airsense 10, amara view mask, what APRIA said~

Took an 80+ year old friend to get her equipment as she is new user. Her doctor sent her to Apria in N. California.
Apria said value of the package was $2,800.00. That the mask inner cushion, hoses, humidifier water chamber and filters should each be replaced new every 6 months. That the machine is an APAP. This doesn't quite line up with what our host is saying on their page. Apria also said it was not possible to get a clinician's manual. They also denied that the machine could be used without the humidifier and said that no slide cover existed, they did include a normal hose and one climate style hose. They were very nice even when I made my friend repeat opening and closing and putting on and taking off mask until she felt comfortable. After I used my tiny makeup mirror so she could see the mask on her face, they did find a larger hand mirror so she could see what she was doing.
I would appreciate any commentary on the above statements about the equipment and any advice, (beyond getting Sleepyhead which to me is a given requirement). Also told her about this group. (Thank you all for being so wonderful!) Apria is certain one would never need a user group because Apria is always able to help by phone. I did not choke.
Thank you all very much for all you do and all the help you always give.

Exactly which model machine did she get? There's more to the model name besides "AirSense 10" and is usually easily seen.

AirSense 10 CPAP ....fixed cpap mode only with very limited data
AirSense 10 Elite..... fixed cpap mode only but with full data
AirSense 10 AutoSet....has both fixed cpap and auto adjusting pressure (apap) modes....full data
AirSense 10 AutoSet for Her...same as the regular AutoSet but has a second apap mode with a different algorithm..so 3 modes

I hope she didn't get one of the new AirStart 10 machines...those are basic no frills machines and no data.

Check this out for the clinical manual
https://sleep.tnet.com/home/files/resme ... -guide.pdf

Regarding replacement schedule suggested...
Hoses and water chambers don't need replacing assuming common sense care.
Remember how DMEs make money....replacement of equipment as often as insurance will pay whether it needs replacing or not.

Value of package - should have asked what is the value of the package as per the pricing of Medicare? I made them write it out.

Humidifier - I read in one of the Resmed manuals that the life expectancy for a humidifier was 2.5 years. I would get a backup, certainly, but beyond that, she may never need another one (not because of her age either!).

Hoses - the heated hose is made better and may last longer because it comes out of the machine at an angle. The slimline hose comes straight out and then bends - I'm thinking of getting an elbow to eliminate that problem. My brother usually had his hoses for 2 years before cracking on the ends required him to replace them. These were the knockoff hoses given out by the DME. The brand name hoses tend to be quieter. Just like the humidifier, you only need one backup.

Filters - I replace mine every month, sometimes more often. Right now, lots of construction around my house so replacement is about every 2 weeks. In the winter, I could go longer - windows are closed and the filter stays clean longer. However, I've found over time that regular replacement of a filter keeps stuff working better. A knockoff filter appears to work fine except in certain seasons. I can't get hypoallergenic filters through my supplier's warehouse, so get Resmed brand filters right from the office.

Trust nothing Apria ever says or does. They are worse than morons.

One tech said to me, "You're right. I looked it up." another said "They don't give us the manuals." A third did not know how to fill the water chamber properly.

Do not, under any circumstances, whatsoever, give them access to your bank account or credit card, i.e., no automatic payments. None. You will be billed in error and it will take months to your money back.

https://www.google.com/search?q=pissed+ ... f&start=10

https://apria.pissedconsumer.com/

Every Apria office is different. Some are good, many are bad. Some very nice people in some offices, some are clueless. That said,many of the offices fall in line with the above complaints. The recommendation to not allow then to autobill is very accurate. Also, they will automatically bill your insurance when they call you and ask if you need any supplies. If there is a co-pay for your insurance, you will have to pay that. I told them I will call them when I need supplies.

As for the machine type, I have to agree with Pugsy 100%. They lie. Corporate policy is to give out the least expensive equipment unless specifically asked for in the prescription (and then sometimes even IF the script is definitive and the customer is unaware).

-tino

If my DME claims to not have the manual, I will offer to email them the PDF.

These CPAP suppliers are worse than used car lot salesmen. Mine finally went belly-up with no notice. This outfit, a chain, had a terrible reputation . . . endless complaints all over the 'Net. You'd think the manufacturers would be more concerned with whom they choose as dealers to represent them. But, no, they arent, otherwise they'd pull bad dealers. Ignorance is one thing but outright fraud and misrepresentation quite another. And the physicians are no better, for they prescribe these machines with virtually no knowledge of Apnea or the equipment. Mine at least openly admitted his ignorance.I should have asked him, "Then where do you get off making such recommendations based on ignorance? They have words for this sort of behavior: malpractice and malfeasance and there's no way I could get away with this sort of thing in my profession. There's a good reason why television is loaded with lawyer ads.

