Well Apria just lied to me

I saw Apria today for the first time. DME switch. I had them check the pressures of both my APAPs. The place smelled like cigarrette smoke and was not impressive. Ive seen better DMEs before.

The RT pulls out this disgusting looking, brownish plastic pressure checker. Looked old as dirt. Looked like it had not been calibrated in who knows how long.

She checks both my Resmed S9 APAP minimum pressure and tells me it comes out as 10.1. Its been checked other places as registering about 9.9.

Then for the big lie/mistake. She checks my Phillips Respironics APAP with A-Flex, brand new with hardly any hours on it. I got it from a DME down in Charlotte, because I was living in Charlotte until not long ago and all my medical care is there still. The DME down there was not wonderful either and the DME manager spent some time with me getting it "right as he could get it." He admitted to me none of the Phillips Respironics APAPs he had blew a 10 when set at 10. So he had to set it at 10.5 and it blew around a 10.3, which I watched him write it down.

I reset it at 10 to see how honest or accurate these Apria people would be. They told me at 10, it blows at a straight 10! LOL When its documented elsewhere, it blows well below 10 when set at 10. I did not say anything, just left their office.

I wonder how long it has been since that dirty old pressure checker had been calibrated?

So now, its documented on paper at two entirely different places as blowing two different pressures at a setting of 10. LOL

Eric

I use a F&P HC224 water column manometer, like the one here. I can't remember where I bought it online, but I already had a compatible tank, so I only bought the manometer. Simple to use and it doesn't need calibration. If you don't have a humidifer tank with a vertical out port, CPAP's price is a fair one. I think I paid $30 for just the manometer. Also, if you don't have a short tube and don't want to use a long one, one of these would be perfect.

Eric,

I really think the pressure is not an absolute thing. I would look at your numbers in regards to how you feel and adjust your pressures accordingly. Also if you are really concerned you can purchase your own manometer for your own personal use.

Quite frankly coming from a health care back ground...if someone came at me with a cruddy testing tool. I would tell them no way they were going to use that on MY machine. In health care clean is real important. I also would have walked out a place that was stinking of cigarettes. I am allergic...and I would never return. I would also tell them my reasons for not returning as well as report that to my insurance company and doctor.

To be completely honest. I rarely need my DME. The call me to see if I need anything. My doctor checks on me monthly. I review my own data..and make adjustments according to how I feel with the guidance of my doctor.

Since you are so unhappy with everything and everyone. Why not self manage an just deal with mail order and you personal doctor? Unless you just love getting your dander up, walking around pissed off and are looking for any reason to pick a fight and make a scene. Because from your posts here you are going from one temper tandrum to another.

If you are on SSRIs you may also want to speak with your doctor in regards to that. Because I don't think they are really working for you..based on the you posts here.

BernieRay wrote:I use a F&P HC224 water column manometer, like the one here. I can't remember where I bought it online, but I already had a compatible tank, so I only bought the manometer. Simple to use and it doesn't need calibration. If you don't have a humidifer tank with a vertical out port, CPAP's price is a fair one. I think I paid $30 for just the manometer. Also, if you don't have a short tube and don't want to use a long one, one of these would be perfect.

Yeah, Ive already got one of those. I already knew what the pressure was from both my own checker equipment plus what the dme that gave me the gear told me and wrote down.

Eric

msradar65 wrote:Eric,

I really think the pressure is not an absolute thing. I would look at your numbers in regards to how you feel and adjust your pressures accordingly. Also if you are really concerned you can purchase your own manometer for your own personal use.

Quite frankly coming from a health care back ground...if someone came at me with a cruddy testing tool. I would tell them no way they were going to use that on MY machine. In health care clean is real important. I also would have walked out a place that was stinking of cigarettes. I am allergic...and I would never return. I would also tell them my reasons for not returning as well as report that to my insurance company and doctor.

To be completely honest. I rarely need my DME. The call me to see if I need anything. My doctor checks on me monthly. I review my own data..and make adjustments according to how I feel with the guidance of my doctor.

Since you are so unhappy with everything and everyone. Why not self manage an just deal with mail order and you personal doctor? Unless you just love getting your dander up, walking around pissed off and are looking for any reason to pick a fight and make a scene. Because from your posts here you are going from one temper tandrum to another.

If you are on SSRIs you may also want to speak with your doctor in regards to that. Because I don't think they are really working for you..based on the you posts here.

Ive already decided I am not using Apria as a DME. I agree, the place was nasty smelling and the RT pulled out that dirty looking pressure checking gauge. I was feeling so rotten today that I was beyond arguing. And I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. See this is an example of what happens to me when I let my guard down and am "nice" to people. They walk all over you. That is my experience. I only get results when I am like a pit bull.

What you have suggested is what I have been thinking lately, use Internet suppliers exclusively, bypass brick and mortar DMEs for everything and just keep it between me and my sleep doc. Part of my problem right now is I am no longer in Charlotte where the standards are generally higher, not perfect but certainly higher than the rest of NC. Where I am now, the standards are very low and expectations are very low. Its hard to find good quality medical care in the area of NC I am at right now. I should have stayed in Charlotte.

Eric