ASAA free machine or a craigslist Resmed r9

Hi all,

I am new to this. I recently saw a sleep specialists. She confirmed I have OSA and suggested I get a sleep test. I am trying to save some money.

I saw that the ASAA is giving away machines for a 100 dollar donation. See here: http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/cpa ... ogram.html

I can also buy a ResMed S9 on craiglist for about 350 bucks.

For a person who has a prescription, but does not want a sleep test, what is the best (and cheapest) way to proceed?

Thank you,

--Nathan

Nathan C. Morales wrote:Hi all,

I am new to this. I recently saw a sleep specialists. She confirmed I have OSA and suggested I get a sleep test. I am trying to save some money.

I saw that the ASAA is giving away machines for a 100 dollar donation. See here: http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/cpa ... ogram.html

I can also buy a ResMed S9 on craiglist for about 350 bucks.

For a person who has a prescription, but does not want a sleep test, what is the best (and cheapest) way to proceed?

Thank you,

--Nathan

Hi Nathan,

I briefly volunteered for the ASAA program so let me comment on that first. If you decide to go that route, they will send the machine to your doctor's office who will set it up for you. So depending on what your doctor charges for this type of service, that might involve additional costs that could be more than the $350 charge of the Craig's list item.

Also, I can't remember and didn't find an answer on the site but qualifying for the program might require a sleep study. So you need to verify that.

Additionally, when I worked there, people might get a non data capable machine (known as a brick) if it meant all the other requirements. As a result, monitoring your therapy would be next to impossible without being able to access data.
However, recently Resmed has donated several machines so hopefully, if you went this route, this would not be an issue. But again, doublecheck.

If you chose to buy the Craig's List machine, you need to find out if it is an S9 escape or an S9 autoset. The escape is a brick while the autoset is a data capable machine. Also, find out what the blower hours to get an idea of how old the machine is.

Now if you purchased the machine, you would also need to make sure it included the necessary accessories such as humidifier and hose which usually most of them although this needs to be verified. And many times, you would need to buy a mask which would involved an additional cost although with the help of this list, we could help you find one without paying full price. Contrast that with the ASAA option where everything would be included, even the mask.

If you purchased the Craig's list machine, you would have to do alot of reading of this site on your own to educate yourself as to what pressures to start at and how to monitor your data. But members would gladly help you with that.

Hope this helps in making your decision.

49er

PS - On what basis where you diagnosed with apnea without a sleep study? I just realized I wrote this whole post without asking you this question which is important. I will let the post stand because it still might be very relevant but getting a machine without a sleep study could be dicey depend on your situation.

I agree that if your MD "confirmed" a diagnosis of apnea based on... symptoms? I wouldn't be in a rush to get a machine unless I knew for sure it was able to help self-titrate properly and give you the info. you need to do that. I also wonder if your MD has tested you for other possible reasons for your symptoms like thyroid problems, blood issues, lack of sleep for other reasons (insomnia, hrs of sleep, shift work problems, etc.). And proper sleep studies can alert you to other issues like UARS or PLMD that a machine can't necessarily do at all.

It makes a lot of difference which ResMed S9 you get. Be sure it's at least an Elite, preferably an AutoSet. Avoid Escape or Escape Auto. The useful links in my signature line below has some recommendations on which machines to get or avoid.

Don't forget you need a hose and mask as well.

Greyghost had a machine avail earlier. It's a brick but the price was right.

viewtopic.php?t=103355

the machine that Krelvin link to would not be any good for you.

check your PM's (private messages)

Hey folks,

Thanks for the replies. As fast as having OSA, here are my symptoms:

The wife says I snore loudly
I wake up in the middle of the night feeling like I can't breathe
I make weird clicking noises as I sleep
Some mornings I feel like my lungs hurt
Dreadful daytime zombie-like fatigue
Associated increased weight gain and elevated blood pressure
Allergy season makes it worse--its unbearable in November

So it seems as though I don't want to buy a brick. Would Grayghost's device work for me?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/hab/4842828404.html

--Nathan

That is one of the best current machines on the market. You'd be crazy not to get it. It has an online street value of about $800 with the heated humidifier, and you'd pay 3 times that at a durable medical equipment provider (offset by whatever insurance you have).

Nathan C. Morales wrote:Would Grayghost's device work for me?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/hab/4842828404.html

GG isn't going to suggest something bad. he's just trying to be somewhat subtle and not cover the forum with 'Psst, wanna buy a cpap?" posts.