I have no clue what I'm doing

So after the sleep study he said the dr looks over it and decides the machine too,, and the mask I get is the one he has chosen, So why dont I have any say? about anything? its my life and body and money

You DO (and insist on it). Don't listen to the techs!

You do have a choice in both mask and machine.

Especially the mask...simple you just refuse a mask if you don't want it. Don't accept it.
Most docs will write the RX for a mask with the wording "mask of patient's choice"....since you prefer full face...if they just say "full face" would be okay since that is what you want.

Be the squeaky wheel and they will listen to you.

Now the machine choice...that gets more nit picky. Doctor does choose the overall type of machine...cpap/apap vs bilevel or bilevel ASV or one of the other specialty machines.
Some doctors do have a preference on brand and model and they might specify their own preference.
If that preference doesn't suit you then you have the right to voice your opinion and ask for explanation as to why they won't let you have want you want.

It all depends on the wording of the actual RX or order for the equipment.
From what you have said about the tech...sounds like he was on a power trip. Playing big man....I suppose.
Wait until you see what the doctor actually orders and the DME wants to supply before you start worrying.
The doctor may be very general in what he actually orders.

If they don't supply what you prefer...simply don't accept it. You do have control. Don't let them push you around.

Pugsy wrote:You do have a choice in both mask and machine.

Especially the mask...simple you just refuse a mask if you don't want it. Don't accept it.
Most docs will write the RX for a mask with the wording "mask of patient's choice"....since you prefer full face...if they just say "full face" would be okay since that is what you want.

Be the squeaky wheel and they will listen to you.

Now the machine choice...that gets more nit picky. Doctor does choose the overall type of machine...cpap/apap vs bilevel or bilevel ASV or one of the other specialty machines.
Some doctors do have a preference on brand and model and they might specify their own preference.
If that preference doesn't suit you then you have the right to voice your opinion and ask for explanation as to why they won't let you have want you want.

It all depends on the wording of the actual RX or order for the equipment.
From what you have said about the tech...sounds like he was on a power trip. Playing big man....I suppose.
Wait until you see what the doctor actually orders and the DME wants to supply before you start worrying.
The doctor may be very general in what he actually orders.

If they don't supply what you prefer...simply don't accept it. You do have control. Don't let them push you around.

Thank you , I will wait and see,, maybe even accept that mask and buy another to switch out with,, I have read here many do that to trade off sometimes, It wasnt a bad mask but the harness inst what I hoped for, guess he upset me cause he didn't listen, Maybe I am just tired today lol but I will just wait and see but good to learn my choices from this site before opening my mouth lol its just the way he told me how they choose for me,, I just want to be heard without having to be rude, ugg again thx

Julie wrote:You DO (and insist on it). Don't listen to the techs!

Thank you very much

1 more question lets say you use a site like cpap.com for and extra mask or something,, and they have a form to print out for the dr to fill out ,, which I found,,

Does Dr fill it out for each item,, or once its on file you can order any supplies you want? How ever many you want?

Sorry if it a silly question lol
Thank you
Darla

Most DMEs have some sort of mask swapping policy. Ask ahead of time what your DME has...so that there are no ugly surprises.
If you decide to try the "recommended" mask and you hate it...the DME should be willing to switch it out to something else within whatever mask swapping time frame/policy they have.
If the doctor does happen to state a specific mask...they can't force you to use it...if you say you hate it and want something else the doctor pretty much has to let you use something else.

Does Dr fill it out for each item,, or once its on file you can order any supplies you want? How ever many you want?

Usually one form gets you access to anything depending on how it is worded.

My RX says simply "cpap with heated humidity"...doesn't mention mask at all but a RX for the machine pretty much includes mask. I have bought many masks from cpap.com with that RX.

FYI - If someone's rude to you, don't be so careful about not being rude back! Many people take advantage of women who are afraid to stand up for themselves because of their being afraid to offend, but if someone's offensive to you, you have a right to be offensive back.

