Bongo
Bongo
I have a friend whose husband uses something called Bongo for sleep apnea. I had never heard of it. I wonder if anyone knows anything about it.
currently trying airfit N30 (not i)
- ChicagoGranny
- Posts: 15081
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Re: Bongo
Yeah. Surprise, surprise, I know how to google. I meant personal knowledge, beyond what google says. Has anybody had positive or negative experiences with it? Know of a valid, peer-reviewed study? Know anything else I haven't thought to ask?
currently trying airfit N30 (not i)
Re: Bongo
onward60 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 20, 2023 4:29 pmYeah. Surprise, surprise, I know how to google. I meant personal knowledge, beyond what google says. Has anybody had positive or negative experiences with it? Know of a valid, peer-reviewed study? Know anything else I haven't thought to ask?
Why didn't you say this to begin with?
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- ChicagoGranny
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Re: Bongo
Well, you never know. We do get all types here.


Provent (https://sleepreviewmag.com/sleep-treatm ... continued/) was a glue-on type of device that worked on the exact same principle. They recently ceased producing the product. It didn't work so well.
Commit to CPAP and quit beating around on the drums.

Re: Bongo
You know, I come here half asleep and exhausted hoping for help and this is what I get?LSAT wrote: ↑Mon Feb 20, 2023 4:41 pmonward60 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 20, 2023 4:29 pmYeah. Surprise, surprise, I know how to google. I meant personal knowledge, beyond what google says. Has anybody had positive or negative experiences with it? Know of a valid, peer-reviewed study? Know anything else I haven't thought to ask?
Why didn't you say this to begin with?
currently trying airfit N30 (not i)
Re: Bongo
I have facial neuralgia that makes it impossible to wear any mask I have tried, and that's a lot of them. I am considering Bleep. I have not been able to get any DME in my group to bill Medicaid for it. This disease has disabled me. Medicaid is my only option.ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑Mon Feb 20, 2023 4:44 pmWell, you never know. We do get all types here.![]()
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Provent (https://sleepreviewmag.com/sleep-treatm ... continued/) was a glue-on type of device that worked on the exact same principle. They recently ceased producing the product. It didn't work so well.
Commit to CPAP and quit beating around on the drums.![]()
Bongo also looks like it would pull less on the skin than the Bleep. I don't tolerate pulling on skin, either. I thought I'd give it a try if there was some hope it would work. Not crazy about the startup costs, but Bongo looks cheaper in the long run.
So far I have a sample size of one person who uses Bongo. I hoped to find more either for or against. I don't 100% trust what I read on sites that are selling a product.
Last edited by onward60 on Mon Feb 20, 2023 5:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
currently trying airfit N30 (not i)
Re: Bongo
Ask Bongo if they have trigeminal patients and see what they say.
Re: Bongo
The Bleep adhesive does not pull on your skin.
Give it a try, to see how you can tolerate it, track your results with OSCAR, log how you feel each morning. Then decide if it's worth the price, and worth the struggle to find a DME that will agree to bill Medicaid for it.
Give it a try, to see how you can tolerate it, track your results with OSCAR, log how you feel each morning. Then decide if it's worth the price, and worth the struggle to find a DME that will agree to bill Medicaid for it.
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Good advice is compromised by missing data
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- chunkyfrog
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Re: Bongo
I was not aware of provent actually being produced--or working.ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑Mon Feb 20, 2023 4:44 pm. . .
They recently ceased producing the product. It didn't work so well.
. . .
---just a grift powered by pipe dreams

I would suggest trying a sleepweaver cloth mask--either advance or elan.
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- ChicagoGranny
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Re: Bongo
Try to keep up, froggy. Provent was produced and sold in moderate quantities. It worked well for some people. Here are six examples where it was successful:chunkyfrog wrote: ↑Mon Feb 20, 2023 9:15 pmI was not aware of provent actually being produced--or working.
https://sleepreviewmag.com/sleep-treatm ... continued/
Note that there is one report in the link above that Bongo doesn't work as well as Provent.
Re: Bongo

