DME SAGA...Questions...Need Help

porete wrote:Kairosgrammy - I see you use a Respironics machine, my DME is switching me to a Respironics APAP. How do you like the Respironics? It it good machine?

I really do like it. It's not noisy, makes me breath ( ). I like my mask even more though. But it's a good machine. Wish I had the auto though.

Heavens, don't these businesses have a stick of honesty in them. This is medical stuff with serious medical consequences and they play tghose kind of game. Grrrr.

Janknitz wrote:PRS1 is a fine machine.

Your current DME not only lied about APAP coverage but also stuck you with an older, discontinued model. You did a good job being your own advocate!

Before you go to your new DME, read "what you need to know BEFORE you meet your DME in my signature line below.

Janknitz wrote:PRS1 is a fine machine.

Your current DME not only lied about APAP coverage but also stuck you with an older, discontinued model. You did a good job being your own advocate!

Before you go to your new DME, read "what you need to know BEFORE you meet your DME in my signature line below.

I think the S8 she is using was intended as a loaner machine, so that part is not too bad.

I agree the PRS1 Auto and ResMed S9 AutoSet are roughly equivalent. People here seem to like S9 a little better than PRS1, but each has their drawbacks and advantages.

Be sure the machine says "Philips Respironics." Click on the link in my signature to see a picture. There are some older "Respironics APAP" machines that are not nearly as good. The older models don't say "Philips." Also be sure it says "REMstar Auto..." next to the display and doesn't say "AutoIQ." The AutoIQ is a machine that only offers APAP for a 30 day period. I REALLY REALLY hate the idea of making a machine that gives you a limited time range like that, then locks you out.

I decided to return the machine in person, even though it's a 1.5 hour drive from my home. I'm glad that's taken care of. Thanks for the posts regarding the respironics machine. I think my DME is planning to to order the PR System One REMstar Pro CPAP Machine with AutoIQ when I bring in my script and sleep study tomorrow. After reading your posts, I realized this is not the machine I need. It looks like it's just a "glorified" cpap machine. I am going to print out the info. about the PRS1 Auto and bring it to her. I don't think she'll have a problem ordering that one. It didn't seem she was familiar with the machine she was going to order. The respironics person just emailed her the specs, she didn't know the name of the machine.Thanks for all the help and advice. It's really helped a newbie like me.

porete

No, no, no! Don't accept the IQ Auto. It's a home titrating machine, but once it's titrated, it will ONLY work in CPAP mode from my understanding. YOu want flexibility.

The machine you want is the Philips Respironics System One Auto with Aflex and the model number is DS550. Do not accept any other PR models.

Kinda scary that your new DME doesn't know which one is the PR S1 auto if they normally carry only Philips Respironics. Just saying.

It is kind of scary...at least I know how to do research.

I think you should 'fire' your DME...just like Romney said in the debate.
(Time to change your avatar)

As much as I hate the 30 day garbage with the AutoIQ, it's technically a step up from the PRS1 PRO, which is a decent manual CPAP machine.

The PRS1 Auto is better in most ways, though. The AutoIQ is not a real auto CPAP after the first 30 days.

UPDATE: I went to my local DME with papers in hand to request the Respironics PRS1, like all of you told me to do. I told her that I found out the AUTOIQ locks you out of APAP after 30 days, and the machine becomes a regular CPAP after that. She said the rep didn't tell her that and she didn't think it locked you out forever after 30 days. She also said I couldn't have the PRS1 because it was a testing machine, that NO ONE stays permanently on APAP, everyone goes to CPAP after a while; that APAP is not "healthy" to stay on long term and it just isn't done. Needless to say, I listened politely and told her I would get back with her. I DID NOT leave my prescription or my sleep study.
Later on, I had to go pick up a prescription at my local pharmacy. I decided to tell my pharmacist my dilemma and ask him what he thought. You should have seen the consternation on his face. He recommended I go to another local DME that's affililiated with his pharmacy. I went there, and they said they would have NO PROBLEM ordering a PRS1 for me!! They couldn't figure out what was going on at the other two DME providers either. I'm waiting on an email from my pulmonologist, then I plan to contract with this DME and get the machine I want. This has been such a hassle, I don't understand why people have to be this way. I'm just glad I've finally found a DME that will set me up with an APAP. My word, that's what my prescription is written for!

porete wrote:UPDATE: I went to my local DME with papers in hand to request the Respironics PRS1, like all of you told me to do. I told her that I found out the AUTOIQ locks you out of APAP after 30 days, and the machine becomes a regular CPAP after that. She said the rep didn't tell her that and she didn't think it locked you out forever after 30 days. She also said I couldn't have the PRS1 because it was a testing machine, that NO ONE stays permanently on APAP, everyone goes to CPAP after a while; that APAP is not "healthy" to stay on long term and it just isn't done. Needless to say, I listened politely and told her I would get back with her. I DID NOT leave my prescription or my sleep study.
Later on, I had to go pick up a prescription at my local pharmacy. I decided to tell my pharmacist my dilemma and ask him what he thought. You should have seen the consternation on his face. He recommended I go to another local DME that's affililiated with his pharmacy. I went there, and they said they would have NO PROBLEM ordering a PRS1 for me!! They couldn't figure out what was going on at the other two DME providers either. I'm waiting on an email from my pulmonologist, then I plan to contract with this DME and get the machine I want. This has been such a hassle, I don't understand why people have to be this way. I'm just glad I've finally found a DME that will set me up with an APAP. My word, that's what my prescription is written for!

I think some folks just get their jollies that way. What happened to caring about people and trying to save lives. Now, so many people in the medical field just want to make a buck.

LSAT wrote:I think you should 'fire' your DME...just like Romney said in the debate.
(Time to change your avatar)

LSAT - I did fire my DME...I'm not changing my avatar...Sorry.

porete wrote: Later on, I had to go pick up a prescription at my local pharmacy. I decided to tell my pharmacist my dilemma and ask him what he thought. You should have seen the consternation on his face. He recommended I go to another local DME that's affililiated with his pharmacy. I went there, and they said they would have NO PROBLEM ordering a PRS1 for me!! They couldn't figure out what was going on at the other two DME providers either. I'm waiting on an email from my pulmonologist, then I plan to contract with this DME and get the machine I want. This has been such a hassle, I don't understand why people have to be this way. I'm just glad I've finally found a DME that will set me up with an APAP. My word, that's what my prescription is written for!

Make sure your insurance allows that DME.

The DME is covered under my insurance...I just checked.

Does the PRS1 have the ability to switch to CPAP mode if needed?

porete wrote:Does the PRS1 have the ability to switch to CPAP mode if needed?

As in the PR S1 Auto CPAP with AFlex (the APAP machine)?
Yes, it has 2 modes of operation. You can use it in APAP mode with auto adjusting pressures or you can turn it over to cpap mode and run a single fixed pressure. So 2 machines in one.
You can also use APAP mode and set it with minimum and maximum pressures the same and essentially mimic cpap mode.