Cpap Machines!!

Sorry to bug you guys again. I was reading one of the bills from my DME and realized that I am being charged rent for the cpap machine. If I have to be on this thing for the rest of my life I don't want to pay $117 per month to rent one I want to own mine. Could you guys list some of the machines you have and why you have them pros and cons??? I know a lot of you seem to have the REsmed Elite II (I think that is the name of the one). Also I have read that buying one from the DME is quite expensive. I would really appreciate any info here. Since I am fairly new to this sleep apnea experience. I use the Swift XL nasal pillows and really like them except when I am having sinus problems. Then it is impossible to wear anything on my nose. I have been amazed at some of the days I have been having. I almost feel human again. Not every day but about three out of 5 days have been wonderful compared to what I was having. I also notice, and this may be wishful thinking, but my blood pressure has come down to 99/63 from 140/85. Hope that is a wonderful side effect of this machine. Thanks to all of you for any help.

Modistee

Hello--I have the Resmed Elite --I like the fact that I can check my stats every morning right on the window of the machine to see how I am doing. It is a great machine and that is why it is so popular. Also you can go to CPAP.COM to see how much the machines costs. It sounds like you or your insurance company is paying ALOT of money to rent that machine---you can buy one!!! check out the website! You can even go on craig's list to maybe purchase a used one but you would need to know how to reset the pressure to what you need. Hope this helps,
Carrie

Hi,

The price listed on that machine at cpap.com is $390, and it might qualify for the 5% sale that is going on right now. That is roughly 3 payments at the rate that you state that you are being billed. What a deal that is if they can get rent out of you for a few years--nothing like charging 10 times the fair price. No wonder our health care system is in such trouble.

BTW, it is essential that you have a data-capable machine. I don't know anything about this machine, but if it doesn't track your therapy, you may want to go with one that can. That might cost a little more.

-john-

Check directly with your insurance company regarding the coverage benefits. Many do a "rent to own" and after so many months you own it. Medicare is 13 months. Others can be 10 months. It is left up to the insurance company.
Yours probably has a capped rental meaning after so many months the machine is considered yours. Also remember to check on deductibles. January is just around the corner and you may have to meet your deductible again. Need to find out where the rental payment comes into things.

Now is the time to see if you can upgrade to a fully data capable machine. Do the math on what your co-pay is for the time that the insurance wants you to pay and compare those figures with just buying a fully data capable machine online.

If you are doing well with the Escape then consider the Elite II. It offers probably the more comprehensive data on the LCD screen. If you are planning on the software, then look at the reports generated and see what you like the best. I hear people saying the ResMed machines are quieter but to be honest I never hear my Respironics machine. I think some people are just more sensitive to sounds than others or I am partially deaf. I am quite satisfied with my machine. I chose it because I liked the Encore Viewer software better and I already knew I wanted the software.

If you have had that Escape for 30 days or just a few days over 30 days TAKE IT BACK RIGHT NOW and INSIST on being provided w/the Resmed S8 Elite II w/EPR!!! Call your insurance company, ask what local DME CPAP providers they are contracted with. Hopefully you will have the option of more than just this one as that will give you more bargaining/negotiating room.

What Slinky said!

modistee wrote:I also notice, and this may be wishful thinking, but my blood pressure has come down to 99/63 from 140/85.

I have only been using CPAP for 11 days, but since Day 1 my blood pressure has been significantly lower -- although not nearly as large a reduction as you have had! I wish!!! Untreated sleep apnea can definitely affect blood pressure in a negative way. I was unwilling to accept my doctor's statement that there was no explanation for my high blood pressure. I insisted on a sleep study, as I did know a little about sleep apnea's effect on various medical conditions. And here I am! I'm hoping that my BP goes down even lower so I can either reduce or get off the darn medication!

modistee wrote:Could you guys list some of the machines you have and why you have them pros and cons???

If you do decide to purchase a machine that is capable of reporting data that's useful in monitoring your therapy, the machines you want to focus on are:

Regular CPAP:
Respironics M Series PRO (not Plus)
ResMed ELITE II (not Escape)
Covidien Sandman INFO (not Intro)

Auto-Adjusting CPAP:
Respironics M Series Auto
ResMed S8 AutoSet II
Covidien Sandman Auto

There may be others that I'm not aware of. Those are certainly the most popular. Pay special attention to the CAPITALIZED machine names above, as each manufacturer has a machine with a very similar name that is not capable of reporting full data.

Software can be purchased for all the machines above, although the ResMed software is no longer supposed to be sold to patients in the U.S. I chose the ResMed Elite II because the LCD can be configured to show the leak rate, AI (apneas), HI (hypopneas), AHI (apneas & hypopneas combined), as well as the hours used. I like to track those numbers. As others have said, the Escape does not show that information.

modistee wrote:I have been amazed at some of the days I have been having. I almost feel human again.

I'm glad you're feeling so good! Me too!

Please clarify if you have insurance or not, modistee. That is a very high rental rate! Are you sure you're paying that amount every month, or could that have just been your initial payment? I paid my 20% share of cost for the humidifier, mask and headgear, hose, and filters upfront -- when I took the equipment. (My insurance pays 80%.) I own that equipment outright from the start. I paid the first month's rental payment for the S8 Elite II machine. I'll rent that for a few months and then I pay a lump sum to purchase.

I hope this helps you.

~ DreamOn

modistee wrote:I also notice, and this may be wishful thinking, but my blood pressure has come down to 99/63 from 140/85.

