Frustrated Non-Apnea CPAP User

[palerider]

For used ones do you do anything special to sanitize before use? I don’t have a sanitizer, I’m just religious about wiping everything down and cleaning my hoses.

Thank you so much!

There are instructions in the manuals for reprocessing between patients (like, in a hospital, etc), and for the machine, it's "wipe down the machine" on the outside.. .change the filter. run the tank through the dishwasher (if it's a dishwasher safe tank)...

Hoses? I'd buy a new one, they're cheap. I never wash mine.. I've got a 10 foot one snaked around behind the headboard... it's been there for four or five years now.

[Ponycatraz]

For used stuff...the machine itself I just wipe down with some sort of cleaning agent. My favorite is nothing more than an alcohol wipe.
Don't ever spray anything onto the machine itself...if you want to use a spray of some sort spray it on a paper towel or cloth and then wipe it down.
External surfaces is all that needs to be wiped down. Any area you can easily reach with your fingers. No need to take the machine apart at all.

For the hose and water chamber...soap and water or soap, water and vinegar...is sufficient.

I have bought probably a dozen machines over the years and all but one of them was used. This is all I have ever done.

Now if germs and bugs really "bug" you....buy new.

Thank you! That is how I'm taking care of my current machine. (Wipe and vinegar water for hose and water chamber). Has worked well on my 2012!

[Cubbiebear]

I have the Resmed airsense 10 autoset for her and bought it at cpap.com with no prescription.

[Sluggish]

Got my Resmed Autoset on Craigslist brand new for $200. He was the nicest guy ever. Nice house, dog, etc.. We talked about OSA for a bit. He plugged in the machine so I could check the hours of use.

Not sure if anyone mentioned but you can go into the settings and check the hours of usage. As I understand it, this is impossible for the user to reset. Anything under 1000 hours is probably good. Lots of people give up in less than 6 months and sell their machines. Also tons of gear on Craigslist and offerup. Some people have insurance that sends them more than they need. You can find stuff new in package etc..

[Minky]

Just wanted to add that I just purchased a travel CPAP machine from Secondwindcpap.com.

Not only did they not ask for a prescription (I live in the US), but they sent me an email asking me to respond about whether or not I wanted them to set the pressure and offered to help me set it myself once I receive the machine. AND included links to the manuals.

100% hassle-free purchase.

Wish I had known about them four years ago when I was literally begging my doctor for a prescription and then had to quote state law about my legal right to a copy of my prescription when her office wouldn't hand it over...

[Ponycatraz]

I have the Resmed airsense 10 autoset for her and bought it at cpap.com with no prescription.

Unfortunately I tried through cpap.com since that is where I sometimes get supplies with no luck. They were my first thought, thankfully though it looks like the alternatives mentioned here are so much cheaper!

[Ponycatraz]

Just wanted to add that I just purchased a travel CPAP machine from Secondwindcpap.com.

Not only did they not ask for a prescription (I live in the US), but they sent me an email asking me to respond about whether or not I wanted them to set the pressure and offered to help me set it myself once I receive the machine. AND included links to the manuals.

100% hassle-free purchase.

Wish I had known about them four years ago when I was literally begging my doctor for a prescription and then had to quote state law about my legal right to a copy of my prescription when her office wouldn't hand it over...

Wow! It seems so difficult for people who use their machines to get new ones, but people so easy for casual users! Glad you were able to get your prescription.

[Ponycatraz]

Thought I'd give this a little bump! I bought an air sense 10 off @fetou. I need to get it configured to my likes but so far I love the machine. It is so quiet and breathing out is so easy. I might give the nasal pillows a try. I always had trouble breathing out with them with my old machine even with the nasal mask. I've only gotten to use it for a few nights as work sent me out of town almost immediately after I got it, but so far I'm so impressed.

I still plan on taking the old beast with me on travel so my nice new machine can stay on it's shelf.

I really appreciate the help!

[SewTired]

Just wanted to add that I just purchased a travel CPAP machine from Secondwindcpap.com.

Not only did they not ask for a prescription (I live in the US), but they sent me an email asking me to respond about whether or not I wanted them to set the pressure and offered to help me set it myself once I receive the machine. AND included links to the manuals.

100% hassle-free purchase.

Wish I had known about them four years ago when I was literally begging my doctor for a prescription and then had to quote state law about my legal right to a copy of my prescription when her office wouldn't hand it over...

Wow! It seems so difficult for people who use their machines to get new ones, but people so easy for casual users! Glad you were able to get your prescription.

I wonder if the problem she had is her area. There's been a number of articles about Boston area doctors and their resistance to 'letting go' of control of medical dollars. Took a long time for there to be metro Minute Clinics, for instance.

[D.H.]

While it a little odd to use CPAP for your condition, it's certainly safer than a lot of other things that you might try. If it works for you, fine.

BTW, how did you determine your pressure setting?

[Ponycatraz]

While it a little odd to use CPAP for your condition, it's certainly safer than a lot of other things that you might try. If it works for you, fine.

BTW, how did you determine your pressure setting?

One of my Dr's thought my insomnia could be caused by apnea so recommended a sleep study. I went in over a few nights, never entered REM sleep, took a long time to fall asleep and woke up early. They set me up with the cpap stuff and oddly enough I fell right asleep and entered REM quickly. They lowest setting on the equipment they had was 5 (everything below that was ramp up) and it worked. So they set my original machine at a 5.

So I guess they picked the pressure because it was the lowest my machine would do I know real scientific, but no complaints from me. My new auto seems to be running in the 4 range, but I figured I'd let it go a few weeks before I really started to look at the data.

[ChicagoGranny]

My new auto seems to be running in the 4 range, but I figured I'd let it go a few weeks before I really started to look at the data.

You seem to be doing well, but other than that, there is no reason to wait to look at the daily detail data.

[Ponycatraz]

My new auto seems to be running in the 4 range, but I figured I'd let it go a few weeks before I really started to look at the data.

You seem to be doing well, but other than that, there is no reason to wait to look at the daily detail data.

Thanks! Mostly it is curiosity. I wonder if I can find any patterns that might help my sleep patterns, but very likely I’ll see my machine is at a 4 the whole time.

[Scluvsrain]

I find it absolutely fascinating that insomnia can be cured for you by using a CPAP machine. Our bodies need sleep and whatever works to get us that sleep, especially something safe and proven is and should be, a slam dunk.

I also find it infuriating that no doctor will give you a prescription for one, yet have no qualms about writing one for drugs. WTH??

Thank God for forums like this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ChicagoGranny]

I find it absolutely fascinating that insomnia can be cured for you by using a CPAP machine.

CPAP treats faulty breathing. It doesn't cure faulty breathing.

CPAP does not treat primary insomnia. If you have secondary insomnia caused by sleep-disordered breathing, CPAP is good at treating it.