Mask not for home use?

[jilliansue]

Hello!

I recently purchased a RESPIRONICS COMFORT GEL NASAL CPAP MASK on cpapauction.com. I have tried various masks, and was skeptical. But the other night I put it on, it was fairly comfortable, it sealed, and I went to sleep. I have used it two nights. Here are my two questions:

1. On the front of the mask in small letters, it says, "not sold for home use." Should I be concerned?

2. I do not know what mask setting to use on my Resmed machine.

My leaks were better both nights than with the Swift FX I have been using. But the AHI's were in the 5.something range one night, and in the 8.something range the second. They vary anyway. I will pull out the card reader and study them and post them here if I have questions. I may try increasing the pressure, which I had previously decreased. It feels like less air flow because it is not shooting directly into my nostrils. But for now, if anyone has input on the two questions above, I'd be grateful!!

Thank you,
Jill

[Janknitz]

Did you and/or your insurance company buy that mask from a brick and mortar DME? If so, they sold you a sample the DME got for FREE.

Manufacturers provide these samples for free to DME's so that DME's can let people try on masks before buying, and even take them home for a few nights to sleep with. They are not meant to be resold. DME's who sell these masks are being unfair to the manufacturers AND to the patients who don't get the opportunity to try on masks before buying them because the DME would rather make pure profit from the sale of these masks than support their customers to try them to find good masks.

The one caveat here is if you purchased a brand new mask from a DME that didn't work out, the DME may have swapped that out with a sample of another mask to give you an opportunity to try a different mask until you find the right one. From then on, when you purchase a new mask, you will get a retail mask, not a sample that's not meant to be sold. So ignore the above if that's the case.

But if you regularly receive masks really meant to be samples from your DME when you pay full retail price, then something is wrong and they should be ashamed!

[adipasqu]

Hello!

I recently purchased a RESPIRONICS COMFORT GEL NASAL CPAP MASK on cpapauction.com.

You got a sample mask that resold. Otherwise, it is identical to the retail mask.

-A

[archangle]

Be sure it has an exhaust vent. You know, the thing that blows air constantly when you are CPAPing.

There are some hospital-only masks that require a separate vent device. Without a vent, there's a risk of suffocation, because you would be rebreathing your exhaled CO2. If you use these with a regular home CPAP, it's dangerous. Respironics had a recall of some early comfortgel masks because they were "samples" and didn't have a built in exhaust vent.

I suspect you've got a perfectly good mask that was supposed to be a free sample. Just check for the exhaust vent, and you should be OK. On the ComfortGel mask, it's a little slot on the elbow connector where the hose attaches. You should feel a constant stream of air coming out there when you use it.

[jilliansue]

Thanks to everyone who responded!!! The mask does have vents, a whole bunch of little holes which emit a steady stream of air. And less noisily and forcefully than on the Swift FX I might add!

I don't know WHAT I would do without this forum, it is honestly the best I have ever been on for any reason.

Thanks again,
Jilliansue

[chunkyfrog]

First DME did this to me; and I returned it, saying I had 'financial reverses', and couldn't get a mask at this time--
mainly because these dirt bags wanted to charge a 'mask without headgear' price for CUSHIONS! I transferred
my rx to another supplier and got a NEW MASK.--these new guys don't jack with billing to get ungodly insurance money.
I informed BCBSNE, and apparently, they don't give a squat.

[jilliansue]

By the way, I bought this mask on cpapauction.com, so not from a DME. The price was right, and I have used it 3 nights in a row now.