CPAP in Dubai

Hello,

I'm completely new to cpap machines and would like some guidance.

I currently work in dubai and was considering getting a cpap machine to help with my sleep apnea. Does anyone know where I can purchase one from here?

I've had this condition for years, although i had not considered seeking help until recently when i started waking up with severe headaches and extremely shallow breathing.

Although I will be seeking a sleep study for an official diagnosis, this will not be possible until at least two months down the line when i can go home.

I was hoping to temporarily cut out the middle man and get this machine straightaway as it provides immediate relief. And my understanding is that it can also be used diagnostically by poring over the data it collects.

I know that i want an auto, fully data capable machine, but realize that comfort is also a factor, although i do not know enough about what would make this machine more comfortable.

I am determined to make a good purchase first time round, rather than something that i will want to replace within a year due to discomfort.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Hi - The comfort factor is going to come from which mask you get, and most of us end up trying a few of them before finding the right one, and then we sometimes have to change again in future (apart from maintenance replacements), or add 'liners', which are very thin fabric under-mask soft face covers matching the mask - they help keep small air leakage under control (see Pad-a-Cheek.com), but those may never be needed of course. There are many machines as well, probably the most popular being the Resmed S9 Autoset 560 model, and the Respironics PR S1, both of which give very comprehensive data tracking using SD cards and software you can download free through the forum. Most machines do the same thing though - help keep your airway open - and most do it well if programmed properly, plus are quite reliable as machines - rarely 'break down' until they're old.

Which mask you choose is important - the 'nasal' ones just cover your nose, the 'full face' ones are similar, but also cover your mouth as many of us end up with open mouths once asleep and lose the Cpap air that way when it's meant to go further downward and open your airway. You can look at a huge variety on Cpap.com, with lots of detail and pictures. It's important that your dealer ('DME') lets you try them lying down as your face changes from being upright. There are also masks that use what are called 'pillows', small silicone aerated pads that just fit your nostrils but don't actually cover your nose, though again won't suit everyone.

Getting what you want in Dubai may or may not be a problem depending on what's available there (there are a few members from Dubai here) and what you can import. Resmed won't let equipment be sent to patients outside of the U.S., but dealers in other countries can get them for you, though you'll end up paying more.

Here's a link to help getting started - http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/

Why wait until you go home there are sleep labs in Dubai you can go to. Many different cpap machines are available here, just look in the phone book for medical equiptment suppliers ,but most require a prescription in order to purchase equiptment.

gulfpearl wrote:Why wait until you go home there are sleep labs in Dubai you can go to. Many different cpap machines are available here, just look in the phone book for medical equipment suppliers ,but most require a prescription in order to purchase equipment.

Try Craigslist being sure to use PayPal, tho shipping to Dubai may be expensive and possibly illegal according to their laws. If your problem is a collapsing airway (OSA) usually related to snoring, then just about any modern CPAP machine can handle that, tho most forum members prefer data-capable machines like certain ResMeds and Phillips Respironics late models. If you have other sleep apnea issues like Central Sleep Apnea CSA, you will probably need a real sleep study - either in Dubai or in your country of origin. There's no way at this point to know for sure what your problem is until you have a sleep test.

Thank you guys, especially Julie, for the extremely helpful replies- you've given me a lot to go on. The masks themselves will have to be trial and error, as there are no 'walk-in' stores for this equipment here.

I did want to ask about the Philips RemStar- has the display of data been improved in the latest versions? The older ones seem to have had limited on screen data and the averages for the week/month when viewed on the pc. Daily data would seem to be more useful to me.

Sleep studies in dubai cost >$1000 and in hospitals where the doctors have in the past proven to be far below home standards. The machines themselves are also ludicrously priced- $1500 for a machine that costs $600 in the US.

It is starting to look like there is little i can do without a prescription, although i still plan to import one once i have it. I can't seem to find anything disallowing the import of medical equipment into dubai.

jbfifteen wrote:I did want to ask about the Philips RemStar- has the display of data been improved in the latest versions? The older ones seem to have had limited on screen data and the averages for the week/month when viewed on the pc. Daily data would seem to be more useful to me.

The latest model the Respironics PR System One 60 series machines now offer daily averages as well as weekly/monthly.
It's still limited though..AHI, and time in large leaks
But they now use a simple SD card for data transfer and software is easy to find and use..and it's free.
So it's easy to get the more comprehensive data.
I have links to SleepyHead in my signature if you want to see a few examples.

There are ways to get a machine without a RX... send me a private message (you will need to register at the forum) and I will share them.

I am also in Dubai. You can have a sleep study done on your medical insurance but for some reason once you are diagnosed with OSA, the insurance company will not pay for the cpap. You can import your own cpap and DO NOT pay the outrageous prices the idiots here want to charge. I would suggest you buy two from the US which will be the same price as one bought here and then if there are any warranty issues with one unit, you can send one back and unbox the other while its being repaired. I have the Develibiss Intellipap Auto and it works a dream and is quiet. You MUST buy one with a humidifier as the AC here will leave you with a VERY dry mouth if you dont.

For anyone with a CPAP machine in Dubai and fed up with paying over the top prices for new masks etc. try CPAP_dot_com.

You can register on the site and provide them with a prescription for CPAP parts. My doctor was quite happy to provide this free of charge and even emailed a pdf copy to me. You can then upload the PDF and order what you need. I just recently ordered the following:

ComfortFull 2 Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Premium Headgear with EZ Peel Tabs for Comfort Series Masks
StrapGuard CPAP Mask Strap Pads (1 Pair)
Respironics Pure White 6 Foot Performance CPAP/BiPAP Tubing (22mm)

Total cost was 107 USD, compared to Dubai at 650 DHS for just the Mask! I personally use Aramex Shop & Shop which added 72 DHS to the cost for shipping. Took 5 days to arrive and everything was well packaged and in excellent condition.

I have several machines available both new and used at good pricing . priority mail to Dubai is close to $100 us.

PM me if intrested

grayghost4 wrote:I have several machines available both new and used at good pricing . priority mail to Dubai is close to $100 us.

PM me if intrested

I need a MASK with Headgears, please quote

zubair.regards wrote:

grayghost4 wrote:I have several machines available both new and used at good pricing . priority mail to Dubai is close to $100 us.

PM me if intrested

I need a MASK with Headgears, please quote

just some random mask?

175$

Cpap.com is the 'store', this is a forum, no products here unless you want 'used'. And (as was said above) you haven't said what mask you want or the size or anything else (are you even in Dubai?).