Donating Old CPAP

[Pugsy]

Yes, Pugsy, unfortunately, I know you cannot MAKE someone do something. I hope your brother can make a turn around sometime soon.

I really do hope that you have better luck than I have had with my brother. In all honesty I have given up. The last time I pressed the issue we had World War III here and my nerves can't handle another such war. There's more going on with him besides his just being an idiot and I don't really want to get into that stuff here on a public forum. Just not the time nor the place.

[Uncle_Bob]

Alternatively, offer for very low cost on Craigslist. Include the run hours. I'm sure there is someone locally desperate to find a low cost cpap.

Great suggestion.

[Uncle_Bob]

If that statement is sincere, then buy a new machine and accessories and donate it to someone who cannot afford a machine.

So instead of going through the kind and generous effort of trying to donate older used items that could possibly help others we should buy new replacements instead? because we are not being sincere?

That is one spiteful granny.

[SleepyEyes21]

This may be OT but this hurts me to read. My 30 year old son has a 2 year old Respironics System One Bi-Flex BiPap machine. It was expensive back then when he got it but is still brand new with perhaps 2 hours on it. He has never used it....I finally threatened to sell it or donate it so that "somebody who wants to live but can't afford a machine can make use of it". When I read on this board how some people are desperate and look for ways to get any kind of machine so they can get better, I cry when I think of this great machine going to waste.

Of course I won't sell it out from under him. I have tried EVERYTHING from simpering softness to tough love. Printed every article re: OSA, gotten CPAP using friends to come over and tell him their success stories. I am hoping that once I get my machine and therapy going, I can show him by example and renew another campaign to get him to please-for-the-love-of-God use it. His PCP and his therapist and psychiatrist and I tell him he's going to die so young. His AHI numbers were 151. He falls asleep at the table, falls asleep right after waking up, and in the middle of conversations.

I rummaged through his closet to find his equipment and found 2 brand new masks. I called his DME today and found he is eligible through insurance for another one now. (Could have also gotten one in June). The only pinprick bright side to this is that I can try these 2 masks without having to buy to try if my Mirage FX doesn't work out. (He has the Dreamwear and Swift FX pillows)

My son has Aspergers...the tactile sensitivities to the mask, plus extreme anxieties (being treated...but not enough to overcome mask/suffocation fear) means he hasn't ever even once used the machine.

I read the sticky above re: change and grief re: CPAP...Son has done all the denial and bargaining yet still outright refusal. I've even looked into a medical commitment scenario but they claim they can't MAKE him use the machine.

Does anyone know of anyone who was this totally resistant and yet somehow overcame it? What words to say? (I have said "tracheostomy"..) Any other actions to take?

Hi DanceDiva,
Welcome to the forum. I am sorry to hear about the difficulties you are having with your son and his CPAP compliance, complicated by his Aspergers' diagnosis. Having experience working with Aspergers clients, they are generally high in intelligence (especially verbal), however lack the ability to cue in on social/ emotional issues. So- it makes sense from your son's point of view that he is acting and reacting in this way; he is likely not going to be automatically swayed by much of anything that upsets you emotionally or socially, because his brain doesn't work that way. Yes- you and others can explain the seriousness of lack of treatment to him and logically he can understand consequences; however, it's not clear if he associates the understanding with an emotion and what that emotion is for him.

As for his tactile sensitivity, one of our members here, Karen- from Pad-A-Cheek- can probably make a cover for his entire mask out of sheepskin or some material that he can tolerate. Karen has helped a lot of members before; so just ask.

Your son needs a therapist who can do de-sensitization therapy. He needs to be required to bring his machine and mask to each therapy session, so he can learn to become desensitized to it. Although you cannot make him do anything because he is now an adult, you can call his therapist, PCP, and psychiatrist and ask any/all of them for this type of therapy (usually given by therapist/ psychiatrist), and you can also ask all of them to "prescribe homework" of (son) having to use machine while awake each night for 10 minutes.

You might also want to think about adding a Behavioral Therapist to your son's Treatment Team; a Behavioral therapist can go to the client's home, and uses techniques different from therapists.

[ChicagoGranny]

So instead of going through the kind and generous effort of trying to donate older used items that could possibly help others we should buy new replacements instead?

Yes. But, you are a big cheapskate. Look at the charitable donations line on your 2015 tax return - $20 for donating a worn out jacket to the Salvation Army. Shame.

[fordjx4000]

i am in need of a machine right now ill pay shipping if i can have it

[DanceDiva26]

Hi SleepyEyes21!

Thank you for the welcome and information re: Pad-A-Cheek. As for the rest of your post....Spot on! Very astute analysis. You DO know about "Aspies"!