*curtsies* how do you do ... (embracing my newbieness; a testimony)

I’m seven months into living this cpap life, but did have a good introduction to it when my ex started his journey back in 2002. So many improvements in cpap offerings from then until now!

Background: at 49, I asked my PCP to put me through all sorts of tests to establish some baselines, which included a sleep study. I had registered 13 disruptions in an hour; my insurer denied me a cpap, which I was cool with, because at least I now knew it, and this gave me time to "underwrite" myself. Fast-fwd two years later, the DME approval threshold decreased from 20x/hr to 12x/hr. Now we are in June 2020, the ramping up of C19 community spread, but I pushed past my fears, attended a sleep study and learned that I was still at 13x/hr, and that I now qualified for a cpap.

*Exhales* (cue all thoughts about my cumulative heart, lung, brain health, and sprinkle on the vanity issues about my bedroom looking like a hospital room, etc)

The first several weeks were hellish for acclimation, but what I DID do:

- bought me a new, great quality bed, headboard, bedding. (I was planning on a new bed purchase since 2018, putting pennies aside but mostly researching beds)
- ordered a SoClean as soon as my ResMed10 was ordered
- from the SoClean website, I bought the nightstand cabinet (pros: matched my headboard and aesthetic! Hides the CPAPerie well! Cons: made of pressed board. Wood swells with the humidity. Pros totally outweigh the cons.)
- ordered little things, like a sleeve for the tubing, so that its ridges wouldn't scratch up my headboard, and face tubing sleeves, to lesson the indents/marks on my face during my sleep.

I like my ResMed10 and my SoClean. I’m grateful that I had maxed my HRA/FSA for 2020 for the first time ever, having *no idea* that either Covid or CPAP was on the horizon. This is what allowed me to buy these machines.

Adding pics of the sleep cabinet, with an example of my mad analytical skillz, by pulling the cabinet away from the wall, adding sticky hangers on the back, so that my face mask hangs discreetly out of view, along with an extra bottle of distilled water.

Some things still suck, like not being able to continue my moisturizer nighttime routine (still figuring that out), and some of the markings my Dreamwear headgear leaves on my face (always two vampire bites above my lip grrr, but thank goodness for face masks in public!) I also am considering getting a ResMed Mini for that day in the future when I can be fully vaccinated and travel again (which is how I found this board, googling reviews). Minor things, too, like the app works on my ipad but never did sync on my iphone. All in all, these pale in comparison to the great fortune of having a dx, a machine, and being able to twig up my nest (feather my bed? What is that phrase, again?) to burrow in for the time we are living in now.

Nice to meet you all,
Penny.

You might want to read this about your SoClean device and how it has probably voided the ResMed warranty on your machine.
https://www.resmed.com/us/dam/documents ... letter.pdf

*Waves scepter about graciously if somewhat randomly* Pleased to meet you, Pennypinchin. Like you, I'd rather not see much of my PAP stuff in the bedroom during the day. I figure the machine itself looks kind of like a radio, so I don't worry about that. But I was happy to find a telescoping hose lift (CPAPology Houdini) that allows me to stash the lift plus the hose behind a pillow.

From the photo I can't quite figure out what kind of mask you have, but if you don't need a full-face mask, you might want to read up on the Bleep Dreamport system, which has no straps at all. (The nasal interface sticks onto the end of your nose.)

And put its name into forum search bar here to see how many hits you get re "return it for the $ if you can - it's garbage, a scam, very unhealthy (ozone) and voids machine warranties'.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 28, 2020 12:09 pm

You might want to read this about your SoClean device and how it has probably voided the ResMed warranty on your machine.
https://www.resmed.com/us/dam/documents ... letter.pdf

Thank you for this head up; I just contacted my DME provider, from whom I get my ResMed and supplies, asked about SoClean and any warranty concerns, and they said not to worry. SoClean has the highest reviews of all of the ozone cleaners, and while my provider doesn't carry it, he said that it was a smart purchase to make. I'm golden!

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 28, 2020 12:20 pm

*Waves scepter about graciously if somewhat randomly* Pleased to meet you, Pennypinchin. Like you, I'd rather not see much of my PAP stuff in the bedroom during the day. I figure the machine itself looks kind of like a radio, so I don't worry about that. But I was happy to find a telescoping hose lift (CPAPology Houdini) that allows me to stash the lift plus the hose behind a pillow.

From the photo I can't quite figure out what kind of mask you have, but if you don't need a full-face mask, you might want to read up on the Bleep Dreamport system, which has no straps at all. (The nasal interface sticks onto the end of your nose.)

I have a Phillips Dreamwear full-face. The pipe comes off of my head, so I do have some evening prep work to do: put my hair up in a high bun/ponytail, put the mask on, twirl into bed in such a way that my tubing isn't torqued, then snake my tubing around my pillow. It feels deliberate, a tad ballerina-ish, and I hear the Sound of Music score in my head as I do it (so long, farewell, auvweedersomething adieu...) but yes! Discretion for all sleep accoutrements is a daily aspect of good health, mental and emotional.

... about skincare... any tips? This is the most dreary aspect of sleep therapy. Thank you, Miss Emerita!

Julie wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 28, 2020 12:25 pm

And put its name into forum search bar here to see how many hits you get re "return it for the $ if you can - it's garbage, a scam, very unhealthy (ozone) and voids machine warranties'.

Ah. Oh well, I might as well out myself: I'm a vaccinating, GMO-consuming, hair-dying, car driver. O3 mask cleaning doesn't scare me.