Not sure how one of these would help with apnea but ok.
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Re: Bongo
By googling, I can see the following:
1. It's NOT covered by insurance, including Medicaid. "Bongo Rx, like many CPAP alternative sleep apnea therapy devices, is not a covered item under medical insurance plans." https://airavant.com/frequently-asked-questions
2. It costs between $99 and $199, depending on vendor, but is reusable, while Bleep adhesives require daily replacement.
3. Reviews (on cpap.com) are mixed. The people who seem to like it give no objective evidence that it's actually treating their apnea--most just don't want to use a CPAP, so they are happier using this instead. One guy stopped snoring. That's nice, but doesn't mean his apnea is adequately treated.
4. The FAQ's on AirAvant.com say it's "clinically validated" to "significantly reduce" AHI in people with mild to moderate apnea. But they don't cite any studies. So what does that mean? If you have an AHI of 20 (moderate apnea) and it reduces it by 10%, that might be considered a "significant reduction", but you still have an AHI of 18, which is too high.
You need a prescription for Bongo. Talk to your doctor about getting the RX if you have that money to spend out of pocket. Also discuss with your doctor how you will validate if you are getting adequate treatment or not with the device. And let us know. It may work for you.
If not . . .
Unfortunately, there used to be two nasal masks that came over the head like a snorkel and would not put any pressure near the Trigeminal nerve, but they are both discontinued. Have you looked at the Tap Pap https://www.cpap.com/productpage/tap-pa ... k-improved ? I'm not sure how that would work with trigeminal neuralgia.
Another option might be the Fit Life: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... k-headgear
Hope you find a solution!
1. It's NOT covered by insurance, including Medicaid. "Bongo Rx, like many CPAP alternative sleep apnea therapy devices, is not a covered item under medical insurance plans." https://airavant.com/frequently-asked-questions
2. It costs between $99 and $199, depending on vendor, but is reusable, while Bleep adhesives require daily replacement.
3. Reviews (on cpap.com) are mixed. The people who seem to like it give no objective evidence that it's actually treating their apnea--most just don't want to use a CPAP, so they are happier using this instead. One guy stopped snoring. That's nice, but doesn't mean his apnea is adequately treated.
4. The FAQ's on AirAvant.com say it's "clinically validated" to "significantly reduce" AHI in people with mild to moderate apnea. But they don't cite any studies. So what does that mean? If you have an AHI of 20 (moderate apnea) and it reduces it by 10%, that might be considered a "significant reduction", but you still have an AHI of 18, which is too high.
You need a prescription for Bongo. Talk to your doctor about getting the RX if you have that money to spend out of pocket. Also discuss with your doctor how you will validate if you are getting adequate treatment or not with the device. And let us know. It may work for you.
If not . . .
Unfortunately, there used to be two nasal masks that came over the head like a snorkel and would not put any pressure near the Trigeminal nerve, but they are both discontinued. Have you looked at the Tap Pap https://www.cpap.com/productpage/tap-pa ... k-improved ? I'm not sure how that would work with trigeminal neuralgia.
Another option might be the Fit Life: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... k-headgear
Hope you find a solution!
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Swift FX Fitting Guide http://tinyurl.com/22ur9ts
Don't Pay that Upcharge! http://tinyurl.com/2ck48rm
- chunkyfrog
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Re: Bongo
My DME assures me that Medicare will cover Bleep.
I just have to wait until they can get the Eclipse in.
I just have to wait until they can get the Eclipse in.
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Re: Bongo
I have about 10 boxes of the Bleep that I no longer use, I will sell them to you for the cost of shipping. I am rather lazy and hated the time and effort to use the Bleep, so I switched back to my N20. If you want them just pm me.
Cheers
Nan
Cheers
Nan
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