that this trait is also held by our forum host. The existing medical supply community through it's actions and influence would love to see people like cpap.com just quit. I'm sure that any frustration I've encountered on the ASAA forum is nothing compared to what the low cost online folks have gotten from "BIG DME."

Ultimately though, you may be right regarding my posting on the ASAA forum. It's currently in the hands of the ASAA... we'll see what comes of it.

One last point... if the folks over there were just an independant group of people operating a cpap forum I would have left long ago... but they are not. The ASAA is "our" national support organization... it's the national voice for ALL of us suffering from OSA. That being said they need to be willing to consider the opinions of ALL of us.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 12:21 pm

The ASAA is "our" national support organization... it's the national voice for ALL of us suffering from OSA.

OK.....but is anybody listening??? And if so.....WHO? (or is it WHOM?)

I've never "joined" the other two and don't particularly care for their formats and restrictions.....
I'm not one to give up either, but (sometimes) I know when to cut my losses. BTW, CPAP therapy is something I have no plans to give up anytime soon.....feelin' better every day!

Good luck.....don't let your head get too sore....beating it against that wall.

Best wishes,

Den

Severeena · Post by **Severeena** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 12:23 pm

Wading I cannot believe you brought this up.

I am definitely leaving my sleep doctor after what happened at his office.

I will give up my doctor.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 12:59 pm

Severeena wrote: Wading I cannot believe you brought this up.

I am definitely leaving my sleep doctor after what happened at his office.

I will give up my doctor.

Sev,

What happened???

Severeena · Post by **Severeena** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 4:07 pm

Let's put it this way, never go to your doctor's wife for a consultation and then not like her and tell the truth.

I am now in trouble with my PCP because of my pain medication.

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 3:43 pm

Don't know how I missed this thread... but wanted to weigh in with my 2 cents...

I think the equipment is of the utmost importance! If money and insurance coverage are of no object, I think in order to achieve the proper treatment, one must have equipment that offers software (that gives more than just compliance information). In addition, I think in order to achieve the very best treatment possible (without having to rely on a DME, sleep doc, or additional PSGs), one should have an auto-titrating machine. Whether self-titration experiments ultimately result in the user having their machine set in auto or straight cpap mode, they always have the ability to examine what's going on over the months and years they use xpap therapy. Lastly, the equipment is obviously of paramount importance if bilevel therapy is warranted.

I can't imagine compliance or treatment is nearly as good when an individual is handed any old machine set at the (highly abnormal) sleep-study titrated pressure with no means by which to evaluate (or the ability to change) the results.

All that being said, I'm sure money and insurance issues prevent some individuals from being able to get auto-titrating machines and the accompanying software. In fact, money and insurance issues may prevent some people from getting straight CPAP machines and the accompanying software. In those cases, obviously getting whatever machine they're handed is better than getting nothing, because at least they are being treated. Could they be better treated if they had different equipment and software? Absolutely.

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 10:51 am

Wulfman wrote:BUT......to try to answer the question of "what contributed most?".....I think I would have to say it's been a combination of attitude (that I was going to make this work) AND the equipment I chose. I also believe the confidence in my equipment has definitely helped my attitude.

Oh.....I forgot one other thing......without the software, I wouldn't have a clue how "successful" this therapy is.

I've gotta go with the Wulf on this. In fact, until I read his post I was going to say the exact same thing!

JimmyKSenior · Post by **JimmyKSenior** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 11:56 am

Wow! A kewl thread, but you guys debate the traditional chicken and egg issue. Without one there wouldn't be the other.

Without my doctor I would never have known of the disability I suffer nor had access to the equipment. I would have just gone on depressed, tired, and eventually fired and who knows what.

Day in and day out the quality of the equipment and my persistence is responsible for my progress and feel good days. I could have had a lesser doctor who prescribed lesser equipment, but ultimately I would have found you all and upgraded my equipment with or without him, so at the end of the day it is the equipment and not the doctor.

On the other hand, I could be real contrarian and say it is this forum first (you all) and then the equipment, but I won't go there. Oh, I just did!!!!!!!!!!

JimK

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