Sleep Apnoea and CPAP

ChikiChiki · 28-10-2020 9:21pm

Just stumbled across this thread as it was highlighted on the front page but I'm delighted to have found it.

New gf has alerted to me to some bad snoring and anytime she has stayed with me she has had to go to the couch. So she made me download snorelab yesterday and the results were fairly damming. I snored for just under 3 hours out of the 7 and quite badly at that. The recordings were quite extreme peaks.

A previous ex had alerted me to similar and I did nothing about it but now I'm thinking that it could well be a big part of low energy and feeling tired each day.

I'm going to run the app for 2 weeks and maybe see a specialist at the end of reviewing the whole data set.

whomitconcerns · 28-10-2020 9:22pm

I had an ahi of 105 when I got the machine, down to about 1-3 now most nights. But struggle with leakage into my eyes which leaves me too warm and with eye bags most mornings. It's a Phillips under the nose mask. Stuck with it at this stage

Fathom · 28-10-2020 9:23pm

tiny14 wrote: »

Hi all really appreciate any help!! Was diagnosed with osa few months ago but really struggling with cpap machine but im sitting up in my sleep an can stay that way til my partner puts me lying down or i can wake myself and few months ago i used to getvup out of bed and end up falling and have hurt myself falling against locked and only came to after hitting locker!! Has anyone else experienced this type of behaviour with obstructive sleep apnea & many thanks in advance

We can talk about our personal experiences in this thread. And that may be helpful to other members. I've learned a lot here. But if you are having serious problems with your treatment, you should first consult with your medical specialist.

beerguts · 28-10-2020 9:45pm

Hi Guys I would like to get any advice from anyone that has bought their own machine. I'm currently on therapy since last September and to be honest it is only in the last 4 months that I have gotten used to it. I get 5-6 hours sleep with the Airsence 10 and AirFit F30 Full Face mask, 6 hours might not be a lot to some but to me it is a whole lot better than the 1-1 1/2 hours I was getting before therapy.

Now I find that I don't get a whole lot for the €96 a month rental cost and when I was struggling to get used of it the assigned Nurse never even contacted me nor have I been called back for any review (Galway clinic). I feel as if this is just a a nice cozy cartel to milk the consumer. So here are some questions if anyone can help
- For anyone who has purchases it outright where would you recommend as a good supplier?
- Will I need approval from he consultant or a doctor to purchase one of these machines?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

tiny14 · 29-10-2020 1:04am

Fathom wrote: »

We can talk about our personal experiences in this thread. And that may be helpful to other members. I've learned a lot here. But if you are having serious problems with your treatment, you should first consult with your medical specialist.

Thanks for reply and new to this so was wondering had anyone else this experience with sleep apnea and will consult my gp

Masala · 29-10-2020 10:31am

beerguts wrote: »

Hi Guys I would like to get any advice from anyone that has bought their own machine. I'm currently on therapy since last September and to be honest it is only in the last 4 months that I have gotten used to it. I get 5-6 hours sleep with the Airsence 10 and AirFit F30 Full Face mask, 6 hours might not be a lot to some but to me it is a whole lot better than the 1-1 1/2 hours I was getting before therapy.

Now I find that I don't get a whole lot for the €96 a month rental cost and when I was struggling to get used of it the assigned Nurse never even contacted me nor have I been called back for any review (Galway clinic). I feel as if this is just a a nice cozy cartel to milk the consumer. So here are some questions if anyone can help
- For anyone who has purchases it outright where would you recommend as a good supplier?
- Will I need approval from he consultant or a doctor to purchase one of these machines?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

I have bought my Phillips outright and am now finding it hard to get a mask on the internet. I have broken all ties with my original supplier as their service was useless and not willing to give any more business to them. There is a link above to www.cpap.commbut they done do my mask. So... befiore u throw in the towel.. try and scrounge a mask or two to keep u going. OR make sure that your supplier will sell you one and spares after leaving them.

Fathom · 29-10-2020 10:35pm

tiny14 wrote: »

Thanks for reply and new to this so was wondering had anyone else this experience with sleep apnea and will consult my gp

Cool. We look forward to your experiences, discoveries and posts.

LittleGarry · 31-10-2020 5:37pm

beerguts wrote: »

Hi Guys I would like to get any advice from anyone that has bought their own machine. I'm currently on therapy since last September and to be honest it is only in the last 4 months that I have gotten used to it. I get 5-6 hours sleep with the Airsence 10 and AirFit F30 Full Face mask, 6 hours might not be a lot to some but to me it is a whole lot better than the 1-1 1/2 hours I was getting before therapy.

