which cpap machines

[Andyptrs]

I am at the point where my sleep apnea is soo bad that I need to invest in a machine/mask. I'm not sure what type or brand to get. Anyone have any suggestions for brand of CPAP machine, masks or humidifiers?

[LSAT]

Have you had a sleep study and gotten a prescription for a machine?

[chunkyfrog]

Many questions we have before your answers we can give.
Have you had a sleep study, diagnosis, insurance?
Machines and masks require a prescription unless obtained second-hand from alternate sources (craigslist, etc.)
For a partial guide of machines, go here:
https://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/
In the list, Resmed is represented by S9 models, airsense 10 is the newest iteration, except there is no
Escape name to tip you off to the brick, avoid the plain "CPAP".

[archangle]

Welcome to the board. Sorry you had to join us, but it's good you got here before you deal with the used car salesmen types in the medical mafia.

There are a links to a lot of information in the useful links in my signature line below. It may help you avoid being screwed by the DME's (CPAP salesmen) you'll have to deal with. It's important to get a good, fully data capable machine.

[Andyptrs]

As far as a prescription goes, I basically I have the most intense case

[Krelvin]

As far as a prescription goes, I basically I have the most intense case

You still have provided NO info on which to provide you suggestions.

[sc0ttt]

As far as a prescription goes, I basically I have the most intense case

The severity of your case isn't an indication that you need the most expensive machine.

The right way to do this is to see your primary doc for a referral to a sleep doc and a sleep study. Is there some reason you can't do that?

[Julie]

Cpap machines basically use air at a low pressure to help keep your airway open... and the amount of pressure needed to do that, as well as the machine providing it, is not related to how 'severe' your case is, only to how much pressure is needed to keep YOUR personal airway open, and you might need high pressures to do it even with a very mild case of OSA, and vice versa. There are basic machines and more complex ones depending on how you were diagnosed - not everyone has 'plain' OSA, but you can't possibly diagnose that yourself. And btw, half of us were told "you're the worst case we've ever seen" - it seems to be something doctors (or techs) like to say to patients, possibly to get them to buy equipment from companies they're invested in, or only because they like drama.

[Tatooed Lady]

As far as a prescription goes, I basically I have the most intense case

That'll be $3,850.72 + tax, title, shipping and handling, please.

[palerider]

As far as a prescription goes, I basically I have the most intense case

just what, I wonder, is an "intense prescription"???

[Tatooed Lady]

As far as a prescription goes, I basically I have the most intense case

just what, I wonder, is an "intense prescription"???

Maybe self diagnosed when housemates have mentioned snoring, snorting, gasping etc?

[Andyptrs]

So, I need a bi-pap machine for severe sleep apnea.

[robysue]

So, I need a bi-pap machine for severe sleep apnea.

No. For most people with severe obstructive sleep apnea, a plain old CPAP or APAP will treat the problem just fine.

People are put on bi-paps for a variety of reasons, but most of them boil down to "the CPAP/APAP wasn't tolerable, but BiPAP is" OR "we're trying BiPAP because CPAP/APAP didn't fix the problem". In the later case, it's important to tease out whether the problem is central sleep apnea or complex sleep apnea, which may require an ASV machine before it is adequately treated, even if the CSA or CompSA is only moderate.