Newly diagnosed, trying to stay positive ...

[Pugsy]

Edit: Pugsy, I don't see any advantage in purchasing from the US - you're not saving much if any money as well as if there are warranty issues you have to ship the machine back to Second Wind, which will eat into what savings you have.

OP wants to start treatment now as opposed to going through the system which means March of next year.

My idea was to bypass the system...it's an option available to get started quickly and she mentioned she was willing to pay for that option.

She could still utilize the "system" and get a back up machine.

She can do whatever she wants...I was merely explaining one option and the costs involved and it could be done.

[Arlene1963]

Here's a copy of the one page sleep report I received yesterday along with the news that I have moderate sleep apnea,

[Arlene1963]

Hi Rambling,

I appreciate your comments. Unfortunately I haven't even seen a sleep specialist yet, and the wait times I alluded to earlier for CPAP are for those who have already seen a sleep specialist, so the wait for CPAP for me could be closer to June at this rate.

I am a person who likes to get control over the situation and also I won't feel so completely helpless and angry waiting for an apt. It has to do with mastery of a bad situation. I hope this makes sense? I do very much appreciate your perspective. If I had an apt booked with a sleep specialist I might wait, but since I don't even have that yet, and the fact that the sleep study took 2 months to get sent to my Nurse Practioner, I am not hopeful it will be anytime soon.

Additionally, when I spoke to a Sleep Centre Rep here I was told that they will not sell CPAP without a Dr's prescription, and I doubt very much if my Nurse Practioner will be prepared to write one for me, she told me yesterday that it isn't even clear that I will be needing CPAP, as the Sleep Study only says it "may be indicated".

So this is why I want to go the self treatment route until I get an apt with the Sleep Specialist.

Pugsy, I am going to check out that gently used Remsed. I gather that it's considered to be one of the best on the market for women?

What mask do you recommend? I breath quite easily through my nose. No congestion. I am very small ... only just 5ft tall and weigh about 128 pounds. Not sure if that is relevant or not?

[ramblingasian]

Hi Rambling,

I appreciate your comments. Unfortunately I haven't even seen a sleep specialist yet, and the wait times I alluded to earlier for CPAP are for those who have already seen a sleep specialist, so the wait for CPAP for me could be closer to June at this rate.

I am a person who likes to get control over the situation and also I won't feel so completely helpless and angry waiting for a apt. It has to do with mastery of a bad situation.

I hope this makes sense? I do very much appreciate your perspective and if I even had an apt with a sleep specialist I might wait, but I don't even have a family doctor, only a nurse practioner, and there is no way she will prescribe anything for me, she barely knows what sleep apnea is, quite frankly.

I will definitely see the sleep doctor and get a machine via OHIP .. this is just for until then.

Pugsy, I am going to check out that gently used Remsed.

What mask do you recommend? I breath quite easily through my nose. No congestion. I am very small ... only just 5ft tall and weigh about 128 pounds. Not sure if that is relevant or not?

I appreciate your response. Maybe it's just the way I've gone through the same process that you're going through now that I can't understand why it would take eight months to see a sleep doctor after having a titration.

As for me, I had my three titrations and now have my full prescription within four months, and that included a two month delay with OHIP.

Good luck!

[Pugsy]

For a mask...I recommend starting with the type of mask that has minimal surface area touching the skin so that leak potential is kept to a minimum..so that would be a nasal pillow mask.
Nasal pillow masks also typically have minimal headgear to mess with...which can be a good thing or a bad thing .

Check out the ResMed AirFit P10 nasal pillow that I have showing in my equipment profile...click on the link.

Another good one for newbies is the ResMed Swift FX nasal pillow.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... dgear.html

and it has the advantage that the headgear and hose can be used with the Swift FX Nano cushion mask
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... dgear.html

and there is this mask which is essentially brand new to the market and I am currently trying it just for fun.
Been using it 3 weeks now. It's not going to replace my P10 but it's a very nice mask. I think newbies would do quite well with it.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-dre ... -pack.html

Masks require a RX too...but there are ways of getting a mask and I think secondwindcpap may have some..I need to check on it. If they don't have what you want...let me know and I will see what I can come up with. There are ways to get a new mask without a RX if you know where to look...and if they won't ship to Canada...I will.

So take a look at those I suggested and see if something looks interesting to you.

[Cardsfan]

When you are looking at Pugsy's masks suggestions, I would like to point out...the Swift FX headgear is adjustable at the top of the headband, and on both sides. Those other masks, I have tried all of those she suggested, did not have that ability. It comes in a "For Her" version styled to fit a female.

