Re: Little things make me happy

[Guest guest]

Good for you Beth!!!!! HOORAH!!!!! But why are only people awaiting transplants given oxygen:? Joyce rudy AZ birds

Little things make me happy

Things like receiving my brand new double D or E tank O2 cart today. (Picture attached). I ordered this to make getting oxygen in and out of the gym easier. (Those participants not awaiting transplant have to provide their own oxygen in the graduate program) I use about 1 and 1/3 E tanks while I'm at the gym.

I got it from www.cramerdeckermedical.com. Great company with a huge selection of home medical supplies, excellent service!

Now that I have it I can see it will be useful in other situations also when I'm away from home for a good part of the day. It will allow me to have two E tanks with me at all times instead of having to schlep back to the car to change tanks. And it was only $39.95! Like I said, little things make me happy!

Beth

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

[Guest guest]

Joyce,

It has to do with insurance and Medicare rules and what they will and will not pay for.

When I was doing the "intensive" program I was doing it under my doctor's prescription and Medicare would pay for my oxygen use when I was doing the program just as they would pay for my oxygen use if I was hospitalized. Similarly when someone awaiting transplant is doing either the intensive or the graduate program they are doing it under "doctors's orders" and therefore either insurance or Medicare will pay for the oxygen used.

When I'm enrolled in the graduate program however, that's my choice. It's voluntary. Medicare is already paying Family Medical Supply for my oxygen. They won't pay two providers for oxygen at the same time so I have to bring my own oxygen in to the gym.

The one thing that I just found out is that I may request my oxygen provider deliver tanks to the fitness center and they will store them for me for my use when I'm there. This will be the best solution. I was surprised at the idea that they are willing to deliver some tanks to my home and the rest to they gym but apparently they do this all the time. You never know huh?

Beth

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

To: Breathe-Support Sent: Sat, October 17, 2009 12:08:33 AMSubject: Re: Little things make me happy

Good for you Beth!!!!! HOORAH!!!!! But why are only people awaiting transplants given oxygen:? Joyce rudy AZ birds

Little things make me happy

Things like receiving my brand new double D or E tank O2 cart today. (Picture attached). I ordered this to make getting oxygen in and out of the gym easier. (Those participants not awaiting transplant have to provide their own oxygen in the graduate program) I use about 1 and 1/3 E tanks while I'm at the gym.

I got it from www.cramerdeckermed ical.com. Great company with a huge selection of home medical supplies, excellent service!

Now that I have it I can see it will be useful in other situations also when I'm away from home for a good part of the day. It will allow me to have two E tanks with me at all times instead of having to schlep back to the car to change tanks. And it was only $39.95! Like I said, little things make me happy!

Beth

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

[Guest guest]

Beth- I still find it odd that they won't give you oxygen. The Pendleton Center where I go for medically supervised exercise is with my local hospital and though I nbeeded a prescription medicare won't pay for it, I do. I pay $24 a month for use of the facuility 5 days a week if I want. Anyway, they supply all my oxygen. No charge. Since hospitals aren't usually generous I think it is because of liabiliy. But, in any case, it is wonderful that you found the dual carrier! It was a great day for both of us! I woke this morning still elated from yesterday! All my veggies have plumped back up and are ready to be devoured..... Joyce Rudy AZ birds

Little things make me happy

Things like receiving my brand new double D or E tank O2 cart today. (Picture attached). I ordered this to make getting oxygen in and out of the gym easier. (Those participants not awaiting transplant have to provide their own oxygen in the graduate program) I use about 1 and 1/3 E tanks while I'm at the gym.

I got it from www.cramerdeckermed ical.com. Great company with a huge selection of home medical supplies, excellent service!

Now that I have it I can see it will be useful in other situations also when I'm away from home for a good part of the day. It will allow me to have two E tanks with me at all times instead of having to schlep back to the car to change tanks. And it was only $39.95! Like I said, little things make me happy!

Beth

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

[Guest guest]

Beth

Now sounds like you've found a good supplier. A reminder to all that

oxygen suppliers are not all created equal and that regardless it never

hurts to ask, especially if you talk to the manager. While many

suppliers and employees of suppliers think of their jobs as just retail

delivery people, there are also those who think of you as a patient and

themselves as medical providers with a desire to help you in any way

they can.

I get more than many providers will supply but I discussed it all

upfront with my provider and even got it in writing by confirming our

conversations (comes in good when manager changes). As PF'ers, we are

not their easiest customers and its important they both understand and

care. They are use to low usage COPD'ers whose needs change very little.

