Anyone concerned about ordering CPAP supplies

May be a stupid question. We all have our opinions. Is it safe to order supplies? Anyone worried about shortages? Have you heard any news regarding this?

How long do you use your supplies? How often do you change your tubing, water chamber, nasal pillow, filter, etc.? I know what the mfg. recommends but have heard some people have found they can be used longer.

They will last until they need to be changed, usually longer than recommended it depends how hard you are on your things. It pays to have spares, not hoarding, just spares. Jim

When you get supplies I would wash them in hot soapy water to ensure they are not contaminated in any way

LG34 wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 29, 2020 12:18 pm

May be a stupid question. We all have our opinions. Is it safe to order supplies? Anyone worried about shortages? Have you heard any news regarding this?

How long do you use your supplies? How often do you change your tubing, water chamber, nasal pillow, filter, etc.? I know what the mfg. recommends but have heard some people have found they can be used longer.

i've had one p10 mask last me 3.5 years. i've only changed out because i happened to get a free one. that is, the nasal portion only. i use lansinoh brand lanolin on it every night. wipe it with a baby wipe each morning. wash it when i think about it, but believe me, it's months between washings.

humidifier tank when it starts showing signs of ick. then only with soap and water.

i washed my hose exactly once. learned here years ago that it's not necessary.

can't speak to ordering supplies as i haven't ordered anything since i bought a 50 pack of filters last summer, out of which i have used two, i think.

that's just me.

good luck!

LG34 wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 29, 2020 12:18 pm

May be a stupid question. We all have our opinions. Is it safe to order supplies? Anyone worried about shortages? Have you heard any news regarding this?

How long do you use your supplies? How often do you change your tubing, water chamber, nasal pillow, filter, etc.? I know what the mfg. recommends but have heard some people have found they can be used longer.

The manufacturer doesn't really recommend anything. *MEDICARE* has set minimum replacement intervals, greedy DMEs jumped on that and said "if we tell people to throw away perfectly good stuff, we can make more money.

So, in other words,don't throw away perfectly good stuff, use it till it needs to be replaced. have a couple spares of everything.

I have been using CPAP for 12 years.. When I get a machine,the humidifier tub that comes with it last me until I get another machine...about 5 years. Tubes last a long time, but I change mine yearly. My mask lasts well over a year with usually 1 cushion change. Some of these items will last longer, but I change them. Since I have a back up on everything, I'm set for well over a year even it supplies were short....THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN. When something breaks or causes a problem, change it...forget the replacement schedule.

I'm not a "prepper", but I have learned to be a bit ahead on all my meds and supplies.
Sh*t happens, and often for the worst "reasons", --and always WITHOUT WARNING.
In the past, I have had several meds suddenly drop off fomulary, or even get pulled from the market.
I hate when they do that, but I can only spread out the adjustment period WHEN it does.
The same for my cpap supplies.
I am comfortably ahead--ready for most any manufactured emergency.

I haven't bought anything recently. Given that CPAP suppliers are in the health business, I feel comfortable buying supplies during this time. Nost business that is considered essential is basically finding ways to comply with smart practices.

LG34 wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 29, 2020 12:18 pm

May be a stupid question. We all have our opinions. Is it safe to order supplies? Anyone worried about shortages? Have you heard any news regarding this?

How long do you use your supplies? How often do you change your tubing, water chamber, nasal pillow, filter, etc.? I know what the mfg. recommends but have heard some people have found they can be used longer.

Of course they're "safe". I'm not worried about shortages because over the years I've stocked up on what I've been using.
My supplies last for YEARS. I've never considered following the recommended replacement intervals.......because I know it's all designed for the manufacturers and resellers to make more money. I'd prefer to keep mine. I've also never relied on any insurance providers to help pay for my stuff, either. I figure things last longer if the money comes out of my own pocket......and you know what........they do. Most of my original masks and hoses are still being used in some manner (primary or backup/spares). In 15 years, the only thing that actually became "unusable" was my first set of headgear.

Den

.