Maybe not, but it'll wreck your machine. And your DME could care less about you, or else is really ignorant.

PennyPinchin wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 28, 2020 1:30 pm

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 28, 2020 12:09 pm

You might want to read this about your SoClean device and how it has probably voided the ResMed warranty on your machine.
https://www.resmed.com/us/dam/documents ... letter.pdf

Thank you for this head up; I just contacted my DME provider, from whom I get my ResMed and supplies, asked about SoClean and any warranty concerns, and they said not to worry. SoClean has the highest reviews of all of the ozone cleaners, and while my provider doesn't carry it, he said that it was a smart purchase to make. I'm golden!

If your "DME" was Smart, he would have you using a XPAP after the test. If your AHI is over 5 you need to be treated. DME's are not Smart, most are not Honest, the same applies to INS Companies, and many Doctors are under informed about Sleep Apnea. Jim

PennyPinchin wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 28, 2020 1:30 pm

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 28, 2020 12:09 pm

You might want to read this about your SoClean device and how it has probably voided the ResMed warranty on your machine.
https://www.resmed.com/us/dam/documents ... letter.pdf

Thank you for this head up; I just contacted my DME provider, from whom I get my ResMed and supplies, asked about SoClean and any warranty concerns, and they said not to worry. SoClean has the highest reviews of all of the ozone cleaners, and while my provider doesn't carry it, he said that it was a smart purchase to make. I'm golden!

Well....you are of course free to make your own choices but there is a reason ResMed said what they said despite what your DME told you.
Ozone is a poisonous gas...it can damage your equipment and YOUR lungs. I wouldn't have one in my house.
Ask you DME if they will replace your equipment when ResMed says they won't should something fail with it.
Did you know that people are finding bits and pieces of the foam insulation in their water chamber because of the SoClean use?

https://www.verywellhealth.com/do-you-n ... in-4171650

and read what the FDA says about them

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-a ... one-gas-or

You are more worried about your skin than you are your lungs???? Or did you come here just to promote everything SoClean offers for sale? Suit yourself.

Very well...so be it. It's your lungs and your money and your machine to do with whatever you wish.

Goofproof wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 28, 2020 1:55 pm

PennyPinchin wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 28, 2020 1:30 pm

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 28, 2020 12:09 pm

You might want to read this about your SoClean device and how it has probably voided the ResMed warranty on your machine.
https://www.resmed.com/us/dam/documents ... letter.pdf

Thank you for this head up; I just contacted my DME provider, from whom I get my ResMed and supplies, asked about SoClean and any warranty concerns, and they said not to worry. SoClean has the highest reviews of all of the ozone cleaners, and while my provider doesn't carry it, he said that it was a smart purchase to make. I'm golden!

If your "DME" was Smart, he would have you using a XPAP after the test. If your AHI is over 5 you need to be treated. DME's are not Smart, most are not Honest, the same applies to INS Companies, and many Doctors are under informed about Sleep Apnea. Jim

As with all disciplines within the medical field, decisions are made with the latest data; when the data supports that a different approach yields a better treatment with more consistent outcomes, they update their decisions.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 28, 2020 2:04 pm

PennyPinchin wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 28, 2020 1:30 pm

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 28, 2020 12:09 pm

You might want to read this about your SoClean device and how it has probably voided the ResMed warranty on your machine.
https://www.resmed.com/us/dam/documents ... letter.pdf

Thank you for this head up; I just contacted my DME provider, from whom I get my ResMed and supplies, asked about SoClean and any warranty concerns, and they said not to worry. SoClean has the highest reviews of all of the ozone cleaners, and while my provider doesn't carry it, he said that it was a smart purchase to make. I'm golden!

Well....you are of course free to make your own choices but there is a reason ResMed said what they said despite what your DME told you.
Ozone is a poisonous gas...it can damage your equipment and YOUR lungs. I wouldn't have one in my house.
Ask you DME if they will replace your equipment when ResMed says they won't should something fail with it.
Did you know that people are finding bits and pieces of the foam insulation in their water chamber because of the SoClean use?

https://www.verywellhealth.com/do-you-n ... in-4171650

and read what the FDA says about them

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-a ... one-gas-or

You are more worried about your skin than you are your lungs???? Or did you come here just to promote everything SoClean offers for sale? Suit yourself.

Very well...so be it. It's your lungs and your money and your machine to do with whatever you wish.

I have figured out my lungs; exercise, diet, sleep (now, with cpap!) I haven't figured out my skin, which is an important organ. One does not preclude the other. As for my cleaning and storage devices, I am happy to share about them, but no, I gain no commissions off of doing so, if that is what you are asserting.

ETA: thank you for the FDA link! Now this is something worth investigating. I will bring this up to all who will listen.

Then maybe just a post to ask about skin therapy without all the hooplah about how great your SoClean stuff is????

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 28, 2020 2:23 pm

Then maybe just a post to ask about skin therapy without all the hooplah about how great your SoClean stuff is????

Do you read for SoClean and then ignore everything else? You a free to live like a hammer, but not everything is a nail.

PennyPinchin wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 28, 2020 2:43 pm

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 28, 2020 2:23 pm

Then maybe just a post to ask about skin therapy without all the hooplah about how great your SoClean stuff is????

Do you read for SoClean and then ignore everything else? You a free to live like a hammer, but not everything is a nail.

yeah. all 56,677 of her posts have been about soclean.