First Sleep Study\DME frustration

So I had my second sleep over at my Sleep Study 2 weeks from tomorrow. My sleep study was really up to date and prompt on my appointments and getting me in there to get the studies done. (I am sure this is where they make their money!) I was diagnosed with server sleep apnea and will need a CPAP pressure of 15. So they told me that someone will call me within 5 to 7 days after they get the results to schedule an appointment so I can try on masks and machines. The results also got mailed to my house and I have had them for a week now. So no-one has contact me yet. I called today and finally got to talk to supposedly someone that will be handling my equipment. I told them I wanted an APAP instead of the CPAP and now they want me to talk to my doctor again. So I am trying to schedule an appointment to talk to my Sleep Doctor. Do people think I should just get the script and go to another DME as this is taking longer than I expected?

Anyways, I am very new at this whole CPAP thing and this is my first frustration with it, and I don't even have the CPAP yet. I think I am just venting a little and thanks for listening CPAPTALK. I am sure there are people out there that are going to think I am nuts because I am frustrated on not getting my PAP machine and most newbies don't usually want the machine or want to start the therapy. But the reality is, if I can sleep and wake up every day like the day I had on my second sleep study with the CPAP machine on. Then I really want my machine.

I'm new at this, too. It took about two weeks for me to get set up for the 'fitting' of my equipment and I had a bad experience, so I'd advise you to check into suppliers before you go for your fitting. I'm on Medicare, but apparently that doesn't make a difference, but you may want to check with your insurance company to see if they will give you a list of suppliers. Then read a lot on here about different machines you might want and see which suppliers have/or will get them. I wish I'd done that better. I did know what I wanted, but when I got called for my app't, I went and was told they only supply one machine and I could take it or leave it. I was stupid or intimidated and ended up accepting it. It is a very basic machine and after asking questions here and checking out the pricing, I decided that if I was going to be 'married' to it for 7 years (Medicare rules) before I could get another, I wanted a 'top of the line' machine. I called my doctor's office and told them I wanted that one and had found that Lincare would get me one after my initial compliance period on their basic machine. The doctor's office told me they see to it for me and tomorrow I have an appointment with Lincare to be supplied and then the doctor's office will call and cancel the other machine from the other supplier for me. Supposedly I can then return it to them no matter what they say about me having signed a contract for it, which I did do.

The long and short of this is, do your homework during this period and be ready to stand up for yourself if need be. I so wish I'd known then what I do now about my rights, etc. and that there are choices of suppliers, not just the one owned by the company that did the sleep study.

And, I've had no problems other than a sore nose getting used to it and using it all night since the beginning. Good luck, and don't be afraid of it taking a bit of time. It's well worth it!

Patdart

Hello all. Finally I have good news. The DME talked to my Dr. and I am getting an APAP. My DME had to order it as I want the S9 AutoSet with the H5i and Climant Hose. Yayaaaaaaaaeeeeeeee . DME stated that they are on Back Order and it will take 2 weeks for it to come in.

Excellent, dcarreiro!!

For new readers who might be trying to figure out machine names and which ones they might want to avoid accepting (reason to avoid -- lack of useful data about nightly therapy):

My list of machines that record "full data" (AHI and leak info) and those that don't -- updated through March 2010:
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