Sleep Apnoea and CPAP

Redsoxfan · 05-04-2025 04:04PM

Where's the going rate for purified water? Is local pharmacy best place?

looksee · 05-04-2025 07:21PM

I buy 2 x 5 litres of purified water each month from my pharmacy, its around 8.50 a bottle. They get it from the suppliers (in Cork) for about €4 - they sometimes leave the invoice stuck to the bottle 😁, so if you live in a large centre you might be able to work out how to get it a bit cheaper.

Its a bit frustrating that the nice sturdy, clean bottles are only good to go in the recycling, I'd love to think of a use for them.

Redsoxfan · 06-04-2025 07:46PM

Thanks, paid 8.50 in my local pharmacy for 5 litres so maybe it's the going rate.

Schorpio · 07-04-2025 09:34AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123329142#Comment_123329142

Is it from the contact with the mask, of just over all of the covered area in general?

I use a nasal pillow-type mask, and I was getting lost of skin irritation from the contact with the silicone. Saw a tip online to put lanolin on the skin before putting on the mask, and that works for me. All irritation gone. Easier to put a small bit of lanolin on the nostrils though, than putting a lot on to cover the contact patch for a full-face mask, but might be worth a go.

I've also seen that gel masks are available, which some people seem to say alleviates the skin irritation. Might give that a go when it's time to change the mask I've currently got, but have no experience of it yet myself.

wonga77 · 07-04-2025 11:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123328844#Comment_123328844

I have been using an oura ring for a few months now, very insightful for sleep.
Gives me a detailed breakdown of rem, deep and light sleep and blood oxygen levels.
Its made it much easier for me to monitor what i do in the leadup to sleep and see how it affects sleep patterns.
For example one sip of alcohol and my deep sleep reduces immediately.
They arent cheap but im glad i went with it anyway

PerrinV2 · 08-04-2025 08:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123334282#Comment_123334282

Thanks I'll have a look at that.

PerrinV2 · 08-04-2025 08:53PM

Has anyone had any experience with a under the mattress sleep monitor as opposed to a ring/smartwatch?
Like the below for example.

https://www.withings.com/eu/en/sleep-analyzer?srsltid=AfmBOooqEOsMytOpzf9dkOQg11ff-Ioc6ntTMrnA0Jsppuvbb6UThWH1

waxmelts2000 · 13-04-2025 04:08PM

I contacted resmed about the skin irration from the f20 silicon mask , they sent me out a foam f20 mask but if need these going forward it’s €50 each 4/6 weeks ! Assume I can’t add these to my DPS refund scheme? Does anyone know

looksee · 13-04-2025 04:54PM

Yes, I think you can, you are limited to 12 a year. I was using them but changed over about the same time I went on to DPS so I never claimed as I had a couple in hand.

waxmelts2000 · 13-04-2025 07:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123353375#Comment_123353375

Thank you, that’s great news , hoping it works and I get better sleep with less skin irritation!

19-04-2025 08:35PM

Hi all,

I am a long term CPAP user, 13 years now, but my post is not really CPAP related. I wanted to ask if anyone else has been offered a free installation of solar panels by Bord Gais, due to being on the medically vulnerable customer register?

I registered last year (after being prompted by BG themselves to do so) and then I got this offer a week or two ago. My house has already been surveyed and they sent me the plan for my house. I am thinking I am going to go ahead with it (after some cabling upgrades that are not included and I will have to pay for) but everything else is free?

More details of the scheme HERE

pummice · 19-04-2025 08:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123372783#Comment_123372783

I dont think you would qualify, as CPAP does not seem to fit the qualifying conditions below -

Who qualifies for priority support services?

You qualify for the Life Support category of the Priority Services Register if you're critically dependent on electrical medical equipment such as:

Home dialysis machine
Oxygen concentrator
Peg tube feeding pump
Personal suction machine
Total parental nutrition machine
Ventilator

19-04-2025 08:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123372836#Comment_123372836

Well, they sent me the offer and have done the assessment, and sent me the plan for the installation. I didn't ask for this, wasn't even aware of it. Bord Gais came to me.

You qualify for the Life Support category of the Priority Services Register if you're critically dependent on electrical medical equipment such as:

The "such as" would imply the list on the website is not exhaustive. CPAP machines (chronic positive airways pressure respirators) are considered "life-sustaining devices" in certain situations, especially for anyone with severe sleep apnea or other respiratory conditions.

looksee · 19-04-2025 09:25PM

Are they suggesting some sort of a storage scheme that would cut in in the event of a power cut? How would it work? Or is the intention to reduce costs?

I haven't bothered with the vulnerable list, my husband was on it when he was completely reliant on an oxygen concentrator, but we never had any awareness that we got any advantage when the power was out. He had to have oxygen bottles as back up. Solar panels might have been an advantage from a cost point of view as the electricity bills were very high.

Even though I have severe SA an odd night without it wouldn't be critical.

19-04-2025 09:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123372938#Comment_123372938

As far as I know, it's a basic 5 panel 2kw installation with the intention to reduce costs. The details are in the link in my post above.

The plan they have given me estimates my electricity costs will reduce by 50/60% and the extra I will pay to upgrade the wiring will be recouped by the savings in 18/24 months.

