Hello...nother newbie

My name is Kenzy, I'm a 34yr old female & I'm from San Antonio TX. Right now I'm using (sorta, if u count the electrical tape, & medical tape holding it together lol) an ultra mirage nasal mask at 16+ on my bipap resmed autoset spirit. I do not have insurance anymore but I did when I had my sleep study back in 07. My insurance at the time covered all the necessary bits like machine, mask, hoses, etc, AFTER a $2000 deductible, which i couldnt pay. Needless to say I took a quick education course on Cpap/Bipap & have been taking care of my own case since. I'd been buying machines locally (craigslist) & then learning all the clinician setup to adjust to my settings. Luckily my Dr at the time was understanding & gave me lots of advice when I started off.

My problem now, many yrs later, is I'm finding I REALLY want/need a newer mask but can't do it without a prescription. I know my original sleep doc wrote me a script but I can't remember his name or anything else about him, much less have I held onto the script. So are there any suggestions??? I can't afford to go see another specialist...not with 4 kids, a disabled husband, & Christmas LOL Can maybe my GP write a script for me? Would he even know what to write??? I'm going crazy because I can't sleep since my mask broke!!!! ANY suggestions.....PLEASE!!

tell your GP what to write it for... and if they're agreeable (a lot of them will be)... then yes they can write you a script

My GP wrote me a script for a machine many years ago when my machine broke and my sleep doc's office gave me an appointment 3 months out. Recently my GP wrote me a script for a mask. So, yes, you can ask your GP to write a script for you.

Kenzy, I would be surprised if your GP would not be willing to write a prescription once you explain your circumstances. If you want the same mask as you have now he can write for that or "full face mask (nasal mask, or nasal pillows) of patients choice".
Good luck.

Awesome guys! Thanks! A definite will do then....that said....I know the Mirage SoftGel mask was rated well here but it'd be good to maybe hear some thoughts from people who have used it.....Besides that....Truly thank-you so much for your input. Its greatly appreciated. ÷ )

For what it's worth, if you show them your old ratty mask at the free clinic, they might even try to get you one--if they can.
--unless there are no free (or nearly free) clinics in Texas.

If you want to try a mask first, you might consider Dane's one week try-out program at http://www.cpaplibrary.com/mask-trials.html I've used it as have many others here on the forum. Great if you don't have a DME to allow you to try masks. $14 S&H roundtrip and you get to use it for a week.

Thanks for the reposting the link link Emilia, I need to try that.

THAT is brilliant!! The perfect answer to my 2 biggest concerns. How to obtain a mask (script), & the worry over whether the one I'm choosing isn't the right one for me..... When you have to choose that way it has a tendency to make you constantly second guess whether the one you've chosen is the one to choose. LOL ...sorry, bad to nonexistent sleep is making me loopy .....Thanks everyone for the advice & suggestions!