Sorry if you've all heard this story before!

Fascinated2 · Post by **Fascinated2** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 12:15 pm

It is well-documented that excessive daytime sleepiness can lead to the omission of the second 'f' from the word 'off' so watch out....

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 12:29 pm

CharlesJ wrote:Q4. Where on the site are the tools mentioned by RestedGal for mask sizing?

Well, I'm sure not RestedGal, but I can give your Q4 a shot. In fact, RestedGal probably referred me to this site originally - I've come to believe that she may be the source of all knowledge!

This is Respironics' sizing site for all of their masks & I would think it would work for masks manufactured by anyone:

Respironics Comfort Series: Finding the Right Fit

I just printed their full face mask "templates" (3 - small, medium & large) on card stock, cut them out & they worked like a charm, even tho I'm not using their mask.

Hang in there. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it's not a train coming from the other way. I'm sure at this point this all seems like a staggering mountain of information, but as someone else said in a post, the end result is well worth the effort. In fact, I'm envious. I wish I'd done exactly what you're doing before I actually started on CPAP therapy. Would've saved me a lot of grief, a lot of money, a lot of sleepless nights, and a lot of congested mornings.

Rol

rpalmer · Post by **rpalmer** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 12:39 pm

Sorry, CharlesJ. That last post was me. I may be learning a lot of what I know about OSA/CPAP from RestedGal, but I obviously haven't learned how to log on yet. It's likely that excessive daytime sleepiness not only causes you to misspell your own name, but also to forget how to use discussion forums!

CharlesJ · Post by **CharlesJ** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 12:50 pm

Okay, this is looking like a success story! I just got a call from the nice lady at my insurance company. She said that my machine and supplies CAN be purchased from cpap.com and that they will reimburse me for submitted expenses at 80%!!!!

How freakin' cool is that?!?!

I'm going to start filling my shopping cart right now! Stay tuned!

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL ADVICE!!! I'M STARTING TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT THIS!

Chuck

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 1:28 pm

CharlesJ wrote:....my machine and supplies CAN be purchased from cpap.com and that they will reimburse me for submitted expenses at 80%!!!!

How freakin' cool is that?!?!

WAY FREAKIN' COOL!!!! CONGRATULATIONS! YOU'VE JUST SAVED A TON OF MONEY AT cpap.com!!!!!!

CharlesJ · Post by **CharlesJ** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 1:49 pm

UPDATE: Just placed my order at cpap.com. FAXed my prescription and spoke with VERY helpful Bianca for sizing of the Activa thingamajigger. I asked for an extra-medium. Also placed an order at sleepzone.com.au for the hot hose.

I will update this thread as necessary. I hope my experience helps others!

Chuck

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 1:55 pm

Just curious; did you opt for the REMstar Auto with C-Flex or the PB420E?

CharlesJ · Post by **CharlesJ** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 3:37 pm

Product Unit Price Quantity Total Price
Mirage Swift Nasal Pillows System $115.00 1 $115.00
Goodknight 420E Auto CPAP, GoodKnight H2O Heated Humidifier, Silverlining Software with bag, hose and manuals $799.00 1 $799.00
Mirage Activa Mask with Headgear - Will Contact For Sizing $94.99 1 $94.99
New Version Breeze SleepGear CPAP Interface System with TWO sets of Nasal Pillows - Will Contact For Sizing $82.50 1 $82.50
Subtotal: $1,091.49
Shipping Price: $17.00

Bianca talked me out of the Breeze stuff until I get the Swift stuff and decide what size I need. So I'll get that later.

PLUS I bought the hot hose watchamacallit thingamabobber from that company in Australia!

Chuck

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 3:51 pm

Wow. Your order is a cpap user's dream come true!

I wish everyone had the opportunity to read through this forum to research their options before buying anything. I wish everyone had the ease in dealing with their insurance that you've had so the DME middleman (and consequent markups) could be eliminated. I wish everyone knew about cpap.com. I wish someone would pay off my mortgage. I wish I was thin and rich. I wish.... ah, but I digress.....

rpalmer · Post by **rpalmer** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 3:53 pm

CharlesJ wrote:Goodknight 420E Auto CPAP, GoodKnight H2O Heated Humidifier, Silverlining Software with bag, hose and manuals $799.00 1 $799.00

What a great shopping cart-full!

Just curious, Chuck. Why did you decide on the Goodknight 420E over the REMstar Auto w/C-Flex?

Rol

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 3:58 pm

PLUS I bought the hot hose watchamacallit thingamabobber from that company in Australia!

Just wanted to advise you to make sure you ordered the heated hose made specifically for the PB420E.....

CharlesJ · Post by **CharlesJ** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 5:55 am

I chose the PB because of this advice (earlier in the thread):

A1. At a pressure of 8 or 9 the benefit of C-Flex for decreased pressure upon exhalation would likely be unnoticed and unnecessary. The PB420E is my choice. Takes up significantly less space on your nightstand, is significantly less expensive, and offers the possibility of adjusting algorithm-driven interventions if your treatment requires it.

I am way into algorithm-driven interventions!!!

Chuck

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 9:03 am

rotfl!! Chuckster, ya done good.

I just hope you don't get such good treatment that you stop coming to the message board!!

Lot of impatient people out there can learn from your impatient (but, oh so well researched !!) approach.

You....

1. Saved a ton of money.

2. Saved yourself the frustration of dealing with a local DME.

3. Saved yourself a lot of time by getting top notch equipment right from the start.

4. Saved yourself from wondering what pressure you really need - now, and as time goes on.

5. Saved yourself! Period.

Since you're into algorithm driven thingies, spend all the time you can doing a Search on this message board and on the talkaboutsleep.com "snoring/apnea" message board for posts by one particular person: -SWS (does have a hyphen in his nickname.) The man is a genius about how all these machines work.

Armed with that author's name, search for any of these keywords:

420E
IFL1
Hypopnea
Central apnea
algorithm
autopap
cardiac oscillations
non-responsive

You'll turn up an absolute wealth of algorithmic nuggets by -SWS.

Good luck, Chuck!!

Sorry if you've all heard this story before!

MASK FIT

MASK FIT

Why the 420E?