no more machine need advice please

Let me preface this post with the following.....I am just asking for advice, I am not making this post wanting or expecting anything beyond advice.

I lost my Medicaid coverage as of today because my child turned 18. As I had only had the machine for 6 months and was insured with Medicaid rather than Medicare, the DME said that if I wanted to keep the machine I would have to pay the full retail cost of over $1000 for the APAP & humidifier. Needless to say I do not have anything remotely resembling that kind of cash so as a result the DME sent someone out to my house today to pick up their machine. In a period of less than 6 hrs I found out I no longer had no more insurance and now no longer have a machine. I lost my job last week, and am now dependent on a few close friends just to keep on the power, water & internet on until my child graduates in June or until I can find another job. I have no money to replace the machine. The DME has refused to give me a copy of my sleep study and prescription for my APAP machine saying it was for them only and I could not use it anywhere else. The Doctor refuses to see me because I no longer have insurance, and will not give me a new prescription without an appointment. So long story short I am well and thoroughly screwed.

So here is what I need....any and all advice in how to control my apnea without a APAP. Please be serious, because I am very scared to try to go to sleep tonight. I took to my machine like a duck to water, and had used it all night every night since I received it the end of Aug 2012. I even used it for naps, the 2 or 3 times that I fell asleep accidentally without it (on the sofa watching TV) I woke up after just a few minutes gasping for air feeling like someone had tried to smother me. I am desperate to hear ideas that might life without my machine more bearable. I understand that there are no "tricks or tips" that will replace the machine but I am hoping that you will be able to give me some ideas that make life without my machine a bit easier. Thanks in advance.

Wow. And I do mean Wow!
When did you have your sleep study? And where? If it's been less than a year, I think they HAVE to give you a prescription and can't charge you for it. I quick call to the local board can find that out. I suspect the THREAT of calling the authorities could change the situation in that regard.

Ideas:
I suppose the cheapest possible machine would be Craigslist and luck, but that's also dangerous, and possibly out of your price range.

Do you snore? Do you snore LESS if you sleep in a chair?

I'll keep thinking...

memapenguin wrote:Let me preface this post with the following.....I am just asking for advice, I am not making this post wanting or expecting anything beyond advice.

I lost my Medicaid coverage as of today because my child turned 18. As I had only had the machine for 6 months and was insured with Medicaid rather than Medicare, the DME said that if I wanted to keep the machine I would have to pay the full retail cost of over $1000 for the APAP & humidifier. Needless to say I do not have anything remotely resembling that kind of cash so as a result the DME sent someone out to my house today to pick up their machine. In a period of less than 6 hrs I found out I no longer had no more insurance and now no longer have a machine. I lost my job last week, and am now dependent on a few close friends just to keep on the power, water & internet on until my child graduates in June or until I can find another job. I have no money to replace the machine. The DME has refused to give me a copy of my sleep study and prescription for my APAP machine saying it was for them only and I could not use it anywhere else. The Doctor refuses to see me because I no longer have insurance, and will not give me a new prescription without an appointment. So long story short I am well and thoroughly screwed.

So here is what I need....any and all advice in how to control my apnea without a APAP. Please be serious, because I am very scared to try to go to sleep tonight. I took to my machine like a duck to water, and had used it all night every night since I received it the end of Aug 2012. I even used it for naps, the 2 or 3 times that I fell asleep accidentally without it (on the sofa watching TV) I woke up after just a few minutes gasping for air feeling like someone had tried to smother me. I am desperate to hear ideas that might life without my machine more bearable. I understand that there are no "tricks or tips" that will replace the machine but I am hoping that you will be able to give me some ideas that make life without my machine a bit easier. Thanks in advance.

Doc and DME are both lying to you. Read this thread from another forum. You are entitled to your records under HIPPA, TO INCLUDE the prescription and results. If you can afford $120, or have someone that can buy it for you, mcdover may still have some of his APAPs left, they're a great deal, have a built in humidifier, record full data. He has great feedback on the forums here, I actually received the machine I bought today. I haven't tested it yet, but it looks to be in fantastic shape.

Put an ad on Craigslist in your area asking if anyone has a machine they will donate. Talk to your church. Talk to Goodwill and the Salvation Army. Ask friends if they have a CPAP or APAP laying around that they aren't using.

