CPAPtalk.com

Update on the sitch:

Tried to schedule an appointment with my normal sleep apnea doc but the entire office is booked out two months.
I now see this as a great thing, because it led me to ask myself how I could see a doc faster, which led me to realize it would be worth a shot doing a telehealth call through an online service that is covered by my insurance.
Until today, I never would have previously thought of seeing "any random doctor online" for this sleep apnea prescription / situation, but today's research and forum messages have opened my eyes a bit.
So, later today, I have an online video call with some random doc. I will explain the situation with the urgent recall and needing a new unit asap and my thoughts on the BiLevel etc, and see if they can write me up a new RX.
If they can do this, I'm going to try to work it so they put multiple equipment options and accessories and hopefully even a lifetime duration. Then I can have my pick of whatever I want and never worry about not being able to get equipment in a situation like this (though I'm not sure what format I could get this in and how I would send it to various places when needed...like is there a standard online RX format, or does it have to be a faxed or mailed item?).
Now I'm all prepared with my questions and thoughts for the doctor. I am excited about what might come of this situation.
I will report back later with the outcome of this wild ride.

Also, I would like to say that I really appreciate everyone on this forum. You are all so kind and generous for sharing your time and knowledge with strangers. So, thank you. Internet hugs sent.

My Rx looks very close to the pic below.

The Rx submission process varies from vendor to vendor: some use email, other ask uploading pdf to their website.

I did the online telehealth call and the doctor said they are not allowed to write RX for medical equipment.

Then I tried to schedule a telehealth call with a few different local doctors I've seen before, including my sleep doc, and they were either not available at all, or two months out, or the website didn't allow me to do it.

Then I figured that I might have better luck doing a telehealth call with a general medical doctor instead of a specialist, so I called my normal doctor and when I got through I explained that my sleep apnea device was recalled and I needed to do a telehealth call to get a new RX asap so I could get a new machine. The receptionist was very rude and said they can't help me with the issue and I need to deal with my normal sleep doc. I explained that my sleep doc is too busy and they are all booked out. I told her that I could share my medical records and sleep apnea diagnosis with her and that any medical doctor is able to write an RX for sleep apnea equipment and again that my unit was recalled. Again she refused to help me.

Then I tried calling the sleep doc directly on the phone, and was on hold for 30+ minutes with 10 other callers ahead of me still. I got frustrated and hung up.

Feeling I have no other options, I went to the link noted by one of the other members of this forum to purchase an RX online. I just filled out the form online and paid and I am praying that they will help me. On the form I wrote a note that I wanted a BiPAP and that I could adjust the settings, however, the form asked for my current sleep doc's info, so I'm afraid this may go sideways if the online doctor contacts the sleep doc and there is any question about me needing a BiPAP or otherwise about anything else. The form asked me for the pressures or numbers or whatever for the machine I wanted, and but I left it blank because I didn't understand the BiPAP settings they asked for. I'm hoping it's enough that they see my note about wanting a BiPAP and that I'll set it. This is really stressing me out. If this doesn't work out then I have no idea what to do next since nobody in the health care industry wants to help. This is so frustrating

I will save you the long version of my day and the 4 offices I have dealt with but the short version is I asked my (new to me) sleep doc to put me on the cancellation list for a quicker appointment and before we hung up the phone I got one for Monday morning. Might be worth doing as a backup plan.