New to CPAP and forums - looking for advice from cpap users

[Bella Rose]

Hi,

I have no idea how this forum thing works (I've never used one before my own- I'm not very technological). I apologise up front of I inadvertently make a social or forum faux pas.

I have been trialling a cpap machine for nearly 2 months now and am looking for some independent advice from cpap users (rather than retailers).

Long story short, the company I have been hiring this machine off is closing. They were honest enough to tell me they had provided me with the most expensive everything for the trial in the hopes I would fork out $3500 (which would take me a year or more to save). I have found another supplier whom I can rent the same model machine from until I can afford to purchase one.

The thing is, with the new supplier they have told me that I must supply/buy my own mask (fine. I'm purchasing the one I'm wearing. It's great) and my own hose. Ok. Hygiene, I can understand this. But when I asked if I would matter of it was a heated hose or not (with a heated humidifier machine), I was told that the heated humidifier would be useless without the heated tube.

Is this true of the Philips remstar auto system one? If so, is it true only for this machine or for all heated humidifier machines? Does it apply to all manufacturers?

I have a feeling that I may be being taken for a ride as both suppliers have automatically (and incorrectly) assumed that the costs will be covered by the government as I am disabled. What I haven't pointed out to them (yet) is that I don't qualify for any government assistance and will be paying all costs myself (with Hubby's very hard earned).

Any advice anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated.

[palerider]

Hi,

I have no idea how this forum thing works (I've never used one before my own- I'm not very technological). I apologise up front of I inadvertently make a social or forum faux pas.

I have been trialling a cpap machine for nearly 2 months now and am looking for some independent advice from cpap users (rather than retailers).

Long story short, the company I have been hiring this machine off is closing. They were honest enough to tell me they had provided me with the most expensive everything for the trial in the hopes I would fork out $3500 (which would take me a year or more to save). I have found another supplier whom I can rent the same model machine from until I can afford to purchase one.

The thing is, with the new supplier they have told me that I must supply/buy my own mask (fine. I'm purchasing the one I'm wearing. It's great) and my own hose. Ok. Hygiene, I can understand this. But when I asked if I would matter of it was a heated hose or not (with a heated humidifier machine), I was told that the heated humidifier would be useless without the heated tube.

Is this true of the Philips remstar auto system one? If so, is it true only for this machine or for all heated humidifier machines? Does it apply to all manufacturers?

I have a feeling that I may be being taken for a ride as both suppliers have automatically (and incorrectly) assumed that the costs will be covered by the government as I am disabled. What I haven't pointed out to them (yet) is that I don't qualify for any government assistance and will be paying all costs myself (with Hubby's very hard earned).

Any advice anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated.

if you're buying out of your own pocket, buy online, from secondwindcpap.com, the ds560 prs1 auto machine is currently going for 359$+70$ for a humidifier+75 for a heated hose OPTION for a gently used machine.

heated hoses are optional, but not required at all, many people like them, other people don't bother, it depends on how cold folks like to keep their bedrooms, and how much humididty they like to have.

you're being *ripped off* (that's fairly typical)

[Pugsy]

Welcome to the forum.

I was told that the heated humidifier would be useless without the heated tube.

That's hogwash. What do they think we did before heated hoses? Not everyone who needs a heated humidifier will need or want a heated hose. Now the heated hoses come in handy to help with possible cold air to the nose or if condensation is happening in the hose but there's ways of deal with those annoyances even without a heated hose.

Is this true of the Philips remstar auto system one? If so, is it true only for this machine or for all heated humidifier machines? Does it apply to all manufacturers?

It's not true of any machine manufacturer.

The heated hose comes in real handy if someone likes or needs a good bit of added moisture and they also like a cooler bedroom and the cooling causes condensation.
Lots of people use heated humidifiers without the accompanying heated hose and they are quite happy.
I have no idea why you were told this unless they are pushing for the sale of the heated hose upgrade kit if your machine doesn't already have the necessary upgrades to accommodate the heated hose.
The humidifier lid needs a place to plug the heated hose connector into and the power brick needs to be 80 watt.
You can use non heated hose with it though.

Let's try to figure out exactly which machine you are using. Look on the bottom of the blower unit for a 3 digit model number...might have DS or REF or P in front or behind it.
If you have chosen the correct one in your profile and they want to sell you that one for $3500...take it back and tell them to stick it where the sun doesn't shine.
The one you have chosen is model 250 and doesn't even have a heated hose option (need 60 series machine for heated hose) and it's cheap basic brick.
Hopefully you have chosen the wrong machine.
Tell us the model number and we can figure out exactly which machine you are using.

There's a place here in the US that you can get gently used or new open box machines for a fraction of what they are wanting to sell you a machine for.
Secondwindcpap.com

[englandsf]

Resmed S9 is a comparable machine and seems to be easy to buy used as many users upgrade to the new A10. I just got one with <50 hrs and everything for $500 on here.

[chunkyfrog]

OP is in AUS. Secondwindcpap will ship, but others may not, due to mfr. agreements.

[palerider]

OP is in AUS. Secondwindcpap will ship, but others may not, due to mfr. agreements.

oh, good catch.... still getting ripped off though.

[Bella Rose]

Thank you all for your help.

The machine says: "Remstar Auto 561P".

I figured I was being ripped off with pricing. In some states in Australia, people with disabilities and Veterans qualify for government payments and, in turn, the government will pay for CPAP equipment for those people. I don't qualify for benefits as I am married and hubby works full time (I don't require a carer just yet).

I think that's what the sales people are seeing - government money.

I am not overly particular about bedroom temp (except in winter I use an electric blanket), and the humidity already in Sydney is higher than I am used to. I don't artificially heat the house in winter as the night gets no lower than -2 celcius. I do have trouble with summer as we get temps up to 48 celcius and no air con. We are heading into summer now.

I will keep in mind that I can purchase from the USA and other countries, but the voltage and plug types are different here.

Again, thank you all so much for your help!

[Julie]

But don't worry about voltage, etc., as adaptors are usually very inexpensive and sold all over.

[palerider]

The machine says: "Remstar Auto 561P".

that's a good machine to have, that, or the resmed equivalent (the autoset) is what we recommend for people picking out a first machine.

I will keep in mind that I can purchase from the USA and other countries, but the voltage and plug types are different here.

the power supplies are voltage independent, and work from 100-250v, 50-60hz, all you need either a cheap plug adapter, like Julie said, or a oz spec short cord that goes from the power outlet to the power supply lump. (like the one you have there) the US power supply is the same on your have, the only difference is the short cord.

there's a number of folks on the forum here, in oz, that got their machines from the US.

[englandsf]

Any modern machine will take any 110-240 power.

I thought ResMed was an Aussie company - wouldn't that make their gear cheaper there?

[Bella Rose]

Resmed are Aussie. Actually a 5 minute drive from me. BUT like most things in Australia, whether made here or otherwise, they are expensive.

Average price is $1500 for the machine (plus, plus, plus).

I have found another local manufacturer called BMC CPAP who do a deal with everything but the mask for $799. They don't do a rent or rent to buy option so I need to rent a machine until I can save that money. Maybe a month or two.

Their package includes heated humidifier and standard, non heated hose. That's where the confusion came in when I was told by the Philips rep that a heated hose is a must.

Also, are break outs and rash where silicone mask touches skin common? I was told that is normal (I do have sensitive skin and am on a lot of different types of medications).