Apria Soapbox / Leanne ...

[Guest guest]

Leanne,

I'm getting SO TIRED fighting for our quality of life ... just

'cause we are 'advanced lung' (i.e., 'end stage') doesn't mean we

should be discounted ... we are NOT bedridden NOR should we be treated

as if we are bedridden ! ! !

The majority of Apria's clientele may be low flow users ... my

experience with Apria is they just 'ignore' you that you don't need

whatever ... that they are the authority ... I'm sure most high flow

users and their caregivers are unaware of what is available ... you

can NOT be proactive if you do NOT know what to be proactive about ! !

!

When I was new to oxygen usage I believed in them ... the Apria

respiratory therapist called me after a few days to see if I was OK

.... she made me feel like a fool when I asked how the cannula was to

be on your face ... nasal prongs up or down ... NO more calls since

....

I even put up with the poor service ... they are the provider ...

as I got sicker I realized there had to be better ways ... even my

pulmonary doctors at the time were uneducated ... one day I got the

idea to call my insurance company to check what were my rights ... as

in, what supplies I was authorized that the insurance company was

making payment for ... that was an eye opener ...

I then dug in my heels and kept up my campaign to get the

supplies I need ... NOT what they happen to have on hand and drop off

at my door as if they are doing me a favor ... this five years plus

battle has been long and stressful ... I'm terminal and having to use

any drop of extra energy to carry on this fight ...

I'm sorry ... Apria knows they have more than 1% advanced lung

clients ... they are choosing to plead ignorance ! ! !

Janine

California

Oxygen 24/7 dx Feb 02

NonSpecific Interstitial Pneumonia dx Oct 03

Breast Cancer dx Nov 04

Transplant Evaluation terminated Dec 04

(must be cancer free five years)

Pulmonary Hypertension dx Apr 07

THIS IS YOUR LIFE ... GETTING TO BREATHE ...

From: Leanne Storch

X-Yahoo-Profile:

ls_pulmonaryfibrosis

Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:24:40 -0700

(PDT)

Subject: Diane

Reply-To:

Breathe-Support

Diane,

Please don't feel guilty. This is

the way things should work. A terminal person shouldn't have to

worry about getting their oxygen needs met. Isn't it stressful

enough that you are terminal? The whole oxygen situation with

Joyce and is making me crazy. When I spoke to the Apria

VP, he said that there is only 1 % of patients that need the higher

flow and that is why it's been so difficult to take care of these

patients in a timely fashion. One percent seems awfully low to

me....I think that they are in for a rude awakening because there are

going to be a lot more people wanting to be active on higher flows of

oxygen and they should be proactive about the situation.

Thank you for sharing your positive

experience with the group. I also have no complaints about

Apria, but then again I'm not on a higher flow.

Leanne

Diane wrote:

I feel a bit guilty sending this e-mail as I have no

complaints with my ER or my O2 provider. When I first got set up

on O2, the provider took care of everything. I did not have to

do any paperwork and they contacted the local fire department to

advise them that I have oxygen on the premises and they also advised

the power company so I can get my power back on first in case of an

outage. They also continue to call me every week to see how I am

making out or if I need anything. I also have a respiratory

therapist that comes to my work every 6 weeks to check me over and see

how things are going. When I have to go to the ER, my file is

flagged that I am terminal and I am taken in to see the Dr.

immediately and never have to wait. I am horrified when I read what

some of you have to go through. I have had exemplary care and could

not ask for more. I wish that I could share this with each and

every one of you. Please know that my thoughts are with

you.

Diane

PF/June 03

NB, Canada