CPAPtalk.com

And....THANK THANK THANK all of you who had educated me soooooo much these last few weeks because....the R.T.....was pretty hurried going through everything with me -- it was like his time was sort of short. I had a friend drive me there because of the sleep driving thingee AND because i just needed someone else listening to the "presentation" in case i got home and couldn't remember where the "on" button was.....

So....the R.T.....really nice...did an okay job....BUT....I immediately asked for the SmartLink "stuff" so I could download and look at my breathing scores tomorrow morning and the R.T. said, "Oh, no no no, you aren't even supposed to be able to do that, only we and the doc would need that info, this machine does not even have the software to do that, you do not have access to anything that will give you readings, just take out this little card and take it to the doc with you whenever you go to the doc, it gives compliance info, but there is not any other info available."

Now the sleep-deprived crank lady part of me really wanted at that point (and this was early on) to replyto the R.T.: "BULLSHEET, YOU ARE LYING TO ME!" because I know what that machine is capable of and does....and I know it was ORDERED with smartlink as part of the Rx" and I had seen this little module on the back that said "SmartLink" AND then the R.T. told me about the compliance issue.....BUT....and again because of all of you fine fine fine wonderful people (my cpap family....sniff sniff) I was calm, and my answer was, "oh, okay"......

The R.T. then turned it on and showed me how to turn on, off, and then right away the ramp feature which was set to "4". I said I would actually like that a little higher, and he changed it to "5". But he did it like "well this is some secret R.T. code sort of thing that only I can do".....and again I didn't say anything like what I wanted to say which was "Yeah, me and my cpap family will figure out how to adjust that if needed"....because the R.T. was just acting like that little machine is the R.T./DME's domain....when it's MY NOSE, my TONGUE falling back, my SLEEP DEPRIVATION for about the last DECADE.....but I digress....

You see when the R.T. was acting that way I was thinking: "you just let me get me home with this machine and me and my cpap family will help me figure this out." And...I did. Then took my friend who drove me to lunch and I even took the machine (in its little tote bag) in with me bcause DANG NAB IT I want to sleep tonight and NO creep wanting to steal something from a car today was going to deprive me of that....

So, got this home and first of all had grown son put on the mask....because when I had been talking previously about learning to breathe with a gale force wind in my face....and he acted like "that would be no big deal"....HA....he put the mask on and off...and then said, "i could never do that.'' I told him, "you will if you ever need it and want to sleep!"

So....I hooked myself up, turned it on, picked up the manual and sat at the kitchen table and walked myself through menus....now, of course the titration is set....AND it was set up in straight CPAP mode with the Autopap feature off and the Smartflex inhalation/exhalation comfort feature set to off.....well i quickly figured out how to turn those on......heh.....(you know, I wonder if I had asked about those features with the R.T. if he would have told me my machine wasn't set up with software or features to do that also, but I didn't want to push my boundaries of wanting to start out with a R.T./DME by pointing out their lie)...I'm just too tired, and don't want to fuss.

so all that remains is this SmartLink thingee.....I see where I can purchase a module (but the machine already has that...it's where the card goes in and it says "SmartLink on the module) and software, and data card reader and USB cable, etc., in a pack from our WONDERFUL cpap.com (itching to give them money....because i appreciate cpaptalk.com website sooooo much). And I have seen on the machine screen the SmartCodes....so do I need to purchase that SmartLink pack/software/cable/reader etc., pack from cpap.com? or do I take the SmartCode tomorrow and put it ....somewhere?...do I go to a website to get thosereports to read how I sleep tonight? I'm confused on this part.

And.....should I start out in plain CPAP, or turn on auto, and turn on Smartflex right away. I did notice it was easier to breathe with Smartflex.
I'm thinking....turning on Smartflex tonight but using it in straight CPAP mode and see how that goes? What do you think?

Oh...I was told to contact my insurance company about how much they are charged for machine, etc., that the R.T. does not have access to that info. I can get one more mask in the first 30 days, R.T. recommended a Liberty for me. And I guess I can tell the company to send me what I need either on an as-needed basis (hoses, filters, etc.) or I can tell them to send me stuff automatically according to the insurance schedule. ......and speaking of insurance company, they RENT the machine for 3 months, and then they purchase it and give it to me. At that point my little sleep deprived brain had asked and received information to its capacity, and I didn't ask more questions.

The R.T. was nice, friendly, I think the R.T. was doing what he thought he should be doing, saying what he thought he should be saying....even the lie part.

And....and this is such a blessing, but today in my home without being hooked up to sleep clinic wires, and in strange place, etc....that mask did not feel claustrophobic. Now, granted, I didn't LOVE having a mask strapped to my face like I outta be in an F-14 or something BUT....this is doable...and this gets my life back....sniff sniff....I gave up my life, my energy, my hobbies, my HEALTH in such small increments, I turned around one day this summer and realized I was only barely making it through a day and was too tired to take care of myself, my family, had given up hobbies....in fact, truly except for the grace of God was only half living.....and considering how many times i have dozed while driving recently I was going to be 6 feet under soon...I had even jokingly been referring to myself (and telling friends and family to call me also)....H.D.J.....which stands for Half Dead Junebug.