I don't have any problem with the official estimates on equipment life for mine always lasts longer than the estimates and mine isn't particularly well cared for. They like to push supplies on me because they make more money that way. I have a half-dozen new cushions in a drawer and enough filters to last a life time. I must have gotten a good hose because this thing looks like its going to last indefinitely even tho I run over it with my power chair quite often.

I've had too many bad experiences with Crapria... I dumped them years ago and never looked back. I asked them to stop sending me their nagging emails years ago and they fill my inbox with them.

The Airsense 10 has a side cover, to be able to use the machine without the humidifier. I have one.
I got it from https://www.cpap.com
Resmed part#37303
Just search that # in the search bar

Cardsfan wrote:The Airsense 10 has a side cover, to be able to use the machine without the humidifier. I have one.
I got it from https://www.cpap.com
Resmed part#37303
Just search that # in the search bar

Yes they have a side cover, but can or should you use the heated wire tubing then?

ephraimh wrote:Do not, under any circumstances, whatsoever, give them access to your bank account or credit card, i e, no automatic payments. None. You will be billed in error and it will take months to your money back.

They are the worst dme for beginners to have to deal with. they prey on the elderly. if she signed an ABN it is just a matter of time well about a year before they go after her in court for the money.

best thing to do is cancel or close any checking acct or credit card exposed to them. find another dme if at all possible. there are many new ones accepting medicare now and i am just surprised that medicare didnt drop them.

the reason i say all this is it will be just about impossible for someone 80y/o to adapt to sleeping with a plastic mask on their face so they will prob fail compliance. i hope she has a doctor who will write appeals to medicare on her behalf.

she will need lots of help from you and her dme. find another dme and turn this equip back in to them

I foolishly gave my debit card number to them; but LUCKILY,
I had shopped at Target when they had the breach,
and my credit union changed my card for FREE.
When they began to nag me for a current number, I balked,
and told then they just had to never sell me anything not covered by Medicare.
They continued to hound me, so I FIRED THEM.

She did get the autoset version. I would not have allowed her to leave without apap and a smart machine; we would have called doctor on the spot. And for that knowledge I say "Thank you!" to this site and our host.
Thank you also for the manual link.
I assume if I download the most current version of Sleepyhead for her that it will work with this machine. Please tell me if I am wrong.
Thank you also for your views about the equipment replacement schedule ... that agrees with my intuitive opinion of timing for replacements more than what she was told.
I had not known of their predatory approach to credit cards and banking information. I shall alert her at once. AND, tell her to talk to her doctor if she has any problems with that or with her email account. I expect they may not be super responsive to one old lady ~ but a referring doctor should capture their attention if needed.
Once again this group of people has been wonderful and so very HELPFUL and KIND. You transformed my life and sleep and when she is past the initial shock I know she will be on line as well.
I was initially, over 15 years ago, connected to Apria for my DME. It took me a few years to find CPAP.com and this user group. I have NEVER looked back. I fired Apria, and use only CPAP.com for my equipment. Yes, it means out of pocket costs for me rather than going through Kaiser and my medicare.... but it is beyond worth the extra expense to have reliable and helpful and non-predatory assistance and valid information. I am not at all affluent but I will skimp in other areas to have healthy life restoring sleep.
One final thought: I have found that "naming the machine" personalizes it and makes it way more friendly and less upsetting to use. I recommend that for all new users.
SO VERY MUCH APPRECIATION AND THANK YOUS!!!!!!!

yubaz wrote:I assume if I download the most current version of Sleepyhead for her that it will work with this machine. Please tell me if I am wrong.

You are correct. The most recent version will work just fine.
https://sleepyhead.jedimark.net/
I think the old 0.9.8.xxx would also work with the AirSense 10 AutoSet but the newer version is a little less buggy in some regards.

Cardsfan wrote:The Airsense 10 has a side cover, to be able to use the machine without the humidifier. I have one.
I got it from https://www.cpap.com
Resmed part#37303
Just search that # in the search bar

I am hoping somehow the owners of Cpap.com read this.

I appreciate this forum and would like to support Cpap.com but their shipping charges on small items kill the deal time and again. I went to order this today from Cpap.com and it was 19.95 plus 7.00 S&H. I decided before I did to check out the place I usually end up, cpapxchange.com and the same item was 14.95 with free shipping, I purchased at cpapxchange.