Used APAP, anyone?

Liam1965 · Post by **Liam1965** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 12:36 pm

I made a post similar to this in another thread, but it probably deserves it's own...

Does anyone have a used APAP they want to sell? Can't get 'em on ebay, and I'm having a deuce of a time getting my sleep clinic to call me back so I can get the prescription to buy it from CPAP.COM. I'd prefer to do it the right way (and support our hosts, to boot), but I wouldn't ask them to break the rules (even assuming they would, which I'm sure they would not), and I'm getting really fed up trying to get the script.

I don't know what the legality is of purchasing someone else's used equipment, it's probably TECHNICALLY illegal (like selling someone you're leftover prescription drugs), but since I DO have a prescription for CPAP (in the hands of my DME), I don't feel at all badly about buying a used machine without the script actually IN HAND.

Liam, who figures a well used APAP is good enough for a well used Liam.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 1:28 pm

Liam,

Do you have a copy of your original prescription? I've gotten two machines with my one prescription. You may not need to get another. I don't think it needs to specify APAP.

Liam1965 · Post by **Liam1965** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 1:33 pm

No, according to CPAP.COM it doesn't... but my sleep lab is too efficient. I never saw my prescription, they just gave it directly to the DME. Of course, at that time, had I known, I would have asked for it (and had I found a better DME at the time, I would have asked for it), but I didn't, so I need to get them to give me a copy of it.

Liam, older and wiser, but ruing the days when he was (three weeks) younger and more foolish.

snoozin' · Post by **snoozin'** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 2:22 pm

Liam,
Tell them you need a copy for your records. Insurance, traveling, taxes, whetever could be valid reasons for having a copy of the prescription.
Debbie

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 2:32 pm

Debbie,

Great idea! Tell you are traveling out of the country and where told you need a copy of your prescription to validate possesion of your prescription medical equipment. Otherwise go the straightforward honest route and tell them you want to buy a second machine for the "beach house" and need a copy of your prescription. If they cooperate tell them you'll invite them out to spend a day at the beach.

Liam1965 · Post by **Liam1965** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 2:50 pm

Yeah, but folks, you're missing the key problem: I can't get them to answer the phone or return the phone call.

I'm sure I can get a copy of it, if I can just get someone to TALK to me.

I suppose I could drive over there. What a pain.

Liam, who's really lazy. You don't know how lazy. His sleep clinic is in the hospital, the hospital is across the street from his office complex, not more than a mile away.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 2:52 pm

I think we're on the verge of another evil DME story

If a had a spare I want to get rid of I'd sell it to you.

Liam1965 · Post by **Liam1965** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 2:57 pm

Well, I did get one offer to sell me one at a good price, but... It's the ResMed unit, which except for ONE recent post, seems to consistantly rank third in the preference by people. Not as small and light (and without the switches that can be set) of the 420E, not as "cadillac" (as Rested gal put it) as the Remstar Auto with CFLEX.

I'd love to buy it and get this done with, but I'd hate to rush into it, and then find out that I have to buy ANOTHER one, because it truly is the bottom tier of the three.

(Interesting, by the way, because when I first got into this, I was looking at buying the ResMed S7 elite, as at the time I thought it was probably the best. Now I seem to be learning that ResMed is *AWESOME* at masks, and only so-so with machines.)

Liam Fudd. Be vewy vewy quiet. I'm hunting APAPs. heheheheheh

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 4:22 pm

Well, I don't think ResMed is "so-so" with machines at all. All three of the major manufacturers make equally excellent machines, imho, little as I know of how they really work. Just because some posters (me included) have a favorite or two favorites, doesn't mean one that is seldom mentioned by posters on this particular board isn't as good or even better in some respects as another.

Each manufacturer seems to have put something unique in their machines. Puritan Bennett has long been famous for small size and lightweigt in packed-full-of-features autopap. ResMed is coming out by summer with an autopap that will supplant their "Autoset Spirit" and rival the Puritan Bennett 420 series in small size. ResMed machines can also use an optional ResLink to do overnight oximetry - measuring and recording the oxygen level throughout the night. A nice plus, that. I've heard Respironics has a similar capability with its SleepLink, but I've never tried it or really looked into it. ResMed also is in FDA trials in the U.S. with a truly state of the art machine aimed at CHF (congestive heart failure) patients - a combination true Bi-Level/Autopap machine called the ResMed CS2. Puritan Bennett has added a heated humidifier to its tiny workhorse of a machine. Respironics recently added the very comfortable C-Flex feature to its autopap.