Find the agency that oversees DME AND the doctor and file a complaint about the prescription issue. It's part of your medical record and you are entitled to a copy. Request it in WRITING and cc the oversight agency for the DME, state medical board for the doctor.

I also think your local paper might be interested in your story. A nice headline like "X DME takes away woman's life saving equipment when insurance runs out" might get some attention. Especially the part where they want to charge you more than you can buy the equipment brand new retail for used and partially paid for equipment. Did they take your humidifier, mask, hose, and filters, too? Those are usually purchased. They ripped you off, if so.

Keep your eyes peeled on Craigslist, and put a request in on your local Freecycle--so many people get machines and never use them there have to be some lurking in the backs of people's closets. Frequent garage sales where older people live (we have a local retirement community).

If you need a mask or hose, ask here--we all have extras lightly used or not used at all lying around. I have about half a dozen never opened hoses because the DME keeps sending a type I don't like (and I told them to STOP). Just put the specific mask you are looking for in the title of your post and refer to this post so we'll know why you're asking.

Contact the Reggie White Foundation to see if they can help.
http://www.reggiewhitefoundation.org/about/default.asp

In the meantime...sleeping upright (like a recliner) may help.
If that is not possible...try sleeping on your side all night. Sleep apnea can be worsened for a lot of people by sleeping on their backs.

Can you go to WalMart and get one of those soft cervical collars and wear it when you sleep? For some people wearing this type of collar helps keep the head and neck in a position that reduces the severity of the collapse of the airway tissue.

If you have a little cash forum member mcdover has some older machines with low hours that he is selling pretty cheap.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=83637&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
see this thread and send him a private message.
I am pretty sure he has some older models that aren't fancy or anything but they would get the job done.

The others have covered the "you are entitled to your prescription" stuff.

Maybe see if someone wants to trade an old machine with something you have?

memapenguin I sent you a PM

[quote="Janknitz" Did they take your humidifier, mask, hose, and filters, too? Those are usually purchased. They ripped you off, if so.

Keep your eyes peeled on Craigslist, and put a request in on your local Freecycle--so many people get machines and never use them there have to be some lurking in the backs of people's closets. Frequent garage sales where older people live (we have a local retirement community).

If you need a mask or hose, ask here--we all have extras lightly used or not used at all lying around. I have about half a dozen never opened hoses because the DME keeps sending a type I don't like (and I told them to STOP). Just put the specific mask you are looking for in the title of your post and refer to this post so we'll know why you're asking.[/quote]

I gave them back the APAP machine and power cord and the humidifier, I kept my hose, mask, filters, and the humidifier reservoir. I figured those were all "replaceable" items that they had already been paid for so I kept them. I have looked on my local craigslist but the only machine listed was a 10 year old RES MED CPAP model that they wanted $300 for so that was not an option. I had forgotten about the freecycle website I will check there.

I recently bought a GREAT used machine at secondwindcpap.com They have a largr variety of reconditioned machines at prices some under $100 Jon.

I have seen machines in goodwill stores cheap. That might be a temporary solution.

If you will look at the bottom of secondwindcpap.com, on their About us page at the bottom, they work with the Sleep Apnea Association to help those in a bind.

Thank you everyone for your wonderful advise and support

Love your Dr. Who related icon. Two thoughts for you. Following the link in your profile I see that cpap.com has your exact machine for about half what your DME quoted you. Second thought, put an item wanted ad in craigslist in your area. Explain your situation and that your hoping to get an apap machine. Third thought, as others have mentioned secondwindcpap has used machines in straight cpap starting at $150. If an APAP is out of the question, consider one of those.

(Hum I said two thoughts, how did I get to the third)

Debijo wrote:If you will look at the bottom of secondwindcpap.com, on their About us page at the bottom, they work with the Sleep Apnea Association to help those in a bind.

Having volunteered there briefly, unfortunately, they require that you be under the care of a doctor in order to receive a machine which sadly, the OP, isn't in a position to do.

49er

I believe that there is someone here who can donate an unused machine with face mask to you. This is a bit of an emergency.

Craigs list is another option, even an older brick is better than none. An old resmed cflex would be ok with max apap relief.

If I had a spare system id send it to you.

PLEASE make a new thread asking for a donated machine. Someone here can help. Or can buy you a machine, some
people are financially blessed here.

If I had the money id give it to you.