CPAPtalk.com

Good morning, Lori.

Yep, I missed it (obviously).

But, the "Sage of CPAPS" is BACK!

Have a good one.

Den

Everyone - this has been a very helpful post and besides thanking you all, I have some good news (could be a testimonial, but we'll just call it one person's positive experience. See Roger, I hardly know you and I feel comfortable pulling your leg.). I was very busy yesterday with BMI and Bonnie. I'd be surprised if she didn't have me on speed-dail by now. Bottomline is, I will have my machine today which is nothing short of a miracle in the world of customer service.

The DME I selected from the list in the doctor's office has had my prescription for a week yesterday and still only one phone call (and that was only after I had to call them to see if they got the stuff from the doctor) and no apparent progress. "We apologize, Mr. Kennedy.......," "We are on it Mr. Kennedy.........." Can't wait for them to call, if they do.

Late yesterday afternoon, not much before closing, Bonnie got all the paperwork via fax from my doctor. It took me a couple phone calls to convince the doctor staff to expedite, but they did (they are closed on Friday so this meant avoiding a substantial delay). I don't think they really believed that someone would ship the machine that fast. Bonnie and I had already discussed machines, masks, etc. and she knew my needs pretty well so when all the paperwork finally came she rushed to get the order filled and it shipped last night UPS overnight Air. Cost me an extra $28 (total $35, noramlly $7) for the shipping but having it that many days sooner and for the weekend to settle in and get to know each other, will be worth it. I checked the tracking and it is on schedule so when I get home from work it should be Christmas.

For those interested in BMI service standards and faced with the same decision:
> I filled out the on-line form on Monday morning and by afternoon Bonnie had already confirmed my insurance coverage.
> On Tuesday she contacted the doctor's office to get copies of the sleep study, the prescription and a LMN.
> On Weds she got all the paperwork except the LMN and re-contacted the doctor office; this was most difficult part of the process as my doctor's staff never answers the phone and you always have to leave a message which always produces delays.
> On Thursday Bonnie got the signed LMN saying it was a lifetime prescription, processed the order and shipped the machine.
> If all goes right I will have the machine this afternoon, less than 5 days after contacting BMI.
> The only delay in this whole process was my doctor's office. If they had responded to Bonnie on Monday or Tuesday and filled her request, I would have had the machine Tues or Weds. 48 hour service ain't bad! (Hope Johnny reads this one. You guys rock!)

Besides the REMstar Auto C-Flex with HH, I got a Swift mask to go with the Activa I got from the sleep lab. I also ordered a smaller (Std) cushion for the Activa as I think the lab used a too large cushion (leakage near eye). Either way, one of the cushions will work and I will have a good chance of finding something that works good for me. Both masks seem to have large followings and as we know we are all different it is a crap shoot going in. I feel rpobablyas good as one can anticipating a learning curve and period of adjustment. Thanks to many folks on this site I have an idea of what to expect and keep my expectations reasonable to be able to manage the frustration when it comes and work through it and not quit.

I believe the machine has been set for 5 - 15 and we'll go from there.

Thanks everyone, maybe I'll have a little energy this weekend and get some projects done. Might even play catch with my sons!

Jim

Jim,

What can anyone else say but how wonderful!!! It pays to push a little bit harder when it's something as important as this. And I LOVE your attitide. A lot of people don't look at starting on therapy as Christmas, but, boy, have you got the right attitude. You can't lose. Between the great machine you're getting (I have the same one) and two of the best masks/interfaces of their kind, AND THAT POSITIVE OUTLOOK, you are set.

You may want to try to start to calm down JUST A LITTLE if you're going to use it tonight because all that happy adrenaline running through your veins is going to keep you up longer. But I look forward to hearing some great news from you on Saturday morning about how good you feel. And if it doesn't happen Saturday, then Sunday, Monday or the next day. But it will happen and you have worked so hard to get to this point, you deserve it!

Best of luck and congratulations. BMI really pulled through for you, with your cooperation and drive.

Well, I guess we beat this topic up pretty good. I got the info and recommendation I asked for. Made my decision. Placed my order and my sons just called that my order has been delivered. Houston, the CPAP has landed. Less than 5 business days from initial inquiry to machine delivery. Beat that DME (Dumb about Most Everything).

Bonnie at BMI is an angel, just can't see her wings in her photo. Already sent her a thank you but want to acknowledge her high level of service and empathy to the general population of this forum.

So moving on now, going home, and starting the next leg of my journey. I'll start a new post with my experience for the first night and weekend.

Thanks to you all!

JimK, newbie for real now

Jim,

I agree. Bonnie is nothing short of an angel! I spoke with her on Wednesday after reading your initial post . My insurance sucks so she couldn't help in that area, BUT she talked with me extensively about my problems and referred me to cpap.com.

As soon as I hung up the phone I called them and placed an order at 3:30 pm on Wed. My machine arrived this morning and I am just a little excited myself. I have confidence that c-flex will solve most (not nearly all) of my problems.

Bonnie, if you read this post, THANK YOU!!!

Also a big THANKS to all here who have helped!

Don

rested gal wrote:Roger, having followed the saga of your sleep study (such as it was) on the ASAA message board, it's nice to see that you found your way here where you, like so many of us, find practical advice about how to get the kind of equipment you want at reasonable prices. You're already helping others sort out what you faced such a short time ago. Good job.

Hello RG!
It is good to hear from you again! I've learned from your responses and am glad you’re in the wings watching out. For certain I'll be tugging on your sleeve for more insights before long.

As for my saga, it has more chapters but I stopped posting them because even I didn't want to believe what was happening. At one point my doctor said he was surprised that they were so unconcerned about their errors when he began getting so many corrected sleep study reports. He also said he had never seen anything like it before.

Wulfman wrote:Roger,
I would like to say "ditto" on EVERYTHING Rested Gal just said. (although I would call it an "ordeal")
Welcome to this forum. I'll be looking forward to hearing more from you.

Hello Den,
Thanks for the warm welcome and for noticing my adventure. Until you mentioned it I hadn't given the process a label like 'ordeal", but that is because I was too busy doing instead of observing. In this case I had taken it on as a mission and didn't want be averted this time around so I've had my head down during the charge forward.

While my adventure has been an endurance, it has taught me so much about what a new person should consider before going into a sleep center that I'll probably write up an outline that should prove useful for "first-timers". That project will happen when I stop talking about being a hose-head and start to actually accumulate spent filters under my belt.

My "breeze in a box" left Houston on Tuesday and should arrive here Monday or Tuesday. I elected the slow-boat approach so I would have time to clear a landing zone this weekend and not still be all wound up from taking the big step.

Thanks to all here for helping make this a comfortable place to lean against.