Do You Keep Backup Parts?

[ldylarke]

I have had a very bad experience recently with my nasal cushion ripping on a Sunday. I was up 30 hours before I could even find out if my CPAP distributor had one in stock. I called them at 9am Monday morning and it took them 3 hours to get back to me. 3 phone calls, 3 different people to re-explain my situation to and still I did not know if they had a nasal cushion in stock. I was beside myself.

Turned out that when that person finally called me back that there was a nasal cushion for me. And I sent my DH to get it pronto.

But it's got me in a mild panic about this happening again. How many of you keep a 2nd nasal cushion around "just in case" ?

I can't sleep without my mask now - and I hate knowing that, truly resent having to use this machine nightly. But such is life.

A kind member already PM'd me about a few online places to get parts, and thank you so much for that!

[WindFlyer]

Generally I always have a backup mask which is a brand new one in the bag- but as for individual parts of it, the only thing I tend to keep around is an anti-asphyxiation valve. I figure if something breaks I can just go to my backup mask and then decide what to do about the broken part later, like whether to replace just the part or the whole mask. The face cushion is the most expensive part on most masks, so if that breaks I generally just go ahead and replace the whole thing- that way everything's new, and I'm starting the counter over from zero again on the entire assembly, not just part of it.

[Muse-Inc]

I have several of my former masks all used & 1 new for 'just in case' -- I loved that mask but need a hybrid style now. With my new mask, I have backup oral cushions and am trying to trade my too small unused nasal pillows for more of my size. When I can order another mask, I will order an entire extra mask. I would like to have an entire set of backup equipment but that'll have to wait for an improved financial situation.

[bdp522]

Yep, got a back up for everything, including my machine! Actually I have a couple(at least) backups for everything!

Brenda

[drj130]

I've just started, no spare parts just yet, but I do have some in route. And of course, I'm looking for a backup/travel machine.

David

[Guest]

Once I hit my deductible on my insurance (usually by March of the calendar year), I begin to stock up on cushions and filters (from previous years I have a couple frames for the mask I use). Started doing this after a similar experience noted above (cushion ripped). when I travel I always bring two extra cushions. Kind of a pain, but having been on the machine for 3 years now, I can not sleep without it (and do not want to sleep without it).

TM

[timbalionguy]

As soon as I knew CPAP was going to work for me, (and I strated having some issues with seal leakage on my first mask, a Quattro FFM), I ordered a set of 'running spares. This consisted of a seal, an anti-asphyxia valve, a head cushion and a few plastic parts that looked fragile. I also ordered a hybrid mask at that time, and ended up switching to that.

I have traded with others for face seals for the hybrid (one of them being Muse, inc.), and am trying to trade nasal pillows. That gives me backup seals, one of which I may need soon. With the Quattro still a useable backup mask, I haven't ordered a spare hybrid, but will do so November-ish.

I also have a spare hose assembly (my hose is actually two hoses with a coupler), spare filters, etc. As soon as I can afford it, I plan to get a spare humidifier tank and the gasket that is part of it. Down the rod a little further, I will pick up a spare machine, probably a used one. If parts are available for the machine itself, I would also get a spare power supply, blower motor, keypad board, and maybe a logic board (if not part of the as the keypad board), as well as an assortment of the rubber plugs that seem to be all over it on the outside. This would be for the time after the warranty expires.

[El Pap]

Back in the early days of the Breeze mask, I used to lay in a supply of hose guides (the plastic spine between the metal headgear frame and the plenum shell). Anyone who used the original design of that mask will know what I'm talking about -- I was lucky to get six months out of one, and frequently they broke in about a months time. Two redesigns later, the current Breeze seems to hold up fairly well, I'm going on two years with this one and nothing has broken yet.

[bearded_two]

I have a drawer full old masks and parts. I also keep a few new masks on hand and have a few backup machines.

