new montreal canada guy requires 8cm h2o

[davidez]

I live in Montreal Canada. I am certain that costs of machines, mask etc. will be dbl the price than in US.
My first question is I guess nobody recommends I buy on line without having actually tried machine and mask prior to buying?

I do travel as well so ligher the machine the better, I also understand leakage, noise specs, etc..
Is there any consumer reviews on the web (actual people who have tried and tested) so I can find best machine/mask combo based on performance vs price? Why are some machines ~ $350 and others ~ $900?

Thanks,
Davidez

[jdm2857]

Doesn't national/provincial heath care take care of most of the cost?

[Paul56]

I live in Montreal Canada. I am certain that costs of machines, mask etc. will be dbl the price than in US.
My first question is I guess nobody recommends I buy on line without having actually tried machine and mask prior to buying?

I do travel as well so ligher the machine the better, I also understand leakage, noise specs, etc..
Is there any consumer reviews on the web (actual people who have tried and tested) so I can find best machine/mask combo based on performance vs price? Why are some machines ~ $350 and others ~ $900?

Thanks,
Davidez

Hi David, we live in the same province... I'm over in Ottawa.

There is no help from the provincial medical plan on these machines, but... do you have a group plan at work? There was nothing in the literature for my group plan, so I called them and found coverage was at 100% of the cost up to maximum of $2,000.

If you purchase through cpap.com you will find the prices much less than a DME like VitalAire. But, make sure your coverage will pay for an online purchase.

EDIT: Argh, must be having a bad day... that should read Gatineau up there instead of Ottawa. BTW, be careful with VitalAire... my experience with them has been less than stellar... for one thing insist on being able to try a few different masks.

[BlackSpinner]

In Montreal at Vitalaire in Alexis Neon it cost me $1950 for the whole deal. It is tax deductible. You could order a machine like mine on line look for data capability - and use Vitalaire for your masks until you find one that works. I was too groggy from lack of sleep to figure that out.



No coverage for it at all - quebec doesn't recognize cpap.

However all the tests are covered if done in a hospital.
editd - that price doesn't include the scanner and software which I am still hoping to get.

[BlackSpinner]

Why are some machines ~ $350 and others ~ $900?

Missed that the first time
Some machines are bare bones and give you no information while other give you, when you get the software, a full detailed account of your nights 'activity'
Some have humidifiers included, others have them as extra.

I would get the best machine you can afford with an humidifier. Your sinuses will be so much happier here especially in the winter when in door heating creates an atmosphere that out does the Sahara desert. Since I started this my allergies to Montreal air has reduced dramatically - 8 hours a night I breathe clean filtered humidified air instead of the brown haze.

Without the data capabilities it is like driving without a speedometer, you never know how fast your going. Even without the scanner I can look at my AI's and HI's and my leak rate every morning.

Masks are a big issue for most people. I use a full face mask because I am a mouth breather and have sinus issues. It took a bit of juggling until I got it right and still if I end up on my back I will leak because of my jaw line. I also use some fabric as a gasket between my face and the mask because I react to it. When you go for a fitting make sure the machine is on and pumping because it fits differently then, it inflates the edges to cause a better fit, which is why you don't have to make it too tight.

PM me if you want more help

[Muse-Inc]

David, I second the data-capable machine, one labelled to capture efficacy data not just user compliance data. After nearly 2 yrs of CPAP therapy, I've started having apnea events at night again. My user compliance CPAP tells me I was using it...pretty useless info. If I had efficacy data, there's a good chance I might be able figure out what was causing me to have these events & fix it myself. Now, there's no way of knowing what's really happening except what happens after I wake up. So, I have a doc's appt this coming Monday for a looooong talk about my options for resolving these events.

I have a ResMed CPAP, it's compact, lightweight, really really quiet, easy to use, easy to travel with, has ramp (lower initial pressure) with user controlled number of minutes, has 12 settings for the heated humidifier (very convenient), and comes in a very professional looking travel case (that'll hold the device, its humidifier, mask, hose, plugs, power cord, info books) making it easy to identify as a medical-assistance device (making air travel easier).

My pressure is 11 and I like the OptiLife mask that has soft (silicon) prongs (confusingly called "pillows") that fit in the outer edge of your nostrils (click on the name[link] below and a pic will be displayed); it's lightweight and easy to put on/take off.

If you can get a device with exhalation pressure relief (EPR on ResMed machines), I recommend you get that feature unless you're a diver in which case you're familiar with breathing out against pressure -- for me the that was the most disconcerting aspects of xPAP therapy, the rest were pretty easy.

[Widge 67]

Hi there, I bought my cpap at Apnea Health or Apneesante in Pointe-Claire (burb of mtl) (AutoSet S9 with datacard and mask). A respiratory therapist helped me find the right mask and explained everything and said I could return the mask if it didn't work out. I had a lot of trouble adapting to CPAP and had to return to Apnea Health many times -- there was always a respiratory therapist to help me and the same one! The service was excellent and I only paid $1650 for my auto cpap with mask. I could have opted for cheaper model -- some at 795 with full service of Apnea Health but I didn't since I have private insurance and could afford the more expensive model. -- widge