Sleep Apnea Mask?
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PaunchyPirate
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No. I have a private pay PPO plan from my local Blue Cross/Blue Shield. As I understand it, they will rent it for the first 3 months and then pay it off if I have been compliant with my usage.
I have a 20% coinsurance that I would have to pay.
GalaxyBoy
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When I got my last new machine, a ResMed A10, my insurer didn’t require spying on my data to ensure compliance (I’m actually the poster child for compliance and when the time comes I won’t mind). However, I currently don’t use insurance for ongoing supplies due to copays/deductibles. There are companies who sell at lower prices for non-insurance purchases - cpap.com for example. You can also buy mask parts with no Rx from Amazon and build your own mask.
BTW, the A10 has been a good machine and I expect its replacement A11 will be, too. I liked that it was possible to view my nightly usage from my phone and that my doctor could download data remotely, but alas, it has a 3G modem so that quit working.
BTW, the A10 has been a good machine and I expect its replacement A11 will be, too. I liked that it was possible to view my nightly usage from my phone and that my doctor could download data remotely, but alas, it has a 3G modem so that quit working.
You can read your own data (off the sd card in the machine) using OSCAR. There is a large consumer group lobbying to make this data more easily available to end users.
Consider joining this independent forum for more info: Apnea Board Forum - CPAP | Sleep Apnea
Consider joining this independent forum for more info: Apnea Board Forum - CPAP | Sleep Apnea
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PaunchyPirate
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Great info on the supplies/parts. Thanks! My insurance indicates they also only need the compliance data for the first device. After that they don't need it, so they say in literature.
PaunchyPirate
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Thanks Janet. This if very helpful.
troutnut1
Recycles dryer sheets
Insurance is great but be aware the Cpap DME supplier will rip and gouge your insurance company for the absolute maximum they can get. This is usually double or triple the street price of these machines. Ditto with all the supplies. It’s just the way it is. Same with medicare, but the deductibles are usually less, and our supplements usually pick up any copays above the deductible.
Another way is to buy direct if you can find a discount supplier that will sell it to you direct. I bought a top of the line Airsence 10 “For Her” model with heated tubing for $550 when my DME billed my insurance company for $2000 for the equivalent machine. I used to find sellers who would do this all the time on Amazon and Ebay but the DME’s get them run off when they see them undercutting them. They still do show up from time to time.
With what I know now, and not needing any startup type help, I would simply buy one secondhand on craigslist. I just checked and I see great Resmed machines local to me from $175 to $250 with very low hours. My current Resmed Airsence 10 Autoset has over 15,000 hours on it and it runs perfectly. Medicare would buy me a new one at no cost to me but I have several special 12V DC converters for mine that run in my RV and on my solar system that I can’t yet find for the new Airsence 11 yet. And insurance won’t pay for those which cost about $150 each.
In spite of what you might hear on youtube, there is no danger in bying a second hand machine. Many people abandon these after a few nights and the former Resmed machines Airsence 10’s are well proven and available inexpensively. The place that did your sleep study uses the same machine for all patients and just cleans the mask between patients. Germs won’t fly upstream into the airflow that is going from your machine to your mask.
Another way is to buy direct if you can find a discount supplier that will sell it to you direct. I bought a top of the line Airsence 10 “For Her” model with heated tubing for $550 when my DME billed my insurance company for $2000 for the equivalent machine. I used to find sellers who would do this all the time on Amazon and Ebay but the DME’s get them run off when they see them undercutting them. They still do show up from time to time.
With what I know now, and not needing any startup type help, I would simply buy one secondhand on craigslist. I just checked and I see great Resmed machines local to me from $175 to $250 with very low hours. My current Resmed Airsence 10 Autoset has over 15,000 hours on it and it runs perfectly. Medicare would buy me a new one at no cost to me but I have several special 12V DC converters for mine that run in my RV and on my solar system that I can’t yet find for the new Airsence 11 yet. And insurance won’t pay for those which cost about $150 each.
In spite of what you might hear on youtube, there is no danger in bying a second hand machine. Many people abandon these after a few nights and the former Resmed machines Airsence 10’s are well proven and available inexpensively. The place that did your sleep study uses the same machine for all patients and just cleans the mask between patients. Germs won’t fly upstream into the airflow that is going from your machine to your mask.
