AWAKE meeting

Has anyone been to one of these? Our local hospital is hosting one tonight. I called and the receptionist told me they have different masks, machines, etc. to show us. And it give info on sleep apnea. If you have been to one, is it helpbul Or is it just a sales pitch?

Several years ago I attended 2 in my area...no sales pitch...they can't sell you anything. Informational only.

It all depends on who sponsors the party. The hospital location may be a tip-off.
Corporate sponsorship is dependent on exposure and "friendly" content.
Professional sponsorship may be a bit less commercial, but limited to the "party line/lie".
Keep an open mind, and enjoy the free snacks.
They may not be allowed to sell stuff there, but pens, pads, and business cards are often found in abundance.

The receptionist said "there will be snacks"

I've been to quite a few. The topics range from presentations by hospital,docs and respiratory therapists, to cpap manufacturers reps, to local DMEs. One night we got to see several masks from Fisher-Paykel and, lucky me, I walked away with a new in a box Oracle 452 mask free.

Go and enjoy yourself and enjoy the snacks.

She said we get to be fitted for masks. I don't understand how that would work sanitization wise. I'm sure they don't give everyone a new mask to try out.

Anti-bac wipes, probably.
Most of us touch dozens of door handles a day, with no concern.
Don't think about it now.

Cardsfan wrote:Has anyone been to one of these? Our local hospital is hosting one tonight. I called and the receptionist told me they have different masks, machines, etc. to show us. And it give info on sleep apnea. If you have been to one, is it helpbul Or is it just a sales pitch?

Even if it's "just a sales pitch", you should be able to get something out of it.

Well that was a total bust. It was supposed to run from 6-8 PM. I got there at 7pm- there were only 3 vendors, all 3 were packing up their stuff. Snack was pizza that was in delivery boxes and cans of coke. One vendor offered to show me some masks, but I could tell he wanted to finish packing up and leave.
There was about 5 other people siting around, finishing up their pizza.

Cardsfan wrote:Well that was a total bust. It was supposed to run from 6-8 PM. I got there at 7pm- there were only 3 vendors, all 3 were packing up their stuff. Snack was pizza that was in delivery boxes and cans of coke. One vendor offered to show me some masks, but I could tell he wanted to finish packing up and leave.
There was about 5 other people siting around, finishing up their pizza.

I hope you didn't expect a sit down dinner...The one I attended several years ago had cookies and soda.

I didn't care about the food. But I was expecting vendors and cpap info and cpap equipment. Just disappointed that it closed up an hour before it was supposed to.

Cardsfan wrote:I didn't care about the food. But I was expecting vendors and cpap info and cpap equipment. Just disappointed that it closed up an hour before it was supposed to.

I suspect it was a meeting that was supposed to start at 6 pm intending go to 8pm. Not like vendor fair with people coming and going during that time. They probably weren't expecting people to come at 7. With only 5 people attending, it probably didn't take long to get through the meeting.

I was told the speaker didn't show up, and 2 of the 5 vendors did not show

Cardsfan wrote:I was told the speaker didn't show up, and 2 of the 5 vendors did not show

They overslept!

A.W.A.K.E. meetings are not generally like Expos and start on time. The ones I attended, started on time and ended when the presenter finished - however long that took. I'm sorry I didn't mention that in my earlier reply.