My ongoing saga for a CPAP

Well I got a phone call from my new DME and I was told the cpap I requested was ready to pick up tonight!!!!! I am going in to be instructed on how to us my cpap and to pick out my mask. Could I FINALLY be getting a machine? I am so pumped to get started and get rid of the O2 concentrator ( doc has dc'd O2 for day I start cpap) I have been using since this all started 3 months ago. Who would think it would take this long from suspecting I had OSA to today.
It took all I had to fight for my cpap but I am so glad I did and didn't "settle" for the only one the old DME said was under contract with my ins company.
I would like to thank my respiratory doc and the RT from the office because he was the one who called the new DME and spoke to a sales rep and told him what and WHY I wanted the cpap that I did!!
So if you are in the same boat as I, call your doc...good chance he/she will fight for you! My doc said whatever will make me comfortable and happy and USE THE CPAP...he wanted me to have!!!
Lastly.........THANK YOU TO EVERYONE ON THIS BOARD!!!!
Without you I would have gone into this totally oblivious!!

So glad you are finally able to see the light at the end of the tunnel and about to exit the tunnel.

Hooray for your doctor to take your side and join you in the fight to get the machine you want and need!!!!

As you are already aware there is a learning curve to using your machine and if you need help, let us know.

Congratulations on getting the PAP you wanted. And on having a sleep doc willing to back you up for the PAP you wanted. Not all sleep docs are that .... cooperative. And some will flat out not only not support your desire for a fully data capable PAP, they are resistant to your even HAVING a fully data capable PAP. I encountered one of those sheisters. FORTUNATELY, I already had a fully data capable PAP. He and I did have a go-round about fully data capable PAPs.

Thank you! I wanted to say I am dealing with my pulmonologist and not the doc at the sleep lab...I couldn't even tell you what that doc looks like at the sleep lab being there was never an appointment with her! The sleep study was ordered by pulmonary doc and he told me the results. I called him with my struggle. I guess I probably should have asked the sleep lab why there is no follow up with that office but I didnt even question it at the time.

If this sleep lab doesn't ever schedule you a consult w/the reading/dictating doctor unless requested .... that "sleep doctor" most likely isn't worth the time or money to bother with. He/she is most likely some doctor that decided to pick up a "cash cow" sub-specialty that wouldn't require much "patient" time. Far too many "sleep doctors", accredited or not, just are NOT worth your time and money to insist upon a consulation with.

I went to the cardiologist today for a check up and I gave her my sleep study results. She was not the doc who ordered the test but was in agreement I needed one. II told her about mu search for the right cpap and the trouble with the DME and she told me she wishes all her patients were so well informed about their treatment!! She said she was very happy I took the steps to research sleep apnea and I told her about this board!! Her one question was.."do any of the cpaps have an alarm to alert you to low oxygen?" I told her I didnt know but would try to find out.

No, the CPAPs still can't do that w/o an accompanying oximeter. But there are oximeters we can buy, some of which have alarms. Off the top of my head, I think that ConTec makes one.