They're also not use to people as active. Even my driver seems quite

eager to please as he understands I'm the most active customer he's got

and he respects that. He's even said he wishes I could give a course for

living with oxygen to all his other customers.

I'm not far away from needing a third reservoir (two in the house and

one in the van) or a much larger one for the house. See most COPD

patients can get along fine with one 85 lb reservoir for life. But I do

know that they have had patients who have required as many as six.

Now while the driver can't make major decisions, I still have embraced

my driver as a best friend. He does care and I generally even walk

outside with him as he fills from the truck and talk to him. I've even

mapped his route from my house to a new customer for him. (It was an

address not on Mapsco).

>

> Joyce,

> It has to do with insurance and Medicare rules and what they will and

will not pay for.

> When I was doing the " intensive " program I was doing it under my

doctor's prescription and Medicare would pay for my oxygen use when I

was doing the program just as they would pay for my oxygen use if I was

hospitalized. Similarly when someone awaiting transplant is doing

either the intensive or the graduate program they are doing it under

" doctors's orders " and therefore either insurance or Medicare will pay

for the oxygen used.

> When I'm enrolled in the graduate program however, that's my choice.

It's voluntary. Medicare is already paying Family Medical Supply for my

oxygen. They won't pay two providers for oxygen at the same time so I

have to bring my own oxygen in to the gym.

>

> The one thing that I just found out is that I may request my oxygen

provider deliver tanks to the fitness center and they will store them

for me for my use when I'm there. This will be the best solution. I was

surprised at the idea that they are willing to deliver some tanks to my

home and the rest to they gym but apparently they do this all the time.

You never know huh?

>

> Beth

> Moderator

> Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: JOYCE RUDY greycharlie@...

> To: Breathe-Support

> Sent: Sat, October 17, 2009 12:08:33 AM

> Subject: Re: Little things make me happy

>

>

> Good for you Beth!!!!! HOORAH!!!!! But why are only people

awaiting transplants given oxygen:? Joyce rudy AZ birds

> Little things make me happy

> >

> >

> >Things like receiving my brand new double D or E tank O2 cart today.

(Picture attached). I ordered this to make getting oxygen in and out of

the gym easier. (Those participants not awaiting transplant have to

provide their own oxygen in the graduate program) I use about 1 and 1/3

E tanks while I'm at the gym.

> >I got it from www.cramerdeckermed ical.com. Great company with a huge

selection of home medical supplies, excellent service!

> >

> >Now that I have it I can see it will be useful in other situations

also when I'm away from home for a good part of the day. It will allow

me to have two E tanks with me at all times instead of having to schlep

back to the car to change tanks. And it was only $39.95! Like I said,

little things make me happy!

> >

> > Beth

> >Moderator

> >Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Joyce,

I don't look at it as a matter of "won't" give me oxygen. One day this week I ran short and Carol happily hooked me up to one of their E tanks. It is just their policy that voluntary participants in the 'graduate' program bring their own O2. I know that they are struggling to keep this program afloat financially. Perhaps it is just an economic issue.

When I lived in NY and participated in the post rehab Wellness program at Helen Hospital I was also required to bring my own oxygen. This policy is really not that unusual.

Beth

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

To: Breathe-Support Sent: Sat, October 17, 2009 9:44:54 AMSubject: Re: Little things make me happy

Beth- I still find it odd that they won't give you oxygen. The Pendleton Center where I go for medically supervised exercise is with my local hospital and though I nbeeded a prescription medicare won't pay for it, I do. I pay $24 a month for use of the facuility 5 days a week if I want. Anyway, they supply all my oxygen. No charge. Since hospitals aren't usually generous I think it is because of liabiliy. But, in any case, it is wonderful that you found the dual carrier! It was a great day for both of us! I woke this morning still elated from yesterday! All my veggies have plumped back up and are ready to be devoured.... . Joyce

Rudy AZ birds

Little things make me happy

Things like receiving my brand new double D or E tank O2 cart today. (Picture attached). I ordered this to make getting oxygen in and out of the gym easier. (Those participants not awaiting transplant have to provide their own oxygen in the graduate program) I use about 1 and 1/3 E tanks while I'm at the gym.

I got it from www.cramerdeckermed ical.com. Great company with a huge selection of home medical supplies, excellent service!

Now that I have it I can see it will be useful in other situations also when I'm away from home for a good part of the day. It will allow me to have two E tanks with me at all times instead of having to schlep back to the car to change tanks. And it was only $39.95! Like I said, little things make me happy!

Beth

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08