[Pugsy]

Tis true...the Swift FX headgear probably has more versatility in terms of easy adjustments.
The P10 not so much but there is some adjustability with where the 2 straps are placed...closer together or further apart. It's usually enough to get the job done.
The DreamWear...comes with the Medium frame and the only adjustibility on it is the back strap but there are other frame sizes available. I am using the medium frame and while maybe I could use the small I don't think that it is critical.

BTW I am less than 5 ft (I shrunk) and I am small boned and rather petite features. Not a big woman at all unless you count my post menopausal butt/belly.

[Arlene1963]

Well I've decided to order the following:

Gently Used S10 Airsense AutoSet For Her CPAP Climateline Tubing & Accessories

ResMed Swift FX w/ Headgear for Her

Before I hit the buy button in Paypal, I just want make sure that these are the correct recommendations and I'm not ordering the wrong items from Secondwind.

Thanks so much.

Also, and forgive me if this is a stupid question, but is it safe to do this at home without supervision? Do I have to get an oxygen meter thing for my finger too?

[Pugsy]

I don't see the need to buy one of those overnight pulse oximeters at this time.
You could always get one later if you feel the need. I wouldn't want to add something else being "stuck" on my body until I got use to all this stuff first.

Yes, it's safe as long as you don't have any complicating factors.

I think the Swift FX for Her nasal pillow mask is a good choice for someone in your situation.
I used it for 2 or 3 years until the P10 was released. The Swift FX is probably a little more stable but I give up a little stability to have less stuff on my face and head...but that's me and several years of cpap experience. For a newbie...the Swift FX is a good choice.

[Arlene1963]

Pugsy, thanks so much again.

What are complicating factors?

[Cardsfan]

You will need to get a gallon of distilled water- for the humidifier tank. (a gallon can last me a month).

[Pugsy]

Complicating factors....major lung or major cardiac issues mainly. You would know it if you had other major health issues. I think pneumothorax is listed...hole in the lung...you would know it. Mostly some really major and obvious health issues. I think COPD is also listed (but how complicating COPD might be depends on how severe the COPD)

There is a very small potential complicating factor of centrals developing because of cpap pressure...small risk and if they do the machine will flag them and then we talk about what to do (if anything) about them.
Even if they do develop...cpap is usually given some time to see if they go away.

[Pugsy]

You might as well print off the manual for your machine.
https://sleep.tnet.com/home/files/resme ... -guide.pdf
It's a combo manual but the differences available with the For Her model are explained well in it.

Like CardsFan suggested...get some distilled water to use in the humidifier.
You can use tap water or bottled water in a pinch but using distilled water means less chance of mineral build up in the water chamber which means less work cleaning and I am all about "less work".
Should you have to use tap water and do get a little mineral build up...a solution of vinegar and water will clean it right up.
I normally use distilled but have on occasion had to use tap water (icy roads means no going to town) and it's an easy clean up with vinegar.

[Arlene1963]

I phoned Secondwind to make sure it's kosher to ship to Canada without a prescription, and they said they do it all the time and it has never been a problem, but if it should be a problem for some reason I will get a full refund. (I've read that you can only order CPAPs etc here in Canada from the US with a prescription. Do Canadians here have any experience with this issue?) Maybe second hand medical supplies are different?

I am going to wait for replies to this question until I order I think?

As I mentioned earlier , I am quite sleep deprived and still in a bit of shock over this diagnosis, so my decision making is not the best today.

Also want to add that I phoned yet another one of the CPAP supply stores here and asked if my Nurse Practioner or Doctor could write up a prescription for me, and was told that it had to be a sleep specialist. Rambling, you are in Toronto and it only took you 4 months. Did you get a Dr's prescription or a specialist's prescription for the CPAP? Have to wonder why things are so different between our cities?

[nanwilson]

You can order from any online DME here in Canada, I use clinicalsleep.com or cpapoutlet.ca. Resmed and Respironics will not allow US suppliers to ship to Canada, but you can buy them from Canadian suppliers...also you can buy any OTHER brand from the US and they can ship to you... Resmed and Respironics have got a burr up their butt on the subject.
I bought a respironics machine from clinicalsleep with no problems, you just need a copy of an rx...... any medical professional can write one for you, including your dentist . Clinicalsleep is in B.C. and Cpapoutlet in Ont.
Secondwind is indeed a very reputable company and many members here deal with them.
Good luck.
Cheers
Nan