Frustrated with waiting

Janknitz wrote:This has always amazed me: "Mrs. Jones, your test results show severe OSA with O2 Sats in the toilet. You're smothering every night and you must get treated as you are suffering severe organ damage every time you sleep. Now wait 6 weeks for an appointment because it's not convenient to have you interrupt Dr. Moneybag's schedule of financial investing seminars, and after you see him it will only take a few more weeks for us to bother to get the RX to Sucker's paradise DME so you can get your non-data machine ASAP".

When I posed the question about the delays (in my case getting the titration study done) to the sleep doctor nurse this is what she said to me after she told me my desats went to low 70s..
"I know you are anxious but in reality you have had this problem for a long time and it hasn't killed you yet......"
That was when I got aggressive with looking on Craigslist.

Janknitz wrote:This has always amazed me: "Mrs. Jones, your test results show severe OSA with O2 Sats in the toilet. You're smothering every night and you must get treated as you are suffering severe organ damage every time you sleep. Now wait 6 weeks for an appointment because it's not convenient to have you interrupt Dr. Moneybag's schedule of financial investing seminars, and after you see him it will only take a few more weeks for us to bother to get the RX to Sucker's paradise DME so you can get your non-data machine ASAP".

This post wins. It's like a Dilbert cartoon, you laugh because you can relate.

Janknitz wrote:This has always amazed me: "Mrs. Jones, your test results show severe OSA with O2 Sats in the toilet. You're smothering every night and you must get treated as you are suffering severe organ damage every time you sleep. Now wait 6 weeks for an appointment because it's not convenient to have you interrupt Dr. Moneybag's schedule of financial investing seminars, and after you see him it will only take a few more weeks for us to bother to get the RX to Sucker's paradise DME so you can get your non-data machine ASAP".

Jan... perfect!

Yeah, it really is amazing, especially when you consider this...

Say a person goes into the hospital, not for a sleep study, but for difficulty breathing. Hospital starts O2 on him right away. A few tests are done, it's seen that the person needs supplemental O2. It's prescribed. He's sent home ON O2. DME is right there at his house to get him set up. That day. There's no "wait" when it's about needing "awake" O2.

But, there's something about the word "sleep" (in "sleep apnea") that sounds so innocuous, so calm, so normal. Dulls the impact of the word "apnea." Even for the sleep professionals, I think. After all, you've been like that for years, and it "hasn't killed you yet."

Amazing.

Scenario 1 -- A person's O2 is low while he's sitting in the doc's exam room with his eyes open looking at a doctor while the doc examines him. A quick scribble on the Rx pad, a phone call to the DME...and the guy is sent home to be set up for O2 now. TODAY.

Scenario 2 -- A person's O2 is low because an exam (PSG sleep study) found his airway collapsing repeatedly during sleep. Oh...that..well yeah, you need CPAP to keep your airway open. Time to get up. Go on home. You'll get set up with a CPAP machine in a few weeks, or months. Whatever.

Of course, it's not the sleep tech's fault the person is being sent home to wait. And wait. And wait.

Even for SLEEP doctors -- who could order "CPAP - today" -- there's just something about that simple little word "sleep."

Delays are probably due to insurance requirements, paperwork, and doctors/doctors offices who are too busy, I suppose.

But, still. People who need O2 get it that day. People who need a CPAP machine, don't. Amazing.

I was finally able to take matters into my own hands. I was having no success finding an affordable complete system on my local Craigslist (Indianapolis). I decided to check Craigslist Cincinnati (2 hours away). I bought an M Series Pro and SleepWeaver mask. I spent my first night on CPAP. It was a short one due to getting back very late from driving to Cincinnati, but it should pay off in the long run. I don't think I'll tell the doctor when I finally see him that I've already started on CPAP. I don't want a lecture.

I was lucky...
When I went for the results of the sleep study, the doctor said "you've got it bad... AHI 108, you're going to need to use CPAP".
I got a call from the DME the same day (about 2h later!) asking if someone could come round the next day to set me up. Next morning, around 9 am, the guy was there with a PRS1 APAP!! (and I was also lucky with the machine, as I hadn't discovered this forum at the time and was as innocent as a 2 hour old bunny )
True, we probably don't risk much by waiting, but why take the chance?

indyredsfan wrote:I was finally able to take matters into my own hands. I was having no success finding an affordable complete system on my local Craigslist (Indianapolis). I decided to check Craigslist Cincinnati (2 hours away). I bought an M Series Pro and SleepWeaver mask.

Very good action on your part, indyredsfan!

Bluecat wrote:I got a call from the DME the same day (about 2h later!) asking if someone could come round the next day to set me up. Next morning, around 9 am, the guy was there with a PRS1 APAP!! (and I was also lucky with the machine, as I hadn't discovered this forum at the time and was as innocent as a 2 hour old bunny

Wow, Bluecat. You were very lucky, in every respect!

"as innocent as a 2 hour old bunny"

Yep, you were very, very lucky they gave you an autopap. And gave it to you right away.

Does anyone have to see the sleep Dr. for scheduled appointments and have the card read by the agency proving the machine? This is an inconvience for me; plus it cost money.

Just wondering

Aggravated wrote:Does anyone have to see the sleep Dr. for scheduled appointments and have the card read by the agency proving the machine? This is an inconvience for me; plus it cost money.

Just wondering

I would say that most of us have the software and download from our cards to monitor our nightly sleep. Most providers of equipment only need to see your information to check that you are using your CPAP for enough time to satify insurance requirements. Once you have met insurance requirements, you will probably not have to do that anymore.

indyredsfan wrote:I was finally able to take matters into my own hands. I was having no success finding an affordable complete system on my local Craigslist (Indianapolis). I decided to check Craigslist Cincinnati (2 hours away). I bought an M Series Pro and SleepWeaver mask. I spent my first night on CPAP. It was a short one due to getting back very late from driving to Cincinnati, but it should pay off in the long run. I don't think I'll tell the doctor when I finally see him that I've already started on CPAP. I don't want a lecture.

Congratulations.

Besides, who can resist a chance to visit Cincinnati?

Going there to catch a Reds game would have been more fun, but this was more necessary.