I'm jumping around a lot mentioning one, another and another to confuse you more, Liam. Not that you really get confused - you're sharp as a tack. What I'm getting at, though, is that there are three top manufacturers - ResMed, Puritan Bennett, and Respironics that produce equally good autopaps - ANY one of which would suit MOST people. Just kind'a comes down to what particular feature means the most to a person. I loved my 420E auto. I love my REMstar auto with C-flex. I'm sure I'd love the ResMed S8 Pioneer auto, due to be available in a few months. Wader is sitting up there in Wisconsin, chuckling...knowing full well that I won't be able to resist getting a ResMed S8 auto someday.

While I think all three manufacturers make great machines, each in their own way, I do admit I think only two of them make great masks - ResMed (almost all their masks) and Puritan Bennett's sole entry (my longtime favorite, the Breeze.)

Liam1965 · Post by **Liam1965** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 5:13 pm

Thanks, Rested Gal. I appreciate it!

I had heard that the ResMed humidifier isn't nearly as effective as the other two. Is that true?

(It's funny, while I HATE the humidity when I'm in FF mask, I need it when I'm in the Swift).

The machine in question is a Spirit.

Thanks for the advice!

Liam, who has apparently been neglecting his wife in favor of cpaptalk.com in the evenings, and so is about to log off and spend some time with her.

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 5:36 pm

I believe the Resmed S-8 uses the same algorithem as the Spirit and autoset T. I cannot confirm this.
It also has EPR or expiratory pressure relief. Similar to c-flex however I am unclear if it works in the auto mode .
It is smaller than its predecessor the spirit.

The Spirit intigrated humidifier seems to work well for me. Its not a vaporizer .

S-8 launch is scheduled for end of 3rd quarter of 2005. This is as of 7 Feb 2005.

I'll post more as I learn about it.

Cheers

Chris

Snorenomore · Post by **Snorenomore** » Sat Feb 19, 2005 10:32 am

Liam,
Have you ever checked out http://www.dotmed.com?

They have all kinds of used CPAP's and have seen APAP's there too. They have big equipment also in case you want to start your own sleepstudy business.

My wife doesn't think I should buy a used CPAP machine cause it would not be sterile and all but I don't have a problem with it. But I better listen to her on this one.

Snorenomore,
Enjoying sleep without an elbow in his back.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 19, 2005 10:59 am

Try calling your sleep lab at night since thats when they do their work. I had the same problem phoning during the day. They answered first ring at night.

Chris

gailzee · Post by **gailzee** » Sat Feb 19, 2005 11:00 am

Hi Liam:
Can you drive over to the sleep place? Is it quite far? In person is usually a whole different story. I actually got a copy of my 2 scrips from the DME, not the dr. I told the RT at the dr. to fax me a copy, she did not. I get the feeling these people who don't return phone calls, send you YOUR OWN RECORDS, just wait till these things happen to them, huh?

Go there and lay some liam'isms on 'em they'll cave, you'll get, you can order with safety from cpap.com, I did and have no complaints. Very efficient, they EVEN called me with a QUESTION! How about that!? No dr. DME, or RT Ever calls.....

Go for it this board has faith in you, and besides we need a new story on your scrip experience, when you go there....

sign me: waiting for your next step!

Liam1965 wrote:Yeah, but folks, you're missing the key problem: I can't get them to answer the phone or return the phone call.

I'm sure I can get a copy of it, if I can just get someone to TALK to me.

I suppose I could drive over there. What a pain.

Liam, who's really lazy. You don't know how lazy. His sleep clinic is in the hospital, the hospital is across the street from his office complex, not more than a mile away.

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Sat Feb 19, 2005 11:09 am

Here is the yahoo auction site . No apaps right now. Keep looking,

http://search.auctions.shopping.yahoo.c ... ap&auccat=

Chris

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