When I had my first sleep study, The tech I had spoke with an accent which sounded like it was eastern European. She was hard to understand and kept calling me "darling". I am not a darling! When it came time to put on a mask, she put a FFM on me and pulled it tight. I tole her it was too tight, and she insisted it had to be that tight. When I got home the next morning, I had a large, sore, red spot on my nose. When I went to the doctor to discuss the results, he said needed to do a titration study. I told him there was no way I would ever have another study, and explained why. He suggested I go to the sleep clinic that was close to his office. I said I would talk to them and then decide if I would have the study, or not. When I got there that afternoon, they sat down with me and tried several different masks on me until I found one that felt comfortable on my face. I agreed to do the titration study, and I had no problems the second time. I used the mask the whole night, and had no marks on my face other than slight impressions where the straps went across my cheeks, and these cleared up rather quickly. The difference in the two labs was like day and night.

Julie wrote:FYI - If someone's rude to you, don't be so careful about not being rude back! Many people take advantage of women who are afraid to stand up for themselves because of their being afraid to offend, but if someone's offensive to you, you have a right to be offensive back.

It was more like and I noticed this since getting older,,, He says what he says and I say no I want a choice and some say in what I get. because I am the one using it for yrs and his response is you will be getting the mask I put on you tonight, He says its a nice and soft, That's where I feel I am not heard, I just said I want some say in it and was totally dismiss, maybe its me but I feel that way a lot,

Like I am talked to like a child, I just had a dentist that acted the same way, Of course I didn't go back anymore but only after I have partials that are painful but I refused to go see him,, cause when I said they were to tight,,he says tight is good and ignored me,
,, that kind of way of talking to me,,not rude but ignored, I guess I have so many medical issue I've kinda given up the fight, I didn't used to be this way,I used to stand my ground, sad cause I watch the same happen to my sister, before she passed, she gave up,, I have fibro and in a lot of pain, and dont express myself well anymore. He really pissed me off cause a few times I sat up in the middle of the night, in order to turn over but here he came running in to tell me to lay down, He said with back pain I should lay on my side,, Well how did I get to be 60 and not know that, I told him can he give me a minute, I know what works for me, He stood there waiting for me to lay back down uggg
Buts its over,, I wont do it again,

Okie bipap wrote:When I had my first sleep study, The tech I had spoke with an accent which sounded like it was eastern European. She was hard to understand and kept calling me "darling". I am not a darling! When it came time to put on a mask, she put a FFM on me and pulled it tight. I tole her it was too tight, and she insisted it had to be that tight. When I got home the next morning, I had a large, sore, red spot on my nose. When I went to the doctor to discuss the results, he said needed to do a titration study. I told him there was no way I would ever have another study, and explained why. He suggested I go to the sleep clinic that was close to his office. I said I would talk to them and then decide if I would have the study, or not. When I got there that afternoon, they sat down with me and tried several different masks on me until I found one that felt comfortable on my face. I agreed to do the titration study, and I had no problems the second time. I used the mask the whole night, and had no marks on my face other than slight impressions where the straps went across my cheeks, and these cleared up rather quickly. The difference in the two labs was like day and night.

Exactly,, same here he put it on so tight so when he left the room I loosened it,,He came back and tighten it, said it has to be,, but with fibro it was painful, I know how to make it tight enough so theres no leaks,, Im not stupid,, made me mad

so I loosened it again,, he got on me for it,, it hurts

I am so glad its over,, horrible night

Another question

Instead of my doctor having me go thru a place to get my machine and mask can I get a prescription and go on a web site like cpap,com and order what I want, of course the type of what the sleep study recommends, cpap or apap. but still do it my self? They would have told my dr the settings I need, Cant I do it myself? Like call them and talk to cpap.com and help me choose?

I notice some that drs go thru dont have a large selection and then they have to come to my house,, I dont want anyone coming here and I dont go out anymore

Is it possible? wait its probably cause I cant use my medicare there ,, right?

Thank you
Darla

MssDarla wrote:Is it possible? wait its probably cause I cant use my medicare there ,, right?

