CPAPtalk.com

I found a DME that is not far from where I live, and the woman there is super nice and helpful. I tried calling the doctor's office back, and because they never answered the phone every time I called, I left them a couple of messages. I hope they get back to me soon, because I really want to get this going. The last time I was in the doc's office, they let the phones ring while they were in another office, gabbing about some song they heard on the radio.

Getting through to them is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. It takes a while.

msla wrote:

JV1967 wrote:Is a faxed prescription still valid? I could ask them to fax it to me so I don't have to wait for the mail.

Get both for your files. Then send a copy of one to the hosts of this forum, CPAP dot com. You can then print out a copy wherever you have internet access, for example if you need a part in an emergency while on a trip (at least in the US)

Will do, and thank you.

Wulfman... wrote:

JV1967 wrote:Is a faxed prescription still valid? I could ask them to fax it to me so I don't have to wait for the mail.

Should be. But, I'd still ask for an "original" to stick in my files (which is what I did).
In my case, I also scanned and uploaded my prescription to CPAP.COM so I could order all of my original equipment and supplies from them......then, I used their invoice to create my own and then billed my insurance provider for my equipment. They considered me to be "in-network", so they reimbursed me for 80% of my purchase. I did clear this with them ahead of time, but was also prepared to fully pay out-of-pocket if necessary. I was bound and determined not to have to use a local DME (I had already read too many horror stories on this forum by then).


Den

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I am covered for 80% on my ASV and mask, through Blue Cross. I will ask for a mailed paper copy of my prescription, and will do what you recommend. Thank you again for the help. You guys rock!

novatom wrote:

JV1967 wrote:So, I called the doctor's office to find out who my DME is, and the secretary said "Oh, don't worry, they'll call you." I decided to call the DME, to see what's going on, and to ask a few questions, as I'm new to all of this. I found out that the DME they sent me to doesn't accept my insurance, so now the rep has to call the doctor's office back and tell them to send me elsewhere. Meanwhile, the secretaries at the doc's office aren't exactly great about picking up the phone, so the wait... and I have very good health insurance (Blue Cross) in the state I live in. The DME they sent me to is one state over. Is it common for this to happen when the DME is not in your state? Thankfully the rep there was nice to me on the phone. It eased some stress.

I've been through some heavy medical drama, sans this apnea problem, so this is frustrating me more. I'm eager to get started on my therapy; as soon as possible, because I want to get well. I hope they get this sorted so I can get my ASV, and get on with learning it, adapting to it, etc...

I had a similar same problem initially. About a month ago I called my insurance company to check on coverage (this was after almost two months of therapy, sleep study, titration) to find out that the clinic (which is also my DME) was NOT a preferred provider for my insurance. I nearly freaked out until they informed me that the doctor that contracts with the sleep clinic IS a preferred provider in my network. All they had to do was resubmit the paperwork, which has since been accepted.

I'm sorry you had to go through that.

I too have Blue Cross and they have a section on their website that I used to look up in network DME providers. You should be able to look up this info as well. Not sure what web address though as BCBS has multiple for state specific. My dr offered to have his assistant do it for me, but I wanted to make sure I was comfortable with the place chosen. He gave me a copy of my study as well as the original Rx. He did keep a copy of the Rx in case wherever I chose needed it sent over on his letterhead (In case I went the online route). Good luck.

A Bit off subject here, but my other post got lost in the shuffle of the site. Any recommendations for a cpap pillow for a side/stomach sleeper with a ResMed full face mask?
http://www.resmed.com/us/en/consumer/pr ... t-f10.html

If I don't like this one, I will purchase one with nasal pillows and a mouthpiece, because my nose is sometimes stuffy, and as before said, I can't use nasal inhaler sprays, because they make me jumpy; sensitive to the stimulant nature of cortisone. I have saline nasal stuff from the pharm.

distantdreamer wrote:I too have Blue Cross and they have a section on their website that I used to look up in network DME providers. You should be able to look up this info as well. Not sure what web address though as BCBS has multiple for state specific. My dr offered to have his assistant do it for me, but I wanted to make sure I was comfortable with the place chosen. He gave me a copy of my study as well as the original Rx. He did keep a copy of the Rx in case wherever I chose needed it sent over on his letterhead (In case I went the online route). Good luck.

I phoned BCBS, and they totally helped me out. Really thankful to have them as my insurance provider. Thank you for responding.

I just left a direct message; through the answering service when the office is closed, for my doctor. The secretaries are ignoring me. Lets see if this squeaky wheel gets the grease. I want my machine as soon as possible. I wasn't rude to anyone, I'm just trying to get the help I need.

