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Needing a CPAP Machine

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I recently broke my CPAP machine (my son and I were horse playing and we knocked off my CPAP machine and broke it). I have been trying to get a new CPAP machine from the Hampton VA Medical Center (HVAMC) in Hampton, Virginia. I have had to go through the HVAMC director’s office to get one, someone on his staff finally was able to get the sleep medicine clinic to call me a set up an appointment. The woman gave me an appointment for November 27, 2020, well now I first thought she just got her dates mixed up, well no, I will need to wait 11 months to get a CPAP machine, this is absolutely crazy. She told me it was because they only have two technicians to handle the workload. Needless to say, I just emailed the director’s office again at the HVAMC to let them know and see what can be done.

Even if I can get a machine right away, what about the other veterans who are not complaining? They are just simply left out in the cold. 

 

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  • Content Curator/HadIt.com Elder

What about the VA Mission Act? With crap appointment times like that, they should have offered you a chance to go outside the system.

You could always show up as a walk-in without showering, shaving, or combing your hair (if you have any) and tell them that you are unable to sleep without the machine. See what happens.

When I originally got my CPAP, it was from a non-VA hospital as part of fibromyalgia treatment. They said that if something happened to the machine and I could not get a replacement that day or the next, like on a weekend, I should be ok for a few days. At that time, I didn't have any additional major health factors, like heart attack.

Remember, the VA is in the middle of a big push to keep veterans in their system. Yesterday afternoon, they were handing out lanyard tags saying something like KOVI (keep our vets in). Sounds like your sleep clinic might be out of touch with VA policies...

 

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They said the CPAP machine is not eligible for outside the system. 

I agree its crap, I am waiting to see if I hear back from the HVAMC directors office to try and resolve this issue. If I don't I will email the Chief of Staff for the VA again, everytime I have in the past I get contacted the same day to resolve my issues. 

My last CPAP I got through Tricare and I had a copay of $25 a month for 13 months (I believe that is what I paid in the past), I don't want to nor should I have to buy one since I am entitled to receieve one through the VA.

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  • Content Curator/HadIt.com Elder

That's just like VA dental, not eligible either...

I checked online and found shops that will rent them, but it's more than your $25 copay. I agree with you. The VA should provide a replacement.

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  • HadIt.com Elder

I can figure how this could possibly happen UNLESS you realize were talking about the VA! Paul, if your are s-c for SA, then there has to be some remedy. If you are s-c, how can they justify that your doc has told you it is necessary to use so you don't have a stroke/heart attack, and you have to wait a year. BS. What would be the diff if you were prescribed an oxygen machine and you can't get the gas because the supplier went out of business, or ??? They can't get you an outside doc to see you for it?BS. Call the head of the VAMC and tell him you are going to escallate it pretty damn quick if you don't get relief. Now it is possible that they will say you aren't due a new one yet; that is a different story. When then would you be eligible?

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  • Moderator

You really dont need an appointment with a sleep doc, "at least" not at my VAMC.  Im on my third cpap machine since 2007.  At my VAMC there is someone designated to (get replacement cpaps) that is "not" a doctor but a sleep technician or probably less.  

You see, the doc has already written you a prescription, they know the number of pounds of air, etc.  Doctors are not "inventory specialists", at least not at my VAMC.  

I will give you some alternatives and you can try any/all of these or not try any, as you desire. 

1.  My VAMC "rotates" having Cpap equipment taken care of by respiratory, or by prosthetics.  Try both.  If they say they need a doc authorization, ask them to call your sleep doc.  He can likely authorize it over the phone.  

2.  Send a message to your sleep doc, and tell him you need a cpap.

3.  If the above fails, try your prime care doc.  

4.  If you are on medicare, you should be able to get one through them.  

5.  Go to the patient advocate, or directors office and tell them your problem.  

Remember, the VA is required to see you in 30 days or provide community care.  Hold them to that.  Explain your cpap is "medically necessary" and you cant wait a year.  There was a famous football player who had bad sleep apnea, and died one nite when he stopped breathing and did not start again.  If you "need" a cpap, it could be fatal to not have one.  Example:  I went to the hospital with "chest pain".  (not VA).  The doc said what was causing my chest pain was that I had an enlarged right side of my heart due to sleep apnea..  I told him I dont have sleep apnea.  He said that I did, and sent me to  a sleep study.  I asked him what happens if I dont treat my sleep apnea.  He explained the enlarment of the right side of my heart continues untll it makes the heart "out of balance", you go into defib, and die. He also explained that takes a long time, but the longer I wait for treatment, the more difficult it is to reverse the enlarged right side of my heart.  (The right side of the heart gets bigger because its responding to a lack of oxygent at night, because I continiously stoped breathing.)   I told him I think I will get a sleep study done.  

I did, and It literally saved my life.  No doubt at all.  I use mine every night.  Without fail.  Im also much healthier, dont fall asleep during the day, and many more benefits from reduced "deep sleep" deprivation.  I could not "deep sleep" because I was constantly being woken up not breathing.  

Lastly, I figured out a gal at my VAMC who "gets things done".  She is amazing, she gets me appointments when others cant, and she doesnt care what department it is, she knows them all.  She has been there a very long time and is adamantly "pro Veteran".  There maybe someone in your VAMC like that, too.  Ask other Vets in your VAMC "who that is."   

I recommend you take action on this "today".  The sleep clinic may even have a loaner cpap for those patients who need it now.  Just clean it well with alcohol, but the vA "may" not do that, Im not sure.  I would let you use my old, backup cpap.   Use your hose and mask and wipe it out with alcohol thoroughly.  If we meet, we share the same air anyway..it can not be avoided unless you are a hermit.  The air you breathe out, I breathe in and vice versa.   I keep it just in case this one fails.  

Edited by broncovet
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