DME annoyance: who's where?

I decided to make an attempt at getting my Flex settings unlocked through the "proper" channels.  Which means it's time to deal with my DME again.  Last time I trekked out to their main location, the RT I normally dealt with wasn't there; she was apparently at their satellite location at my sleep doctor's office, down the street from my place.

As a result of my last trip not finding the RT, I called ahead.  They say she's at the location near me, and to call her with my issues.  I call that location, and they tell me that my RT no longer works for my DME and I should call the main office.  So, I'm back to calling where I first called.

In that call, I was able to explain the problem I was having with the locked settings.  They told me to call the location near me to get it unlocked, and to bring my mask so that I can try the settings out.  What, are they planning to re-lock it after adjusting off of CFlex+ 3?  I call the nearby location and get through with the name I was given.

In that call, I got through to the other person I typically saw at my DME.  She tells me that she won't adjust that setting as she doesn't think that she's supposed to to anything with CPAPs.  Instead, I can take half a day off of work tomorrow with no notice, and drop in in the morning.  Either that or make the arduous trek back out to the suburbs and hope they tweak the setting there instead of insisting upon the nearby location.

So, here I am on the subway, balancing my machine on my lap.  It would have been so much easier to not attempt the "proper" channels, and just do it myself. 

Just like banging your head on a rock.
Where, oh where, do they find these people?

tetragon wrote:It would have been so much easier to not attempt the "proper" channels, and just do it myself. 

So why aren't you doing it yourself?

If you decide to go it alone I hope you have studied the clinical as well as users manuals to be very familiar with the settings
Good luck

Here is the link to the cpap library video that shows you how it's done thanks to Sleepnationtv.

http://www.cpaplibrary.com/machines.html

Perrybucsdad wrote:

tetragon wrote:It would have been so much easier to not attempt the "proper" channels, and just do it myself. 

So why aren't you doing it yourself?

Because I didn't know about how closely they check my settings. Anyway, I'm on my way home now. How locked down my machine was got a WTF reaction from the RT there, and all the unlockable settings and options have since been unlocked. There was also a bit of explaining the difference between the Swift FX for Her and the Swift FX as that RT had only dealt with the not-for-Her version of it.

Watch the video I posted above and you will never have to go through this again. There really are no xpap police.

Right on about the 'no police' part.
Should anyone be foolish enough to pick on a smart patient,
much publicity would result--many more patients would learn the TRUTH.
DME's would have to STOP STEALING!
And insurance companies would have to stop helping them.

Oh, quit being a "good little girl".

This is your health and your life. You are an adult. Take charge.

Changing the flex settings will not affect your therapy in any way. The machine will not blow up, and no CPAP police are going to be breaking down your door.

It's time to stop relying on incompentent others who don't give a flip about you.

Sometimes I think you're less likely to screw it up doing it yourself than you are taking it to the DME.

Despite the fact that I got mine messed up once and caused myself a lot of misery for a period of months.

Janknitz wrote:Oh, quit being a "good little girl".

Except that I wasn't being a "good little girl". If I had, my machine would probably be short a couple screws (and possibly a small chunk of casing from around the screws), any and all moving parts would bear the marks of be prodded at in various states of operation, and my walls and ceiling would be covered by little craters resulting from attempts to turn the machine into some form of pneumatic cannon that fires off beads when set to 20. I never would have called the DME.

Instead, I wanted a setting change, along with why the setting was locked to begin with. I sat down and made phone calls while getting through some of the faintiness I get when dealing with phones (and other stressful situations). I didn't find out why it was locked, although I was told that I am more "adventurous" than most as I read the manual.