What to do when CPAP is broken?

[soxfan426]

I have only had my CPAP for two weeks. I woke up this morning choking and gasping for air to find that my machine stopped working. I tried unplugging it and plugging it back in but it reads "service required" I called Praxair the home health company where my Insurance company rents the machine from and was told they do not do emergency service on CPAP machines during non- buisness hours and will have to wait for a rep to call me on Monday. What can i do to sleep? I am afraid to go to sleep now because I woke up gasping for air this morning.

[Gerryk]

If you don't know someone that has a spare or no one on this board lives near you and has a spare you can borrow your up the creek. That's the problem with places like that. One of the best places for a newbie besides cpap.com is a sleep center that also sets your first machine up for you. Those places pretty much have someone there 24/7 or someone who will return calls and can get a machine for you.

Gerry

[soxfan426]

Yeah where I went for my sleep study does not have machines. They sent me through this home health company. I will just take it there on monday. They should give me a replacement I hope or let me borrow one while mine is being fixed. I'm frustrated because I have felt great and have had the best sleep in years the past two weeks. I did not expect to have machine failure after two weeks. So its back to gasping for air for a few nights.

[RipVW]

Yep, a spare machine is the ideal solution--though one certainly wouldn't expect to need a backup machine for a two-week old CPAP. I thought most/all RT facilities had to provide 24/7 emergency service. You might call your doctor (or doctor on call) to ask whom to call for emergency service. Good luck!

[DreamStalker]

You can find relatively affordable back-up units on the cpapauction.com site ... for next time.

Backups (machines, HH, and masks) are important to some of us who have grown dependent upon our therapy.

Take Jim (Goofproof) ... he has backups for his backup that backs up his main rig.

[Gerryk]

Perhaps someone near that has a spare that lives near you will be on here and see that you need a loaner for the weekend. Anyone? Anyone?

[soxfan426]

Yeah i'm afraid to go to sleep now. It was scary to wake up gasping and choking again.

[soxfan426]

Thank you all who responded to my post. I called the company back and complained enough that they are going to bring me a replacement machine and bring it right to me at my work. But I did check out cpapaution.com and i'm going to get myself a back up machine for the future! Thanks again for the imput and advice. I have found alot of support on this site.


Doug

[Gerryk]

Doug good for you, but that's crap if the had someone there to answer the phone and have a machine they can give to you Monday they can give it to you today. I would call them back and demand they either bring it to you now or you go to them and get it. The squeeky wheel gets the oil. Keep pestering them, I am sure they wouldn't sleep without one or put up with the answer you got.

Call them back. They sure wouldn't want me calling.

[soxfan426]

They are bringing me one today. Someone called me back and said they usually dont do that on weekends but would make an exception for me this one time. I'm at work today and he is going to bring it to me at work and take the broken one back. I was starting to panic i really did not want to sleep without it.

[ozij]

They are bringing me one today. Someone called me back and said they usually dont do that on weekends but would make an exception for me this one time. I'm at work today and he is going to bring it to me at work and take the broken one back. <snip>

Well it had better be an exception. Just imagine having Respironics machines breaking down right left and center unexceptionally.

O.

[soxfan426]

They delivered a loaner machine to me! So im good for now. Thank god! I can sleep tonite.

[bearded_two]

A spare machine is a very Good Thing, and it can double as a travel machine -- you can leave it all packed and ready to go.

[el_zorro]

But I did check out cpapaution.com and i'm going to get myself a back up machine for the future!
Doug

Doug, if you follow the cpapauction site for a little while you can find some real deals on a backup machine. I picked up a nice deal on a backup/travel machine last night. I got a brand new (unopened box) Resmed S8 Elite II with 4Hi humidifier, data card, all manuals, carrying bag and a new Respironics Comfortgel mask for $202 including priority mail shipping. I remember seeing the price that DME charged my insurance company for the exact same setup was $944. I ended up with a PR System One Remstar Pro but I wanted a Resmed in case the Respironics software doesnt make the grade.

[Judy R]

That's always been a big scare for me, is my machine breaking down. Seems to be a lot of great advice out there, so I think I will go and look for a back up, just in case. You never know what may happen. I'd rather be safe than sorry.