#201572 - 02/26/12 12:33 PM
What type of bed & air mattress?
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kimbur40
Member
Registered: 10/06/01
Posts: 37
Loc: TN
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I wanted to hear from some other SCI about what type of bed and mattress you use? Usually, many use a hospital bed for the many features & advantages it offers. The mattress is an important factor in keeping you comfortable, sweatfree and eliminating pressure sores.
For years, I've used a nice hospital bed with a variety of mattresses. For the past few, I've used a silk air mattress. A couple of those years, I battled a deep pressure sore on my left cheek. This silk air mattress is so awesome in relieving pressure and preventing me to be turned so often. However, when it heals Medicare does not want to pay for the mattress anymore!! I do live in my home and have caregivers come 3X a day. In the night, I sleep on my back all night and am able too because of the air mattress! I'm a thin person and this mattress helps prevent pressure & sores!
At this time, Medicare is asking for me to appeal, buy out the remaining months or have the air mattress picked up! Of course I would like to keep it, but the monthly cost of $633 is like a apt or house payment. The outrageous prices these medical equipment co. charge to insurances is causing them to go broke!!
It definently is not anymore to provide the best quality to a customer!!
Anyway, could some of you share with me what type of bed & mattress you use? In the past or now, if you had a pressure sore and use a certain mattress you own please do tell! The brand names and what the pros & cons are with it! I need to make a decision this coming week.
Hope to hear back!
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#201573 - 02/26/12 01:35 PM
Re: What type of bed & air mattress?
[Re: kimbur40]
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flicka
Member
Registered: 04/06/00
Posts: 24616
Loc: SLO County, CA - 66.122.77.142
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Can't you request your doctor to write an appeal stating that the benefits of this mattress greatly reduces another pressure sore like you just survived? (ie reduces pressure prevents shearing, etc)
I had a couple of disasterous sores 25 years ago. First flaps botched; second flaps (different surgeon) worked like magic. I sleep on a regular waterbed bladder type. Pros are no more sores...Cons are that as I get older it isn't as easy to hoist my ass out of bed but a lil adaption will solve that problem. Of course, I am a paraplegic, so don't know how that would work for a quad.
_________________________
"A lot of things were acceptable--until we stopped accepting it." -- Al Sharpton '12
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#201613 - 02/28/12 07:40 PM
Re: What type of bed & air mattress?
[Re: flicka]
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Paul I
Member
Registered: 02/24/00
Posts: 7913
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I am currently on a Drive LAL/AP mattress. Dealer's cost was around
$1300, it's worth maybe $100 Medicare is getting the shaft in the long run. Kim, what brand and model is yours?
PI
_________________________
"...only the shadow knows"
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#201615 - 02/28/12 10:39 PM
Re: What type of bed & air mattress?
[Re: Paul I]
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kimbur40
Member
Registered: 10/06/01
Posts: 37
Loc: TN
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My mattress is a silk air from Hill Rom. Thats all I know about it. I've had it for about 3 years now. Medicare stopped paying
after my sore healed. Now Hill Rom says it still is not paid off. By now it should be paid in full. If I ask Hill Rom to pick up the mattress it cannot be used again. It's so frustrating the many issues the disabled oversee.
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#201617 - 02/28/12 10:53 PM
Re: What type of bed & air mattress?
[Re: flicka]
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kimbur40
Member
Registered: 10/06/01
Posts: 37
Loc: TN
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Last week. my doctor wrote a letter to Hill Rom. That is great you've gone 25 yrs with no sores. I bet you have more cushion than I.
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#201709 - 03/07/12 08:29 AM
Re: What type of bed & air mattress?
[Re: Paul I]
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kimbur40
Member
Registered: 10/06/01
Posts: 37
Loc: TN
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Thank you for this important info Paul! I hope your day is a pleasant one!
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#201718 - 03/07/12 11:43 PM
Re: What type of bed & air mattress?
[Re: kimbur40]
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Paul I
Member
Registered: 02/24/00
Posts: 7913
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And I hope yours is tornado free!
_________________________
"...only the shadow knows"
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#202029 - 04/20/12 12:15 PM
Re: What type of bed & air mattress?
[Re: kimbur40]
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JAK
Junior Member
Registered: 04/18/12
Posts: 1
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Please tell me more about the SilkAir: Is it good for quad's? Does it prevent heat build-up? Is it difficult for caregivers to move you? Can you compare it to Foam or Gel mattresses (or toppers)? Can you compare various covers; silk, nylon, vinyl, cotton, etc? If you don't have this information, do you know someone (or some organization) that would? Is there a particular brand you recommend? How do they compare by cost?
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#202040 - 04/22/12 10:11 PM
Re: What type of bed & air mattress?
[Re: JAK]
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kimbur40
Member
Registered: 10/06/01
Posts: 37
Loc: TN
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The silk air mattress was so soft and filled up with air. A box hung on the footboard with a wide tube coming out and blowing air into the mattress. On the box a knob 1-10 to adjust the level of air needed depending on your weight for comfort.
Well Medicare quit paying when sore healed, but still needed it to prevent other sores. Insurance doeesn't pay for preventive care, but have to have sore first. If the cost of the mattress wasn't so high like most disabled products are I could of used it always. Another air mattress co has now been selected and will be paid by my state insurance. This will be my 3rd week of trying out 2 other types of air mattesses. Both of them I tried are hard like a regular matresss!! Tomorrow I plan to call & complain!!I feel the silk air is excellent for quads, not difficult for caregivers and not too hot!! I will try to find out more of your questions tomorrow.
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#202055 - 05/02/12 05:05 PM
Re: What type of bed & air mattress?
[Re: kimbur40]
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inachair2001
Junior Member
Registered: 03/10/10
Posts: 2
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Hill Rom SUCKS Ass........Is there anybody else in the USA that does beds "Air Mattress", and I live in the great state of Maryland so if anyone knows of a local dealer that would be GREAT too.
Cause I really do HATE dealing with Hill Rom and all there >->->->-BS<-<-<-<-
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#203390 - 03/07/13 09:20 PM
Re: What type of bed & air mattress?
[Re: inachair2001]
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paul-on-wheels
Member
Registered: 07/09/04
Posts: 36
Loc: New York City
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I've had good experiences with Hill Rom, but they no longer service circulating air mattresses. I haven't found anybody else who does.
Any recommendations?
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