Now I find that I don't get a whole lot for the €96 a month rental cost and when I was struggling to get used of it the assigned Nurse never even contacted me nor have I been called back for any review (Galway clinic). I feel as if this is just a a nice cozy cartel to milk the consumer. So here are some questions if anyone can help
- For anyone who has purchases it outright where would you recommend as a good supplier?
- Will I need approval from he consultant or a doctor to purchase one of these machines?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Have a look at my "story" posts from #269 to #276. It is now a couple of years on and I haven't looked back since - just ordered a new mask from the same company yesterday - excellent pricing and free delivery can't fault them. Just to clarify absolutely NO connection here simply sharing a positive experience.

Murt10 · 01-11-2020 2:47pm

beerguts wrote: »

. I feel as if this is just a a nice cozy cartel to milk the consumer. So here are some questions if anyone can help
- For anyone who has purchases it outright where would you recommend as a good supplier?
- Will I need approval from he consultant or a doctor to purchase one of these machines?

I bought mine outright years ago and haven't looked back. You don't need any permission from anyone regarding which brand of machine you chose. It's like choosing a ford or a toyota. They both do exactly the same thing - get you from here to there.

CPAP machines are the same. They're basically just a high tech reverse vacuum cleaner. They all pump air up your nose at a particular pressure.

I'm on the CPAP many years. Originally I was with one company and looked to buy the machine I had with them. It was roughly €1,100 as far as I remember. They were supposed to give me a new mask and filters every 6 months - Never happened. They'd only give them to me when I looked for them, thereby saving themselves a fortune.

Anyway, despite the fact my machine was 3-4 years old at that stage, they tried to discourage me from buying it, when I inquired. They were looking to sell it to me for over 80% of the new price. Take it or leave it attitude. Obviously they didn't want to kill the goose that laid the golden egg.

I moved company several times. With the last company I told them I wanted to try the machine before buying it. I rented it for 2 months and they agreed to take the rental off the purchase price of the machine. It was a winner for them as I still buy my masks and filters (every 18-24 months) off them

Don't forget that the cost of the machine is also tax deductible saving you 20% off the cost. At the end of year one your'e in clover. You've paid once for the machine and it will last you a good many years. You don't have to keep going through the ritual of claiming money for the machine under the refund of drugs scheme, and feel that you're being used as a pawn, helping to bankrupt the health service.

As an aside, when I bought my machine, my family was paying €135 pm to the Chemist, under the Drugs Payment Scheme, for all our drugs, and the state paid the excess. Imagine my surprise when I was on holidays in Spain one year and brought the family prescriptions to the local pharmacist over there.

I was only looking to see how much they'd cost, but the assistant got them off the shelves. Imagine my surprise when she put them through the register and a months supply came to a total of €40. I rang the wife and asked her whether I should take them or not. Her reply was instant. Will they give you 6 months? I asked and got them no problem. And I've been buying my medication in Spain ever since.

I asked my Dr. about it, as I was worried as to whether I would be getting the genuine article or not. He reassured me that if I was buying them in a physical chemists shop, rather than over the net, I has nothing to worry about. He said that there was as much chance of me getting knock off drugs in an Irish chemists as there was in a Spanish one. He even wrote out the prescription using generic names.

Anyway, the point of the story is that the money I saved of the medicines, paid for the purchase of the machine in a year.

Fathom · 05-11-2020 11:33pm

Murt10 wrote: »

I asked my Dr. about it...

Good choice.

GadgetGeek · 06-11-2020 2:18pm

beerguts wrote: »

Hi Guys I would like to get any advice from anyone that has bought their own machine. I'm currently on therapy since last September and to be honest it is only in the last 4 months that I have gotten used to it. I get 5-6 hours sleep with the Airsence 10 and AirFit F30 Full Face mask, 6 hours might not be a lot to some but to me it is a whole lot better than the 1-1 1/2 hours I was getting before therapy.

Now I find that I don't get a whole lot for the €96 a month rental cost and when I was struggling to get used of it the assigned Nurse never even contacted me nor have I been called back for any review (Galway clinic). I feel as if this is just a a nice cozy cartel to milk the consumer. So here are some questions if anyone can help
- For anyone who has purchases it outright where would you recommend as a good supplier?
- Will I need approval from he consultant or a doctor to purchase one of these machines?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Have a look at my previous post #350 cheapest solution I could find. No issue with delivery.