So.....ONWARD and FORWARD....I have HOPE! And that's a very good thing. And God, "Bless cpaptalk.com and the fine cpap family who have helped educate me, cpap.com.....my insurance company.......OH, and DeVilbiss, my sleep doc, and yes even the R.T. who told a whopper.....Amen"

You do not need the smartlink module to get some data. Just get the smartcode numbers from the display and enter them here:
https://www.intellipap.com/default.aspx
I do not have the module so at this time this is all I get. It gives a good overview for the night, but not hourly details.
You have the smartlink module and if you got the software all you have to do is install it on the a pc and then hook it up to the Intellipap.
Not sure how much the DME is going to charge you for rent, but I bought mine from cpap.com for $400 something. My insurance would only pay 50% and they way the DME's mark stuff up it most likely would have cost me much more then just buying it outright. Plus the machine is all mine I do not have to answer to anyone. I have been 100% compliant.
I started mine in APAP mode. My titrated pressure was 9. I set the machine at 7 to 15. After a week or so and looking at the daily reports, I average about 12.5 sometimes a little higher. So it is in APAP mode set 10.5 to 14. My average AHI is >5 and has been even better since switching to a mirage micro nasal mask. I think I would have been miserable at 9.

Hi Junebug....

As I told you the other day, the SmartLink software is not going to be covered with your insurance or via the DME. You have the module, but in order for you to view the data, you will need the software and the SD card.

You can buy just the software disk on cpap.com -- this one comes with the SD card and firmware cable for when you need to update your machine if new improvements are made to it. For example, those who have had their Intellipaps since before Aug. 1 were able to do a firmware update to the machine in order to add the SmarkFlex feature to the machine. https://www.cpap.com/productpage/devilb ... p-kit.html

That RT should be ashamed.... lying outright to you like that. It makes my blood boil. I am so happy you were well prepared for this meeting today.

Now.... do find out what the rental is costing YOU..... per your copay, etc. I am wondering if they said rental for 3 months since that is all that is left in this year. The purchase would then come as part of your new deductible?????? Something to consider....... you may still wind up paying more than if you had just bought it outright, but you will need to figure that out.

Ooops... almost forgot to say..... GOOD LUCK TONIGHT!! I hope you love your IntelliPAP as much as I love mine!!

thank you jmcanzo and emilia....and yes emilia my rem deprived brain now DOES remember y our saying that about the software.....so i'll get that and the cable. They do have a smartcard in the SmartLink module...that's the one she said to take to the doc for him to check compiance....will I need to purchase another card?

I'll order that from cpap then.

The part about what the machine costs.....dear hub put his 2 cents in and said to just go along this time and once we know what we are doing we will just go through cpap.com next time. My co-pay's start on July 1st every year, and my main deductible is met, and pretty soon my $2,200 ceiling is met where my medical will be paid at 100% so for this year we're just going to do it this way. I had asked hub the other day what he thought about our just purchasing it outright from cpap.com, and he didn't think we should do it that way right now.....trying to remember his reason. Oh yeah, we are SLAMMED with medical stuff right now. My son passed out a week ago, and had knee surgery this summer with lots of physical therapy, AND with the passing out now there are more mri's and eeg's of the brain....he's okay though.....i just think he waited to long to eat and got up too fast....but anyway lots of medical expenses...oh then me with the sleep study and titration study, etc.....oh and bloodwork...son and i both....lots of bloodwork....so hub said just to go along and next purchase (the backup machine and future machines), we'll just go through cpap.com.....oh, the reason, i think he thinks the DME is just so much more efficient and helpful because they are RIGHT here in our town....pttttttttttttttuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuui!!!! we'll just see what he thinks about the R.T. lying to me. heh heh

Now, because i've been tired lately....just realized my bedroom is a DISASTER...and DUSTY....so tomorrow i'm going to try to overhaul that. Plus I need to raise up the bed so it will be higher than the nightstand...

AND....have I said today? I LOVE MY MACHINE....we'll see how tonight is I've learned from reading your'all posts that sometimes the machine/sleep/mask has a different idea. I'm feeling hopeful enough that I'm not going to go to doc in box and get halcion/ambien prescription though. We'll see. I've gotta go to drug store to get lanolin for lips being dry tonight. I'll order the SmartLink though so I can see that. I'll post my numbers here in the morning from the "quickview."

Thanks a bunch!

Junebug,
I for one am so impressed by your diligence and fantastic attitude. You did all the things I wish I had done at the start. Took a friend along, (because my brain was mush), asked for software and some sort of record of how the therapy was going from the machine itself, and knowing enough to know that the RT was not telling you everything.
Your attitude will go far in getting this CPAP thing down and your life back.
Way to go, you are an inspiration for newbies. Let us know how your adjustment goes, and welcome to the Hoseheads.

Karen

Thank u Karen and all credit goes to this website. Everything I know I've leArned hear from Emilia and others who have answered my questions. Actually I wanted to tAke one of you experienced members from this forum with me and in a way I guess indid because I had my "cpap binder" with me that had printed out copies of info and pertinent threads. This website is awesome.