PaunchyPirate
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Thanks. I’m not surprised by the gouging. I had to pay $300 for a wrist brace that I later found for $30 on Amazon because the DME supplier wouldn’t take it back after 3 days. I never saw the price until the insurance claim was processed and I was billed the full amount because I hadn’t met my deductible. I will tread as carefully as I can. But it’s somewhat out of my control at this point.
That's the machine I have, there was a local company on our insurance that we went through. Insurance doesn't want to buy it up front as not everyone keeps up with using it. The rental lasted 13 months, just finished paying the last payment. Nice machine because it wirelessly transmits data to the doctor's office (they check that you are using it at least 4 hrs per night for insurance to keep paying).
Kwirk
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I'll put in a good word for the DeVilbiss IntelliPAP series. The basic machine can be had for $500 or less. I've been using the same machine for >10 yrs. My wife has been using hers for >5 yrs. My son-in-law has used his for >5 yrs. We've never had a problem with any of the machines.
Good luck!
Good luck!
troutnut1
Recycles dryer sheets
Best gift to myself was learning to adjust the pressures and features like ramp myself. Its easy to do and you can find out how with a little research on youtube, etc. I went rogue early on and took control of those functions away from my doctor. I track results of changes using OSCAR software (sleepfiles.com) so I know very quickly whether my changes are working or not. This allows me to fine tune my sleep far better than any doctor could with the very occasional visits we make. They can all clearly see on my next appointment all the changes I made, and I haven't had anyone care over the last 8 years or so I’ve been doing it. It is simply delivering a little room air under pressure. Its not rocket science. Some nights I feel like a little more. Some a little less. Having it your way is far better than the thing ending up in a closet or on Craigslist. In the end doctors are only worried about your AHI, your leaks, and your compliance. They don’t care much about pressures, epap, ramp, etc. unless you are unhappy or showing bad numbers. Yell if you need help with going rogue and tweaking things yourself.
PaunchyPirate
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Thanks. You sound a lot like me. I've started researching OSCAR and am the type that loves graphs and charts and statistics. So I'm ready to dive into this. I'm told there is a bit of a backlog to get the devices, but hopefully in a couple weeks I'll be underway.
aaronc879
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I'm just going to risk dying in my sleep rather than wear a mask to bed. I have chronic pain in multiple places that causes me to toss and turn all night. I start on my back but turn onto one side then the other and back again as needed even going onto my stomach as a last resort. No way a mask will work for me.
MrsHaloFIRE
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Aaronc. That's miserable. Google tap2 device. Essentially a retainer that can help open your airway without wearing a cpap. Estimated 50pct as good as a cpap. But silent, tiny, no ongoing expenses and 100pct better than nothing. They make others thats just the name I know.
Been on CPAP for a few years now, huge difference, just get past the first few weeks and you should be golden.
As to the insurance deal it's a frinking mess, the reality is you can buy the machine online for let's say $1000 (used be $600) going thru your DME will cost you and the insurance company $3,000. Going thru the DME for the first machine is not a bad thing as you learn the ins and outs but after that buying online is sane.
I buy all my supplies online, by the time you mess with the insurance etc it's just easier and cheaper most the time to buy it on Amazon, etc.
The Resmed Machine you are looking at is a fine machine, I have 10, got into the whole Phillips recall mess, that was fun. I would stick with Resmed just for the reason they don't attempt to encrypted your data. I use OSCAR as mentioned above too, just not very much anymore but it's nice to have.
As to the insurance deal it's a frinking mess, the reality is you can buy the machine online for let's say $1000 (used be $600) going thru your DME will cost you and the insurance company $3,000. Going thru the DME for the first machine is not a bad thing as you learn the ins and outs but after that buying online is sane.
I buy all my supplies online, by the time you mess with the insurance etc it's just easier and cheaper most the time to buy it on Amazon, etc.
The Resmed Machine you are looking at is a fine machine, I have 10, got into the whole Phillips recall mess, that was fun. I would stick with Resmed just for the reason they don't attempt to encrypted your data. I use OSCAR as mentioned above too, just not very much anymore but it's nice to have.
PaunchyPirate
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Thanks for all the info above since my last comment. I got my ResMed AirSense 11 on Wednesday and have used it for 2 nights with virtually no issues. I've slept nearly normal both nights. My number of CPAP events was 2.5 the first night and then 1.25 last night. This compares to the 14 and 10 I had in my 2 sleep studies. They want that number less than 5, so I'm a happy camper (and sleeper). For those that use the MyAir app, I've had a score of 99 for each of my nights. The only things I've been dinged for are my 3 trips to the bathroom each night that make me take off the mask. I need to start carrying the CPAP machine into the bathroom with me!