I forgot to address the BP thing. I start therapy the last of May. One of the reasons we did the sleep study was my elevated blood pressure. I was having some readings 170/100. Once I was on CPAP I started to see the numbers come down to 150/96 then 140/90. Last week went to doctor for something unrelated to CPAP and the BP was 120/70. No meds, no special diet, no extra exercise, no weight reduction. The only varying factor was the addition of CPAP therapy.

So while I haven't seen the "miracle" improvement that I wish for, I have seen the bathroom breaks in the middle of the night cease and the drop in blood pressure. I still don't get the number of hours of sleep that my body seems to need except on a handful of nights but it is getting better. My sleep is still fragmented but not nearly as much as it was when I first started so I count the small blessings knowing that the therapy is working even if I don't see changes like I wished I could see. Patience was never one my strong suits. Many years ago I used to pray for patience because I knew that I needed it and lacked it. Then I realized that God wasn't going to just give me patience. He made me earn it by just sending me more stuff that require me to be patient. So I quit asking for it.

Even the smallest victory is worth celebrating and helps in the larger battle.

DreamOn wrote:...I'm hoping that my BP goes down even lower so I can either reduce or get off the darn medication!

I went from 210/110 at apnea diagnosis -- shocked the ##LL outta me as I normally had low blood pressure (like the rest of my family) -- to an acceptable 128/72 (took me 18 months or so to get there); I was on 2 drugs, now smallest dose possible of a diuretic (still got lots of wt to lose, docs think another 30-40#s & I can stop that it too). My systolic rises when I have events that wake me up...will one day get around to mapping events to systolic and seeing if there is predictive value of events...would be best with a recording oximeter but finances are too tight for that. Used to pee 8-10 times a night...that stopped totally on first night of CPAP therapy never to return (no more huge increases in nightly blood pressure).

With compliance and over some time, you might have the same good effect!

I don't know how other ins. companies work, but mine pays 100%. The way it was explained is that ins. companies don't outright buy the machines, they "rent" them for X amount of months and then the equipment is yours.

Are you really being billed for it or is it just an explanation of benefits from your ins. provider?

Muse-Inc wrote:With compliance and over some time, you might have the same good effect!

Oh, I hope so! You, Pugsy and the OP give me hope!!!

DreamOn wrote:...I'm hoping that my BP goes down even lower so I can either reduce or get off the darn medication!

Muse-Inc wrote:I went from 210/110 at apnea diagnosis -- shocked the ##LL outta me as I normally had low blood pressure (like the rest of my family) -- to an acceptable 128/72 (took me 18 months or so to get there); I was on 2 drugs, now smallest dose possible of a diuretic (still got lots of wt to lose, docs think another 30-40#s & I can stop that it too). My systolic rises when I have events that wake me up...will one day get around to mapping events to systolic and seeing if there is predictive value of events...would be best with a recording oximeter but finances are too tight for that. Used to pee 8-10 times a night...that stopped totally on first night of CPAP therapy never to return (no more huge increases in nightly blood pressure).

With compliance and over some time, you might have the same good effect!

I can only wish. I was undiagnosed for most of two decades, and started in the 250ish/150ish range. My goal is to NOT have to increase my Minoxidil any more. After reading about ALL the side effects, that stuff scares the ##LL outta me.

Hey guy,I 've been using cpap for years, And every time i am worried when see the dust on the cpap, Does the bacteria propagate inside the cpap? I 've been looking for the cleaner and disinfector on the internet,but only a facility called cpap guardian was found,it is ozone disinfect ,anyone used this facility? How is it? Do i have to separate it?

I've never had any work done on my antique, other than replacing filters (when I can get them). I rinse the hose and mask parts with mild bleach-water maybe once or twice a year, and take the pillows off the mask and rinse them out after a cold or if my allergies act up. I don't gross-out easily, and my immune system is about the only thing that works good anymore.

cv66er wrote:I can only wish. I was undiagnosed for most of two decades, and started in the 250ish/150ish range. My goal is to NOT have to increase my Minoxidil any more. After reading about ALL the side effects, that stuff scares the ##LL outta me.

Yikes -- you had scary-high blood pressure! I know what you mean about all the possible drug side effects! Reading the package inserts scares me too, and it motivates me to do everything I can to avoid taking medication!

I read elsewhere that you are diabetic. I suppose that has a lot to do with your blood pressure difficulties. It sounds like you're doing whatever you can to improve your health. I hope you achieve all your goals!

~ DreamOn

f you do decide to purchase a machine that is capable of reporting data that's useful in monitoring your therapy, the machines you want to focus on are:

Regular CPAP:
Respironics M Series PRO (not Plus)
ResMed ELITE II (not Escape)
Covidien Sandman INFO (not Intro)

Auto-Adjusting CPAP:
Respironics M Series Auto
ResMed S8 AutoSet II
Covidien Sandman Auto

There may be others that I'm not aware of. Those are certainly the most popular. Pay special attention to the CAPITALIZED machine names above, as each manufacturer has a machine with a very similar name that is not capable of reporting full data.

You left out the Intellipap, but the regular(Cpap), and the Autoadjust. They are both fully data capable, and extremely pleasant to use. They are quiet, user friendly, and DeVilbiss is very much into being patient friendly. The availability of smart code monitoring online is a great feature. If one doesn't need A-flex, or C-flex, they are a great choice.