On May 1st I went for a sleep test.  My doctor and I had been discussing my morning headaches.  Once I'd mentioned some other (what I thought were) unrelated symptoms (Dry mouth, loud snoring, daytime sleepiness) she thought that a sleep test might be a way to determine if sleep apnea was the culprit.

I had a split-night study.  

Half way through my sleep study, the sleep technician came in and started me on the CPAP machine.  The rest of the night my symptoms improved greatly and when I woke up I was told that I would most likely need a CPAP machine.

Anyway...  I don't know if it was just my imagination or some kind of psychological effect or what - but the week following my sleep test was the worst week ever.  Ever.  I was falling asleep daily on the bus to and from work.  I spent all day yawning and stretching and I felt like I was walking around in a fog.  One night I was laying on the couch with my eyes closed and opened my eyes to see my wife and daughter laughing.  At me.  When I asked them what was so funny they said I had been snoring really loud.  I tried to tell them that I wasn't even asleep, just laying there with my eyes closed.  Apparently not.  Apparently I had been asleep for fifteen minutes and didn't even know it.  Wow.  The results of my sleep test and the subsequent treatment couldn't come soon enough.

I decided it was time to mount an attack against all the doctors involved in my treatment and see if I could speed things up a bit.

I started with the sleep lab.  
Who was the doctor that my sleep study was turned over to?  And what is his phone number?  Can you tell me if he's read the report yet?

Then the sleep doctor.
Can I get a copy of the report?  When will it be sent to my doctor?

Then my family doctor.
Wanted to let you know that the sleep doctor has read the report and will be sending you the results.  Please let me know as soon as you get them.  Once you get the results can I stop by and pick up the prescription for my CPAP machine?

So far so good.  I was bothering everybody on a daily basis and it looked like I might have my CPAP before the weekend. (I felt strongly that having a weekend to adjust to sleeping with a mask before having to wear it the night before a work day was important.)

Friday came and I started my round of calls.

My family doctor's office called back.  They had my prescription.  I could pick it up anytime before 4:00pm.  I was there by 2:00pm.

After getting the prescription I noticed that my doctor had only written 'CPAP  DX: sleep apnea' on the paper.  I didn't know much, but I knew that any medical supply place would need more information that this to give me a machine.  Momentarily stumped, I remembered that the doctor that read my sleep report (a pulmonologist, as it turns out) had an office in the same building as my family doctor.  I got on the elevator and pushed three.

"Hi,  I just called here yesterday.  I had asked if you could send me a copy of my sleep test results.  Umm... I happened to be in the neighborhood and was wondering if I could just pick up the copy?"  Coincidently, my results were sitting in the 'Mail out box' waiting to be picked up.  A moment later I had the results in my hand.  I thanked the nice lady and left.

I now had a generic prescription and a specific report.  I was hoping that the two would be enough to get me a machine.  I called the Health Care Equipment place.  It turns out that they had a cancellation and if I could come by right now - they could set me up.  Bring my prescription, sleep results and insurance card.  Check.  I was on my way.

Looking back on the whole thing - I really can't say enough good things about the Medical Equipment place.  They tried everything to close the deal.  As it turns out a generic 'CPAP Dx; Sleep apnea' prescription is not enough (no kidding...) and as it turns out the copy of the sleep test results report was not signed.  The prescription said I needed a machine and the report said how to set the machine, but because this information was on seperate pieces of paper I was out of luck.  I shuffled out to the car and proceeded to call my doctor's office.  The receptionist was sympathetic and asked if it would do any good to have her speak with the Medical Supply people.  It sure as hell couldn't hurt so I went back in.

Phone calls ensued.  My doctor would not agree to specify the details of a machine because those need to be dictated by the pulmonologist.  The pulmonologist would not write me a prescription without seeing me in the office first (next appointment - next Thursday...sigh).  Damn.  I worked so hard all week long and was standing at the finish line only to be stonewalled by office bureaucracy.  Defeated, I left the equipment place with no machine.

As I was driving home I got mad.  The more I thought of how much work I put into today the more mad I got.  The thought that I now had to wait another week and pay another co-pay before I got some relief put me over the edge.  It was time for another visit to the pulmonologist.

Luckily, his office was still open.  I stepped into the waiting room and stood in front of the frosted glass window.  The receptionist opened it.  At this point I needed no introduction.  She knew who I was.  "Hi, I'm back." I announced.  After presenting her with the facts and asking to to have my copy of the report signed she told me that the doctor has left already.  "Can you stamp it?"  I know every office has one of those doctor stamps for just such an occassion.  After she denied this request I went for the jugular...