Fingers crossed this continues to be this successful.
Fingers crossed this continues to be this successful.
The night trips to the bathroom should slow down and or stop I would think. If I recall it took me a couple of weeks to "adjust" to the not getting up part. I would be lucky to make a bathroom trip once a month in the middle of the night now.
troutnut1
Recycles dryer sheets
You shouldn't get dinged for that. Do you pause the machine airflow when you get up and resume it when you come back ?
PaunchyPirate
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The Airsense 11 companion app on the iPhone, called MyAir, allows you to take the mask off 2x per night before it deducts a point from your total score. The 3rd time deducts a point. The score is just a made up point system of 5 metrics related to CPAP usage. My system automatically turns off the airflow when I take the mask off and turns it back on when the mask is put on again.
You will quickly find that you don't care what any scoring system is, you will gauge your sleep by how you feel. Sounds like you are taking to it great.
Since you are new, I would note exactly where the end of the velcro straps for the mask are. The first time I had to undo them to wash stuff, I sort of lost track and it took a while to find the right fit again. Just being off 1/8" can be the difference between air blowouts when you move and a good face seal. The air leak spot for me is always right onto my eyelids. That ruins my sleep, so I have to really fuss with the straps to get them right, even after over a year of using the CPAP.
Since you are new, I would note exactly where the end of the velcro straps for the mask are. The first time I had to undo them to wash stuff, I sort of lost track and it took a while to find the right fit again. Just being off 1/8" can be the difference between air blowouts when you move and a good face seal. The air leak spot for me is always right onto my eyelids. That ruins my sleep, so I have to really fuss with the straps to get them right, even after over a year of using the CPAP.
Mr._Graybeard
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I was surfing Youtube recently and came across a guy who claims to have "cured" his sleep apnea by taping his mouth shut! He said he cuts a small slit into the tape to permit a bit of air ingress so he doesn't "freak out" (his words).
Then I was talking with a dentist about jaw-adjustment devices (which work for my mild case of apnea). She said I might augment my device with mouth tape. Hm...mouth tape?
Sure enough, here it is on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sleeping+mouth+tape&i=hpc&hvadid=568579490824&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9018948&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=1959305390039968106&hvtargid=kwd-444005645424&hydadcr=21855_11240942&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_5s4u6fobxi_e
Then I was talking with a dentist about jaw-adjustment devices (which work for my mild case of apnea). She said I might augment my device with mouth tape. Hm...mouth tape?
Sure enough, here it is on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sleeping+mouth+tape&i=hpc&hvadid=568579490824&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9018948&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=1959305390039968106&hvtargid=kwd-444005645424&hydadcr=21855_11240942&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_5s4u6fobxi_e
troutnut1
Recycles dryer sheets
I, and many other cpap users prefer mouth taping to chin straps or full face masks. If the cpap pressure escapes out of a mouth that falls open, it kind of renders the cpap useless. I have confidence in my machine, and I have a battery backup system in case of power failures. In a worst case scenario there are enough air vents in any cpap mask that I would not suffocate. But it probably would wake me up. I’ve learned to love not having to have a chin strap.
I saw the video you mentioned and I don’t see how mouth taping without cpap would help sleep apnea. It might help quieting snoring sounds, or with dry tissues from mouth breathing. I’d say he either didn’t have OSA in the first place, or he still has it and the tape helps him deny it.
Dental devises just move the lower jaw forward some which can help keep the airway open in a few cases. If the desire is to quiet snoring a little, or keep the mouth moist, tape may help. But it certainly won’t “cure” anyone’s sleep apnea. I guess it could make a spouse happier.
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Mr._Graybeard
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I see snoring as a symptom of conditions that can lead to sleep apnea. The soft palate constricts air flow while mouth breathing, resulting in a noisy vibration.
And as far as I'm concerned, sleep clinics overprescribe CPAP pumps when less elaborate (and less expensive) solutions can mitigate sleep apnea. As I've said in another thread, I've successfully used a "mouth guard" to resolve my sleep apnea, and a clinical sleep study confirmed it.
Yes, severe sleep apnea likely requires a CPAP. But I'd suggest that someone who tests positive for mild to moderate apnea consult an ear, nose and throat specialist for a second opinion. Because, IME, a sleep lab that confirms a case of apnea will routinely rubber-stamp that patient for a CPAP as a cure-all.
