What's appropriate to ask of DME?

MrGrumpy wrote:tell your DME tech that you will file a complaint against him and the DME with your state's licensing board. You will need to know what kind of tech this person is...most likely they are a respiratory technician. Find out what kind of tech they are, find out the website of the state licensing agency that gives this person their license (and they DO take complaints against people they license BTW!) and drop da bomb on them. Say, "you know, you arent acting professionally towards me regarding this serious issue of my CPAP gear. I would hate to have to file a complaint against you with the state licensing board for "fill in the blank" technicians." Im assuming this person is probably a respiratory tech.

Wow! You've really lived up to your moniker today, Eric. I like it. Sounds like a great back-up plan if Peggy finds the DME less than responsive.

NightHawkeye wrote:

MrGrumpy wrote:tell your DME tech that you will file a complaint against him and the DME with your state's licensing board. You will need to know what kind of tech this person is...most likely they are a respiratory technician. Find out what kind of tech they are, find out the website of the state licensing agency that gives this person their license (and they DO take complaints against people they license BTW!) and drop da bomb on them. Say, "you know, you arent acting professionally towards me regarding this serious issue of my CPAP gear. I would hate to have to file a complaint against you with the state licensing board for "fill in the blank" technicians." Im assuming this person is probably a respiratory tech.

Wow! You've really lived up to your moniker today, Eric. I like it. Sounds like a great back-up plan if Peggy finds the DME less than responsive.

Yeah, I think Eric has found a "home" here at CPAPTALK.
His attitude fits in with many of the rest of ours.

Welcome home, MrGrumpy!

Den

Wulfman wrote:

NightHawkeye wrote:

MrGrumpy wrote:tell your DME tech that you will file a complaint against him and the DME with your state's licensing board. You will need to know what kind of tech this person is...most likely they are a respiratory technician. Find out what kind of tech they are, find out the website of the state licensing agency that gives this person their license (and they DO take complaints against people they license BTW!) and drop da bomb on them. Say, "you know, you arent acting professionally towards me regarding this serious issue of my CPAP gear. I would hate to have to file a complaint against you with the state licensing board for "fill in the blank" technicians." Im assuming this person is probably a respiratory tech.

Wow! You've really lived up to your moniker today, Eric. I like it. Sounds like a great back-up plan if Peggy finds the DME less than responsive.

Yeah, I think Eric has found a "home" here at CPAPTALK.
His attitude fits in with many of the rest of ours.

Welcome home, MrGrumpy!

Den

MrGrumpy wrote:Most of these people expect lawsuits...oftentimes it takes them by total surprise when they get a medical board or licensing board complaint!

You may have something there, Eric. The only time I ever threatened a physician with a complaint to a state licensing board was when an ophthalmologist tried to "fire" me as a patient. He and his staff immediately quit playing games and started working for me in the manner I had requested.

I never knew whether the turn-around in behavior was because he realized I was serious about the treatment I expected, or because of the threat of going to the licensing board. Now, after reading your comments, I suspect it was the latter.

Regards,
Bill

And the state licensing board is probably going to tell you that it is up to the doctor to order the access to your data, that the DME supplier's staff is NOT authorized to do so EXCEPT by doctor's order.

Peggy, Just to add another side to the story. Maybe you could give your DME a chance and ask them to turn on the menu. Where I am at that menu access is not a scripted item, so I can just turn it on for patients. I turn it on for most people, but sometimes I forget. It is in a different menu. I wish that it prompted it in the settings menu, or that it came activated and you had to de activate it. Just like it is very easy for people on this forum to lump all DME RT's in to one big bad person, it is very easy to lump all CPAP patients in to one big person that is not really interested in their own treatment. The majority of CPAP patients could care less about menu's or data. I din't mean to come off mean if that how this sounds, just don't go in with a chip on your shoulder. Give them a chance. If they don't come through for you, then you can give them all you've got.

Yeah, I think Eric has found a "home" here at CPAPTALK. Wink
His attitude fits in with many of the rest of ours. Smile

Welcome home, MrGrumpy!

