Seeking members in Tacoma-Seattle area

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Mon May 07, 2007 9:08 am

Hey, if you're anywhere in Western Washington, talk to me. Maybe we can brainstorm some.

I'm very frustrated with my DME:

http://www.bluemountaincpap.com

And I've heard some good things about two others - Swedish Hospital in Seattle, and Olympic Pharmacy in Gig Harbor.

Maybe we could meet up, share some tea and sympathy and swap masks sometime?

If nothing else, we could chat here.

Cheers,
Barbara in Lakewood, WA

RichCMH · Post by **RichCMH** » Mon May 07, 2007 9:56 am

I found this on google... cpap support groups

http://www.sleepapnea.org/cgi-bin/database.pl?WA&&State

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Mon May 07, 2007 10:00 am

Yup, I posted that last week. I haven't had a chance yet to make the call. I was dissappointed in the responses that said people tend to not show up for these meetings. Need to call the Lakewood group and see if they are still in existence.

Cheers,
B.

ScottH · Post by **ScottH** » Mon May 07, 2007 10:26 am

Don't know if you'd consider south Snohomish County as "local" but I'll chime in.

I used Providence Everett Sleep Health as my clinic, and they dealt with the DME on my behalf, so I never had any equipment selection problems. There's a big OptionCare sticker on my APAP but the closest I've come to dealing directly with them is a line item in my EOB.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Mon May 07, 2007 10:32 am

Hey, the Weather man does, so can I.

Sounds like you got a good situation there. I just got an appointment with my sleep doctor for the 23rd, so I think I'll tough it out until then and see what she says.

Cheers,
B.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Mon May 07, 2007 12:02 pm

Found this online:
http://sleepdisorders.meetup.com/cities/us/wa/seattle/

Can't read it here at work. Haven't a clue if it's a good thing or not.

Cheers,
B.

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:44 pm

Kirkland WA member here.
Hated ALL the local DME's bad enough to drive me to a dental device solution. Apria was the worst.

I am not sure what is more of a relief of going to a dental device....not using CPAP or not dealing with the evil DME's.

Paul B · Post by **Paul B** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:56 pm

Hi Babette,

I'm in Mill Creek, a little north of you. I use Swedish Hospital and have had primarily good experiences although I usually see a physician assistant rather than a regular sleep doctor. He's a good guy but somehow I feel better in the hands of an MD.

It would be interesting to get a group of us together to share experiences in a central location.

Let me know if we are able to put it together.

Paul

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Mon May 07, 2007 6:05 pm

Babette,

Have arranged for a Seattle based friend to PM you.
Her & husband have a great doc they use who is very
OSA savvy.

Hopefully she can offer some tips.

DSM

cpaprookie · Post by **cpaprookie** » Mon May 07, 2007 8:49 pm

north snohomish county,

checking in.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Tue May 08, 2007 9:12 am

How's that dental device working out, Snork? And how do I look into this? Just call my regular doctor and inquire?

We SHOULD get together. We could wear our masks and show up at some trendy posh Seattle eatery and cause a riot. Oh! We should definitely do that in Pioneer Square. It's been entirely too quiet there lately.

DSM, I did hear from your lovely friend, thank you so much!

Cheers to all,
B.

SleepySandy · Post by **SleepySandy** » Tue May 08, 2007 9:58 am

Issaquah here.

I go to Swedish as well. I drove into Seattle to see a particular RT I had talked to on the phone even though Swedish has a sleep therapy supply here in Issaquah. He was terrific.

My sleep doc is at the Swedish Sleep Disorders Center. I gush about him so much I should start a fan club

The Swedish DME is owned by Swedish Hospital - it's not owned by the sleep center. My sleep doc offered to give me a list of DMEs but I had already talked to the Swedish RT on the phone and wanted to use him.

Swedish is my second clinic and DME. My first was Overlake Sleep Disorders Center. It's NOT the one in Overlake Hospital - that's Eastside Sleep Disorders Center. That's nice and confusing - I don't know anything about the sleep center at Overlake Hospital.

I highly recommend staying away from Overlake Sleep Disorders Center. The biggest reason is my experience with the doctor. I don't have anything good to say about him. If anyone wants the details I'll share. The DME is truly part of the sleep clinic - my insurance statements list the doctor as the supplier for all of my CPAP stuff. The DME wasn't horrible - just not great. They have two RTs - one good - one kind of a jerk. But, they don't have the facilities Swedish does.

Sandy

P.S. I think it would be fun to get all of the people in the Seattle area together if we can figure out a relatively central location for all of us. We seem to be a bit far-flung.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Tue May 08, 2007 10:09 am

Thanks for the post Sandy! And thank you for all your private support you've given me since I joined!!!!!

Actually, it's beginning to sound to me like Seattle is the central location.

Though, of course, since we all commute 50 miles a day one way (What, you don't watch the TV news?), any place would be good.

Or we could have a field trip to somewhere interesting. Is it too late for tulips in the Skagit Valley?

Bus trip for the sleep challenged. I think we should definitely get matching little sweatshirts and old lady tote bags and go to lunch together (all 50 of us) and insist on separate checks....

LOL,
B.

SleepySandy · Post by **SleepySandy** » Tue May 08, 2007 10:19 am

old lady tote bags

Hey, I resemble that remark - I carry a tote bag to all doctor's appointments because it's easier to carry all of my records and stuff in it. In fact, I'm looking for a new one because my current one isn't very attractive.

Actually, it's beginning to sound to me like Seattle is the central location.

No no no. Issaquah is VERY central. I hate parking in Seattle.

another_guest · Post by **another_guest** » Tue May 08, 2007 10:25 am

hmmmm ---

not going to get me to Seattle unless it is via ambulance --

now I live where people love to go - nice beach - but a zoo a few weekends during the summer -

if we get enough people we can rent a meeting room at the Ocean Shores Convention Center

Machine