Adjustable bed

Good morning Bob –

First congratulations on making it through the pre-op chemo, radiation and surgery.  I see you’ve been diagnosed with Stage III, as was my husband William back in 2002.  He had pre-op chemo of Carboplatin and 5-FU, plus 25 radiation treatments, and then the Ivor Lewis Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy by Dr. James D. Luketich at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.  And we are now entering the 14^th year of survival with clean scans.  So now you’re on a different phase, that of adjusting to a new way of eating and sleeping.  But since you only asked about a bed, I will limit my comments to that need basically.  And indeed, sleeping in an elevated position is a “life-style” change for all Esophageal Cancer patients.  But it is one we don’t mind grappling with because we are “alive”.

My husband sleeps on a 12-inch wedge with pillows, and he’s okay with that.  We tried a 7-inch wedge at first, and that wasn’t at all sufficient.  Body weight pushed it down even further.  Before the wedge, we had tried “bed risers”.  Well, that was a joke.  We both wound up at the foot of the bed each morning, so “been there—done that!”

I will tell you that I know that “Paul61” purchased an adjustable bed and is very pleased with it.  Now he will be along no doubt, to tell you how he obtained his.  I don’t happen to know how he went about obtaining it.  I've sent him a private message and when he checks in, he will answer you in even greater detail.  He's filled with helpful information as well.  He had the traditional Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy with post chemo, but is now in his 5th year of cancer-free survival.  That's a milestone to shout about!

But I did call Medicare for you this morning.  (1-800-6334-2273)

And I don’t know what MEDEX is, but Medicare told me that “YES” if the doctor wrote a prescription for it, and it was a medical necessity, that Medicare would pay for 80% of the cost, and the patient must pay the difference.  Now it may be that if you have a supplemental plan as well, (if that is MEDEX), they may cover some of the cost in addition to what Medicare will pay. 

The “hitch” is that Medicare has a list of suppliers that will “accept” their payment for the bed.  No doubt the bed I would most likely to have would not be one that Medicare would pay for.  Women do like “pretty” things you know.  But “pretty” and “practical” don’t always go together.  So comfort is your main goal.

Isn’t there always a “hitch” Bob?  Now you may not want a “hospital bed”.  I see plenty of adjustable beds advertised on the web, that do not look like hospital beds.  And then again, if you have a wife, she may not want to sleep in the same position as do you.  But I’m certain that all the adjustable beds do not have to be double beds.  And I don’t know what is available that is “prettier” than a hospital bed.  Frankly, I would want one that didn’t look like a hospital bed because that would more likely make me feel like a “patient”, even when I was no longer one. 

So I suggest you speak with your physician that sees you on a regular basis, and have them write you a prescription that is “accepted” by Medicare.  Since all EC patients need to sleep in an elevated position, I am certain the doctors are familiar with this aspect of “recovery”.  They should do that much homework for you.  They know this is a necessity for you.  And the choice should be yours.

May God bless you and give you a years, years, and more years of cancer-free survival.  Life is precious, and yet isn’t always appreciated until you’ve had the prospect of losing it.  So congratulations on making it to the “recuperative” and “on-with-life” stage Bob.

Loretta Marshall

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Web link for Medicare 

1.  https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hospital-beds.html

2.  https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/your-medicare-coverage.html?q=adjustable bed for esophageal cancer patient

Good morning Bob – and I hope it is a good morning for you.  In looking through my recent COSTCO flyer, I see that they are advertising a “Split-King Memory Foam Mattress with Adjustable Base.  The picture shows a king bed with either side able to lay flat or be elevated.  It lists the item #as 695974 and yes it’s expensive.  But actually if I had known my husband would be alive 14 years later, I would have purchased something like this right after his MIE surgery, even if it did cost “an arm and a leg!”  So although I own no stock in COSTCO, I do see that they have adjustable beds in their inventory.   This one happens to cost $2,399.99 delivered and that’s after a $500 discount.  (That’s their sale price for now). 

 So if you weren’t able to get your doctor to write you a prescription for an adjustable bed, thought you might want to check out other sources.  They say that other sizes/configurations are available.  So I know that this is at least one place Esophageal Cancer patients can shop to find a bed that gives them a good night’s rest, if foam wedges and/or pillows stacked one on another are not sufficient.  I would think that all of us would buy a new bed, if they were a bit less pricey.  Anyhow, hope you are progressing well and enjoying your life more than ever, even with the new way of sleeping.  We count each day a gift wrapped up in sunshine, flowers and love from all our friends and family.   

Loretta - Wife of William, 14 yr. survivor, EC T3N1M0