Boulevardier · 08-11-2020 12:20pm

I am a bit worried about one possibility.

I wear my mask quite tight to minimise air leaks, but I have noticed that if the machine is off I have no air to breathe.

If there was a power cut during the night, is it not possible that I would asphyxiate?

nibtrix · 09-11-2020 1:41pm

Boulevardier wrote: »

I am a bit worried about one possibility.

I wear my mask quite tight to minimise air leaks, but I have noticed that if the machine is off I have no air to breathe.

If there was a power cut during the night, is it not possible that I would asphyxiate?

CPAP or APAP machines for home use should always use vented masks to ensure that you can breathe when they are turned off i.e. they have a vent or small holes that allows an intake of air. It may be a little harder to breathe than usual as you are pulling air through a small opening, but it shouldn't close off your air supply completely.

Non-vented full-face masks are only for use with ventilators that have an active exhalation valve, and alarms and safety system for device failure.

What mask do you use Boulevardier?

OscarMonster · 11-11-2020 10:23pm

While renting Resmed Airsense 10 CPAP device, PEI offer myPatientSpace app.

If you buy, you dont have access to this and the Resmed App (myAir™ for Air10™ by ResMed) is not available in Ireland(!), so only option is to use resmed website.

Wondering if anyone has experience where they bought the machine and if the website (instead of the app) is useful?
Thanks.

nibtrix · 12-11-2020 11:30am

OscarMonster wrote: »

While renting Resmed Airsense 10 CPAP device, PEI offer myPatientSpace app.

If you buy, you dont have access to this and the Resmed App (myAir™ for Air10™ by ResMed) is not available in Ireland(!), so only option is to use resmed website.

Wondering if anyone has experience where they bought the machine and if the website (instead of the app) is useful?
Thanks.

You should be able to remove the SD card from the machine, plug into your laptop or desktop (provided you have an SD slot or card reader) and access the data using a non-Resmed app - I've seen Sleepyhead recommended on various sites.
It's not as quick and easy as checking on the app, but you will get far, far more data. The myPatientSpace app shows the absolute minimum of data, not to mention that it only shows the last 20 days so you can't even look back to compare to previous results.

OscarMonster · 12-11-2020 11:45am

nibtrix wrote: »

You should be able to remove the SD card from the machine, plug into your laptop or desktop (provided you have an SD slot or card reader) and access the data using a non-Resmed app - I've seen Sleepyhead recommended on various sites.
It's not as quick and easy as checking on the app, but you will get far, far more data. The myPatientSpace app shows the absolute minimum of data, not to mention that it only shows the last 20 days so you can't even look back to compare to previous results.

Thanks nibtrix. Yes - I've seen Oscar seems to be its successor (since Sleepyhead was discontinued). I liked what I saw with the Resmed app, and thought an app would be a lot easier that removing the SD card each day. At least could pinpoint an issue like leaking mask (or whatever might come up) easily on phone.

Given the single distributor, then I guess this makes sense, if they are using their own app (incentive to keep on their rental). Thanks.

beerguts · 14-11-2020 3:44pm

Thanks for all the advise guys. It really helped me take the step in buying my own machine. I bought an airsence 10 from www.cpapstore.eu with humidifier as an option as well. Great price of just over €800 which is around 9 months of my current rental costs. I probably wont burn my bridges with my current supplier in the hope that if i need supplies quickly I can purchase off them.

To think we pay some of the highest healthcare costs in the world through our taxes and we then have to source our own medical devices over the internet to keep our personal costs down....Beggars belief

Cushtie · 15-11-2020 9:09am

OscarMonster wrote: »

Thanks nibtrix. Yes - I've seen Oscar seems to be its successor (since Sleepyhead was discontinued). I liked what I saw with the Resmed app, and thought an app would be a lot easier that removing the SD card each day. At least could pinpoint an issue like leaking mask (or whatever might come up) easily on phone.

Given the single distributor, then I guess this makes sense, if they are using their own app (incentive to keep on their rental). Thanks.

You can get into the clinical menu on that also and set it to display extra info on the sleep report screen. You can set it then to view, 1 day, 7 days etc. No as handy as the app, and it doesn't give you the "score" percentage but gives the rest of the info you normally get on the app.

stayback · 15-11-2020 5:48pm

I found a website rapidcpapmask.com they only deliver within the USA but I use address pal from An Post and for €15.99 it’ll be delivered. Prices are very reasonable.

nibtrix · 19-11-2020 6:38pm

stayback wrote: »

I found a website rapidcpapmask.com they only deliver within the USA but I use address pal from An Post and for €15.99 it’ll be delivered. Prices are very reasonable.