When I travel, I put a spare mask, power cord, and hose in my checked luggage. I carry my CPAP prescription with me when I travel in case I need to obtain a machine or mask on a weekend in a strange town. Two on-line suppliers, including cpap.com, have my prescription on file and if necessary I could have a new machine, mask, or other equipment over-nighted to me.

[elader]

mask, headgear, hose, filters, and a M series Plus/humidifier from craigslist. i cannot sleep without cpap - i am now way too aware of the feeling of suffocation to sleep without it.

[Ruby Vee]

I have back-ups of everything. The DME gave me a spare hose, then the first thing I did was buy a spare mask on-line, so if anything goes wrong with my main mask I'll pull out the back-up. When the electricity went out at bed time, I started thinking about battery back-up. In the end, I bought a back-up machine (the Everest) with it's own battery. Now if I could just get DH to get his own back-ups . . . .

[roster]

We have a big house with a lot of furniture and my wife is complaining that everytime she opens a drawer, it is full of machines, hoses, masks, filters!

[timbalionguy]

We have a big house with a lot of furniture and my wife is complaining that everytime she opens a drawer, it is full of machines, hoses, masks, filters!

Oh man! A CPAP junkie!

I just bought a 'charge tender this weekend after my lead-acid battery charger suddenly failed. This is my long-term plan for keeping a backup battery charged. The battery box is now in the house. Now just need to put it all together....

[ldylarke]

Wow guys thanks for all the helpful replies.

I am just now realizing how screwed I am lol. The CPAP supplier I was directed to (Vital Aire) is so not willing to see me go anywhere else but them for parts. I did manage to find out the name of the sleep clinic doctor today though and I have to now get a referral for another sleep clinic to obtain a prescription on paper. And that I'll have freaking laminated.

Two on-line suppliers, including cpap.com, have my prescription on file and if necessary I could have a new machine, mask, or other equipment over-nighted to me.

If I knew that was possible I'd have set that up long ago! Overnight? That's fantastic. I recently went 30 hours without sleep because I ripped my nasal cushion. I loathe and despise Vital Aire for the way they've treated me. Frankly I'll be quite happy to never have to use them again.

I am going into VA today to see if they can help me refit my current mask and nasal cushion to alleviate and hopefully resolve the horrible, hideous and painful sore it has caused on the bridge of my nose. New cushion but the same headgear apparatus - I'm pissed that it caused this sore at all and it makes no sense to me either!

Here's hoping the referral and sleep clinic study date isn't going to be months and months away.

[Babette]

Good post, Ladylarke. Most of us starting out don't have backup parts. Over time, you tend to start acquiring them by default.

I learned the hard way to always carry spare EVERYTHING, which makes travelling annoying, but after sleepless nights spent trying to talk myself into going to sleep without my cpap, it's necessary.

One way to start stockpiling spare parts is to take the masks and supplies offered by your DME or insurance plan, even if you don't need them as soon as they are offered.

Another way is to cruise cpapauction for cheap new and gently used parts that can be useful.

Another way is to swap parts with forum members. I buy the "all sizes" kit of my mask, and then swap the unneeded sizes for the sizes I want.

I have stopped throwing away cannulas that I consider "worn out". I now save them in a baggie marked worn out, and can refer back to them in times of dire emergency, or if I want to use them in my latest mad-scientist mask-mod scheme. For Nasal Aire II users - I am convinced that a Large user, like me, can decide a Large is "worn out" and too soft and leaky, but that same Large might work well for someone who is normally a Medium Plus user. No sense completely throwing it away if it might be of use to someone else. Think about it.

I end up buying things like chinstraps and filters out of pocket most of the time, but I chalk them up to regular routine purchases I would make anyway - like shoes, and clothing. On the approved schedule, I order a whole new mask and all the supplies, and submit it for reimbursement from my insurance company. That way I know I have at least the bare minimum, but then I know I'll stock up when I see a good deal on cpapauction or cpap.com, as well.

Cheers,
B.