Actually ResMed has this replacement guide which is pretty much the same as what my doctor's office told me.

https://www.resmed.com/us/en/healthcare ... ption.html

I have heard spray your packages, etc. Cpap.com has guidelines for opening packages on their website. So just wondering if anyone else was ordering at this time and if anyone had concerns.

I fell for the replace every 3 months and didn't learn to get ahead and have backups.

Actually ResMed has this replacement guide which is pretty much the same as what my doctor's office told me.

Hmmmm....anyone else think it a bit odd that manufacturers happen to suggest a replacement schedule that is a carbon copy of what most insurance companies will pay for?????
Doctors just tell people whatever DMEs are telling people and what insurance will pay for.
There's a reason for this folks and it's not medical need. It's to make as much money as possible selling stuff. That's the cold hard fact of life.

My DME would have loved to sell me 2 nasal pillows a month but they never ever wore out that fast.

I had one heated hose that I had over 25,000 hours on it before it got retired and it was retired because I got a new machine that it wasn't compatible with. There was nothing wrong with the hose. Yes, insurance will buy me a new hose every 6 months and ResMed recommends it and the DME and doctors recommend it....but it is not a critical thing. The world will not end if we use a mask or hose beyond the "official" replacement time limits.

LG34 wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 30, 2020 1:17 pm

Actually ResMed has this replacement guide which is pretty much the same as what my doctor's office told me.

https://www.resmed.com/us/en/healthcare ... ption.html

And yet, if you look at the *clinical* manuals, they don't go along with the 'waste perfectly good stuff" line that the DMEs promote.

So, you can argue with facts or you can realize that it is NEVER NECESSARY to replace things on any 'schedule'.

Even *filters* are "replace as needed"

LG34 wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 29, 2020 12:18 pm

May be a stupid question. We all have our opinions. Is it safe to order supplies? Anyone worried about shortages? Have you heard any news regarding this?

How long do you use your supplies? How often do you change your tubing, water chamber, nasal pillow, filter, etc.? I know what the mfg. recommends but have heard some people have found they can be used longer.

1) Yes, it is safe. Recent work suggests that the virus is viable on cardboard for a day or so (and on hard plastic surface for perhaps 2 or 3 days). My solution is simple: let the package sit for four days. Any SARS-CoV-2 virus is no longer viable. Wash your hands and open/use the items in the package.

2) I am unaware of any shortages nut having spares at home is always a good idea. If something breaks, waiting even a few days for a replacement is not good. I also worry about shipping delays given the demand from increased online shopping. And there is always the possibility of a factory being shut down for a period (could be from fires,floods, etc).

3) Others talked abut how often. Filters are cheap and I replace them fairly frequently. The others I tend to replace as they wear out -- noting that having spares is even more important if that is your approach.

TropicalDiver wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 31, 2020 12:28 am

LG34 wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 29, 2020 12:18 pm

May be a stupid question. We all have our opinions. Is it safe to order supplies? Anyone worried about shortages? Have you heard any news regarding this?

How long do you use your supplies? How often do you change your tubing, water chamber, nasal pillow, filter, etc.? I know what the mfg. recommends but have heard some people have found they can be used longer.

1) Yes, it is safe. Recent work suggests that the virus is viable on cardboard for a day or so (and on hard plastic surface for perhaps 2 or 3 days). My solution is simple: let the package sit for four days. Any SARS-CoV-2 virus is no longer viable. Wash your hands and open/use the items in the package.

2) I am unaware of any shortages nut having spares at home is always a good idea. If something breaks, waiting even a few days for a replacement is not good. I also worry about shipping delays given the demand from increased online shopping. And there is always the possibility of a factory being shut down for a period (could be from fires,floods, etc).

3) Others talked abut how often. Filters are cheap and I replace them fairly frequently. The others I tend to replace as they wear out -- noting that having spares is even more important if that is your approach.

Everyone, thank you for the information. This would have been good to know a few years ago about replacing supplies.

Tropical Diver, this is good to know about packages. And about staying ahead with supplies. You would think I would have thought about that when they had other shortages - one that comes to mind was heart worm medication for my dog due to factory problems.