equipment / suplies

I was diagnosed with OSA 8-10 years ago. It was a wonderful thing to have my 1st real night of sleep. Got up with so much energy I felt like I could go for 2 days. My 1st machine has been retired as a back up. I was told by a reliable source the company was bought out and this particular machine discontinued because it LASTED Too long. The new one is good, but the company that makes it seems to be money grabbing jerks. As any of us know the importance of the cpap to us, we also know our cost of replacement equipment. I plan on making my own new chin strap. All the material if I make 20 of them will be less than I get charged after my deductible is paid. It's bad enough they have a captive audience with the machines and masks. How ever, I just spent the better part of 2 days trying to get instructions on how to adjust the pressure on my machine. I agree we need to have sleep studies done to get the base settings. But, in 5 years(recommended sleep study re-check done) minor changes can happen. I adjusted my 1st machine a few times (up). When I went in 1-2 years ago for my follow up study I was 1 below the correct setting. It was started at 11-12. I had it set at 17 I tested as 18 new setting. We know when we start feeling tired or start falling asleep for no reason. The cost is so high and there is no law saying we can't know how to work our own machines. Respironics would not send me a manual nor give instructions on how to set the pressure on my machine. Apria health care refused also. I think this is wrong as it is just another means to keep people with out means to readily pay the exorbant prices with out any recourse. This stuff is expensive with insurance. What other avenues do we have?

snoremuffler wrote:What other avenues do we have?

We have this forum where we share ideas, thoughts, experiences and ways to modify our own treatment pressures.
We educate ourselves.

Can you add your equipment data to your profile? Did you finally figure out how to change your pressure?
If we knew which machine you have someone can tell you how to access the clinician menu and probably even send you a copy of the "top secret" clinician manual.

snoremuffler wrote: ........ Respironics would not send me a manual nor give instructions on how to set the pressure on my machine. Apria health care refused also. I think this is wrong as it is just another means to keep people with out means to readily pay the exorbant prices with out any recourse. .........

Nope, it is because of Federal regulations - blame government bureaucrats not the market. But here, http://www.cpap-supply.com/Articles.asp?ID=130 , is how to change pressure.

snoremuffler wrote: ......... What other avenues do we have?

If you mean to buy equipment and supplies, it is often cheaper to buy without insurance than to pay the deductibles. Call cpap.com and get the unadvertised prices on equipment.

You seem to have done quite well in getting the correct pressure set. And apparently you did it without the software!