There is an option to add to or expand the installation at your own cost. I am considering increasing the number of panels at my own cost.

looksee · 19-04-2025 10:14PM

Oh right, thank you, that makes more sense.

Andy From Sligo · 19-04-2025 10:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123372836#Comment_123372836

I would have said 'ventilator' cover CPAP ?

Andy From Sligo · 19-04-2025 10:52PM

I have not been assessed in a sleep study yet, still waiting on appointment but do others on here with SA hear themselves drawing a big massive breath/gasp or 2 as they are going off to sleep , and sometimes take a few odd big gasps of air randomly in the daytime, especially more when sitting down in chair, and tired? - do I mention that when I go for my assessment?

Also do they take much notice of fitness watch results where a lot of the time my app says 'your breathing quality was bad last night' or do they not look on them fitness watches/apps as being accurate and say they are not medical equipment?

BorneTobyWilde · 20-04-2025 01:16AM

formaldehyde

https://bedfolk.com/blogs/the-wind-down/cuddling-up-with-chemicals

This gave me two weeks of hell. Until I finally pinpointed what changed, and eliminated it, ie bedding changed, cheap Chinese quilt covers. Not make people know of Formaldehyde

looksee · 20-04-2025 08:01AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123373120#Comment_123373120

They will ask questions about your sleep habits but mostly, in my experience, they will rely on the sleep study. You can mention the other stuff but whether they are interested will depend on who is analysing the information.

FaganJr · 30-04-2025 08:27AM

Hey everyone,

anyone use cpapstore.eu or similar for supplies / masks etc and were you able to claim back on DPS for this supplier? Or do they have to be Irish suppliers only? My Irish supplier is charging me almost €100 more than this supplier but saying you can claim it back through DPS. Seems like gouging to me but at the tax payers expense?

Thanks

drunkmonkey · 04-05-2025 01:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123372964#Comment_123372964

can you chose who does the install as long as their registered installer, did you check out can you get the additional seai grant if your upscaling the system? Thanks for the post this seems like a no brainer.

04-05-2025 02:03PM

No, Bord Gais have appointed an installer who is doing all the installations under the MV scheme.

I've been in touch with them and am adding extra panels at my own expense as well, and yes, the increased grant is taken into account for that.

drunkmonkey · 05-05-2025 10:07AM

cheers, I’ve registered with Energia. Hopefully hear from them tomorrow.

skyp1xel · 16-05-2025 01:36PM

Hi, just wanted to note here my experience with SA in Ireland, as a data point in case it's useful for anyone.

In short: diagnosed with mild SA about 4y ago by a consultant in a private hospital; was prescribed to use CPAP machine, which definitely improved my situation, and which I did use for about 1 year. Then I decided to give a try to MAD (mandibular advancement devices), mostly because CPAP is quite invasive and cumbersome: had multiple visits to a dentist clinic which specializes in this (it took 2 or 3 months for them to create the device and calibrate its mandibular extension to be just enough to be effective). I've been using it since then. I haven't done an exam to get hard data on how much it improves SA vs what CPAP did, but it's good enough for me. Cost was overall comparable to buying a CPAP machine (which is a bit silly, because it's a much simpler object - albeit being custom-made).

drunkmonkey · 20-05-2025 07:22PM

I’m getting one made at the moment, should be fitted next week, advised it might take a little while to get fully adjusted, and I’ve to lose a bit of weight, as it might not take me fully over the line by itself but I’m not far off hopefully. Sleep dentist seemed confident there’s a way off the leaf blower.

good vibes · 24-05-2025 09:37PM

Forget the rest .. their a load of rubbish... Mouth guard might be okay for a flight... For one night...but Cpap is the best...you need to accept it and persevere... If I can do it you can do it. If you don't use it .. you will to be ill.. it will have heavy consequences on your health....it's a prescription you're given.. so take your prescription and use it... just accept it ..acceptance is key... Resmed's airsense 10 is the only machine to use... the rest are crap... It has a very small nasal pillow and One small band around your head .. no straps..good luck.

looksee · 24-05-2025 10:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123482022#Comment_123482022

Generally agree, but the airsense 10 is the machine, there are numerous mask options to go with it, the nasal pillow is just one.

drunkmonkey · 25-05-2025 11:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123482022#Comment_123482022

I have the resmed 10 and the pillows, I want off this machine, it’s a pain in the hoop and I still wake up a few times a night with it, sometimes very hard to get back to sleep. This doc reckons I have a way off it, They seem like a very professional operation , I’ll know a lot more Wednesday morning when I check my blood oxygen for the night.
Some posters have had great success. It’s a bit more than a €20 mount guard, closer to 2yrs of resmed rental.

drunkmonkey · 28-05-2025 08:18AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123482022#Comment_123482022

1st night with mount device last night, pretty much the same results as using the cpap only I got longer sleep with the splint, have to go back in 30 days for it to be adjusted a bit more to create a bit more air space. Looks like i'm done with cpap if last night was anything to go by. Certainly not a load of rubbish, a bit annoyed I was rail roaded onto cpap when there were more pratical alternatives that weren't explained at all by the consultant I done the initial sleep study with.

Sleep Apnoea and CPAP

Comments

Who qualifies for priority support services?