Oxygen Boost for CPAP Machine

When I got my CPAP machine in June, my doctor prescribed the addition of three liters/minute of oxygen. An oxygen concentrator was supplied with the unit.

Well that was fine, because I was maxed out on my medical insurance. My wife has COPD and is on three liters/minute of oxygen 27/7. That means two oxygen concentrators at $127 per month each. I had a sleep study in November and asked the doc whether I could ditch the oxygen because two concentrators would be too expesnive for my budget. He said it would probably be ok.

I was wondering whether I could just use one conentrator, split the line and add a shut off valve and kick the liters per minute to six while I share the oxygen with her and then turn back to three when I'm done. Any thoughts or comments.

thanx

Is that $127 your cost for the rental? Reason I am asking is if it is you might look at buying the O2 concentrator outright.

Thanx for the reply Woody.

Yes, the rental per month is $127 for each unit. I looked into buying and the costs range anywhere from $500 to $1500 per unit. I talked to a couple of respitatory folks at the hospital and they both told me that oxygen generators are high maintenance items. Filters are rebuild kits and parts are expensive. I'd really like to get my wife a portable concentrator so she wouldn't have to take oxygen tanks when she leaves home. Cost is around $5,000 and insurance won't pay. The price of medical equipment is amazing!!!

Why do you need the oxygen?

Patients who have sleep apnea but no other health problems do not need oxygen with their CPAP.

Goshes, I've had a 5L concentrator since April 2006 supplied by my local DME, the counter stopped about a year after I had it at 22550 hours. The only maintenance it has had is the internal filter every six months and checking that it is still producing properly. It is a DeVilBiss 5 L. It wouldn't take long for that double rental to buy two concentrators.

I just replaced my filter on my O2 concentrator cost me a whole $23 with shipping. By the way sometimes these O2 concentrators are listed on our CPAP Auction.