With a suitable substitute available that means Gumby can take a hiatus.
Welcome Grumpy.
Gumby Out,
taa taah

GumbyCT wrote:

Yeah, I think Eric has found a "home" here at CPAPTALK. Wink
His attitude fits in with many of the rest of ours. Smile

Welcome home, MrGrumpy!

With a suitable substitute available that means Gumby can take a hiatus.
Welcome Grumpy.
Gumby Out,
taa taah

Oh, no you don't!!!
Nobody said you could leave.

Just ask DreamStalker how that works.

Den

oh yea, see you in chat. ha
lmao so - bi bi
taa taah
or ttfn ha

Wulfman wrote:

GumbyCT wrote:

Yeah, I think Eric has found a "home" here at CPAPTALK. Wink
His attitude fits in with many of the rest of ours. Smile

Welcome home, MrGrumpy!

With a suitable substitute available that means Gumby can take a hiatus.
Welcome Grumpy.
Gumby Out,
taa taah

Oh, no you don't!!!
Nobody said you could leave.

Just ask DreamStalker how that works.

Den

O.

I am sorry to have given the impression that I thought I would have a problem with getting my DME to give me access to my data. I didn't mean to imply that at all! In fact, the morning after my very first use of the machine, when I discovered I didn't have access to the full data, I called and asked if they could change that for me at my next visit, scheduled for a week later for my first SmartCard reading, and he said absolutely he would. My question was more whether it would be all right for me to go in earlier and without an appointment without being a totally unreasonable PITA. I probably was inartful in how I worded things or should have specifically pointed out that I had already inquired about that and am sorry if I led anybody down the wrong path. A big problem of mine is that I am not assertive enough on my own behalf (although pick on my *kid* and it's a whole different story, of course ), and I just wanted to make sure it would be okay to "jump the gun" and go in without an appointment, something I knew could perhaps be deemed "pestering" and not appropriate in a business setting.

So, again, I am sorry if I offended any techs out there! Mine is very pleasant, very amenable to helping me, didn't hesitate to give me a copy of my prescription or sleep study when I asked, and I have no complaints about him personally whatsoever, just was wanting to make sure I wasn't becoming an overly demanding and inconsiderate customer if I came in unannounced, so to speak.

And I will take this opportunity to thank everyone who has taken the time to replay to this! You guys rock, as the young'uns say!

Peggy

So ..., when ya gonna go in, Peggy?

pjwalman wrote:A big problem of mine is that I am not assertive enough on my own behalf (although pick on my *kid* and it's a whole different story, of course Smile),

It's that Mama Bear thing - even Gumby understands you don't get between Mama Bear & baby bear - for ANY reason.

Sounds like your DME is a keeper.
Good Luck,
GumbyCT - not talkin fish here.

Well, I got into my menu today, and I'm thinking my four-day average is not that great. An average of 15 on the Apnea Index and 34.5 on the Leakage. Is that typical of a first week? With that kind of leakage, should I definitely push for a different mask? Could I have caused that high a number just from my few times I moved the mask to get it more comfortable to to wipe up drool? (Gross visual there. Sorry!) Still averaging 15 apneas an hour, obviously there will need to be some tweaking by the doctor or is that acceptable since it's much lower than my apneas before treatment? I know, I know. I should just wait to see what the tech says on Friday, but I'm not very patient, guys. If anyone has any feedback for me, I'd sure appreciate it.

Thank you!

Peggy

pjwalman wrote:Well, I got into my menu today, and I'm thinking my four-day average is not that great. An average of 15 on the Apnea Index and 34.5 on the Leakage. Is that typical of a first week?

Nope! The good news is that you have gotten past the initial days of treatment. I'd recommend you get the detailed reports from your DME as recommended earlier. Those details will provide clues as to what adjustments need to be made. If I were you I wouldn't wait until Friday.

Just one question, did you really mean the Apnea Index or did you mean the Apnea/Hypopnea Index (AHI). An AHI of 15 may not be so bad, but an Apnea Index of 15 sounds terrible.