New and telling my story

Hi,
I joined a few weeks ago and have been lurking around. Time to introduce myself. I live in Seattle, I've had my cpap machine for 40 days. My official diagnoses is upper airway resistance syndrome. My at clinic sleep study pegged me at 39 apneas an hour, only during REM sleep, and an average of 72 spontaneous arousals, most likely from difficulty breathing. Oxygen levels 89. I also have a restless leg issue which we are ignoring at the moment.

I have Group Health and Medicaid as secondary. The good part is no out of pocket costs for my equipment. The bad part is being forced to use Apria. I learned what I might be up against through this forum. Everything is true. They are awful, unorganized, ill trained and rude. Oh did I mention they lie? When I was making my first appointment they told me over the phone that I can never pick out my own mask, that only the doctor can prescribe it. I knew better by reading here. When I went in to pick up my machine, I asked if it was compatable with Sleepytime software, which I knew I wanted from reading here. They said they didn't know. I asked them if they could find out. Blank stares, and then an "uhhh I guess so". They came back in 10 minutes and said "all Apria equipment takes Sleep Mapper, but it's only for the doctor and insurance company to use." More lies. When it came time to learn the machine and pick out a mask, I was crammed in a room with 6 other people, felt uncomfortable asking questions. The pace was so fast and hard to see what the girl was talking about. Then she gave all the "cool" masks with pretty pink straps and multiple pillow sizers to the one girl who was paying cash. I got zero help or attention. So, I threw a fit. I stood up, packed up my machine, put it in my bag, grabbed an unopened random mask off the table and left. I didn't sign anything. I went home and learned how to use the machine myself. I got lucky with my mask grab, a Mirage FX mask, with pink straps. Yippy! We have our moments but for the most part we're compatible. Apria has sense denied me a heated hose (horrible rain out) because they claimed my insurance wouldn't pay for it. Another lie. I went back in to get one and the receptionist told me they were out. I asked her to please check again because just a few days ago they had a bunch of them. So low and behold she comes out of the back with a box telling me that someone forgot to check it in. lol! So, I walk out with a brand new conversion kit and heated hose. Which I also learned to install myself. Idiots!

Wow that was a long paragraph. Sorry folks. OK so overall I'm doing well. Only 2 out of the 40 days was I not compliant and only by a few minutes. It's because I take off the mask in my sleep. I'm averaging 7 hours with it on. I also wear it watching tv or on my tablet to get use to it. The cool part about my mask is I can wear my glasses inside or outside my mask. I know how to change my pressure settings but have resisted the temptation. They are set at 6-10. I'm also working on a deal with a member here to get a used mask which I'm looking forward to trying something else.

That's me. If anyone can steer me in the direction of more info on my heated hose, I would appreciate it. It seems to only come on when it senses moisture. Is this right? I wish it was on, all warm, all the time. Cheers!

Hi newbie. Welcome. I'd try a different Apria local office if Apria is your only choice. The good news is once you get your set up and supplies and some back up supplies, you shouldn't have to mess with Apria that much.