CPAP.com doesn't file Medicare in lieu of payment and if you buy from cpap.com Medicare won't reimburse you.
But if you have the money and want to do it...yes, you can get a copy of your RX and use cpap.com for purchases. Utilizing available mask return insurance your out of pocket costs could maybe be not so much....so it is an option. Let me know if you want more information on the return insurance option.

Now there are some online sources that will file Medicare for you in lieu of payment (plus any medicare supplement filing ifyou have a supplement) and would be an option for mask purchases.

GOES INTO A RANT<< I'M SORRY in advance

Its been a little over a week since my sleep study using a machine, I wrote to my dr, about the next step. I am pretty close to this dr so I know she is open to do anything I ask about of course within reason, So I told her that I wanted more say in picking out machine and in a mask, I have medicare and no supplement ins,
She said as the tech in the sleep study said,, He recommended the mask he put on me, No I dont know what its called, but the mask was fine except he had it to tight and it cut on the top of my ears, When I loosened the straps he came over and tightened them twice, Made me mad, I have fibro but even still I am smart enough to know we can't have leaks but if I loosen the straps and still have no leaks, I'm good,, This guy got on my nerves so bad, I told the dr, How can he pick the mask when he never ask me a thing about how it felt or showed me any ohters? So I take it what he recommends I have to get, She said medicare is pretty strict, then she asked me whay is it I am looking for it a machine, I told her 10 yrs ago they gave me a machine and mask with no info on my settings nothing,and well after trying to use it I put in in my closet, but now I have been so sick I know I have to use it, I truly believe I was heading for a stroke, I went to Er and they were thinking Tia and wanted me to stay in hospital a few days but I stayed 1 night and went home, So I am using the machine and I already feel better, Yesterday I actually slept till 10:30 I was in shock when I saw the clock,, I normally am up somewhere from 4 am to 6 am, with a rotten nights sleep,

ok back to why I am here, How can this tech determine what mask I have to get?? ugg and I need to have my ducks in a row on what to ask for in a machine I know I want auto

But first I asked her if I could find a company that accepts medicare and get the ball rolling, She will respond tomorrow. But in tonight email she gave me a company's name I could call and ask everything

I asked her to please mail me the copy of test results and recommendations first, I hope he said auto and not cpap, I will go with his mask but then buy myself a 2nd one to trade off with,

Just makes me mad that a person can make such an important decision in my life without asking me my thoughts at all, 1 nights sleep doesn't tell them what my nights are like, He just got on my last nerve, twice I woke up because my back was hurting ,, I sat up and wanted a drink of my water and the dang man showed up in my room. which talking to him just wakes me up more, I just needed to drink and lay back down in a new position, The dang man came in and panicked cause I opened the mask to take a drink, kept asking do I need to go to the bathroom,, ugg stop talking to me, Then he had the nerve to say " Ya know with a bad back you should sleep on your side" if I had a gun I would have shot him,, lol ok not really but omg how did I get this old and this much pain and not know how to sleep? all he was doing is waking me up more, Twice he did this, then tell me to go to sleep. I asked what time it was,, He said don't worry about it and go back to sleep,, I snapped and said I want to take my pain pills I need to know if its to soon,,so I picked up my phone to see the time,, took a pill and laid back down, WTH????

OOOO and before running out when the time was up,, He handed me a piece of paper with a preachers name on it,, said to look him up on you tube and pray for my health and pain issues, He was from India,, not that it matters but I couldn't understand him very well,, and he told a lot of stories about his patients, Including one where the man didn't qualify for a machine but desperately wanted one cause of his snoring, and how he hooked him up with someone who sells machines. and he sold him a mask out of his office,,, ok like I needed to know this stuff

anyways,, thanks for letting me rant

If they try to give you a mask that you don't want....just refuse it.
You have that right. Stand up for yourself because no one else there is going to. They can't force you to spend your insurance money (your Medicare and your out of pocket copay) on a mask you don't want.
They might squawk but they can't force you to do anything you don't want to do.