HELP! Buying used machine for friend with no insurance

[thatmonk]

A good friend of mine has no health insurance and has terrible sleep apnea. He wakes up every two minutes. I can hear his throat relax and then he barely gets any air. He moans a lot when he sleeps. He said he couldn't afford $1000 machine and just suffers. I suggested getting a used machine on Craigslist.

Is it possible to set up the machine (Auto A-flex) through trial and error, without working with a sleep clinic? Without health insurance and no money, he doesn't have access to a doctor. We'd like to set it up so he can start sleeping, at least some, and functioning better can get his life back on track. It doesn't seem to0 difficult to start at a low pressure and slowly increase it until an ideal setting is found, by making single adjustments each night.

I'm quite technical, a real gear head, but have no experience with sleep apnea myself.

Before buying this machine, is it reasonable I can read the directions and we can figure it out?
Is there anything I am missing her? Especially anything dangerous I need to know as I help my friend?
How much would he expect to self pay a clinic to set it up for him?

I have found a nearly new Auto A-flex machine with humidifier. The seller just couldn't keep it on his face and always woke up after an hour with the mask off, so he is selling it. He deals with it by taking lots of naps. He is asking $175 for the machine and comes with about six different style masks as he tried many of them.

Thanks for the feedback.

[STL Mark]

It is possible, make sure it is a recent model machine like the 550 or 560 model from Respironics. Some machines do not provide full data get the exact model number and come back here and verify. These machines will use SD cards to store the data and free software is available to analyze it. You are in the right place to find information the term to search on is Self Titration.

[thatmonk]

The seller said it is a 550p.

This is the one for sale I am looking at on the 26th. It seems like a pretty nice machine based on what I have read. the auto a-flex sounds good to me... What can you tell me from the pictures?

http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/hab/4232177835.html

[Julie]

That's a good, if old machine, but the important question is how many hours does it already have on it? I wouldn't shell out if it's a lot more than 5,000, because while it should probably last more than that (could even be another 5,000), you have no way of knowing, but I guess something is better than nothing - your friend sounds like he needs help asap. Whatever you do end up getting, please come back here and we'll help you get set up... it's important to not do it wrong to begin with because all it'll do is discourage your friend.

[thatmonk]

Thanks for the reply. The seller reports that it has maybe 50 hours on it. He reports that he could never keep the mask on his face for more than an hour after falling asleep, no matter what straps or masks he tried. He said there are many masks that go with it, attesting to him trying several. He just couldn't keep it on. He reports living with it by taking a number of naps during the day.

How do I pull up the logged hours on the machine?

What should I look for and test when I go to get it? I don't want to waste my friends money.

Is this in fact a 1.5 year old machine?

Thanks! My friend hopefully will do well with it. I will see that he educates himself so he knows how to get the most from it. He is pretty desperate and willing to try it...

[greatunclebill]

the very low price sounds too good to be true. don't just worry about the hours on the machine. worry more about your safety.

[49er]

Totally agree with greatunclebill about safety issues.

STL Mark is too much of a gentleman to say anything but he also sells apap machines at great prices and is a total trusted seller on this forum. Also, do a search for forum member mcdover who also sells apap machines at great prices when he has them available. And he too is a total trusted seller.

You're a very good friend and kudos to you for wanting to help.

49er

[Julie]

That 'other' seller is McDover, but hasn't been around in a while, though you could search his name and PM him.

[49er]

That 'other' seller is McDover, but hasn't been around in a while, though you could search his name and PM him.

Good points Julie.

As an FYI, even though he doesn't hang around the forum, he does respond very quickly to PMs.

49er

[herefishy]

If money is an issue, investigate the machine for $175 more thoroughly, but if you can afford more like < $500, you should be able to get a very good one from one of the advertisers here. The one you are looking at is probably more like 5 years old, but the important thing is how it runs. Ask for a trial period before you pay. You can also get a loaner from one of the on-line suppliers where they take the stats from your machine and recommend settings.

[Bobby269]

Check out this: site http://secondwindcpap.com. They have good used and open box units. This includes a warranty. Good people to deal with.

[bwexler]

I have an S9 Autoset with over 7000 hours, 3 years old.
I no longer use it since I got my new ASV.
If I were to sell it, what would be a fair price?

[archangle]

Turn the $175 machine on. If it works, and has no obvious defects, buy it.

[dkf435]

Those are about the right prices for the NW Oregon , few years back got a zero hour Respironics 510 for $100 to a Respironics 550 with less then 50 hours for $200.

David

[SleepyCPAP]

Hi thatmonk,

The manufacture date is on the bottom of the blower, year-month-day (example: 20111226 would have been the day after Christmas 2011). From the photo I'm guessing you'll also see a box to the left of that date code with "2.XX" in it, as the top of the machine looks like version 2 (which had the brand above the LCD), which came out in 2010 and was made up to 2012 when version 3 ("60 series") came out.

If it plugs in and works then great. I would not be worried about number of hours but yes they can be checked if you get the clinician's manual to see how to do that. I agree do be careful with precautions for safety.

--SleepyCPAP