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Any way to buy a mask w/o a RX?

Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 10:34 pm
by jweeks
Hi,

Anyone know of a way to buy a new mask without a prescription? Every place I look over the past few weeks needs a prescription. My RX expired the first week of September, so it is no longer valid. I don't want to take a day off from work and pay for a doctor's appointment just to get a new mask. Any ideas on how I can get a new Mirage Softgel Nasal Mask?

-john-

Re: Any way to buy a mask w/o a RX?

Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 10:39 pm
by Emilia
If your doctor's office has your sleep study and past Rx's on file, they should be willing to just write you a generic Rx for a cpap mask of patient's choice. Also ask if they could not limit it to one year but instead indicate PRN or lifetime on it. This type of Rx would allow you to upload it to any of the online sites and be able to purchase masks. I don't see why you need to have an appt. for this... as phone request and then drop by to pick it up should suffice.

Re: Any way to buy a mask w/o a RX?

Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 10:42 pm
by Mimmie
Amazon is your friend.

Re: Any way to buy a mask w/o a RX?

Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 10:50 pm
by Sirca
I may be wrong, but I'm thinking dotmed sellers don't require an RX...

http://www.dotmed.com/listing/889142

(not sure that's the mask you're interested in, though)

Re: Any way to buy a mask w/o a RX?

Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 10:52 pm
by Hospiceangel
Ebay is your friend too. Most sellers have the other parts listed as a "gift". Read the auction carefully as they will describe what is included. Email the seller with questions. PM me if you need help.
Good Luck,
Shar:)

Re: Any way to buy a mask w/o a RX?

Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 10:55 pm
by dtsm
i've had good luck with craigslist, hit and miss

Re: Any way to buy a mask w/o a RX?

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 8:24 pm
by chunkyfrog
I cannot imagine a doctor who requires an appointment just to renew a mask prescription.
Call the office, and KEEP CALLING. I'm betting you will get your RX --just to get you to leave them alone.

Re: Any way to buy a mask w/o a RX?

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 8:40 pm
by elena88
IF YOU Do want a script without seeing your doctor again......

this is what I did, just takes a few minutes..

I went to cpap.com

I joined the site, and then I clicked on REQUEST MY RX

there you fill in your doctors information and fax number..

then they will fax your doctors office, doc just checks it off, and faxes it back..

then they have it on file and SO DO YOU.. you can go to your account, and simply order anything you want from cpap.com

or if you have a local dme who will match the prices, you can print the rx off your profile and take a copy anywhere you want..

I would call the docs office after you initiate the process with cpap.com to let them know a fax is coming you would like them to sign
and return.. its that simple!

Re: Any way to buy a mask w/o a RX?

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 9:38 pm
by Kevin G.
I have twice bought a mask w/o a prescription. The internet supplier took the position that if I had the machine that it was evidence that I had a prescription. The other position that they could take is that the machine it what requires a prescription not the mask.

Re: Any way to buy a mask w/o a RX?

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 10:32 pm
by jweeks
chunkyfrog wrote:I cannot imagine a doctor who requires an appointment just to renew a mask prescription.
Call the office, and KEEP CALLING. I'm betting you will get your RX --just to get you to leave them alone.
Hi,

Just for fun, I stopped in at the clinic today. They are part of a fairly large hospital system, and they have always provided me top notch care. They said that the State of MN Board of Medical Practices used to allow them to give out 3 year prescriptions, but that was changed last year to where they can only issue 1 year prescriptions. They also said that the BMP does not allow them to write any prescriptions without an exam and consultation. I guess this is part of the fun of living in the state where everything is illegal, and I certainly wouldn't expect my doctor to risk her license over this.

Someone suggested Amazon, but in my searching, it looks like Amazon doesn't sell masks as of a few weeks ago. They do have 3rd party vendors, but they appear to dot-com firms that now require a prescription.

Two people PM'ed me who had the mask that I was looking for in new sealed packages. I guess I am now a "black market CPAP'er", and I'll be running with my illicit mask here in a few days. A good night of sleep is worth taking the risk of a little jail time.

-john-

Re: Any way to buy a mask w/o a RX?

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 10:39 pm
by jlk
Outlaw!

Re: Any way to buy a mask w/o a RX?

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 10:46 pm
by Emilia
Shhhhhh.... our 50k lips are sealed!

Re: Any way to buy a mask w/o a RX?

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 12:27 am
by Mimmie
jweeks wrote:
chunkyfrog wrote:
Someone suggested Amazon, but in my searching, it looks like Amazon doesn't sell masks as of a few weeks ago. They do have 3rd party vendors, but they appear to dot-com firms that now require a prescription.

-john-

Really strange. I just went there this morning and ordered a new mask. No script needed. Glad you got what you needed though through friends here!

Re: Any way to buy a mask w/o a RX?

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 2:23 am
by jonquiljo
I can (sort of) see why you would need an Rx for a machine - but why do "the powers that be" want you to have an Rx for a mask? What could you possibly do with a mask to harm yourself that you couldn't do with an elastic band?

Re: Any way to buy a mask w/o a RX?

Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 8:43 am
by debbie28
I was told your prescription for cpap can't expire. I get my masks at http://resmedswiftfx.com. But they only carry resmedswiftfx masks. They were very helpful and got my rx for me. No problem. If you have a rx it doesn't expire. I was told the docs just tell you that so you continue to come see them. But I could be wrong.