Finally! CPAP accquired! Resmed S6.

lola · Post by **lola** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 1:47 am

Well, I've just brought home the CPAP and humidifier I've been supplied with, at long last. It is a ResMed S6 "Lightweight", and doesn't seem too "used" at all, which is nice. And a heated Humidaire humidifier. And Swift pillows. Going to fix the hose on the top as suggested here on the forums, as I like to lie on both sides. Not at once. Well, not in this dimension! And so I am ready for my first night of CPAP At Home. Excitement galore!

Also the lady at the CPAP supplier told me not to use the 20 minute ramp feature, only the 5 minute or 10 minute one. Is this one of those weird things that CPAP suppliers like to tell you because it's a CPAP supplier urban legend or is there some actual reason for it? I've Googled and searched on the board and can't find anything about why one shouldn't use the 20 minute ramp.

And a big GRRRR to the price of CPAP equipment in Australia. The Swift was $279 (~$210 USD)! And the short connector hose was $26!! and the 6' hose was $37!!!! Not even a fancy hose that will make you a cup of tea, just a plain one from a bulk hospital wholesaler (the label was still on it). I will get $150 rebate from state health care for that. And that's it. EVER. Any more masks and tubing you have to buy on your own. I know, $150 is way better than nothing, but I feel really bad for senior citizens and disability pensioners, and those people who are just over the income cutoff to get a rebate and CPAP. I did enquire (many times) about purchasing a Swift from somewhere like cpap.com but nobody could give me a straight answer about getting a rebate for that (which would have meant the cost to me would have been about $30). I'll be writing polite yet stern letters to the Minister of Health and my local member about that, for sure.

Anyway. Here's to a future of decent sleep!

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 3:58 am

Congratulations, Lola!
I'm glad you can start your treatment.

O.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:39 am

Lola,
Good luck. In the future, you can always work something out with one of us (me) on this site to buy it for you and send it to Australia. There is always Paypal and it is a safe way to ensure no one gets hurt.

I have to say, trust is not an issue on this site to me (yes, I'm one of those fools who likes to believe most people are really good at heart) and I would have no problem helping you out next time you need a mask or something. Just let me know.

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:14 am

Yahoo has the s6 for buy price of 179.00-
s7 for 199.00
swift mask bid at 55.00

IMHO, the ramp is a sales and marketing feature and of very limited benefit. Some will use it out of habit because they were told to.

just my HO

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:43 am

Ther ramp:
Supposedly its supposed (...) to raise the pressure gradually, so you can fall asleep at lower pressure. As a beginner, I was so frightened of the pressure rising that the ramp was like waitning for the second shoe to drop... couldn't fall asleep till "the worst" happened.

I find that exhaling against the pressure (and in my case, it's low pressure)is an aquired ability -something you muscles have to get trained for, just like weight lifting.

O.

lola · Post by **lola** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 8:05 am

Thank you everyone, you are all wonderful!

And thank you for your lovely kind offer Lori, I will keep it in mind when it comes time for more mask buying antics.

My first night wasn't too bad - got the Swift adjusted fine and with the hose going up over the head as suggested here, didn't have too much trouble falling asleep, though I did eventually put earplugs in as even though the S6 isn't very loud it was still driving me nuts. My grandfather who is visiting said he heard me snoring a little bit this morning, and I think that must have been just before I woke up to discover I'd dislodged the pillows enough that they were leaking. The skin between my nostrils (is that still called the septum outside the nose?) was a little sore and I had a slight "swoosh" on one cheek but otherwise all the equipment behaved well!

My pressure is 8.5, I can't really tell the difference between the ramp starting point of 4 and my 8.5, so I don't think I'll bother with it.

It was a bit like my titration, woke up feeling a bit tired but not super-exhausted and sluggish like usual. A good start, I think.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 8:09 am

Lola,

I meant what I wrote. Let me know if you want something.

By the way, don't know if anyone told you, but you can use AYR gel or KY to the nares to help with the irritation until you get used to it. Do you have a change-off mask? If you get too sore in the beginning, sometimes you may need to stop using a nasal pillow and use just a regular nasal mask for a day or so. Mine got so bad where I had sores that actually blistered and broke (not pretty). But eventually you do get used to it.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Finally! CPAP accquired! Resmed S6.

Finally! CPAP accquired! Resmed S6.

s6 cpap