Drowsy Dancer wrote:

JV1967 wrote:Is a faxed prescription still valid? I could ask them to fax it to me so I don't have to wait for the mail.

Check with the DME you select.

We really have a very confusing health care system in this country.

They accept the fax, and yes, we do.

JV1967 wrote:A Bit off subject here, but my other post got lost in the shuffle of the site. Any recommendations for a cpap pillow for a side/stomach sleeper with a ResMed full face mask?

I think you are going to find that bed pillow preferences are as highly individualized and cpap mask preferences and we can tell you what works well for us but it may not work well for you for any number of reasons.

I can't use any of those bed/cpap pillows with the cut outs for the masks to lay in when I am on my side or stomach because pretty much all of them are too "tall" for my body and put my head/neck in a bind of sorts...but then I am a small woman with small bones and small shoulders so when I am on my side I don't need as much bed pillow height to keep my cervical spine in a nice straight line but a big man/woman with a larger frame might need that extra height.

Then some people like a firm pillow and some people like a soft pillow...it's mostly personal preference and trial and error when it comes to bed pillows.

If someone wants to experiment to see if one of those special cpap pillows with the cut outs will for them I usually suggest they go to WalMart and buy one of the cheap memory foam pillows and cut out their own little cut outs on the sides for the mask to rest in...and see if they even like it that way before springing for the big bucks that those special cpap pillows cost.

Me...I use a buckwheat hull pillow so that I can move the hulls around if I need to either make a little "nest" for my mask if I am on my side or scrunch the hulls around if I need different support for my neck. I have really bad arthritis in my neck so the position of my cervical spine during sleep is really important to me. If my neck gets in a bind I am guaranteed to wake up with a neck headache and a stiff and sore neck....even if I wasn't using cpap.

But I will say that the less on the face the easier it is to find a place to rest the mask when side or stomach sleeping.

Pugsy wrote:

JV1967 wrote:A Bit off subject here, but my other post got lost in the shuffle of the site. Any recommendations for a cpap pillow for a side/stomach sleeper with a ResMed full face mask?

I think you are going to find that bed pillow preferences are as highly individualized and cpap mask preferences and we can tell you what works well for us but it may not work well for you for any number of reasons.

I can't use any of those bed/cpap pillows with the cut outs for the masks to lay in when I am on my side or stomach because pretty much all of them are too "tall" for my body and put my head/neck in a bind of sorts...but then I am a small woman with small bones and small shoulders so when I am on my side I don't need as much bed pillow height to keep my cervical spine in a nice straight line but a big man/woman with a larger frame might need that extra height.

Then some people like a firm pillow and some people like a soft pillow...it's mostly personal preference and trial and error when it comes to bed pillows.

If someone wants to experiment to see if one of those special cpap pillows with the cut outs will for them I usually suggest they go to WalMart and buy one of the cheap memory foam pillows and cut out their own little cut outs on the sides for the mask to rest in...and see if they even like it that way before springing for the big bucks that those special cpap pillows cost.

Me...I use a buckwheat hull pillow so that I can move the hulls around if I need to either make a little "nest" for my mask if I am on my side or scrunch the hulls around if I need different support for my neck. I have really bad arthritis in my neck so the position of my cervical spine during sleep is really important to me. If my neck gets in a bind I am guaranteed to wake up with a neck headache and a stiff and sore neck....even if I wasn't using cpap.

But I will say that the less on the face the easier it is to find a place to rest the mask when side or stomach sleeping.

Thank you for the advice, Pugsy. I'm sorry that you have arthritis in your neck. *hugs*

JV1967 wrote: Any recommendations for a cpap pillow for a side/stomach sleeper with a ResMed full face mask?

Gramps and I have used several types of full face masks (FFMs) while side sleeping and both of us just use your basic, fairly flat pillow. You sleep near the edge of the pillow so the mask is over the edge and less likely to dig into the pillow.

There are three specialized CPAP pillows in the linen closet. We were not happy with any of them and went back to our "plain ole" pillows.

I would say try using your current pillow for some nights and then you might have a better idea about whether you want to spend money on something specialized.

My doctor's office has in the past been lackadaisical about returning my calls,
and after a couple times of us just showing up, they are much better now.

I'm like chunkyfrog, if I don't get a response I show up in person for that response.

chunkyfrog wrote:My doctor's office has in the past been lackadaisical about returning my calls,
and after a couple times of us just showing up, they are much better now.

They've given me a difficult time for calling them more than twice in a day. I have a feeling if I drove the 40 miles and just showed up, they would have a sh*tfit, but you gotta do what you gotta do. If they don't return my call today, I may resort to that drive.