Newbie here ...lots of questions! Please help

I had my sleep study in April. Because my Drs got there wires crossed I am just now getting my Cpap. I have an appointment next week with a sleep Dr for a fitting. Does that mean I am taking my machine home that day? DME is part of their sleep lab. The sleep Dr already has my script.

A little more info (wasnt sure it would post my username hasn't registered yet). The sleep lab that I went through is connected to a big teaching hospital (UCSD) . I also see a pulmonologist there for copd and that is how the mix up happened. I thought I didn't have sleep apnea until I seen my lung dr on fri. She walked in and asked how I'm doing with my Cpap ! I was floored , like seriously ...I had my study in April.

Yup, sounds like crossed wires. It happens. Too much.

I would venture to say that many people on here are here because they either are new and wanting to learn or because they have already learned that we need to be proactive in our own care.

I go to every doctor with notes. Questions that I don't want to forget to ask and questions about how much do they know about whatever we are going to further look into. I have some autoimmune issues and some just don't have easy answers. Some, people never heard of. But I have them nevertheless and I have already paid the price for those who under diagnose because they are just not familiar with all things. I don't mind not knowing but jeez, look it up because you can bet money I will.

In the beginning I thought between my pulmonary dr who also did sleep issues, and the sleep technicians and the dme's all located in the same building, I could just take their advice to heart. I have since learned not so fast. Health care is a business and doctors are real busy. So I try to be as prepared as I can be so I can ask the questions I need answered. I have a wonderful primary care doctor and he totally knows I don't put all the responsibility for my health into his hands. And then I have had some health care people who copped an attitude and those I don't see twice.

It's my body. It's my insurance. It's my health. It's my money. I am responsible for them. And me. So keep asking questions. There is a lot to learn.

Thanks for the reply , I was relying way to much on them . My oxygen drops down to 70% so It kind of freaked me oug. I am definitely going to pay more attention and be more proactive! My health is no joke and nothing to take lightly. I'm so glad I found this forum , Now I just need to get my registration approved because I have a feeling I will be on here quite a bit.

I was also wondering the DME thing. I was told my results and that the facility's DME department would be in contact with my insurance and will set up an appt with me within two weeks. Does this mean when I go to meet them they'll have machines on hand for me to take home or will I choose my machine and they'll put in an order? According to the nurse I spoke with I will get to choose my APAP but I'm not sure if that means it has to be ordered at the upcoming appointment.

I realize every DME is different but if anybody has their personal experience to share that would be great!

palindrome17 wrote:I was also wondering the DME thing. I was told my results and that the facility's DME department would be in contact with my insurance and will set up an appt with me within two weeks. Does this mean when I go to meet them they'll have machines on hand for me to take home or will I choose my machine and they'll put in an order? According to the nurse I spoke with I will get to choose my APAP but I'm not sure if that means it has to be ordered at the upcoming appointment.

I realize every DME is different but if anybody has their personal experience to share that would be great!

My doctor sent an order for a machine to the DME (who I was not happy with, and found out later I had the choice of other DMEs, but that's another story) and said they would contact me. I had to wait a couple of weeks before the DME could squeeze me into their schedule. I used that time to find information on line (from this forum and others) about the different CPAP machines and masks, so I had an idea of what I wanted. I called the doctor's office and said I wanted a Philips Respironics DreamStation, and they said that's what he had ordered. The order was also for me to get a mask of my choice. When I went to the DME's facility, they had the machine waiting for me, along with the mask that was my first choice, the DreamWear. My introduction to the machine was cursory at best, and I left with lots of questions. Thank goodness for sites like this!! I took my machine home and started using it right away.