how long did it take to get CPAP after diagnosis?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:15 am

It two weeks to see the Dr. after my sleep study. The Dr's office faxed my perscription to a locally-owned DME and I picked up my equipment later that day. That's where the good service stopped.

knitterwanabe · Post by **knitterwanabe** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:17 am

This has been helpful...I will continue to impatiently wait like I am patient...
(no,I haven't given anyone a hard time about it..nobody to apologize to... I was polite on the phone.

My apologies to you all if I sounded too whiny

-Ginger

Snoozing Gonzo · Post by **Snoozing Gonzo** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:17 am

Oops, guested myself. The above post is mine

Chris

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:41 am

knitterwanabe wrote:This has been helpful...I will continue to impatiently wait like I am patient...
(no,I haven't given anyone a hard time about it..nobody to apologize to... I was polite on the phone.

My apologies to you all if I sounded too whiny

-Ginger

Ginger,

There's nothing wrong with keeping after them. If you don't, it may take longer than it should......"the squeaky wheel gets the grease". I've been wondering for the last year if they actually take advantage of us in our sleep-deprived state. Be proactive in your therapy. Insist on the machine (preferrably one that records nightly statistics) and mask you want.....don't just let them hand you the oldest thing in their inventory. Do lots of research on the products and this therapy so they won't be able to BS you. At least you found this forum earlier than later. So many users have said "I wish I'd have found this forum sooner."

Hang in there and best wishes,

Den

KansasRT · Post by **KansasRT** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:43 am

In our area we set patients up the day after their titration study. If there is a hold up it is strictly the Dr. not writing a script. (Exceptions are insurance companies that require precertification, they take longer) Most patients come out of their titration study with a CPAP "high" where they feel really good. We want to keep them that way by getting their CPAP asap.

Bookbear · Post by **Bookbear** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:06 pm

Referred by gp to sleep doc Jan 4, 2006. Oximeter overnight test March 21. Saw PA for sleep doc April 12, ordered sleep study. Sleep study scheduled for June 1, but got in on May 6 due to last minute cancellation. Saw sleep doc's PA on May 15 for results, got Rx on MAy 23, ordered from Cpap.com on May 24, received equipment on May 30. So, five full months. It would have been over six months had I not paid for the equipment myself. Insurance co. gave me conflicting instructions involving two different DME's. One said they would not order the specific machine on my Rx, since "my insurance company won't pay for it", the second DME (the one I was actually supposed to go to..it took over a week for the insurance company to sort out exactly who I was to go to) said they would have to order it and it would take "six weeks, unless you want this straight cpap we have here for you to take today".

BTW-- I finally saw the sleep doc himself (yes, he REALLY exists!!) June 28, four weeks after I had started therapy. It was his earliers available appointment. Thank the gods for his PA, who got the Rx written up and signed and back to me without having to wait until the end of June.
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap.com, CPAP, DME

Moogy · Post by **Moogy** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:36 pm

2/10/2006, Friday, Primary care doctor requested sleep study
2/13/2006 Tuesday, Initial Sleep Study
2/24/2006, Friday, Follow-up appt with primary care doctor (Two week wait was due to slow reporting of results by sleep study doc)
3/2/2006, Thursday, Titration sleep study
3/4/2006, Saturday, Joined cpap.com forum and took a quick course in taking charge of your own CPAP therapy
3/6/2006, Monday, Called local DME and asked if they could get me an automatic so I won't have to wait another two weeks for results of titration study. Helpful RT gave me all the info I needed, suggested a bipap instead of a cpap based on my description of my study experience. She sent me to primary care doc with needed wording for prescription.
3/7/2006, Tuesday, Appt with Primary care doctor's physician's asst, who wrote prescription
3/7/2006, Tuesday, Picked up equipment

Total Time Elapsed 3.5 weeks

If I had chosen to wait for the second sleep study results, my wait would have been longer. If I had waited for an appointment with a sleep specialist, instead of using my long-time primary care doctor, I would have waited even longer.

Moogy

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:23 pm

Went to GP 4/7, first sleep test 4/25, second sleep test early june, got equipment 7/27.
Almost 3 weeks on cpap and I don't think I ever felt better! Can't wait to see what it's like to dream!

Brenda

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Avg. AHI .4