"Listen lady...  I can't breathe at night.  I know that because I have a report here from this doctor that says so.  I also have a prescription for a machine that can help me.  I am one signature away from some relief.  I'm just trying to feel better."  I think that the fact that the waiting room was pretty full helped me at this point.  "Have a seat - I'll call the doctor" she said.

(insert Rocky Theme Music here)

A few minutes later she waves me up to the window.  "The doctor would like to speak with you" she says and hands me the phone.  

After a brief discussion with the nicest doctor I'd encountered this week he agreed to write me a prescription and asked me to make the appointment for Thursday so he can see how I'm doing.  I thanked him and the 'nice lady behind the desk' after she handed me the prescription and called the medical equipment place to ask if they'd wait for me (they closed at 5:00pm.  It was only 4:15pm - but it might be close).

I walked into the Medical Equipment place for the third time that afternoon and was met with looks of surprise.  "How'd you do that?" they asked.  I just shrugged and said "I dunno... I got mad."

About twenty minutes later I left the Medical Equipment place with a new CPAP machine and all the accessories.

I won.

Now to sleep.


_________________
...the danger must be growing
for the rowers keep on rowing...

Wow! Good going! THAT is impressive. The only concern being that pushing things thru so fast, what CPAP machine did you get? Is it fully data capable? You "might" be a bit disappointed if it isn't. IF it IS fully data capable - "I" am even more impressed. But am here to tell you that you were DARN lucky and seem to have a darn good sleep doctor!

I hope you slept well last night! And for MANY more nights to come w/your new sleeping partner. (I mean the CPAP).

Welcome to the forum and the world of CPAP therapy!


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed's new VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro mask, ResScan 3.4 software, SPO 7500 oximeter.

Umm... I may have pulled the trigger too fast.  I came home with a Resmed s8 Escape with a heated humidifier and a Respironics ComfortGel mask (the mask was my request - it was one I used in the sleep study and I knew I tolerated it well)

It does have a card reader (no card was included) and I've read it does does more than just compliance data, but it doesn't do FULL data.  Can anybody confirm this?

Anyway, the first night on the machine was a HUGE SUCCESS.  I slept 8 hours with the mask on and woke up feeling much better than I have in along time.  I'm still a little groggy but no brain fog and no aches and pains.  I figure it's gonna take a week or two before I repay my sleep debt.  

But if every night is like last night, I'll be happy.


_________________
...the danger must be growing
for the rowers keep on rowing...

Congratulations on a job well done!

I don't know much about the Resmed s8 Escape, so perhaps others can answer.  But if you don't get an answer, contact your DME and they should be able to tell you.  And if you didn't get the data card, ask about that.  Typically the DME or the sleep lab can print out the data from data cards, so they should know what's recorded.

At the moment there may be an advantage or two to having the Resmed machine, in my opinion.  The Respironics machines have had humidifier leakage problems, although I've heard that they've supposedly fixed that problem.  But I work in the office of a sleep lab which also  has a small DME business, and we've had to return a few Respironics machines for other issues involving motor or pressure problems.  Now, that's a small number returned, but hey, if something works, keep it.   That is unless you need some other feature.

But I'm so pleased that you've felt relief right away, that's pretty darn good.  Congrats.


Linda

Hey, Charlie, given your quick response to that Escape last night ... sometimes it doesn't pay to knock success!!! I'm so glad you did so well last night. I had a rough first 30 nights on CPAP. It took 2 pressure changes before I started seeing improvement.

You might want to ask about exchanging that Escape for an Elite despite you were the one to push things thru so fast. They just might do the exchange for you. You never know. You can't blame them if they don't want to exchange a new Elite for a now "used" Escape but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

And the Elite isn't going to provide any better therapy than that Escape. Resmed makes good CPAPs period. The difference isn't in the therapy, just in the data capabilities. Altho I know the Compact doesn't offer EPR, I'm not sure about the Escape and, hey, even if the Escape doesn't provide EPR given your experience last night it doesn't seem like you need it anyway. Some do, some don't.

I'm just really impressed you were able to get your equipment so fast and did so well your very first night!!! How I wish I had been that fortunate!!! Good going, guy!


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed's new VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro mask, ResScan 3.4 software, SPO 7500 oximeter.