New and confused. *UPDATED IN NEW THREAD*

[Guest]

Hi Rockin Mama, long story short here..I got a non-data machine before I even knew what data was. Read here on the forum, went to my sleep Doc armed with all my new info, asked for the Data Capable Remstar Pro , he said my insurance wouldnt cover it because there was no medical reason to have it, he said "buy your own" and left the room.

Being the wimp I am, I bought my own. I love it.

PS I then got the software to go with.
(I hope this goes through, my computer is in for repairs and this is my son in laws POS.

This is Sleepy Rose

Im not saying that you shouldnt put your foot down and demand the best machine you can get! I'm just saying that since I didnt,Im glad I bought my own, it was worth every penny. Ill bet it cost less than what the insurance would have paid. They only cover 50%.

You GO girl, you can do it!
(sounds like your apnea is pretty severe, you certainly need more than what you have)t

[Rockin Mama]

"I wonder how willing they will be to give me a new machine since i've already used the one i've got?"


They will be very unwilling to get you the more expensive machine when the S8 Escape II works just fine. Why do you need the Elite and not the Escape? The pressure is the same.

I suppose it's because I care what goes on in my sleep, and if i cannot get that information on the machine I have, i'd like one that WILL give me this information.

[dsm]

Slinky is right on here.

You require the Elite because you need to monitor your data - end of story.

The Escape can't do that so you want the Elite. If they get iffy push for the Autoset II as you need Auto adjustment.
(that may shake them a bit & hopefully the Elite will be given to you).

DSM

[Slinky]

Good idea, dsm. Go for broke! Rockin'Momma "might" even get that Resmed S8 AutoSet II and at the very least the provider may be more likely to compromise with the Elite II. Hey! Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Do you have a husband or SO who can be there to lend some weight and backup for your insistence on the AutoSet or Elite??

[roster]

Your profile says,

Follow Up Call: Registered Respiratory Therapist. I work in home care in Michigan. I've set up hundreds of patients up on CPAP. I personally don't use CPAP. I've been in the business for 10 years.

And then you write,

........ Why do you need the Elite and not the Escape? The pressure is the same.

WTF? I hope you hang around here and get an education quickly after learning very darn little in 10 years.

You also wrote,

If you can't get a new machine, you are at least eligible for new supplies (Mask, hose, filters) your DME will be happy to bill your insurance for those.

I have a hunch that the only thing you have done happily in ten years is "bill someone". Get them to order new supplies, whether they need them or not, and you can "happily bill".

[Rockin Mama]

Good idea, dsm. Go for broke! Rockin'Momma "might" even get that Resmed S8 AutoSet II and at the very least the provider may be more likely to compromise with the Elite II. Hey! Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Do you have a husband or SO who can be there to lend some weight and backup for your insistence on the AutoSet or Elite??

Nope my husband is in the military and currently in texas. I move on sunday, so i hope i can get this mess taken care of soon!

[Slinky]

Ah, Rooster, lets give Follow Up Call a bit of a break. He ruffled "my" feathers and I came on fairly strong. Maybe he'll stop back in. His ID indicates he might at least be one of those few RTs who do do follow up w/their clients. Maybe.

[roster]

......... His ID indicates he might at least be one of those few RTs who do do follow up w/their clients. Maybe.

Yeah, he makes a follow-up call to see if he can order them some supplies and "happily bill".

[Rockin Mama]

......... His ID indicates he might at least be one of those few RTs who do do follow up w/their clients. Maybe.

Yeah, he makes a follow-up call to see if he can order them some supplies and "happily bill".

All this makes me feel like a niave little girl

[Rockin Mama]

So after speaking to my husband, he said to deal with it for now. If I am not satisfied he will outright purchase me the better one... *sigh*

[Slinky]

Ah, Rockin'Momma. Don't give up so easy. At least TRY. Be diplomatic, but be firm. You really would prefer the Elite II to the Escape II and cite the reasons I gave FollowUpCall. They can't do any more than say No Dice. Do it for yourself. Especially since if I remember correctly you will be joining your husband in TX soon or he will be coming back to NC w/you.

[rested gal]

Welcome to the board, Rockin Mama. Slinky is giving you excellent advice about getting the DME to swap your present Escape for an Elite (preferably the Elite II .)

Follow Up Call's statement that the pressure is the same whether you use an Escape or an Elite is true. Both are "cpap" machines. Both use a single prescribed pressure to treat you. You can receive equally good treatment from either machine.

Slinky's reasons for why an Elite would be more useful if a person wants to monitor his/her own treatment are absolutely right. I would insist on an Elite over an Escape for all the reasons Slinky mentioned.

I would be sure to get the S8 Elite II, not just the S8 Elite without a "II" in its name. The newer "II" series models are supposed to be much quieter than their previous same-name models.

The way to "deal with it for now" is by going back to the DME right now...while you are still in that magical window of first month rental...the time when the DME is most likely to want to try to please you in order to establish you as a continuing customer.

[kteague]

Hi. As was mentioned, at a pressure of 16 you are likely to have some leak issues. A data capable machine will help you monitor your leak rate and make sure your treatment stays therapeutic.

A basic non data machine will deliver the same treatment, it just won't give you recourse for quick troubleshooting and resolution should things not go as a "best case scenario". You'd have to wait to see how you feel, and then either have your pressure increased as a guess and wait again, or have another sleep study. Seems to me the severity of your apnea (and your age) merits utilization of every means available to assure successful treatment and a long future free from the health risks sleep apnea brings.

Once you get settled in with your treatment, it might not be a bad idea for you to use a recording oxygen monitor overnight to make sure your oxygen level is staying where it needs to be. Your doctor should be able to order one thru your DME.

Welcome to the forum.

Kathy

[goose]

"I wonder how willing they will be to give me a new machine since i've already used the one i've got?"


They will be very unwilling to get you the more expensive machine when the S8 Escape II works just fine. Why do you need the Elite and not the Escape? The pressure is the same.

With 3 posts it's VERY obvious you haven't been here long enough to realize the blatant ignorance of your statement. You may be an RT and used to your uneducated patients giving you a kind of "god" status, but you ain't gonna get that here!!!!!
On this forum we choose to handle our own treatment because people like you pawn off the crappiest piece of sh** machines on us for the profit motive.

Rockin Mama is doing exactly the right thing. Making the attempt to get the best machine she can so that she can determine if her treatment is working well and take control over it. She should not care about the DME's profits. It's not their treatment it's hers. DME's are a dime a dozen, and I'm sure her insurance company contracts with more than one.
If the one she presently has is not amiable to her request, she should drop them like a hot potato and find one that will support her needs.
Moving to Texas may provide her with an alternative.

Rockin Mama - make sure you get a written copy of your prescription before you go. Also make sure you get a complete copy of your sleep study -- not just the summary. When you have relocated you can find a DME that will fill that prescription and a sleep doctor that can use your sleep study. Do some research here and figure out what kind of machine you want and the functionality. If he'll/she'll do it, ask the doc to write a make/model specific prescription so the DME has no choice of what to provide. In your shoes I'd insist on an Auto CPAP machine so you can self titrate if necessary.

Good luck to you!!!!! You've found a great place for great information!!!!! Oh...and welcome!!!!



take care
cheers
goose

[Rockin Mama]

So after speaking with my husband again, I have decided to call my PA/MD about this and see if they can give me the proper tools to go forth with changing my machine. I have my first follow up appt with my ent on weds, but im not all too sure i want to wait that long... Unless some of you here can give me the paperwork i need to print out to show without having to utilize my ENT..