What about customs/VAT charges? When you add them on top of the price is it still reasonable? (Not having a go, just wondering!)

Fathom · 19-11-2020 10:32pm

Content and context of this thread has been interesting. May suggest a practical article? Of course, posters anonymous.

OscarMonster · 25-11-2020 4:50pm

beerguts wrote: »

Thanks for all the advise guys. It really helped me take the step in buying my own machine. I bought an airsence 10 from with humidifier as an option as well. Great price of just over €800 which is around 9 months of my current rental costs. I probably wont burn my bridges with my current supplier in the hope that if i need supplies quickly I can purchase off them.

To think we pay some of the highest healthcare costs in the world through our taxes and we then have to source our own medical devices over the internet to keep our personal costs down....Beggars belief

Am thinking of doing the same, with cpapstore.eu too. Seems like crazy (2-2.5 times cost) prices involved locally. Were you happy with them, beerguts?

Samuel T. Cogley · 26-11-2020 7:25am

Apologies if this has been asked an answered but just stumbled across this thread.

I'm with ResMed. I'm on a heap of other medications so I get the vast majority of my rental back but there is a small shortfall through DPS (I'm at the payment limit). I *think* I pay about €110 a month and get €100 back. A while a go I declined to go on to BiPAP as the monthly rental is so much more expensive and I was bloody useless at claiming back through DPS.

Does anyone know how much DPS give you back for BiPAP?

TIA

nibtrix · 26-11-2020 11:54am

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

Apologies if this has been asked an answered but just stumbled across this thread.

I'm with ResMed. I'm on a heap of other medications so I get the vast majority of my rental back but there is a small shortfall through DPS (I'm at the payment limit). I *think* I pay about €110 a month and get €100 back. A while a go I declined to go on to BiPAP as the monthly rental is so much more expensive and I was bloody useless at claiming back through DPS.

Does anyone know how much DPS give you back for BiPAP?

TIA

You should be able to claim back everything over the €114 monthly limit (was €124 until this month) when you combine the cost of your medications and a CPAP machine. Unfortunately I can't find any mention of whether a BiPAP machine is also covered, the DPS website doesn't cover it.

Were you getting the BiPAP from Resmed, or from another supplier? They should be able to tell you if it's covered in the same way.

Samuel T. Cogley · 26-11-2020 2:17pm

I've a shortfall of what the DPS will pay vs what Resmed charge. They told me they only cover upto a certain amount for services. I never switched over to the bipap. Really should ring them again.

Samuel T. Cogley · 26-11-2020 3:11pm

Well DPS couldn't tell me... told me to look at the HSE website refundable items but I cant find CPAP let alone BiPAP.

T-Bird · 26-11-2020 5:41pm

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

Well DPS couldn't tell me... told me to look at the HSE website refundable items but I cant find CPAP let alone BiPAP.

This?

https://www2.hse.ie/services/drugs-payment-scheme/drugs-payment-scheme-refunds.html#Refunds-for-CPAP-or-oxygen

Odyssey 2005 · 26-11-2020 6:13pm

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

Apologies if this has been asked an answered but just stumbled across this thread.

I'm with ResMed. I'm on a heap of other medications so I get the vast majority of my rental back but there is a small shortfall through DPS (I'm at the payment limit). I *think* I pay about €110 a month and get €100 back. A while a go I declined to go on to BiPAP as the monthly rental is so much more expensive and I was bloody useless at claiming back through DPS.

Does anyone know how much DPS give you back for BiPAP?

TIA

€110 pm. I'm paying€96 pm.

Samuel T. Cogley · 26-11-2020 7:02pm

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

€110 pm. I'm paying€96 pm.

Through quite a long story I've ended up on the very expensive track. Service is impeccable though so I don't really want to move.

Samuel T. Cogley · 26-11-2020 7:04pm

T-Bird wrote: »

This?

https://www2.hse.ie/services/drugs-payment-scheme/drugs-payment-scheme-refunds.html#Refunds-for-CPAP-or-oxygen

https://www.sspcrs.ie/druglist/pub;JSESSIONID12=8AoFudM6_6y5X6Ew3inc_ifkUVLf2H54vMfzh5uNI3RZkerQNXH-!1660764435!178447208

DPS told me to check the above link.

Sleep Apnoea and CPAP

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